kcfashionista

So chances are, as it is with many things that I love, if you’ve talked to me for more than five minutes, you’ve been told about how much I love Anthony Bourdain, and particularly, his show No Reservations on the Travel Channel.

Now I’ll stay loyal to Anthony forever, but a new traveling man has entered my life - one by the name of Dhani Jones.

Dhani is a NFL linebacker with a new show on the Travel Channel, Dhani Tackles the Globe, in which he travels around the world, learning and playing the sports and games of the local cultures - usually practicing and playing in a match with a local professional (or semi) team. And this week, Dhani’s in Ireland learning hurling.

Now another thing you’ve probably learned about me, again, within minutes, is that I spent a summer interning in Ireland - Dublin, in particular - and I loved every minute of it. Didn’t want to leave. In fact, plan to return to get my MFA in Creative Writing at Trinity College (you take your classes in Oscar Wilde’s former home!!!!!!). Oh yeah, and I did the cliché thing and dated an Irishman from Cork, who happened to be a rugby man (hey - it’s cliché because it’s classic. Can you blame me, with that accent?).

So everytime Ireland makes the topic (or the clouds darken the sky with rain-soaked leanings), I feel a tiny tug of my heartstrings and start waxing poetic (oh, how very Irish) about the cobblestone streets of Dublin, the darkened pub corners, and the mists of faire Éire.

So imagine my delight in watching Dhani try his hand at sheep-sheering, attend Catholic mass and a pub lunch after, attend the horse races, sip many a pint of Guinness, and attempt hurling - with the red and black of Trinity, no less. And he even teaches them a little bit about American football.

I was lucky enough to be in Dublin at the time of the GAA Gaelic Games and witnessed hurling, along with Gaelic football at Croke Park. And hurling, as Dhani relates it to us Americans, is a mix of field hockey, baseball, lacrosse, cricket - and hurling, is very difficult. In fact, the match I witnessed was terribly one-sided (and I’m afraid rather boring) and I was told that this is because hurling is so difficult, you often have teams who are very very good, and then teams that are merely good.

Dhani’s a pro, though, and takes all these such trials in stride, which is more than I can say I’d be able to do (probably, anyways). And, then man wears a bow tie, which makes him just that much more dashing in my book.

So consider this my promotion of two of my favorite things in the world, the Travel Channel (well, really, Dhani and Tony) and Ireland. The two hosts have an organic approach to what might otherwise be dubbed reality tv, or tour guide travel show, which engages me, at least, and keeps me watching for more. What they’ve done is taken an aspect of culture that defines them - sport for Dhani, food for Tony - and explore them in other cultures and understand how these aspects define the people who love them.

Did I mention that the really cool thing about the GAA players is that they’re not professional athletes - in fact, they’re all professionals in something other than sport; engineers, electricians, teachers, lawyers. They all put the time in for the love of the game. And maybe a little bit for the glory. But either way, it’s definitely not about the money.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll pitch my own idea for a show; traveling the fashion trends of the world, perhaps? Not a bad idea, not a bad life.

Oh fyi, Dhani Tackles the Globe airs new episodes on the Travel Channel on Monday nights, at 9 / 8 central, followed by Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations at 10 / 9 central. You can also find and follow their blogs at www.travelchannel.com!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS