With social media these days, you can find out anything you want to know about your favorite actors, singers or athletes. At this point, it's not even that you can probably find out anything you can actually find anything. Look at Manti Te'o. His life was exposed and then torn to pieces through Twitter, Facebook and mainstream media.
But how about the celebrities who don't use social media? How do you find out what shoes they decided to rock on Instagram? Or on a more serious note, who that person is? How they got to where they are today?
At Dartmouth specifically, what about the "famous" locals living under your nose? Yeah, you probably had a nice chat with the EBAs delivery guy one time after a few Keystone Lights. But do you really know him? Why he's in Hanover? Who his favorite athlete is?
I doubt it. You might be asking, why is Corey asking me all these questions? What do I care about the guy who brings me late-night food, the nerd who helps me find books in the library or the football coach? But everyone has a story. If you don't take the time to find out, it might hit you in the face, just like Te'o.
I'm old now at least in Dartmouth years. Being a '13 and all, I feel like Kuno from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which made me realize that I need some answers to the questions that I posed to you earlier about notable Hanover locals.
So on that note, I wanted to find out more about Murphy's on the Green and 3 Guys Basement Barbeque. I knew that Nigel Leeming owned both restaurants, but I had only met him in passing and wouldn't be able to point him out in a crowd.
I went into Murphy's the other day in typical Island fashion. Ordered a round, got up and left, didn't think about paying. Why would I, right? I'm the Island JV All-American on both sides of the ball for the past four years. To put it lightly, people know me.
At Murphy's they apparently didn't, but I can assure you they do now. The bartender who I tried to skip out on was just the man I was looking for, the owner, Nigel. After I repaid him for my mistake, I finally had the forum to figure out just who this Leeming guy is after all.
Here's the skinny Leeming is a self-made businessman from New Zealand. He moved to Boston in 1971, where he was the captain of the rugby team at Boston College. And due to his background in sports, he always thought the restaurant business was his future.
"In both industries the most competitive people get to the top," Nigel said. "Being a business major at BC, and loving food, I thought owning a restaurant would feel natural and be a good fit."
Why Hanover, I asked him? How was Boston not the first option? Not only was the liquor license too expensive for a recent college grad, but Hanover was actually the more attractive location.
"At the time, this town wasn't sophisticated for restaurants," Nigel said. "But the community was young, and it was vibrant. Being a big fish in a small pond, you get to know everyone."
Even though Leeming relocated, he remains loyal to Boston.
"I've been a [New England] Patriots season ticket holder for the past 17 years, and I have been fortunate enough to be present for their last six Super Bowl appearances," Leeming said. "Let's just say I'm not a fan of Eli Manning."
Surprisingly though, Tom Brady is not Nigel's favorite player.
"I'm more of a defensive guy," he said. "I think defense is all about heart and heart can change the spirit of a team. Rodney Harrison really brought the competitiveness out of the Pats."
Like Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Leeming also believes in second chances.
"Like business, if someone takes personal responsibility for their actions, they can change and turn things around," he said.
Could Te'o figure it out? Would Leeming, the Patriots and Belichick embrace him?
"Absolutely. We took in Randy Moss, Ryan Mallett and now Aqib Talib," Leeming said.
Now that I've decided to find out more about the "luminaries" at Dartmouth, I know when I wrap things up here, I will be able to think about my experience in a different light. The people here are real, and they will make my memories that much more special.
Stay tuned for next week. Oh, and did I mention there's video evidence?
