I used to meet colorful characters in bars.

Guys like Lazy Bill Lucas at the Triangle Bar on the West Bank near the University of Minnesota.

In 1965, beer was cheap – 15 cents a tap beer – while a shot of bar whiskey was two bits, and you could get the start of a good buzz for 40 cents while listening to Lazy Bill playing "Kansas City, here I come" - and singing the blues on the bar piano.

There were always guys with great names like Johnny Walkup.

Sure tops being an Olson.

"Go choke on a lutefisk, Ole," I'd hear frequently.

"Bug off, you dumb Mick," I'd reply.

And we'd laugh.

That's wh...