“Wilt or Kareem?”

“Wilt of course. He had a one-hundred-point game. He averaged twenty-seven rebounds one year. No one will ever get close to those numbers.”

“True, but Kareem has the most points ever as a player. And he has six rings to Wilt’s one.”

Horace and Grant were doing what they loved to do; drink beer and try to one-up each other. They were sitting at the bar in Suds Tavern. Their wives were attending a book club meeting, discussing a romance book. Horace and Grant were taking advantage of their free time to hang out and have fun.

Horace took a long sip of Guinness, and then kept the comparisons going. “Sandy Koufax or Clayton Kershaw?”

Grant replied. “Sandy. Four-time World Series winner. Better ERA than Clayton. And besides, he had conviction.”

What do you mean, conviction?” Horace asked.

“He was Jewish and wouldn’t pitch on Yom Kipper during the ’65 World Series. Still won the series MVP, plus Sports Illustrated ‘Man of the Year’ award.”

“I still like Clayton better. He has a pitch no one can hit. Here’s one.” Grant asked. “The Longest Yard or The Longest Yard?

“They’re the same.” retorted Horace.

“Not quite. One had Burt Reynolds and the other had Adam Sandler.”

“The old one with Burt was best. More realistic. Besides, Adam is too corny.”

 “The new one made way more money.” Grant added.

“Different time. Used to be able to watch a movie for a buck. Now you gotta mortgage your home or sell your first-born son.

“Good point. But I still like the second one better.”

Horace and Grant relaxed for a few minutes, drinking their beers and watching the hockey game playing on the big screen behind the bar. After a few swigs of his Budweiser, Grant asked, “Fiction of non-fiction?”

“What about them?” Horace inquired.

“Which do you like to read better? You’re a journalist, so I figure you like non-fiction better.”

“Not really. I write non-fiction all day, but at night, I like reading fiction. You know, made up stories that have not an ounce of fact. What about you?”

Grant thought for a moment. “It’s not so black-and-white. Sometimes a good piece of fiction is chock-full of real honest-to-goodness fact. Forrest Gump for example. Made up story, but there really was Elvis, The Vietnam War, Watergate, and so on. Kind of a mishmash of fiction and fact.”

“Good point.” Horace replied. “Same with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Obviously, fiction, but a lot of real people, places, and events are in the book. But you didn’t answer the question. Fiction of non-fiction?”

“I guess I’d have to say non-fiction. To me it’s more interesting, plus it helps when there’s Trivia Night here at the bar.”

Another few moments passed with no discussion. Horace ordered two more beers. Five minutes later, Dusty, the bartender, came by and placed the cold beers on the bar.

“Last one.” Horace stated. “Jennifer Aniston or Courteney Cox?”

“No brainer.” Grant replied. “Jennifer for sure.”

Horace held his glass up and toasted. “At last. Something we can agree on.”