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by Emily
Costantino
 Anyone
who hasn't been living under a rock for the past decade knows
about the Naked Cowboy. He is a fixture of Manhattan, as emblematic
of the city as the Empire State Building. Known for wandering
the streets in nothing but a cowboy hat, boots, and a pair
of briefs (plus a well-placed guitar), the Naked Cowboy has
braved all sorts of inclement weather to serenade and pose
in pictures with tourists. He is the troubadour of Times Square.
The Naked Cowboy has done a lot in the years since his arrival
in the city that never sleeps, but most recently he has announced
that he will be adding politics to his repertoire, challenging
Michael Bloomberg for the position of mayor of New York City.
Why? Besides holding a degree in Political Science, he says:
"No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly,
and that's the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my
fellow New Yorkers when you elect me." He also promises
new ideas on tax breaks, tourism, gay marriage, transit and
homeland security, and a stimulus plan for small businesses.
We've become accustomed to the Naked Cowboy; we expect to
see him as much as we expect Peruvian flute bands and street
preachers as we make our way through Times Square. We've all
seen him stripped down to his skivvies, and now, he could
potentially be the next mayor of New York City. But who is
the Naked Cowboy?
He was born Robert Burck in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1970, and
took his first swing at the life of a wandering minstrel 28
years later at Venice Beach. The first day, he performed fully-dressed
and came away with little to show for his efforts. A friend
jokingly suggested he try playing in his underwear. So the
next day, he did - and ended up with a guitar case stuffed
with cash and even a brief story on the news. Burck soon decided
to create an image and a career as the Naked Cowboy.
( continued on page 2 )
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