Rob Wilco is king of chill

By Cory Anotado
Collegian Staff
February 7, 2007

There are levels and types of geek, just so you know. I like to consider myself the “Rob Wilco” kind of geek: functional, somewhat social, but still adamant about his passions. Who’s Rob Wilco? He is the main human character in the newspaper comic strip Get Fuzzy. With his two pets, Satchel Pooch and Bucky Katt, they live their lives and inspire me to get off my lazy derriere and do something with my life.

I could be like Bucky. Bucky Katt is determined and very set in his ways. He knows what he wants and how he’s going to get it. Other than the normal modus operandi, which is terrorizing his housemates Satchel and Rob, what does this cat want? Three things: killing the ferret who lives next door, eating a monkey and having a movie made about himself. I really can’t think of any nobler goals; however, Bucky is a bit more cunning than I am, so associating myself with him is something I’ll pass on. What about Satchel, Rob’s faithful dog? Kind, gentle and compassionate, Satchel always means well. He tends to diffuse situations between Rob and Bucky (since Rob’s a Red Sox fan and Bucky is a Yankees fan, Satchel is the smart one and is a Chicago Cubs fan). Satchel’s oblivious to most things around him, and I like to think that I’m a bit more aware than that.

Rob, however, is my kind of guy. Who doesn’t love Leo Kottke? I know I do, that’s for sure. Rob Wilco’s a vegetarian (and incidentally, I’ve started down my own path of fake meat and oddly-textured tofu), a Red Sox fan (my favorite American league team) and loves the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (great movie, better books). Rob’s also just your average guy, with a job he doesn’t particularly like, chronic back pains and a penchant for video games (another hurray for my Nintendo Wii).

The three of them are reminiscent of some of my friends and myself, which is why I like Get Fuzzy so much. It’s an oddly personal experience. They’re funny, they have different personalities and they all coexist together nicely. Now, if only I could be as nerdy as Rob can be, I’d definitely be set.

anotadoc1@lasalle.edu