In Honor of Wingmen

Normally, I'd just mock CNN for writing a story about the concept of guys using wingmen, since the practice pre-dates my arrival in college. And the fact that people have founded companies offering "wingpeople" is, well, a testament to American creativity, but everyone's been writing that tale for months. At this point, how is it news? But a friend sent me the story for one specific reason, which should become apparent...

Two friends are at a party when one sees a potential love interest across the room.

Immediately, the other friend swoops into action, making an introduction and helping to keep the conversation going -- all so the buddy can score a phone number.

It's long been a ploy in the flirting arsenal. But now, those who ride shotgun for the sake of love have a name: They are the "wingmen" and "wingwomen" of the dating world.

"Every guy's gotta play the role of the wingman at some point in his life. It's the unwritten guy code," says Steve Dybsky, a 25-year-old Chicagoan who works in advertising and has been a wingman for friends -- and had them do the same.

It's become such a popular concept that people are even posting ads online, looking for wingpeople to accompany them on a night on the town.

At Arriviste Press, a small Boston-based publishing house, writers have launched a Virtual Wingman service on the company's Web site. All clients have to do is plug in a few details about themselves and what the sort of date they're looking for and, using that information, the virtual wingmen will craft a personal ad, free of charge.

Meanwhile, in cities such as Chicago and New York, a person can rent out a real, live wingperson on an hourly basis.

...Though it's becoming a paid gig for some, many wingpeople are still just friends who do it as a favor. Paul Reiter says that since he met his fiancee three years ago, he's become an ace wingman for his friends.

"Now I will even talk to the hottest women without being scared, since I'm there just to shoot the wind until my friend comes in with a coy remark," says Reiter, who's 27 and lives in Philadelphia.

Not that every wingperson always plays it smoothly, as Dybsky -- the Chicagoan who works in advertising -- discovered three years ago.

He was a senior at Villanova University, and his roommate was playing the role of wingman when they met two cheerleaders for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team.

"We were going out of our way to make myself seem like a fun guy -- and things were going well," Dybsky says. Then his roommate, who'd gotten a little too drunk, abruptly threw up all over the table.

"I thought he ruined my chances," says Dybsky, who can laugh about it now. But as it turns out, he still got the phone number he was after -- and a few dates with one of the cheerleaders.

Of course, now that I think about it, none of this is news. A Villanova senior getting too drunk and throwing up? What a shock.