From the Green Room: Spring Break!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 
Today the I-Man began a week of broadcasts from Ribera New Mexico at the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids With Cancer. Or, as we on the staff like to call it, “Spring Break.” There is something about him having to contact us via email or cell phone or intercom in order to harangue, belittle and berate us that brings a modicum of joy to the day. Plus, at 1,740 miles away, he can’t hear us when we mumble about him being a “cranky ass old fool.” Although, truth be told, as headphone damaged as his hearing is, he doesn’t really hear us even when we’re standing right in front of him; but at least we don’t have to see the veins popping in his neck when he loses it.
The only glitch that might have spoiled the pudding was a little delay on the TV side, which resulted in the guests seem as though they were interrupting the I-Man during the interviews. Actually, if it wasn’t for the fact that our Stage Manager Nat gave us the‘heads up on the technical difficulty, I would’ve just assumed that they, like us, were just sick of listening to him talk and felt the need to jump in just to get a word in edgewise.
We’re a little concerned about his breathing, though one wonders why a man who has chronic emphysema and serious lung issues would ever think that spending three-and-a-half months at almost 7,000 feet above sea level was a good idea. That’s tantamount to somebody hiring Governor David Patterson as an air traffic controller, or Mel Tillis to man a suicide hotline.
The fact remains that the show is just not the same without the Great Man’s physical presence in the room. There is definitely something missing.
Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Excuse me, I have to go back into the studio to tap the next keg.
