During my hiatus, sabbatical, federally imposed incarceration, Mongo managed to get himself interviewed by the local news for a second time, almost twenty years to the month, concerning bicycle related activities.
The first time occurred at the base of the Key Biscayne bridge. It was 1993...and Miami loved rollerblading. Unfortunately, old people, and anyone who wasn't wrestling with how to "come out" to their parents...not so much!
It must be noted that Mongo was an eager participant in the flourishing, South Florida roller hockey scene at that time. This though, is far different than shirt off, short short, performance art, beach side, blading.
Anyway, people around town were bitching that bladers,(and cyclists), were using the sidewalk on the bridge instead of the street and endangering the pedestrians in the process.
Before this moderately interesting story gets any longer, a news truck rolled up on me as I was unloading my bike and I was asked a few questions and my opinion, as a cyclist, on the brewing controversy. They then filmed me and my buddy as we climbed the bridge. Epilogue...the footage still exists on a VHS tape that was stolen by my girlfriend at the time.
My second foray into being a minor part of a local news segment occurred this summer. Mongo's business card may read "Actor/Model/Philanthropist", but on this rare occasion, charity came first.
My cycling team was a sponsor, and a major participant, in the Tour de Cure here in the ATL. Thousands of dollars were raised, a team was assembled, the ride began, and then...it stormed like a mofo! Ten miles from the end of a fast, 100k ride, it rained harder and the wind blew stronger than was safe to be out in on a bicycle. So...we decided to finish anyway. Why? Because that's how we roll...and we're stupid.
When we crossed the finish line, our achievement was so revered that we were literally mobbed by...no one! Everyone had either packed up their shit and left, or were in the process of packing up their shit and leaving. A lonely CBS reporter wandered up to us and asked if anyone wanted to be interviewed on TV.
The entire crew was wet and miserable and just wanted to get dry and go home, so as an experienced interviewee, Mongo stepped up and took one for the team. I have to say...I was good. There was a cool indifference to the weather mixed in with a sincere concern for the event and the participants that projected naturally through the camera. Mongo even got a "nice" from the reporter after we were done. Epilogue...the footage exists on the internet and may surface on this blog one day.
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