Interview #1, Jeff Clawson a.k.a. The Claw
alright folks, interview #1 is in the record books. my good friend Jeff Clawson is the first test subject in our fancy new feature "Interviews". i hope everyone enjoys this new feature. please leave comments with additional questions for Jeff and suggestions for future interviews and questions.
dhblog: Jeff, you are known as the Claw to those who love you and i am all about nicknames. where does this nickname come from?
JC: Once I sink the Claws in, you're gonna get hurt.
dhblog: Claw, is it beer then liquor...never sicker, or liquor then beer...you're in the clear?
JC: I have tried both in the last week and there's NO DIFFERENCE.
dhblog: Claw, you are known to make your way around at bike races to chat with everyone. what is the best story you heard this year while out and about at the races?
JC: Last year at one of the first RMRs I was attacking off the front of the Bs when the As passed us. I swear I saw some other Bs get in the A pack so I snuck in. Next thing you know I was riding around trying to hide so Marek wouldn't see me. Every time we passed the start/finish I would ride over to the right side of the pack and hide out. I thought I was going to win! I figured I could ride in there until a few laps to go, then slide off and act like a big breakaway. I guess Marek has seen it all... they soon found me out and I was asked to "get the #*%@" out of there. Hey I was pumped, but none of the Bs thought it was cool. I would do it again for sure.
dhblog: what is the Claw's prediction for 2006 Tour de France?
JC: Richard Virenque will make a comeback but as a sprinter. Our own "Z" will take the overall win with Ivan Basso shagging his bottles. And Odessa Leipheimer will steal the spotlight from everyone.
dhblog: what is the Claw's prediction for 2006 cycling in Utah?
JC: RMR will have huge fields, and the weekend races will die off from apathy. T$ will make a spectacular comeback wearing horizontal stripes. Oh yeah, and I will kick ass.
dhblog: i know you dig the Harley Davidson motorcycles. what is your spec.? what would your dream ride be?
JC: Ride Free is my motto. There's nothing worse that seeing a Harley Davidson just hanging from a hook in the garage, so get out and ride. Old school, bare bones, bobber. Trailer queens and coontails need not apply.
dhblog: what will you be pedaling for 2006?
JC: Big Wheel with streamers, full body armor and towing a trailer loaded up with Playboys.
dhblog: Claw, your initials are JC. how do you feel about your initials matching up with the ultimate iconoclast, the Jesus Christ? does it influence you in any way?
JC: Well if I was the original JC I would be PISSED OFF. It only influences me in that I, too, am pissed off.
a big thank you to The Claw. as i said, if anyone has additional questions for the claw, please post them to comments or email me directly. sounds to me like The Claw mixed his cold medicine with the liquor and beer before he answered my questions. maybe that should be the requirement for these interviews...i'll think about it.
p.s. Stallone, a hellish 5 hours on the trainer in the basement pain cave makes you just a bit crazier than enjoying the rain and snow outside. it also improves your pain tolerance, both mental and physical. i know, i know Stallone, you'll be out doing spints in hip deep snow carrying a large tree branch over your shoulders. yes, i actually did do 5 straight last winter. it took a few days to not be angry. oh yeah, Mr T. says, "i pity the fool who has to deal with DH after 5 hours on the trainer!"
i wonder what T$ is up to right now...