Chi-Town Shindig!

Well, the sports medicine room after the event in Chicago looked like Pierce and Hawkeye should have been around performing some sort of wartime operations. I know, that's a MASH reference. I'm an '80's guy.

Chris Shivers busted up his face and did not look pretty. Of course, all our best to him. Ednei and J.B. were both hobbled a bit, and everyone else was just sore. It's that time of year.

This week in Des Moines is stop number 19, which means guys are getting beat up and TIRED! I know it's time for a break when even I have little nagging injuries and soreness. Injury report for Flint: Pulled muscle in rib cage while throwing t-shirts to crowd. Prognosis...Wuss!

It doesn't really matter how I hurt myself, it still hurts really bad when I cough.

We did have a great time in Chi-town. I even stated during the show on the last day that I was pleasantly surprised at how great the fans were there. I am slowly learning this year, however, that I should never be surprised at great fans because it is getting to be the norm everywhere we go.

But I started out talking about soreness and injuries this week because I think people should know that there are some tired guys on tour. Everyone from crew members to announcers to bullfighters to funny guys are starting to feel the burn a little bit.

Don't get me wrong, nobody is going to give any less effort in Iowa this week. As a matter of fact, we know we have a break coming up, so you will probably see some renewed energy out there.

Being tired doesn't just mean physically tired. Everyone has been on the road since the end of December, so it is as much mental and emotional exhaustion as it is the body hurting. You can see it in riding percentages. It drops off this time of year because of all the consecutive events.

Even if a guy is healthy and feels good physically, it's just hard to get "up" week after week.

Again, this is not a sympathy request this week, I just think it's something to be aware of. If some of us aren't as perky in the hotel lobby these last couple weeks, chances are we're just...well...really tired of hotel lobbies.

Anyway, I know my 40-year-old knees ain't quite what they used to be, but it dang sure beats a "real" job.

After all of that, I am really anxious for our Iowa event this week. I did some figuring, and I calculated that in my career I have performed in 37 different states, plus Canada, Mexico, and Australia. But I have never even been to Iowa!

I just have a feeling that it's going to be another small-town feelin', Midwest actin', wound-up crowd. The bullfighters and I were commenting on the fact that even though we are ready for a break, we're glad that we are going to a place like Des Moines before a little rest. It's also tons of fun to go to a place that the PBR has never been.

I want all the fans to know that I receive a lot of your requests to do things during the show. Everything from birthday requests to material you might like to see. I do what I can, but I don't want you to think I'm ignoring the wishes of the paying customer.

I like to hear from fans on what material you like to see, because, frankly, I forget about some of the things that I've done during certain shows that are entertaining. I can't get to all of it because my breaks that I fill in the show are so dictated by TV.

We haven't had a "live" TV night in a few weeks, so I have been missing what we call "hard" breaks-those 3 or 4-minute commercials. That's when I really do some in-depth comedy material. On tape-delay shows, the commercials are only about a minute and a half, so I'm more limited and have to incorporate more impromptu stuff between rides.

The birthday requests are tough. Usually if I do a birthday wish, it's sort of on the fly. Maybe somebody brought a cool sign or they're turning 107. When I do one, it's amazing how many people have a birthday that day. It's like getting the free sundae at Applebee's. Is it really your birthday, or do you just want the goofy song?

Keep the signs in the crowd coming, though. That's my favorite thing, and it's the best way to get me to meet your request or for you to get noticed.

I'm getting lots of work done at home on my days off, especially since I bought a brand new Montana Tractor, official tractor of the PBR. Check them out at www.montanatractors.com . You should always go out of your way to support our sponsors. They know, also, that PBR fans are as loyal as they come.

With that, pick Enterprise, we'll pick you up! Talk to you next week. Laugh Always, Flint.