BY TOM LAVIS
TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM
I walked into Big Mike’s Barbershop just as the conversation was heating up.
“Sure, he’s purty, but would he be able to handle an area like Dead Man’s Swamp?” asked Spider Horn, who was waiting to get a trim.
“Don’t let his good looks fool you, he’s got a great pedigree and looks like he has the stamina to finish what he starts,” said Bucky Gancos, the once geeky neighbor kid who now is a confirmed bookworm.
As usual, I jumped into the fray without really knowing all the details.
As a trained journalist, I used my powers of observation to determine that from all their hand-waving and expressions on their faces, these guys had to be talking about politics and the presidential campaign.
“I think John McCain is a shoe-in on the Republican side, and Pennsylvania has a good shot at being the state to decide the Democratic nominee,” I said, as I poured myself a cup of coffee.
Tank Perkins, who was in the barber’s chair, called me a fool and told me to sit down and give my powers of observation a rest.
“We’re talking about one of the biggest upsets in the history of the big show,” Tank said.
I once again bulldozed into the conversation by assuming that they had to be talking about the Manning pedigree and the influence it had on Eli’s performance in ending the New England Patriot’s perfect season.
“You’re getting closer, Mr. Newspaper,” Crutch Crupnik said. “The individual we are talking about has three letters in his name, but it’s not Eli. It’s Uno.”
I was just about to explain how I thought Uno was a great family game – simple for kids yet challenging to all ages – when Crutch told me not to even mention the card game.
It turns out these guys were discussing the results of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.
Uno became the first beagle to win best of show award since the show’s inception 132 years ago. That’s 924 in dog years.
“That’s like a Shetland pony winning the Kentucky Derby,” Bucky said. “The judge was a dude by the name of Dr. J. Donald Jones.”
Tank said he thought the J. was for either Jethro or Junior.
“Junior Jones most likely comes from a long line of rabbit hunters, because there’s nothing more satisfying than a lovable beagle that hunts,” Tank said.
But Jones is from Marietta, Ga., a state where marsh rabbits run like lightning because they’re usually dodging water moccasins.
The conversation quickly switched to the best beagle each of us has owned.
“My best dog was Barney,” I chimed in.
Half the guys in the shop had an opportunity to hunt over Barney, and they knew he was a champion even without a cup from Westminster.
“He once brought a rabbit around three times, and I missed the rabbit each time,” Crutch said.
“Barney looked at me on the third pass, and I swear the expression on his face was, ‘How could you have missed again?’ ”
Uno, the 2-year-old, 15-inch-tall beagle, received a round applause that rivaled any ovation even former New York Knicks Patrick Ewing would receive at the Garden.
“I was rooting for the Tibetan mastiff. But Uno is giving the hound world something to howl about,” Crutch said.
“What dog took the toy poodle group?” Big Mike asked as he removed the barber cape from Tank.
We all looked at him quizzically.
“What? My wife owns one and I thought she’d be interested,” Big Mike said. “Quit looking at me like that, I’m a bassett hound man.”
Features
Sniffin' and bawlin' at barbershop | TOM LAVIS
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Events | Arts fitness
“Music and Art for Heart and Soul” will be held from 6 to 10 tonight at Art Works in Johnstown! 413 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.
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'New York City Subway Idol' | Soul, rhythm and blues singer in concert Feb. 18 at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center
Alice Tan Ridley is just as popular above ground as below it. The singer, known as “The New York City Subway Idol,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the Pitt-Johnstown campus in Richland Township.
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All things afield at annual sportsmen's show
Folks who crave the great outdoors will have the chance to get a jump on their adventures by attending the 27th annual Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the Monroeville Convention Center. The show, which runs from Feb. 15-19, is the only western Pennsylvania show dedicated to hunting, fishing and camping. It offers hundreds of exhibitors, dozens of live demonstrations and many seminars presented by experts in their fields of interest.
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Venue of Merging Arts to host Slovak Mardi Gras
Slovak heritage will be the center of attention at an upcoming party. A Slovak Mardi Gras, or Fasiangy, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at Venue of Merging Arts, 305 Chestnut St. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.
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Go jump in a lake | Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge at Que to raise funds for Special Olympics
It takes a hearty soul to jump into a freezing Pennsylvania lake in February and pay money to do it. But that’s what organizers of the first official Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge are counting on. On Saturday, if people donate to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, they can go jump in a lake.
- Area high schools have scheduled spring shows
- Tom Lavis | Coming unglued when trying to peel wallpaper
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Westmont Hilltop High School has reached theatrical milestone
“The Pirates of Penzance” will mark Westmont Hilltop High School’s 50th year of presenting musical theater.
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Curtains rising | Students acting out roles in spring productions
A variety of performances that promise to be entertaining are scheduled for area high school stages.
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Tribute band to play best of Pink Floyd at War Memorial
This arena show will bring the lights and sounds of Pink Floyd. Brit Floyd, billed as the world’s greatest Pink Floyd show, will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.
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