Okay, I can always tell it again. It's really more of a Muppet story than a Redskins story, but here goes.
Back in 2008, Art Monk and Darrell Green were set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and like many of you I was excited. I wanted to be a part of it. Luckily, I was working at WAMU at the time and so I pitched my boss a story. Even though NPR doesn't do a lot of sports, I suggested that this would be a good thing to cover not only because of its football value but because we could use it as a way to talk about at risk children. It could be a story about making good on several levels. I got the green light and reached out to Darrell Green's foundation.
They expressed excitement about the idea. This was about three months before Canton. I was told Darrell would absolutely want to do this, but they would have to get back to me on when. I agreed. And waited. And waited. And waited. I followed up. They assured me that Darrell was "all in" and that they just had to work out his schedule as it was so busy. They promised to get back to me really soon. So, I waited and waited and waited some more. And then, I followed up. After that, I followed up again. About ten days before Darrell was set to fly off to Ohio, I tried one last time. I let them know that these kinds of pieces were pegged to a date. After the ceremony it would be a bit harder. They said, "Well, if you need an actual date we'll have to pass."
I was stunned. It was the first piece I'd ever failed to deliver. More, we'd been talking for three months with them constantly promising me that it would happen. I sat dejected on the metro and thought about how I would tell the boss. Across from me was a poster for the Fantastic World of Jim Henson" exhibit at the Smithsonian. Grabbing my cellphone, I called and apologized and proposed the switch. The boss told me, "Sure. Henson has a local connection, but if we're going to do this you have to do it right now. The exhibit is already open."
So, I called up the Smithsonian and they said, "Yes, we'd love to, but..." and my heart sped up, "if you're going to do this you have to come first thing in the morning."
I immediately agreed.
It turns out that the reason for the Smithsonian wanting me there so quickly was that Jane Henson (JIm's widow) was in town to review the installation and they wanted me to talk to her. So, that day I interviewed her, her daughter and the next day Dave Goelz (Gonzo.)
Afterwards, I got an email from Dave saying the interview was one of the best he'd ever been part of and he asked me if I'd be willing to work on an homage about Jim with them. So, because I got strung along and eventually ghosted by Darrell Green I wound up having one of my best geeky experiences of my life. I wrote sketches with the Muppets, voiced some skits, and interviewed a whole punch of the puppet builders, performers, and writers. I even got to put my hand inside the drawer of eyeballs and sit on the Dark Crystal throne. It was an amazing six months. Afterwards, they asked me to work on a second documentary. Even better, we still keep in touch.
So, sometimes Redskins disappointment leads you to something great.
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