The Interview
Scoop Palazzo: Johnny, it's a pleasure meeting you. Let's get the ball rolling here---how does it feel to be the 2009 Piganapolis 500 champion?
Johnny Derango: Scoop, let me just say, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I’ve been a big fan of your column for some time now. I truly believe your insights into the NPPL have been invaluable to the average Pig Passer and to the growing of the fan base.
To answer your question, I cannot begin to tell you how great it feels to finally have a title. I feel as if up until this point my Pig Passing career has been a series of near misses. As you know I exploded on the Pig scene back in 2005, when I challenged Perry Day in what has become know as the greatest series in MASTER’S history! It was devastating to go 7 games and come within 1 point of being the best in the world.
After that series I truly believed I was destined to be one of the best passers of all time. I felt I would come back the next year and easily take the crown, however it didn’t exactly work out that way. I was a rookie phenom, who had a horrible sophomore slump. After my 2nd place Master’s finish, I had a 3rd place finish in Madness the following year but haven’t been back at the head of the pack since.
That said, having a title means the world to me!
Scoop: This is your first title since you joined the
NPPL back in 2005. Does it now feel like you have a
monkey off your back?
J Derango: The monkey is officially off my back. I have
to admit, after Cosh oinked, I thought to myself there is no
way I can possibly lose now, but as the tournament continued
on there were some serious moments of self doubt. I had
been this close before and failed… Was it my destiny to be the
guy who was always close to winning but wasn’t a closer? It
was a tough mental block to get over, but I stuck to my plan and
never deviated away from my strategy. In the end it was the
right move and I have a title to show for it!
Scoop: You have been known to rattle & harass opponents.
Is this something you consciously do, or is it just in your DNA
to be a dick?
J Derango: While some may say being a dick is in my DNA, I have consciously worked at creating a persona for myself in the pig world. I want people to know before they ever play me that they are in for more than a game. They are in for a mental war. I think there is no better example of this that when I played Ben Roe in Madness 1. I was ready to do anything to win. I could clearly see that he had been hitting the bottle pretty hard all day and was not far from passing out. In his drunkenness I sensed an opening. It was about this time that I suggested we take shots for just about anything during our series. What Ben didn’t know was that when he would take a shot, I would fake mine. Twenty minutes later he was lying on the ground and I was writing in victories by default!
Scoop: Your brother Luke is now a Master, along with about 3 other new members. How do you feel about all the new additions & subtractions? Is it good or bad for the Masters division? Some people have said it's become too mainstream and lost it's edge.....
J Derango: I have to say I’m really proud of how the current Masters reacted to the addition of the new Masters. I think my brother along with Rich Washofsky and Ashley Hurd were brilliant additions. If I’m forgetting anyone else is that group, well they really aren’t worth remembering. I was really disappointed to see Matt Breen go and I can only hope that Sean Walsh doesn’t let his Masters status lapse. Aside from that I think the NPPL is growing in a bigger and better way than ever before.
Scoop: You're now one of the most senior members of the
Masters roster & a member of the newly formed Masters
Board of Pigs.. How does it feel to have that much added
responsibility?
J Derango: I don’t so much see being a senior member of the
NPPL and my involvement in the Board as added
responsibility but as a privilege. I’m proud to be a part of the
current NPPL and a part of its history.
Scoop: Speaking of the Masters, who would you consider your
toughest and most formidable opponents?
J Derango: As far as opponents go I have made it very clear
in saying, I will never truly consider myself a champion until I win
an event that Perry Day, Adam Meyer and Cosh are all playing in.
If put on the spot I would have to say that I personally see Cosh
as the strongest Pig player on the bunch. There is a cold
calculated manner to his Passing. If the guy turned out to be a
serial killer I wouldn’t be surprised.
Scoop: What do you think of the new Chicago branch of the NPPL that Perry Day has started? It sounds like it's quickly gaining a level of notoriety that LA has.......
J Derango: I think the Chicago branch of the NPPL is a very exciting thing. Perry has always been a leader in expanding the Pigs and I wish him an incredible amount of success with the Chicago chapter. I hope to someday soon play in one of there events.
Scoop: Now with your new championship under your belt, how do you feel about your Los Angeles Pig Madness V chances this summer?
J Derango: As far as Pig Madness goes, I can’t begin to fathom not making the playoffs. Johnny Derango is back in a big way and will be a major presence in the winner’s circle in the coming days and years
Scoop: Perry Day has openly gone on record saying that he owns your ass in the NPPL. Any thoughts? Also, Gary Williams was quoted as saying that until your name is "engraved" on something, you can talk smack. Do you agree with either?
J Derango: This has got to be my favorite question of the day… Yes, Williams has long berated me over the fact that I did not hold a title. Every time I would mention my pig passing skills he loved to throw that in my face. Of course that was quickly met by my response of “Gary when you won your title, I was
still in high school!” Williams hasn’t won a title in the modern
era of NPPL. Also if I’m not mistaken when he won his title,
there was a field of something like 6, not the current 12 man field.
Perry says a lot of things… While Perry as a person may leave a
lot to be desired, you really have to respect what he does with his
pigs. The guy is a true competitor and a multiple Master’s winner.
As far as owning my ass goes, that’s a bit of an overstatement.
I can think of at least one tournament where I swept him in a best
of 3 series.
I do have to say, after my victory at the Piganapolis,
Williams did come up to me, congratulate me and tell me how much
I deserved it with what looked like a tear in his eye. I think it may
have been the first time Williams ever said anything nice to me!
Scoop: Well, thank you Johnny! It's been a pleasure. Just be sure
not to leave Madness with a crumpled up scorecard this time
around......
Derango: I make no promises Scoop!
Exclusive interview with JOHNNY DERANGO
by Scoop Palazzo July 1, 2009
Johnny Derango claims to be the first Pass the Pigs player to have an agent
Greeting his adoring fans after a victory
Derango tries to increase his luck anyway he can!
Enjoying another victory in style
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I met Johnny Derango out for lunch at the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Blvd shortly after his Piganapolis title. When we met, he was beaming with pride & wouldn't stop asking me what I thought of his victory. "Am I taken seriously now, Palazzo? Do I have your respect?" was a question he asked numerous times before the interview began.
Maybe it was because I was hungover from a bender the night before, but Derango was wearing on my last nerve that day. From the tone of his voice to the way he carried himself, right down to the shit-eating grin the guy was wearing all day---I wanted to knock the fucker out. But a journalist has responsibilities. So I bit my tongue, made nice, drank a few PBR's and let the asshole have his moment in the sun. This is my report......
