Monday, August 21, 2006

The Montecore Interview

On Sunday, August 20, 2003, I was lucky enough to land a telephone interview with Las Vegas' own, Montecore. What follows is the transcript of our conversation: complete and without edit.

Zeus: Let me just say it is truly an honor to be speaking to you today, Montecore.

Montecore: Core. Call me Core. Everyone does.

Zeus: My apologies. Core it is then.

Montecore: I was a bit hesitant to appear on your blog, but having been out of the limelight for nearly three years I felt it time to come out of the clos-...err, hiding to clear my name.

Zeus: Clear your name in reference to the incident at the MGM Mirage on October 3, 2003?

Montecore: Well, of course, but also the rumors in regards to my jealousy.

Zeus: I hadn't heard anything like that, Core. Why would you be jealous?

Montecore: Because of Siegfried choosing Roy over me.

Zeus: Fascinating! I had no idea.

Montecore: Let me explain. In 2003, we were performing nearly daily at the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas. Night after night, crowds would come to see us perform, and we always brought down the house. However, offstage, my life was hell.

Zeus: Why? What happened?

Montecore: I started noticing towards the end of the summer that Siegfried was spending less and less time at my cage. He wouldn't personally feed me. He wouldn’t come to tuck me in at night. He didn't even glance in my direction when I walked by him. What hurt the most was we never talked anymore. Between the constant performing and my relatio-…err, friendship dying, I felt myself fading physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Zeus: That sounds serious! Why didn’t you just ask Siegfried what was wrong?

Montecore: How could I when he wouldn’t even look me in the eye? I tried to ask Roy if he knew what was up, but all he ever said to me was, “Ich werde dich ausstopfen und auf eBay versteigern!”

Zeus: I’m sorry, but I don’t speak German. What did Roy tell you?

Montecore: Basically, that he would stuff me and sell me on eBay.

Zeus: Holy Knights of Columbus, that’s harsh!

Montecore: Oh, girl, tell me about it. I mean, here I was, stuck in a cage, alone and frightened, and…

Zeus: Umm, excuse me, but I think you may have called me a girl. I’m a guy.

Montecore: Oh yeah, whatever, but listen: So finally, I decided that enough was enough. I was going to find out why Siegfried wasn’t coming to my cage anymore. So during the last week of September, I cornered Roy after one of our performances and said, “Where is Siegfried going this evening? I want to come along too. He and I have to…,” and before I could finish, Roy smacked me across the whisker humps and said, “Er ist meiner, Weibstück!” It was all downhill from there.

Zeus: Do I even want to know what he said to you?

Montecore: Just his typical flames at me. So on that fateful night, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to take orders from Roy anymore. If they wanted me to do what they wanted, Siegfried would have to come face me like a man and tell me himself.

Zeus: You know, I can’t help thinking that this resembles jeal-…

Montecore: It’s not jealousy! I just wanted to talk to him! Now, do you want to hear what happened, or are you going to judge me as well?

Zeus: I wasn’t judging. I was just making an observati-

Montecore: Anyhow! So Roy and I were on the stage in front of a packed house. Roy gave me an order to jump onto the glittering pedastal, but I said to him, “I want to see Siegfried now, bitch!”, and I refused to move. Do you know what he did? He stood in front of me and said, “Wer ist das Weibstück jetzt, Weibstück?”, and he hit me on the nose with his microphone!

Zeus: So the whole excuse that a woman sitting in the front row with an ornately high hairdo overwhelmed you is completely false?

Montecore: Completely! I wasn’t going to have him call me a Weibstück one more time! I grabbed at his sleeve and flung him to the ground! The next thing I remember is having three fire extinguishers in my face and being thrust into my cage.

Zeus: Core, I’m so sorry you had to go through that.

Montecore: [Sniffling can be heard in the background.] I am too. I miss Siegfried. I miss having him come to my cage at night. I miss having him pet my fur. I miss listening to his gentle voice. [Painful sobbing is evident.] It’s just too much sometimes. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to move on from everything we shar-…err, went through together.

Zeus: I’m sure in time that everything will work out for the best, Core. Things always happen for a reason.

Montecore: Maybe it was so I could meet you. [Clears throat.] So what are you doing later this evening?

Zeus: Umm, I’ll be sleeping probably. I always sleep in the evening.

Montecore: No matter. I’ll give you a call later this week. We’ll think of something.

Zeus: I don’t know. My human pet doesn’t really let me out of the house that much.

Montecore: I’m a 600 lb. White Bengal tiger. What’s she going to do to me?

Zeus: True. Ok, I’ll talk to you later!

Montecore: I hear you're amazing. I’m looking forward to it.

18 comments:

Kukka-Maria said...

He sounds dreamy, Zeus! Who knew he was dealing with such jealo...I mean, pain?

I'd ask you for his phone number, but something tells me he's not into chicks. Boo-wah! It would be great to add an actual tiger to my Tomcat Stable!

Carmen said...

I actually saw Mont .... um, Core, at the Mirage. He was always kept in this glass cage with people gawking at him, and he didn't look very happy then, either. He was beautiful to look at, though. You can tell him I said so when you guys go out. ;)

The Meezers or Billy said...

wow Zeus, amazing interview.

cat_aunty said...

Thank you Zeus, for bringing us this interview. Montecore sounds like he has a broken heart. I wish I could give him a hug. Where is he staying now?

Tigersan said...

Beware of the Tiger ;)

Hmmm, what me could do with a REAL tiger... why, me would rule the streets here in Okinawa for sure! And no more begging for food... now, me masters would have to beg for them to not be food ;)

Rascal said...

Leave it to the amazing Zeus to get to the bottom of a story.

Aloysius said...

Zeus,

This was a most enlightening interview. When you talk to Core again, please let him know that he is welcome to join the Church of Catymology, where we celebrate the feline in all of us.

And do come on over to my blog this weekend and join in the festivities of the Carnival of the Cats.

B* said...

Wow you sure got the exclusive!!!
I dont think most humans speak "Cat"...so you had the paws up on that one.
I think you definately have a career in journalism!

Anonymous said...

So now we know the true story! Thanks for shedding some light on the situation! I hope Core will be able to get over his jeal . . . I mean heartache soon!

Unknown said...

wish me luck my friend in my operation! =^^=

Renee Nefe said...

Wow Zeus, what a great interview. I wonder why Seigfreid wasn't "man" enough to tell Core in person that it was over. And I've always been let to believe that S & R were into sharing with the tigers...if you get my drift. And I agree with Carmen that it is very sad to see the tigers on display at the Mirage.
At least the lions at MGM have some beans to chew on when they're bored, the tigers have to stay in the glass pen solo since the big fight incident. They just pace back and forth spraying the pen...so sad.

PrincessMia said...

That was an absolutely intriguing interview. Good job. I am,however, slightly alarmed at the forwardness of 'Core. He was laying it on a little thick, wasn't he?

Lilize said...

dear my!

i had no idea you were a fellow journalist zeus!!!!!!!!!

congrats for the piece and good luck on your dat.. erm, whatever you're up to with this core guy.

just don't take a microphone ok?

Anonymous said...

Fascinating! We always wondered when he would come out...with the real story, that is...

Samantha said...

Zeus,
I think you had better take a chaperone on your "outing" with Core! He sounds like a ... I dont know what he sounds like, just dont go alone OKAY? LOL It's so sad to see someone so heartbroken,
I dont care if he is a little different, or that he's a tiger, and that your a cat, and I'm human and having conversations with a cat...maybe he isnt so different after all? Maybe, just maybe, I'm the one that's different? OMG, I'm going to see a shrink! LOL

Skeezix the Cat said...

Wow, Zeus, this was an amazing, riviting artikul. I didn't realize yoo were an investigative reporter! Good Job!

The Fluffy Tribe said...

Excellent interview. You really captured Core's deep, deep, distress ~Merlin, Shadow, KO KO

Anonymous said...

Great interview Zeus! Poor Mont ... looks like he learned that age old lesson - "men are dogs." From someone whos BTDT, a little catnip goes a long way in restoring your faith in mankind (wink).