CMT Blog: Archive

Snakeman

Today CMT's All Jacked Up is taking a drive about an hour outside of Dallas to meet Jackie Bibby, also known as "The Texas Snakeman." As I arrive at the location, a group of handlers are beginning to build a wooden-sided pit to hold more than 100 Western Diamondback rattlers. Now, I am not a snake lover. All right -- the damn things scare me to death. As the pit is finished, the handlers begin to unload pallets of snakes ranging in size from little to downright scary. They pile up in the pit with the sound of the snakes filling the air. They don't sound happy. Apparently they become more agitated in the heat and it's starting to get warm out here under the Texas sun. The handlers are casual as they walk among the coiled rattlers, the snakes striking at their leather boots angrily. A crowd is beginning to gather on the small ranch location. I'm beginning to sweat....

A truck pulls up and out climbs the "Snakeman." I step up to meet this Texas legend, sticking a hand out in greeting. Bibby grabs my extended right hand with his left. I glance down and the reason is clear -- his right is curled into a painful claw, marked by scars and stitches with a bloody band-aid across the palm. A large "S" shaped scar runs from wrist to elbow. The hand he grips me with also sports its share of injuries. The thumb is mostly missing above the first joint. Bibby wears a black bowler on his bald head. He smiles at me with a contagious grin and steps into the snake pit.

"Come on in." He drawls, followed by a chuckle. His crew joins in. One of them holds a large snake up in invitation.

I take a deep breath. "Actually, I'm fine out here." Their laughter picks up a notch. The snakes curled around Bibby's boots. This was going to be one of those afternoons ...

World's Tallest Motorcycle

Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of a motorcycle that stands nearly two stories high. Having the opportunity to drive this beast through the streets of Stockton, Calif., made me feel a bit like Brangelina out for a walk with the newborn. The attention was amazing. Everyone I passed had pretty much the same reaction -- their jaws dropped and the cell phones appeared. From that height I had a great view of every double-take and excited call. It truly put the "joy" in "joyride." This is one beautifully crafted machine that you have to see to believe.