CMT Blog: Country in the Rockies

Hi again, CMT Blog fans. Adam Black here from CMT Outsider blogging about another beautiful day in Steamboat Springs, Colo. It’s the last day for Country in the Rockies, a charity event benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation and its fight against leukemia, cancer, and AIDS. And I’ve been doing my part too, throwing my celebrity around to help get people psyched about giving to the cause. Today, for example, I threw my celebrity around quite a bit — down various sides of a snowy mountain. Also, I got stuck (or “buried” as they call it up here) snowmobiling whilst trying to catch up with Darryl Worley. He was going AWFULLY fast for someone who knew I was trying to keep up. THEN, I saw Troy Gentry at the breakfast buffet. I said hello, and he just reached past me to grab an English muffin. It’s almost as if the people here are unaware of my celebrity status! And the more I try to make them aware, the more mean looks I receive.

But still, I press on, because cancer isn’t going to cure itself. Also, pay no attention to the press that MIGHT report I was trying to sneak into the Celebrity Ski Race. I was simply standing at the starting gate to cheer on Wayne Wong’s team. Yes, I had a number pinned to my chest and had dressed up like Eddie Montgomery, but that was just to show TEAM SPIRIT. Ever heard of team spirit, Mr. Steamboat Springs Chronicle reporter?! Apparently not! But again, don’t pay attention to any of that slander.

All in all, Country in the Rockies turned out to be hugely beneficial to the cause. The T.J. Martell people were awfully nice to us, and the hotel they put us up at even let me have one of those pre-pasted toothbrushes because I left mine at home. Yep, with folks as friendly as those from the T.J. Martell Foundation, we’ll find a cure, and have a great time doing it. Bye from snowy Steamboat Springs. I’m your faithful blogger, Adam Black, wishing you a very merry week of whatever it is you do.

Hi everybody on the CMT Blog! Adam Black from CMT Outsider here, sharing some of my thoughts from Country in the Rockies here in Steamboat Springs, Colo. And let’s begin with this thought: For some people, skiing means cutting a path in new fallen snow. For me, skiing means cutting my face on a rock when I’ve newly fallen.

I thought skiing on snow wouldn’t be much different than skiing on water. After all, they ARE the same basic element — H20. However, I should have realized I was in trouble when they didn’t offer “wake or knee-board” as a rental option at the ski lodge. You see, because I told CMT that I was an expert skier, they decided to enter me in the “celebrity” ski race at Country in the Rockies, a benefit to raise awareness and money for leukemia research. Skiers included Darryl Worley, Montgomery Gentry, Lucy Angel, Blue County — and me. Oh, I know what you’re thinking: “Wait, Adam’s not a celebrity!?” And if you’re thinking that, you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong! The Latin for celebrity is “celebrate,” and I am someone who celebrates, so I am absolutely a celebrity. The other Latin meaning is “celibate.” And, I don’t know about Darryl, but my wife wouldn’t be too happy if THAT were the case.

So, celebrity I am, and on the slopes I stood. But not for long — no sooner had the starting pistol fired that Darryl whizzed by me, knocking me off balance. I toppled over and did a pitiful cartwheel just 10 feet down the slope. Part of my problem is that the only thing I really learned in ski school was “snowplow to stop.” Well, YOU try to snowplow while turning a cartwheel. It’s quite ineffective. So, that was my afternoon. Laid out on the snow. Jeering laughter filling my ears.

By the way, I didn’t make the trial cut. Darryl’s team is in, though — even though I KNOW he knocked me over on purpose. But I can’t be too mad at him. He and the other artists and guests have already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancer, leukemia and AIDS research for the T.J. Martell Foundation. Tomorrow, Darryl and I are going snowmobiling. I’ve never been snowmobiling before. Should be fun.

One more thing! After the ski race, we all headed off to the big concert. Got some cool shots behind the scenes, before there was some kind of misunderstanding and the guard threw me out face first into the snow. I’m thawing the right side of my body as we speak. In fact, I had to type this whole blog with my left hand only. I’m sure the feeling will return to my right side by morning, though. Yeah, I’m sure it will. Talk to you again later!