Ask Ted Nugent: The Nuge Weighs In on Hunting, Gibson Byrdlands, Absolutism and Ballsiness

Ted Nugent: 

Introducing a new blog, "Ask Ted Nugent"In this first
installment, Ted discusses hunting, why he's not in
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his beloved Gibson
Byrdlands.

On the importance of hunting in his life: My hunting lifestyle is the ultimate soul cleanser and "re-creator" of my spirit and energy. Venison is the rocket fuel for the healthiest life, and the hunting procedure is the last perfect environmental and spirit positive function available to mankind. I like to think of my life as downright perfect. It's thrilling living such a full, gratifying life so I live it to the max every day. 

On his Gibson Byrdlands: The mighty Gibson Byrdland guitar is a magical piece of American craftsman artwork that has a musical voice all its own. A beast of an instrument that was created to provide a limitless pallet for creative sonic bombast and musical adventure that called my name from the very 1st time I witnessed its power in the hands of Jimmy McCarty of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels way back around 1961. This custom guitar is capable of more sounds than a normal human being is capable of dreaming of. But since I am not a normal human being, our love affair continues to produce soul cleansing and crotch inspiring sounds and love songs for the masses. 

On why the music industry so liberal: Why do you think they call it dope? If they aren't currently stoned, they live in a cloud of denial due to their self imposed insulation from discomforting reality. Pathetic, really. 

On why he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: I am unable to back off critical issues and play braindead politically correct games so that fools can continue their embarrassing denial of historical and current truth and evidence. Real music lovers increase their love for my music as my absolutism and ballsiness increases. 

On why being grounded is so important: I was raised to discipline myself to be the absolute best that I can be every day of my life in everything that I do. I am surrounded by the greatest, hardest-working team in the world. My amazing family, band, crew, management, production team, everybody in the Nugent camp are ass-kicking animals of the highest order.

On his most immediate influences: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, the godfathers of American R&B&R&R outrage. These guys knew they were making unprecedented, outrageous music that scared the living hell out of status quo sheep, and instead of obeying when told to tame it, they instead got more intense and more outrageous. 

On the two free songs available on his website:

I Still Believe: I still believe in Americans with positive spirit, Herculean work ethic and a drive to be the very best that we can be. In spite of the suicidal path of the soulless Obama destructo derby, I still believe there are more Americans who love America than hate her.

I Love My BBQ: I have hunting and fishing buddies everywhere with fresh pure protein on hand at all times! Life is a BBQ and I love/crave every killin' and grillin' minute of it!

On why he pisses off so many people: In a world gone soft, a person like me who is virtually fearless to speak my mind appears over the top to soulless sheep. I am in charge of my life and it causes losers much anguish. That's just a bonus to being the best that I can be.

Ted Nugent is ... Ted Nugent! Check out his website for more information.

Adebayor still bears the scars from Togo tragedy

The former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester
City striker made a scoring debut for Tottenham
at Wolves last weekend

It seemed like just an ordinary day. But the awful events of January 10, 2010 changed the way Tottenham's new striker views the world, as he tells Nick Szczepanik.

Emmanuel Adebayor wants to be loved. That makes it hard to explain his decision to join Tottenham Hotspur, whose supporters have abused him for scoring against them regularly and often, particularly for Arsenal – but he has come through far worse ordeals. He survived an armed attack on the Togo team bus in Angola during the 2010 African Cup of Nations in which team-mates were wounded and officials lost their lives and so has a better perspective than most on football's place in the scheme of things.

"When you realise that I was one minute from passing away, it's all nothing," he said. "I tell myself: 'Adebayor, just live your life.' People got shot two seats in front of me. When you have been through those things, you're another person. 

"On the eighth of January 2010 it could have been Adebayor gone, finished, over. In Madrid last season there were games I wasn't playing, but I was just enjoying life, laughing when I came on because I was a footballer and I had a chance to play. 

"When you're younger and you haven't been through things, you don't understand. If I'm told to sit on the bench I'll be happy to. 

"We woke up on 8 January, we were going to the African Cup of Nations, we were singing on the bus, we ended up carrying a dead body back home. Playing only 10 minutes, being on the bench, those things are nothing." 

Adebayor, who joined Manchester City after three-and-a-half seasons at Arsenal, is no longer part of City manager Roberto Mancini's plans, and is on a season-long loan at White Hart Lane after a similar arrangement with Real Madrid last season. 

"I want to feel love again and I had a good discussion on the phone with the boss, Harry Redknapp, and he showed me the ambition, where the club wanted to go to," Adebayor said. "I'm here and very happy. I'm loved by my team-mates and I love all the players." 

Today he will find out how 30,000 more people feel about him as he makes his home debut against Liverpool in front of fans who, as recentlyas April's Champions' League tie against Real, targeted him with chants described as having racist undertones by Kick It Out, the anti-racist group. 

He feels no animosity. "It's forgiven," he said. "If I didn't forgive anyone, I wouldn't be wearing the Tottenham shirt today. If I score a couple of goals, they will be singing my name again. Fans are sometimes funny but those are the ones that make the game interesting. 

"It's football, the fans are passionate about it. They were upset because I was scoring goals against Tottenham [10 in 14 matches]. Today I play for them, we have to love each other and work in the same direction." 

In a fortnight that will mean facing Arsenal, having already roused the ire of his former fans with an extravagant celebration after scoring against them for Manchester City at Eastlands. 

"I had the chance to play for Arsenal, I had a fantastic moment, they made me one of the best strikers in the world. But you have to move on. 

"What happened at Man City was a big mistake. I regret doing that – not scoring, but my celebration. But, trust me, if I have to score against Arsenal again, I will do it. I'm a footballer, I have to be a professional on the pitch." 

However, Adebayor admits that he fell out with Mancini, and his time at City ended with him and Craig Bellamy, now with today's opponents, so far out of favour that they trained with the youth team. 

"They asked us to do that as a punishment but we did it in a positive way. Today [Bellamy] is with Liverpool and I wished him the best of luck. Hopefully I'll have the chance to exchange his shirt. But if they've lost... If I'm not happy maybe I can keep things in for a couple of days, but Bellamy can't keep it in for one minute." 

He would have stayed with Real if an offer had been made. "Politically Madrid is difficult, and it's not just one man," he said. "If it was up to [Jose] Mourinho I could be there now, because I'm happy what I did there last season. But he's not the person who can decide. He can ask, and I think he did, but he gave me the advice to come to Tottenham and I have huge respect for him." 

He likens Redknapp to Mourinho in his man-management, and revealed that Redknapp promised to do everything in his power to keep Spurs competitive by retaining Luka Modric. Adebayor scored on his Spurs debut – as he did for Arsenal, City and Real – at Wolves eight days ago and believes that a top-four finish is possible, as is extending his stay. 

"I've got to enjoy myself and then there is a [chairman], manager and the fans – everyone will decide if they want to keep me for another year. As a player you always want to stay at a club where you have fun, but I still belong to Man City and who knows, if I finish top scorer in the League, City will call me back. Sometimes football can be very funny. At the end of the season we'll see – I'll be more than happy to stay here." 

That could be connected to his becoming a father, adding to responsibilities he has taken on in Africa. He has paid to rebuild a school and two hospitals in Togo and backed a drinking water scheme in Ghana. "We always have to give something back," he said. "I come from one of the smallest countries in the world to where I am today and I'm blessed. I started from a place where I didn't even have any boots, today I have everything I wanted. I've played in all the big games around Europe. 

"I've worked hard, but you need luck as well to be there at the right moment, and without self-belief, with all that happened after I left Arsenal, I wouldn't have kept going. People try to criticize you or write some stuff on my Twitter, but it gives me motivation. It means these people have taken time and they have respect and love for you. When there is no message from anyone on Facebook or Twitter, then I'll start panicking. Then I'll know the love is gone."