cheering , when they ’ re booing – they ’ re hanging on your every word .”
Not only does Bader Jr . play an intricate role behind the scenes , but he also announces Night Under Fire . “ I ’ m the guy in the tux as the ringmaster in the center ring , so it ’ s just fun to entertain people , and it makes you feel good that you know that you ’ re making 40,000 people feel good . Whatever their problems are of the day , whatever personal problems , whatever family problems , whatever work problems , if we can get them to check those at the door , so to speak , and come in for an evening , and have the good fortune of being allowed to entertain them , that ’ s the best part of all .”
The past 46 years have been a journey for Bader Jr ., one that he plans to continue because he believes the event is good for the sport as a whole .
“ My dad left big shoes to fill ,” Bader Jr . admits . “ I wanted to build on what my father started here . I never wanted to maintain the status quo . I never wanted to be the kid that rode in on his father ’ s coattails . I never wanted to be accused of being the kid with the silver spoon .
“ My goal was to maintain our core competencies , to maintain the things that got us to the dance , but make it bigger , make it better , grow the event , add seats , continue to reinvent the facility , continue to entertain , but do it in a bigger , better , more profound way ,” Bader Jr . continues . “ I ’ m not going to say that it wasn ’ t challenging because it certainly was , but it ’ s also been the fact that we ’ ve continued to grow all these years . Now , we have multiple generations of family members coming here .
CRUZ PEDREGON
TII THARPE
RON CAPPS
ROBERT HIGHT TAKES ON RON CAPPS
130 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 184