Rudolph talks reindeer games

Reindeer Games — Reporter Jason Ferguson talks to Santa’s front man, Rudolph, in an exclusive interview. The red-nosed reindeer talked about his job, rumors and his personal life.

By Jason Ferguson

With Christmas only days away, things are busier than ever at Santa’s workshop. Before Santa and his trusty reindeer take flight, however, the Custer County Chronicle was able to land an interview with the “most famous reindeer of all,” Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer. Rudolph sat down with our Jason Ferguson to discuss red noses, rooftop landings and other Christmas-related topics.
Jason: OK, let’s get to it. Why is your nose red?
Rudolph: Well, it isn’t any one thing. It’s a little bit magic, a little bit of a birth mark, and a little bit allergies. I’m constantly blowing my nose. I go through a box of Kleenex every few days. Hay fever.
Jason: Is there a lot of pressure being at the lead of the sleigh?
Rudolph: Not really. With today’s technology, we don’t even really need to know where we’re going. GPS and autopilot take us where we need to go. Sure, I still light the way, but Garmin leads the way.
Jason: How much of the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” song is true?
Rudolph: Some of it is true. Some of it has been embellished over the years.
Jason: Which parts are embellished?
Rudolph: Well, for starters, the other reindeer play Magic the Gathering and Parcheesi. I could not care less if they let me join in their reindeer games.
Jason: What about the “Then one foggy Christmas Eve.....” part?
Rudolph: Well, that’s partly true. When we left that night, it was actually a crystal-clear night. Me being a rookie, I was close to the sleigh, toward the back of the formation. Dasher was in the lead. But then, when we got to Los Angeles, we couldn’t hardly see where we were going. But it wasn’t fog—it was smog. I was bumped up to the front of the sleigh because of my nose, and the rest is history.
Available only in the print version of the Hill City Prevailer, to subscribe call 605.574.2538.