CALL OF THE FERRET
JOHN RASMUS, EDITOR, 1979–1990
“The King of the Ferret Leggers” (February-March 1983) sorely stress-tested some advice I’d gotten from one of Outside’s founders, Tim Cahill: Don’t pander to the readers. Find great writers and let them do the stories they want to do.
So. In 1982, Don Katz, a friend and highly accomplished longform journalist, proposed a story on Reg Mellor, the 72-year-old champion of an odd English competition called ferret legging. The sport was simple: contestants stuffed panicky, razor-toothed ferrets down their baggy pants, cinched them up, and endured the resulting mayhem as long as possible. According to Katz, Mellor was unexcelled at “keepin’ ’em down.” Ralph Steadman, the famous gonzo artist, would illustrate it. “And,” Katz assured us helpfully, “it takes place outside.” Done.…