For the Pun of It - Steve Brooks

"Puns. Mere mention of the word elicits groans from otherwise polite people. Puns are words exploited shamelessly for humorous effect, wrung for every single drop of meaning. They've been called "the lowest form of humor," and, as a friend of mine says, "there's a special place in hell for pun-makers." But is their pungent reputation justified?

Steve Brooks would know. The six-time winner and reigning champion of the O.Henry Pun-Off World Championships admits that life as a compulsive punster can be difficult. When asked what his first big break was, for instance, he says it was when someone threatened to break his jaw if he didn't shutup. Puns can put off the less appreciative, and habitual punning took a toll on Brooks social life. "Until I moved to Austin," he adds, "where people will turn out by the hundreds to watch me pun."

- Steve Brooks, Austin, TX

Go to Steve's site to read his amazing puns!