ARC Funny Business

Select winners, in fact, still had to face VARBusiness' roving backstage reporter, who interviewed them about their companies' performances in the ARC. The recipients, whose interviews were broadcast live on big screens to all those at the ARC dinner, were hit with some lighthearted inquiries, as well. Fortunately, all of the executives were game and more than happy to play along.

Some of those questions involved things like what ViewSonic would do if it lost one of the three finches in its logo, the whereabouts of IBM's somewhat low-profile chief Lou Gerstner, and Computer Associates' search for a Zamboni driver for the recently acquired New York Islanders hockey team.

But one of the biggest laughs of the night came from Cisco's Tom Mitchell, vice president of worldwide channels, who was jokingly asked by VARBusiness if he hitched a free ride on CEO John Chambers' private jet to get to the ceremony. A quick-thinking Mitchell dispelled that rumor in style, noting that because Cisco is a frugal company, he got little more than a

Greyhound bus ticket, a six-pack of soda and a Butterfinger bar to get him through the trip.

Let's give Mitchell some extra points for being a team player.