The naked truth

Just came across a terrific column by Rick Reilly in ESPN The Magazine. He talks about all of the naked athletes he has had to interview over the many years of his career.

It hit home with me, for sure. As the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders beat writer for the past 11 seasons, I've chatted with guys wearing little more than a smile (or scowl, as the case may be). It can get quite uncomfortable.

Some guys immediately grab a towel to wrap around their waists when you ask if you can talk to them. Some guys don't.

I remember being a rookie-ish reporter covering a Kernels game way back when who went into then-manager Tom Lawless' office for a postgame conversation. He had just climbed out of the shower. I introduced myself, he looked at me, dropped his towel, crossed his arms and said "What do you need?"

Ah, the glamorous life of a sports reporter. At any rate, I have always subscribed to one theory when it comes to interviewing guys au natural: never look down.

Here's a link to Reilly's column:

http://is.gd/45tAY