On finding a different way to explain Fernando Medoza. On covering Kobe during his second championship spree. On tracking down players from LeBron's draft class. On media survival and the power of the elite name, "Jeff."

On the recent Awful Announcing article, ""Jeff Pearlman apologizes after YouTuber catches him plagiarizing video on former Yankees phenom." On what is YouTube plagiarism. On a career covering media.

On losing interest in the bullshit of it all. On red carpet work and Sally Field rudeness. On a love for basketball and an indifference toward celebrity.

On the joys of covering Phil Garner and the perils of covering Davey Lopes. On Bud Selig as a good guy and Milwaukee as a great baseball town. On working your way up through the newspaper ranks.

On feeling like you're not as good a writer as you once were. On the magic of college football at LSU. On Tommy Hearns and Andre Rison and Emmitt Smith. On three unpublished books sitting in a Walmart crate.

On Chris Johnson, ALS and what football does to the brain. On whether the NFL should exist. On what people don't understand about their own bodies and health. On leaving journalism for more noble pursuits.

On writing about your lowest life moments in an effort to help others. On why writing still matters. On the impact of words. On Grant Wahl and the 2026 World Cup.

On funny v. not funny; on how addiction impacts performing; on tragedy's role in finding a voice; on the late Jerry Rocha

On the state of journalism education in 2026. On how to teach writing and reporting. On great students, good students, bad students. On life as a newspaper columnist back in the day.