Best sports personality you've ever covered...

Gus Frerotte
Marcus Slaughter (San Diego State basketball)
David Wells
David Wells
David Wells
Khalil Greene
Just about anyone in rodeo
Kirk Morrison
etc., etc.

 

It was tough coming up with just Carrigan. A few others are:

Pete Rose just after he got out of jail
Michael Johnson
Carl Lewis
Woody Harrelson (after the Midsummer Night's Magic All Star Game, in the locker room he was trying to get a card game going while answering a few of my questions. I asked him if I could come play and he said he'd love to have me there but a few of the players wanted it to be players/celebs-only)
Evander Holyfield on Jamaican Election Day '98 (1 on 1 interview at 7:30 a.m., right after I interviewed Jimmy Carter)
Boog Powell (he farted at the lunch table and nearly made me gag)
Willie McGinest
Ed O'Bannon when he played at Artesia
a bunch of local kids here

 

I said Picabo Street earlier, but I should really add Buck O'Neill. It's not so much an interview with Buck. It's a starter question and then, two hours later, a "thank you very much."

Remarkable man ... and might I just plug JoPoz's book on Buck.

 

Buck O'Neill was one I always wanted to cover but never even had a chance to talk to. Great call there.

 

Sirs, Madames,

Hockey Division: Shanahan is up there. Larionov. D Alfredsson.

YHS, etc

 

Never covered Buck, but did get to talk to him. Outstanding addition to this list.

 

beg to differ. bill's an intriguing guy to cover -- a bully who can be charming and disarming, engaging and intimidating, a marvelous storyteller with great humor. if you let him see that you can't be intimidated and write tough but fairly, you'll do fine with him.

and a more compelling subject you'll never find. he's the tony soprano of coaching figures.

 

It's been touched on already, but this could mean most interesting or most accommodating, so I'll go in numerous directions:

Lorena Ochoa (a class, class act)
Mark Calcavecchia (was at a media day I once covered and we didn't stop laughing for 30 minutes)
Another vote for Brendan Shanahan
Gary Roberts
Former King John McIntyre
Duffy Waldorf
A HS football coach I covered that New Mexico folks will know: Eric Roanhaus of Clovis High. An absolute riot who introducted the immortal term "brokedick sportswriters" to a young, fish-out-of-water writer.

 

I've dealt with Michael a lot and found him to be arrogant and condescending, and usually in a foul mood (many times, even after he had just won a race). He's usually good for some interesting and opinionated quotes, but I rarely enjoyed talking to him. Plus, unlike Maurice Greene, who would give his cell number to practically anyone, Michael makes you jump through various hoops to get to him if you don't catch him at a meet.

 

Pete Carrill
Dave DeBusschere
Goose Gossage

 

Holy shit, you really are old! ;D