On writing books with a co-author—and relishing the experience. On how Jerry Jones and Rupert Murdoch elevated the NFL. On the highs and lows of the book experience.

On the evolution of hip-hop and hip-hop writing. On whether "Bust A Move" is his best song. On the pacing and oomph of a quality musical piece. On whether he'd perform with NBA YoungBoy and JPEGMAFIA.

On why a child of writers loves writing. On her obsession with "We Are The World" and Ronald Reagan. On the magic and staying power of the zine. On whether the future is bright or awful.

On what went into reporting and writing, "Just Give Me a Chance to Fail: The Life of NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Sam Mills." On the golden days of bad Texas Rangers baseball. On how one would cover the Philadelphia Eagles when players were accessible.

On the perils and highs of modern college sports. On life with the Iowa State sports landscape. On coming up with fresh ideas and new material. On getting to know athletes.

On writing a biography of a reluctant and reclusive legend. On where Nolan Ryan ranks on the all-time lists. On having a subject agree to speak at the last minute. On the love-hate of the biography pursuit.

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.