Two Writers Slinging Yang

On the blood on John Mugabi's shorts; on writing with a hangover; on what the great columnists look for and why interviewing is an art.

On having a player invite you to his hotel room to seduce you with candles and Drake songs; on the (non) excitement of baseball's winter meetings; on missing the World Series to power lift.

On what has to happen at a restaurant to result in a scathing review; on the wild food scene in Fort Wayne; on being an anonymous critic in a world that wants to know.

On his riveting piece about a high school baseball coach sued by a player he told to slide; on tracking down the long-ago youth umpire he flipped off as a boy; on the not-so-riveting world of Eli Manning; on being confronted by an angry hockey player nicknamed "The Grim Reaper."

On finding sexiness in random words; on whether an ugly word (like, c*nt) can be beautiful in the right context; on why writing about sex is healthy for the soul.

On finding bliss in covering two awful NFL teams squaring off; on what the greatest sports scribes have in common; on a story of a young girl's life and death that changed his life.

On writing a book when all of the characters are long dead; on growing up with a legendary journalist for a father; on wild nights and crazy days with Quinton McCracken, Bubba Trammell and the 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

On whether readers care more about the games—or talking about the games; on a memorable eight-year experience covering a legendary Bronco; on young days watching Tim Tebow and why it's OK to spend Sundays at home.

On his closeness with Brett Favre and riding across America with John Madden; on no longer being treated quite as uniquely—but loving the need to dig and hustle; on why he saw SI's struggles approaching and whether he's mad at Jalen Ramsey.