Chris Long on dynamic of naked players, reporters in locker rooms
Former Eagles defensive lineman and Super Bowl LII champion Chris Long made an appearance on Jeff Pearlman’s podcast Two Writers Slinging Yang. Pearlman is a household name when it comes to sportswriters, and Long is one of the most beloved Philadelphia athletes in recent memory.
Needless to say, this was a must-listen from the jump. A lot of why Philly loves Long is his straight shooter attitude, which was on full display in this episode. You can listen to the whole thing here.
One of the more interesting nuggets from the conversation between two of my favorites was Long’s take on reporters accessing locker rooms postgame. He had a very reasonable take on how most players are butt booty naked when media members come in:
Here’s what I’d ask, and I used to talk to Jeff McLane about this in Philly. Why the fuck can y’all walk in, and we are half-naked? In no other workplace in America are you expected to be putting your clothes on, and somebody’s going to talk to you. And there’s going to be cameras. Not just people while I’m pulling my pants up. Or like Brandon Graham’s locker is next to mine, and he has 40 reporters around him, and someone is bumping into my naked ass. I’m at work! I feel like because we get paid so much money, and we’re such macho dudes that everybody is like, “fuck ’em.”
Chris Long
Long goes on to mention how most reporters would brush his concerns aside, which would honestly drive me nuts. Hell, why do these guys need to come into the locker room to ask questions anyway?
There are postgame press conferences and media availability throughout the week. I don’t think you need to be in there when the athletes are down to their skivvies.
Like, I understand getting the whole story for your readers. At the same time, though, I don’t think getting a glimpse at a player’s brat and potatoes is included in the information-gathering process.
If you, as a grown man or woman, want to peep another adult’s private square, it doesn’t need to be under the guise of a free and independent press. The internet, magazines, and plenty of small family-owned businesses in the Philadelphia area offer the same experience.
So, in short, I’m with Chris Long on this one.
Reporters do not need to be in the locker room. There’s a press area for that express purpose. I mean, seeing another adult’s peen by mistake isn’t as bad as, I don’t know, stealing someone’s cooking show, but I digress.
Keep your eyes on your own work Super Chief.
Hopefully we can ditch this weird practices permanently in 2022. I herby officially declare this behavior:
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Mandatory Credit: The Athletic
Ive noticed the female athletes still get a closed locker room to shower and change today. The male athletes don’t. I always said modern feminism has nothing to do with equality and this degrading treatment of men proves it. I wonder how these female reporters and staff would feel showering and changing with men in their locker room? For a gender that keeps complaining about equality and respect, they certainly don’t seem to think men should get either of those. Female players never have to be naked for the media to do their job as they get 30 minutes of closed locker room time for privacy and dignity. Men treated like animals yet again. Oh equality indeed.