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Bonnie Bernstein Fan Club: FHM Interview (April 2003)
"The stunning CBS sideline reporter on her cat-like instincts, Jill Arrington's open blouse and why everybody hates Duke"
FHM April 2003--interview by David Scott / photograph by Len Irish
FHM: There was some trepidation about you doing this interview because of all the hubbub generated by fellow CBS sideline reporter Jill Arrington's sexy spread in our September 2002 issue. What was your take on the whole thing?BB: It's all about the individual choice, so it's not for me to judge. Jill and I don't cover the same things, but we've crossed paths and she seems very nice. Everybody has their own idea about what they need to do to be successful. For me, being prepared, thorough and observant has helped me establish credibility and be successful. Not every female broadcaster is drop-dead gorgeous, and for the amount of time I'm on the air, I don't think I increase ratings. Am I horrible to look at? No. But do I think I was hired specifically for aesthetic purposes? No, not at all. You don't have to be nice on the eyes, but it doesn't hurt that I'm not so bad to look at.
FHM: Do you ever worry about being replaced by someone who's younger and nicer on the eyes?
BB: No, because I think I'll know when it's my time to go. You always know that the older you get, the more likely it is that some young pup will be running up behind you. But that's the reality of any business.
FHM: Are you sick of answering the question "What's it like to be a woman in a man's world?"
BB: No. I went into this business knowing there would be a lot of skeptics. A lot of people out there feel that a woman has know business telling them about sports, which is why I'm as hypercritical of women as any couch potato watching TV. I want every woman on the air to represent all of us as well as I have to. If I see somebody make a mistake, I cringe and know what other people out there are thinking.
FHM: What's the best city you've been to for a Final Four?
BB: San Antonio. It rocks: the atmosphere, the River Walk, the fanaticism. There's a fervor that comes with college basketball that you don't find anywhere else. These kids live and breathe college basketball, especially at the schools with the tradition: Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Maryland. There's still a semblance of purity in college sports that you don't find in the professional leagues. The college players are so happy to get an opportunity to talk with me, because they know they've gotten somewhere if I want to talk with them.
FHM: Where does your passion for sports come from?
BB: Both of my parents. It's usual for a father, but my mother is fanatical too. I spent my weekends as a child watching games. My greatest childhood sports memory is from when the Mets beat the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. Game 6, I'm sitting up in my bedroom, watching my 13-inch black-and-white TV and all of the sudden, my house erupts. I remember writing in my English journal: "Oh my God, oh my god! The ball just went through Bill Buckner's legs." My house was shaking!
FHM: What's the best sports memory of your adult life?
BB: I covered every one of Maryland's NCAA Tournament games last season en route to our first national championship. I say that affectionately because I went to Maryland and we didn't beat Duke once the entire time I was there. It is so frustrating to think back to that time and know we never beat them.
FHM: This issue has the results of our online survey to reveal the most hated team in college hoops, and Duke came in first by a landslide. Why are they so despised?
BB: Because they're good. Once a team is good for too long in any sport, people start hating them. The Dallas Cowboys are a perfect example. They were good for so long that people began to hate them. The Yankees are another good example. Everybody thinks it's time for someone other than the Yankees to start winning. Being a Maryland grad, I dislike Duke as an entity, but it's hard to say I don't like Mike Krzyzewski, because I think he's a phenomenal coach. I have all the respect for him in the world. That said, you put Maryland against Duke, and I'd hex Duke as much as I could to make sure they scored fewer points.
FHM: Have you ever been leveled by a player scrambling for a loose ball?
BB: No, I have cat-like instincts. I did gymnastics for fourteen years, all the way through college. I've been close--I can't tell you how many times I've almost been run over by somebody involved in a play. Guys flying out of bounds is just one of the daily dangers of the job. I'm used to it, so I calmly sidestep it.
FHM: Those interviews you do with coaches before or after halftime seem like such a waste. Is there ever any substance to those?
BB: There was a Jets/Ravens game back when Al Groh was coaching, and it was the last game of the regular season. The Jets went ahead early by like 14 points, and the Ravens came back, thanks to Vinny Testaverde throwing three picks. We were doing the post-halftime interview and I asked Groh, "What did you say to Vinny?" He said, "I told him, "You got us into this mess, you get us out."" Those are good because they really give you insight into what's really going on in the locker room. The challenge is finding a way to solicit a response other than yes or no.
FHM: What are some of the things you hear yelled from the stands?
BB: People get me mixed up with ESPN's Suzy Kolber all the time. It's the brown hair. I'm convinced fans don't make much more of a distinction between reporters than hair color.
FHM: Is it hard for you to meet guys because of your chosen career?
BB: Meeting people is difficult, but I do date. I'm a bit skeptical when I'm out at a bar, because somebody can come up to me and immediately know who I am--especially when it's immediately after a game and the bar is two blocks from the arena.
FHM: What are the qualifications?
BB: Highly intelligent, trustworthy, preferably over six feet, athletic, great sense of humor.
FHM: So, your typical FHM reader.
BB: Exactly.
