| 10 Questions
with Jill
Arrington
The most exciting part of the
game. | Jill Arrington is the only
member of CBS’ The NFL Today coverage team
who can wear a tank top and get cheers (sorry,
Mike Ditka).
She joined CBS Sports for that show, and as
lead reporter for the CBS Television Network's
coverage of college football, in September of
2000, and her notoriety quickly grew.
She was named "Sexiest Sportscaster in America"
by Playboy.com, last January. 221,760 votes were
tallied for the ten contestants. Arrington
captured 26 percent of the vote (57,643 votes --
over 6,000 more than her closest competitor,
Melissa Stark of Monday Night
Football). Playboy offered Jill
$1,000,000 to undress before the camera. Although
Jill was flattered, she turned them down.
"Sexiest
Sportscaster in
America" |
Playboy.com Final Results
221,760
total votes |
| Jill
Arrington |
57,643 |
26% |
| Melissa Stark |
51,574 |
23% |
| Hannah Storm |
30,254 |
14% |
| Bonnie Bernstein
|
21,839 |
10% |
| Jillian Barberie
|
20,645 |
9% |
| Inga Hammond |
11,393 |
5% |
| Lisa Guerrero |
11,069 |
5% |
| Summer Sanders
|
10,133 |
5% |
| Pam Oliver |
5,001 |
2% |
| Angie Arlati |
2,209 |
1% |
| John Madden |
0 |
0% |
| Dennis Miller |
0 |
0% |
| Mel Kiper, Jr.
|
0 |
0%
| |
The contest was criticized by the
likes of Sports Illustrated as being
exploitative (this from a magazine with a special
"swimsuit issue" every year), but the contestants
all found it pretty funny (especially a
very pregnant Hannah Storm). Nobody
was more amused than Jill: "I took it all in fun.
It was just a contest to get people to go to their
Web site," she said. "You know, men will be men
and boys will be boys. I don't have a problem with
it. I don't feel like what I look like has
anything to do with my ability as a sportscaster.
It's flattering to be called sexy. What woman
doesn't like to hear that. It wasn't a contest I
entered myself and it really had no bearings on
me. [Playboy] knew all along that if I won,
I wouldn't participate in posing for the
magazine."
Arrington also works as a reporter/host of TNN
and ESPN's coverage of the Arena Football League.
She has also served as host of Fox Sports' "NFL
Under the Helmet" and as a reporter for FOX
Sports' coverage of the NFL and women's tennis.
But despite all of the "overnight sensation"
stuff you hear, she has paid some dues.
Jill was born as "Tiffany" Arrington, a name
that her friends and family still call her by. Her
father, Rick Arrington, played quarterback for the
NFL's Philadelphia Eagles from 1970-73, so even as
a child she knew a lot about football.
She began her career as a production assistant
at CNN. From 1994 through 2000 she worked as a
producer/correspondent for "Main Floor." In 1999
she worked as a producer/reporter for "Real TV,"
as well as afternoon and evening anchor of
"ReporterTV.com," a daily Internet entertainment
business show.
After that, there was no stopping her. Today
she prowls the sidelines of NFL games, carrying on
the pro football legacy that began with her
father.
TEN QUESTIONS (PLUS ANOTHER
SIX)
Let's
face it: If you have a problem with a
sportscaster looking like this, you're just
sick. | SportsHollywood: What's your
favorite sport?
Arrington: My favorite sport to watch
would be football.
SportsHollywood: What's your favorite
sports movie?
Arrington: The Natural, with
Robert Redford. I love that movie.
SportsHollywood: What sports do you
play?
Arrington: I began playing tennis at age
three, and grew up playing in tournaments. I also
played softball for ten years. My father was the
coach. Now I play more golf than anything. Sports
was always, and always will be, a part of my life.
SportsHollywood: How did you did you get
started in broadcasting?
Arrington: I performed in theatre
growing up; spring musicals, one-act plays. In
college I was a Broadcast Journalism and Political
Science major, with a Theatre minor. After a
couple of years in college I started focusing on
broadcasting, producing and anchoring the
university news.
SportsHollywood: Favorite football team?
Arrington: THE MIAMI HURRICANES!!!
SportsHollywood: Favorite athlete?
Arrington: Michael Jordan. It's hard not
love the best.
SportsHollywood: What's the biggest
difference between the NFL and Arena Football?
Arrington: They're very different games.
The biggest difference is that in Arena Football
most players play both ways. The NFL players who
come out and watch it are shocked. They'd just get
killed if they had to play both ways. In Arena
they play all balls live off the nets. The other
big difference is that there's no sideline, so I
have to be ready to dive over the wall if a play
is coming at me!
We wore the same masks to the
interview (didn't
work). | SportsHollywood: Who are your
favorite sports analysts?
Arrington: I like Jim Nantz a lot. Very
professonal, and very knowledgable. As for female
sportscasters, so many great women have laid the
groundwork for us today that being a woman in
broadcasting isn't even an issue anymore. I just
try to be myself: Being an athlete, having been in
competition, and being the daughter of an NFL
player, I can bring all I've learned from my
experiences to the viewers, and hopefully make the
game more understandable and entertaining.
SportsHollywood: Does it bother the
players that more fans are staring at you than at
them?
Arrington: (Laughing) I don't think
that's true!
SportsHollywood: Ever have any close
calls on the sideline during play?
Arrington: Sure, all the time! As soon
as you turn your back you're getting trampled on!
SportsHollywood: Who is the
best person to interview in the NFL?
Arrington: I interviewed Brett Favre,
and was very impressed. He respects the media and
knows the game. (Giants Defensive End) Michael
Strahan is hilarious to talk to. I have a great
time interviewing him.
SportsHollywood: What's the greatest
football game that you've ever seen?
Arrington: I covered Miami-Florida State
last year. An incredible game. Of course, I don't
know if I'd consider it the greatest game ever if
Miami had lost.
SportsHollywood: Your dad's a former
pro. Does he ever critique your TV analysis?
Arrington: He does. My parents are very
supportive. My mom tapes every game, and my dad
gives me tips before games.
SportsHollywood: You also covered the
U.S. Open this year. Who is your favorite tennis
player?
Arrington: I don't really have a
favorite. I love all the young American guys
coming up. And the competition on the women's side
is incredible now, with the Williams sisters.
Tennis is definitely back.
On
TNN | SportsHollywood: Would you
rather cover the US Open or win the US Open?
Arrington: WIN -- are you kidding????
SportsHollywood: I am asking this
collectively for every male working at
SportsHollywood and/or reading this interview.
Will you marry us?
Arrington: I can't! I'm already
married!!!
(Sorry, guys. We tried.)
As Jill says, it's hard not to love the best...
and everyone loves Jill. You can see her every
week on CBS' college football and NFL
Today. So check back often for updates and
upcoming events with Jill. If that's still not
enough, JillArrington.com should be up in
December.
 |
Jill
Arrington
Birthdate: July
27
Education: Rockdale County High;
University of Miami (broadcast journalism and
political science; varsity tennis; Orange Bowl
princess)
Height:
5'10"
Hair: Blonde
Eyes:
Blue
Home: Beverly Hills, CA.
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