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MEDIA BLITZ:
AN INTERVIEW WITH LADAINIAN TOMLINSON

by Sam Alipour

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"The future's so bright I've gotta wear shades."

Spike TV's Guys' Choice awards have come and gone, and thanks to you, the Spike TV viewer, matters of the gravest importance have finally been decided. This year's award for Most Unstoppable Jock went to Eli Manning (!), who joins the company of last year's recipient, Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson.

I caught up with LT to talk about that award, and to help us decide several other conundrums.

Mag.com: Iron Man or Spider Man?
Tomlinson: Iron Man.

Have you seen the movie?
No, I haven't. But Iron Man, to me, seems a little more manly.

Light beer or dark?
Light.

Chargers O-line or Chargers D-line?
O-line.

Playboy or Penthouse?
(Makes a strange sound that sounds like "Ooof.") Penthouse.

Drew Brees or Phillip Rivers?
Oh, you killing me. Both.

Best athlete girlfriend: Jessica Simpson or Kim Kardashian?
Oh, man. (Wisely pauses to think it through.) My wife.

Best running back/actor of all time: Jim Brown, Chunky Soup's LaDainian Tomlinson or OJ Simpson?
Oh, man. I'll have to go with Jim Brown because he played that role of one bad dude. One bad "Mother Shut Your Mouth!"

You a fan of OJ's work though?
I am. He's a great actor as well. But you have to love that hardcore bad dude nobody wants to mess with. Everybody loves that guy.

The most bone crushing hits you've suffered in your career?
I got hit by James Farrior, the Steelers linebacker, when I was catching a pass. He kinda separated my AC joint. The other ones I don't really remember, but that one sticks out in my mind.

The best three runs from scrimmage, all time?
Marcus Allen in the Super Bowl sticks out in my mind. He reversed field, hit straight up the middle and he was gone. Earl Campbell when he broke all those tackles on his way to the end zone. And the graceful stride of Eric Dickerson in the open field.

One of our staffers was in Vegas at the blackjack tables in the Tropicana and heard some drunk guy in Chargers gear talking you up when some other drunk guy goes "LT? He's overrated." Then, a mini fight breaks out. On a scale of 1 to 10, how awesome is it that this even took place?
That's pretty funny. I'm just happy that that guy was a big enough fan that he'd stick up for me. Way to go, man!

The coolest person with June 23rd as a birthday: you, Zidane, Frances McDormand, or American Idol's Randy Jackson?
Man, those are some pretty good guys right there. You can't go wrong. But I think I'm the youngest right?

And, finally, '08's Most Unstoppable Jock?
Chris Paul. The way he dribbles, sets up teammates, he's unstoppable. (Laughs) That's the easiest question you've asked me.


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