This Russert will be interrogating athletes on radio
BC student Luke Russert lands slot on satellite radio
His father, a well-known national journalist, often interviews high-powered politicians.
Boston College sophomore Luke Russert has a lot of respect for that job, but given the chance, he'd still choose to interview Reggie Bush over George Bush.
The 20-year-old son of NBC's Tim Russert will begin co-hosting a sports-themed talk show next month on
Reggie Bush, the University of Southern California running back expected to be the No.1 selection in the National Football League draft, will likely get more airtime than George W. Bush, the 42d president.
''My dad does politics, and that interests me a lot," said Russert, a history and communications major at BC. ''But me, I'm more of a sports guy. From a very young age, many of my memories have to do with sports."
Some of those memories include spirited discussions with Carville, who, along with the Russerts, has season tickets for Washington Nationals baseball games and Washington Wizards basketball games.
''We'd sit next to each other, and the next thing you know we're in an argument," Russert said. ''It always had to do with sports, and it wouldn't stop until one of us got up to get food. By the time we sat down again, we'd be arguing again."
The 61-year-old Carville, a Democratic political strategist, is a passionate sports fan and recommended Russert as his co-host when he was offered the sports talk-show.
''I talk sports the same way I talk about politics, so it's safe to assume that Luke will be wrong most of the time," he said in a statement.
Russert, however, is quick to point out when Carville is off the mark, like the time he said USC's Bush was the best college football player in the country.
''Obviously, Vince Young proved my point," said Russert, noting that Young led Texas to the national championship over USC last month.
Russert said his pairing with Carville will provide distinctive views from two different generations of sports fans, as in one of their recent debates about the new dress code in the National Basketball Association. Carville said players should wear what owners tell them to, while Russert sided with the players who want the freedom to wear what they want.
Russert's love of sports was hatched at a young age.
''My father took me to Yankees games at an absurdly young age, 4 months old, 5 months old," he said. ''I really grew up with it."
When the Russerts moved to Washington, D.C., in 1989, the family had season tickets for Baltimore Orioles baseball games. Often, it was father and son attending games.
''It's a bond we share," Luke said. ''It's nice for him, too, because he's talking politics all day."
Tuning up for his sports radio debut, Russert answered questions on some of the hot topics in sports today. His thoughts on Theo Epstein returning to the Red Sox as executive vice president and general manager?
''Being a younger person, I absolutely love Theo. I love how he jams on the guitar and is a free spirit. I thought they should have given him whatever he wanted in the first place."
Russert wasn't amused when Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets said that the 81 points scored by the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant set a bad example for kids being encouraged to share the ball.
''That was one of the most hypocritical things of all time," Russert said. ''Vince Carter hasn't met a shot he didn't like."
Russert has gotten the real-world job at an age when most sports broadcasting hopefuls are trying to land a slot at the campus radio station.
''I'm very thankful for the opportunity . . . and I'm excited to do it with James, who's a funny, animated guy," he said. ''I'm really excited to get started."
As for his pick in Super Bowl XL, which has the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Seattle Seahawks this evening, Russert didn't hesitate.
''I'm going with the Steelers, and it's because of one player: [safety] Troy Polamalu. The man is unstoppable. The Steelers have all the momentum."
