I interviewed Brad Daugherty, NASCAR Race Analyst for ESPN, at Auto Club Speedway this year. We all know that Brad is a former professional basketball player and is really, really tall but it’s not until you meet him that you really, really realize it.
I’m sure Brad must be asked how tall is all the time and I didn’t want to ask him, but it just came out because, you guys, he’s REALLY tall. Seven feet tall to be exact. I’m 5’9” and he’s in the small group of people in this world that has ever made me feel small in their presence, as you can see from the photo at left.
🙂
But more importantly Brad was a great interview. He’s super nice and not “haughty” at all, as you’ll see below.
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What is your favorite word? Ancillary. I like to say ancillary. I use that a lot, even out of context.
What is your least favorite word? Surreptitiously. It’s a very difficult word, sounds really smart but it’s really difficult to say, especially when you’re on TV, so I try to stay away from that word.
What turns you on? Beautiful, sunny days like today, it really gets my attention. I feel good, really energized. I got up this morning and opened the blinds and saw the sunshine, it just really makes me feel good. About everything feels better, I went and ran this morning, felt great. I love a beautiful, sunny day.
What turns you off? Haughty* people. We meet a lot of successful people because of what I did playing pro basketball and what I do now. You meet a lot of people who think they’re successful because they’ve made a lot of money and there’s an air that comes with that that really irks me and bothers me.
What sound or noise do you love? I love the sound of a racecar, a racecar engine. I’ve been around the sport for 30 years and every time they say “gentlemen, start your engines” I still get goosebumps.
What sound or noise do you hate? Fingernails on a chalkboard.
What is your favorite curse word? I try not to curse, but I’m an old mountain boy so I say “Dang it” or “Daggum it” a lot, a lot. My kids have gotten me to say “Sugar” instead of saying the other word, so I say “Daggum it” and “Sugar” a lot.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Love to be a hunting or fishing guide somewhere in the world. I love the outdoors. I love to hunt and fish. And I’d love to spend enough time in one really isolated place that I knew the region well enough to guide and teach and help. Being a hunting and fishing guide would be awesome.
What profession would you not like to do? I would not like to tar roofs. I see those guys out there in the middle of the summer time taring roofs and that’s got to be a tough, tough job.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? When I do get there, I hope he has a great sense of humor and I’d like to hear him say, “You were not always right, you were very faulty, but I appreciate your heart and your effort,” and if he says that I’d be tickled.
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*haugh·ty [haw-tee]
–adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est.
1. disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious:
haughty aristocrats; a haughty salesclerk.
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Read more of my “Inside the Actor’s Studio” questionnaire interviews in the archives and read about how it all started with Tony Stewart.
