Whether throwing an elbow to the throat of an opponent on the college soccer pitch or lighting up an NFL PR staff for reneging on a star player’s interview, Dianna Russini has never been a dainty flower. Not surprisingly, the ESPN reporter eschews subtlety in his no-holds-barred conversation, touching on her early obsession with journalism, how her family’s 9/11 scare impacted her career path and why the toughest part of her transition to covering the NFL had more to do with anatomy than aptitude. The Jersey girl also has plenty to say about her close-knit family, from her dad’s velcro shoes to her husband’s “average” qualities to her mom’s dating advice.
While discussing disgruntled Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a recent appearance on ESPN’s morning show, Russini managed to cast her husband in a glaringly mediocre light, leading his friends to tell him, “Yo--your wife just trucked you on TV.” After amusingly recounting that episode, Russini tells us about her childhood, from her early journalistic aspirations (and her father’s fatefully situated job as a plumber) to her prolific and ultra-aggressive feats on the athletic field. As she and Natalie swap stories of on-the-field transgressions, Dianna relates her journey from overmatched Division 1 soccer player to starter and co-captain--including the red card she received on Parents’ Day--and tells why she preferred the throat to the crotch when it came to handing out punishment. We also learn about her father’s harrowing escape from the World Trade Center during 9/11, what provoked her tirade on the Jets’ practice field and why she questioned an NFL head coach who told her not to stay out late at the Combine.