Of Bow Ties and Travel: An Interview with Dhani Jones

As an Ohio State fan and alum, I rarely look to the University of Michigan for inspiration. There are always exceptions.

I have been a fan of Dhani Jones for a very long time and when the Bengals signed the linebacker in 2007, I was immediately giddy as I couldn't wait to see the eclectic Mr. Jones patrolling the field at Paul Brown Stadium. (And this was well before his Travel Channel show started whisking sports fans all over the globe.)

A fan of bow ties, music, international sports and world travel, Jones is not your run-of-the-mill jock. That's why I think he would be a blast to interview for a feature story.

Dhani, you are a big fan of bow ties and even have your own bow tie company. What is it that you like about bow ties, compared to "normal" ties, and when you're not wearing your own brand what brands do you like?

At Michigan you won an National Championship and while with the Eagles you made it to the Super Bowl. What are the differences between the two experiences and how much did playing for Michigan in '97 help you mentally prepare you for the Super Bowl in 2004?

You're a big fan of film and have even written film reviews for other sports websites, what are your Top Five films of all time?

You've been apart of some big rivalry games having played for both the Giants and Eagles, do any NFL rivalries compare to the ones you played in during your time at Michigan—OSU, Michigan State, Notre Dame, etc.?

Having traveled all over the globe are there any places you wish you would not have gone to? Are there any that you still want to see?

How will draft acquisitions like Rey Maualuga, Micheal Johnson and Trent Morgan change some of the defensive dynamics of this year's team? How will Maualuga change the linebacking corps? What attributes does he bring (speed, athleticism, etc.) to the squad and what aspects of his game does he need to work on?

You've competed in a lot of different sports, both on your own and on your Travel Channel show, are there any that you think you might have become serious about if football was not a realistic outlet for you?

On that same note, if you hadn't gone into football what do you think you would have done as a profession?

On your show you've done a lot of stuff most NFL guys probably wouldn't do (going on a fox hunt being one), but compared to some of the other Travel Channel personalities you've been a little tame when it comes to eating exotic dishes. Would you ever team-up with Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods and eat something like elephant penis or goat brains?

As a big bicyclist, have you ever thought about competing in a long, grueling road race? If you were offered a spot in the Tour de France, would you take it?

What's more imposing—Heinz Field or Ohio Stadium?

Being a guy who likes to experience culture where do you go in Cincinnati to get your sophistication fix?

Last year the Bengals were forced to rely on the defense a lot after injuries decimated the offense. With the offseason acquisitions the team has made combined with a healthy Carson Palmer back under center, does that give the defense any sense of relief?

How do your teammates feel about your show? Do they watch it? Do they like it? Do they make fun of you? Have you ever invited any of them to come join you on one of your globetrotting missions?