The CheckerBoard

Really? Ryan's reporting record is renowned in Ruckerworld when it comes to recruiting.

You always ask this, ADunc. And, unfortunately for you, I'm fully clothed right now.

Any way I can get them. I don't want to give away any of my secrets — there are plenty of potential copycats out there watching — but let's just say it's not always easy to get them. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't.

Fairly often. It depends on the type of prospect. If it's a big-time recruit with a ton of offers who gets multiple phone calls from reporters almost every day, that's the impression I get from a lot of kids — when they actually answer the phone. If it's someone who doesn't have a ton of offers or doesn't do interviews all the time, they're usually happy to talk. And sometimes there's the rare kid who's a big-time prospect but still doesn't mind doing it.

I have a face made for radio, so I'm always open to it. Actually, those of you who have listened to Wes' show since the beginning may recall that I originally co-hosted the show with him — I was clearly just the co-pilot, though — before Swain jumped on board. That was when NOBODY knew who I was.

Interesting question. I can't think of anything off the top of my head — nothing that qualifies as "really crazy" in my book, anyway — but again, I'm not Wes.

Almost accidentally skipped this one. My favorite thing about what I do is talking to and meeting all kinds of different people — in this case, mostly recruits and their coaches. To me, that's the coolest thing about being a reporter. Covering sports for a living obviously is awesome, too, although people who don't do this for a living don't understand the natural drawbacks sometimes. But it mostly is a really fun job that seldom feels like a job.

No, but a person I accidentally reached by dialing the wrong number has. As I mentioned earlier, it's not always easy to get recruits' phone numbers.

The first yes or no question I'm genuinely torn about. I'm going to say yes, but only because the odds suggest it's bound to happen at some point, and they are a large-market team. The only MLB teams I would say may be in danger of never winning a World Series are the ones that are in tough divisions and don't spend much money.

Do you know if this person could be the parent of Daniel Hood from the UT football team???

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/21/bodies-found-in-west-knox-apartment-wednesday/

More than likely, yes, if his defense doesn't somehow derail his career. It could happen this year. Every team has to be represented on the all-star teams, and I don't know who else from the Cubs deserves to make it. Maybe Ryan Dempster or Bryan LaHair?

There's still so many places I haven't been, so there are dozens of acceptable answers to this question for me — even in the U.S. — but I've always wanted to visit Ireland. Just seems like a lovely place.