Scanning The London Free Press and devouring my Cheerios, I had settled into my lazy Saturday morning routine when the phone rang.

"Hello," I uttered through a mouthful of cereal.

"Hi, Kevin. It's Tony Fernandez."

I feverishly swallowed my Cheerios and fumbled for my list of questions. Attempting to connect with this ex-Toronto Blue Jay for close to a month, I was prepared to sacrifice my breakfast to complete this interview.

I tried to sound professional as I scrambled for a pen and paper and began asking questions. One thing I've learned about athletes is they call at the strangest times.

As I spoke with this ex-diamond great, it dawned on me that working as a sports writer is a lot like being a baseball pitcher: to succeed you need a game plan, determination, resiliency, focus, and the confidence to throw a "curveball."

Here are some rules I adhere to when interviewing athletes:

1. Prepare a game plan.

Like a pitcher sitting down with his catcher before the game, you should establish a strategy before you contact an athlete. Here are some things to consider:

i. Know whom you're facing.

Similar to a hurler familiarizing himself with opposing batters, you should conduct extensive research. Don't just gather statistics. See if you can find out what kind of person the athlete is. Does he have any interesting hobbies? What charitable causes is she involved in? Thorough research will not only give you confidence, but it will show the athlete that you respect his accomplishments.

ii. Know what you need and get it.

There are times when a pitcher needs a strikeout, so they rear back and throw their fastball a little bit harder. Similarly, it's your job to know what your editor wants and what you require from the interview. It's a good idea to create a list of must-ask questions-- that way if you're rushed, you can fire off these questions at a minimum.

2. Maintain your focus on the mound.

Here are a few tips to help you stay focused throughout the interview:

i. Don't settle for an ordinary performance.

Athletes speak in clichés. If they tell you they would trade their MVP award for a championship-- and most team athletes will-- ask them where they plan to display their trophy? Ask them how their family feels about the award. In other words, dig deeper and get beyond those robotic responses.

ii. Feel privileged to share the same field, but don't be awestruck.

Don't open an interview by saying, "It's an honor to speak with you." While it may indeed be an honor, such a proclamation makes you a fan rather than a journalist.

iii. Get ahead in the count, then throw your curveball.

Most pitchers will tell you that it's crucial to get ahead in the count. When they get two strikes on a batter they might throw a curveball off the plate. Similarly, you can "get ahead" in an interview by posing the easy questions first. This will build rapport and set the stage for the controversial questions later in the interview.

iv. Don't think just throw.

A lot of pitchers will tell you that they're most effective when they're not thinking. They just look for the catcher's sign and throw. In the same vein, if you have to ask a tough question, just ask it. Don't preface it with "I know this is difficult to talk about but . . ."

3. Tip your cap to them when it's over.

Make sure you thank the athlete when the interview is done. Keep listening though, because sometimes you'll get your best quotes when the tape recorder is off.

Good pitchers will also do a post-mortem on their performance. This helps them to make adjustments and improve in their next outing. A similar routine after an interview will also benefit sports writers. After all, sports scribes and pitchers are both chasing the same, elusive goal: to toss a perfect game.

Kevin Glew is a freelance sports writer in London, Ontario. His work has been featured in The Hockey News, Baseball Digest, and Baseball America. His New Year's resolution is to avoid including the quote "We just have to take it one game at a time" in any of his stories.

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