What's With The Sports Stars As Media Interns Trend?



(image via thehinternfilm)

Professional sports careers -- especially in such high-impact jobs in the NFL and NHL -- are, to paraphrase the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, "Nasty, brutish and short." Perhaps that is the reasoning behind the new trend for athletes to use their cache to snare internship gigs at high profile media outlets. They certainly don't have to worry about the cost of living in the media capital of the world on an interns meager stipend.

As if it wasn't weird enough that New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce interned at The Howard Stern Show, now this, from those intrepid Page Sixxies:

"NEW York Ranger Sean Avery spent last week saturated in the world of couture. 'I wanted to immerse myself in fashion,' Avery told Women's Wear Daily. 'I couldn't think of a better place to do it than Vogue.' ... WWD previously reported he would attend the couture shows in Europe next month with Vogue editrix in chief Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Hamish Bowles and Sally Singer. There is also speculation Avery will appear like LeBron James on the cover of Vogue, or like Roger Federer on the cover of Men's Vogue. The special treatment won't be reflected in his paychecks, however. Vogue reps were firm in stating he'll be paid the same minimum-wage as the other interns."

And Tiki Barber's seemingly seamless transition from paid brute to media establishmentarian laid the blueprint.

And, yes, if you must know -- we just like saying the word "Tiki."