The smell. That’s what I remember best. Musty, heavy, moist - that’s the smell of the locker room of a professional football team.
My only job was to watch and listen. I was a 19-year-old intern shadowing another wire reporter and was supposed to just watch and listen.
“Don't talk to anybody and don't touch anything,” he said as we walked in.
“Yes, mom.” I thought. The scents were all around as I entered. It smelled like men.
The security guard waved Mike, the seasoned reporter, right on in but he looked carefully at my press pass before letting me through. I had to rush to catch up to Mike who hadn't bothered to wait for me. He was a bit of a blowhard in the newsroom but as soon as we entered the sacred den he was all deference and respect. No wonder his articles read like a fawning review of a Texas women's auxiliary luncheon.















