Journal-isms writer Richard Prince is highlighting (3/19/09) an article in the current issue of GQ headlined "You Think Your Job Sucks? Try Working for Lenny Dykstra"--the title of which might be an understatement, considering some of its reporting therein:

A photo editor's unflattering portrait of baseball-player-turned-financial adviser Lenny Dykstra as a racist, sexist and homophobe has prompted an African-American NBA official to call for a boycott of Dykstra and the magazine he produces.

In the upcoming April issue of GQ, already online, Kevin Coughlin recounts his experience working for Dykstra's glossy magazine, the Players Club, which offers athletes financial advice as it touts a luxurious lifestyle.

"At one meeting, Lenny goes off on how a particular layout looks 'faggy'--despite the presence of a gay page designer in the room," the piece reads. "(Later, Lenny says to me: 'Did you see the look on that fag's face?') On another occasion, I field a call from Lenny about potential cover subjects while I'm at home; Lenny's on speaker when he proudly states, for both my wife and me, that 'nobody can call me a racist--I put three darkies and a bitch on my first four covers.'"

Coughlin tells how, in disbelief over his publisher's description of the first Players Club cover personalities--Derek Jeter, Chris Paul, Tiger Woods, and Danica Patrick--he asked Dykstra to repeat himself: "I said I put three spearchuckers on the cover!" came the charming reply.

Tags: GQ, Kevin Coughlin, Lenny Dykstra, Players Club, sports

This entry was posted on Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 9:54 pm and is filed under Gender, Media Business, Race. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.