"Back in his later playing days, Sonny Jurgensen surely took the fastest postgame showers in the history of professional sports. How else to explain that when reporters were allowed into home team's locker room at RFK Stadium after a mandatory 10-minute cooldown period for the players, they were greeted by an empty locker underneath Sonny's name and No. 9. My late, great Washington Post colleague, co-author and best friend, Ken Denlinger, decided to do something about it."
"Instead of waiting outside the locker room door with the rest of us, Kenny walked down the stadium tunnel to where Sonny's car was parked in one of the prime spots saved for a few select players. Truth be told, Sonny actually didn't shower, and later told Kenny that he preferred to collect his thoughts after a game away from the madding crowd. He promised he'd have more to say the next day."
Sonny Jurgensen routinely left RFK Stadium immediately after games, often leaving his locker empty during the postgame cooldown so reporters found no one there. Ken Denlinger approached Jurgensen's car in the stadium tunnel and obtained quotes when others waited outside. Jurgensen rarely showered at the stadium, preferring to collect his thoughts away from crowds and promising fuller comments the following day. He was known for being pleasant, accommodating and genuinely engaging with fans and colleagues. After retiring, Jurgensen frequently visited the team's practice facility to gather broadcasting background and worked with Sam Huff and Frank Herzog.
Read at The Washington Post
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