Clay Travis
Encyclopedia
Richard Clay Travis is an American
sports journalist
and writer. He is also a columnist and editor for Outkickthecoverage.com as the co-host of sports radio talk show "3HL" on Nashville
's 104.5 The Zone
. He also previously worked worked as a lawyer
in the U.S. Virgin Islands
.
in September 2005 and since that time has entered into a leg-press feud with the Rev. Pat Robertson and embarked upon a tour of Southeastern Conference Football Stadiums which he called the Dixieland Delight Tour or DDT in homage to his idol Jake Roberts
. Upon leaving CBS, Travis became an editor at Deadspin
and then a national columnist at FanHouse
.
In 2008, Travis worked out at D1 Sports Training with NFL prospects preparing for the NFL Draft. He later wrote a ten-part serial about the experience which he entitled Rough Draft.
In 2010, Nashville Scene named Travis "Best Sports Radio Host We Love To Hate" in the publication's "Best of Nashville" issue.
. Since Goodell suspended Pacman Jones prior to his conviction in a court of law, Travis has argued that Goodell should have taken no action prior to the justice system acting.
Travis asked Tim Tebow
whether he was saving himself for marriage in 2008. Tebow said that he was and the question provoked much public criticism and praise. Travis also asked LSU head coach Les Miles
whether or not he ate grass, when Miles responded that he did, the story helped to define Miles on the national stage and became a staple of all profiles of Miles.
In 2011 Travis had a heated exchange with Tennessee Titans
executives in the wake of the Jeff Fisher
resignation.
. He graduated from George Washington University
in 2001, majoring in history, as well as working as a student basketball
manager. He then attended Vanderbilt University Law School
where he graduated in 2004. He married his wife, Lara, in 2004 after graduating. The couple has two sons, Fox and Lincoln Travis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writer. He is also a columnist and editor for Outkickthecoverage.com as the co-host of sports radio talk show "3HL" on Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
's 104.5 The Zone
WGFX
WGFX is a radio station broadcasting on the FM band at 104.5 MHz licensed to the city of Gallatin, Tennessee, but serving the Nashville market as a whole. It is currently branded as 104.5 The Zone, broadcasting a sports talk format. It is owned by Cumulus Media and operates out of studios on Second...
. He also previously worked worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in the U.S. Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
.
Career
After achieving success with a personal site, Travis began writing online for CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
in September 2005 and since that time has entered into a leg-press feud with the Rev. Pat Robertson and embarked upon a tour of Southeastern Conference Football Stadiums which he called the Dixieland Delight Tour or DDT in homage to his idol Jake Roberts
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
. Upon leaving CBS, Travis became an editor at Deadspin
Deadspin
Deadspin is a sports website owned by Gawker Media and was launched in September 2005. As of February 2010, the site had attracted over 462 million unique visitors and about 573 million page views....
and then a national columnist at FanHouse
FanHouse
FanHouse is a sports website owned by AOL. Launched in September 2006, FanHouse is considered the Internet's most linked sports blog by aggregator BallHype, won Editor & Publisher's 2008 EPpy Award for "Best Sports Blog", and was named as a finalist for the award in 2009.In January 2009, FanHouse...
.
In 2008, Travis worked out at D1 Sports Training with NFL prospects preparing for the NFL Draft. He later wrote a ten-part serial about the experience which he entitled Rough Draft.
In 2010, Nashville Scene named Travis "Best Sports Radio Host We Love To Hate" in the publication's "Best of Nashville" issue.
Controversy
Despite the column's usual irreverence, Travis has emerged as a vociferous critic of Commissioner Roger GoodellRoger Goodell
Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
. Since Goodell suspended Pacman Jones prior to his conviction in a court of law, Travis has argued that Goodell should have taken no action prior to the justice system acting.
Travis asked Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
whether he was saving himself for marriage in 2008. Tebow said that he was and the question provoked much public criticism and praise. Travis also asked LSU head coach Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
whether or not he ate grass, when Miles responded that he did, the story helped to define Miles on the national stage and became a staple of all profiles of Miles.
In 2011 Travis had a heated exchange with Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
executives in the wake of the Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
resignation.
Personal
Travis was born and raised in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. He graduated from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 2001, majoring in history, as well as working as a student basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
manager. He then attended Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School is a graduate school of Vanderbilt University. Established in 1874, it is one of the oldest law schools in the southern United States. Vanderbilt Law has consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools in the nation, and is currently ranked 16th in the 2012...
where he graduated in 2004. He married his wife, Lara, in 2004 after graduating. The couple has two sons, Fox and Lincoln Travis.