(The following appeared in Unrestricted Magazine, available across South Florida.)
Good ol' boy Taylor Tankersley is one of the most important pieces of the 2008 Florida Marlins. Last year, the team's bullpen worked more hours than Kelly Ripa, forced into action early in games because the starting pitching was so inconsistent. It's been more of the same this season, with a thin and sometimes inexperienced starting rotation asking the Marlins relievers to pull off small miracles.
The 25-year-old righty's work out of the 'pen is vital to the Fish's success. "Tank," as his teammates call him, hails from Vicksburg, Miss. and his southern drawl is as sharp as his curve.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide pitcher tied the knot in October and is now settling into married life. I caught up with him just before game time in the Dolphins Stadium clubhouse.
DA: So, you just moved into your new house in Weston with your wife. How much time are you now forced to spend at Bed, Bath and Beyond?
TT: None. It's great. It's already furnished and ready to go.
DA: So, you didn't even have to worry about how it was furnished?
TT: Nope, they're a lovely British couple that's moving back for a few months, so we're gonna hold down the fort while they're gone.
DA: When it comes to what will be in the house, how picky are you? Or is that all on your wife?
TT: Well, there's only two things I'm picky about Ð the size of the TV and how comfortable the bed is. And really the bed is more important. Besides that, I don't need much of nothing. I am kinda pumped up we have space to put in a ping-pong table. My wife and I love to play ping-pong and she's pretty good. We'll probably buy a ping-pong table as soon as we get back from the road and start having late night ping-pong tournaments.
DA: Can a ping-pong rivalry with your wife split up a happy marriage?
TT: I hope not, but we have joked that the one thing that might come between us is ping-pong. We're both very competitive. But I guess if fighting over a ping-pong game is the worst thing, then you have a pretty good marriage.
DA: Are you guys competitive in every day life too or just sports?
TT: Just when we decide that we want to compete at something. Like basketball, she's pretty good at it. In one-on-one I can beat her butt. But in H.O.R.S.E.? She's really good because she can shoot. If you give her room and all the time in the world she'll light you up. And she hates to lose just like I do, which I love. And I love that she can beat me, even though I do get pissed off. But I let her know later that I think it's cool that she can do it.
DA: Is it ever intimidating when your wife beats you at a sporting event?
TT: No, it's awesome. I love having a gifted wife.
DA: Was she an athlete growing up?
TT: Yeah, she played volleyball at Greensboro College in North Carolina.
DA: So, is there more framed memorabilia in the house from your athletic career or hers?
TT: We were just talking about that today! She still has her big thick scrapbook of all her volleyball newspaper articles. I started asking her, 'Are we ever gonna keep my articles from baseball?' Yeah, right now she has me beat.
DA: How big is the T.V.?
TT: 50-something inches. It's big enough.
DA: Sports, movies, video games?
TT: No video games. Sports. "Baseball Tonight." That's like the news to me. I get to see who's hot, who's not. What type of pitches they're getting. It's like a scouting report.
DA: John Kruk: credible or not credible?
TT: Credible.
DA: Fat or pleasantly plump?
TT: Yeah, he's not the easiest on the eyes, but I love Kruky, I love hearing him on TV, I love hearing what he has to say. He doesn't pull any punches. He's a good ol' boy.
DA: Is he your favorite member of Baseball Tonight?
TT: I like Peter Gammons, too. He's getting up there as one of my favorites. Anything you need to know about the Red Sox, Gammons has the scoop (laughs).
DA: Is it a waterbed?
TT: Nope, nice, king size Tempur-Pedic. Gonna sleep good.
DA: Did your wife pick that out or you?
TT: I'm telling you, it was just there, man! Everything was picked out.
DA: What's the toughest part of being married in the last six months? The constant competition?
TT: (laughs) Yeah, the competition. Naw, we have the perfect marriage right now. Knock on wood (looks for Dan Uggla's head). We haven't had anything come between us. We've only been married six months and we're still in the honeymoon phase, ya know?
DA: Outside of athletics, what can you beat her at?
TT: (long pause) UhÉ Scrabble! I beat hear at Scrabble every time.
DA: And outside of athletics, what can she beat you at?
TT: Style, fashion. She can tell you those drapes will go with that rug. That kind of stuff I have no clue. She has a very good sense of style. I'm not ashamed to admit I let my wife dress me. I know I look better than if I would've dressed myself. It is what it is.
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(The following appeared in Unrestricted Magazine, available across South Florida.) 
