TYLER: DON’T FORGET, ATHLETES HAVE FEELINGS, TOO

As an actress, comedian, writer and television host, Aisha Tyler barely has a spare moment to relax and watch her beloved San Francisco 49ers. Since her wellknown role on Friends, Tyler keeps her schedule jam- packed, hosting her podcast Girl on Guy, voicing Lana Kane on Archer and co- hosting The Talk weekdays on CBS. The football fan’s favorite way to unwind at home from a busy day? A drink, of course ( check out her new line of craft cocktails, Courage + Stone). We sat down with Tyler to discuss how athletes soothe hurt feelings and why NFL referees shouldn’t even consider hoverboards.

Hoverboards are going to be a popular holiday gift this year. Would NFL refer- ees benefit from having them during games?

No, I don’t think so. Those little hoverboard things are impossible to navigate. They’re like a Segway if a Segway could kill you. The worst it would be for a ref would be rolling towards ( a player) on a hoverboard and then just get completely creamed by a 300pound lineman. At least they could get out of the way if they run; on a hoverboard they’re just rolling backwards towards their own doom.

What were you surprised to learn about interviewing athletes?

I think you learn how disciplined these guys are, how hard they worked to get to where they are, how invested they are emotionally. ( Former NFL running back) Thomas Jones said, “It hurt my feelings when I would get dropped from a fantasy team; I feel this, guys. People are mad at me because I don’t earn points for their fantasy team, ( but) I didn’t earn points for my actual real team. Give me a little bit of support.” They have feelings. They bury their feelings with money, but they have feelings.

You attended Dartmouth. What are your thoughts on the unofficial mascot Keggy the Keg?

Keggy the Keg was not the unofficial mascot when I was there. It was just our general Dartmouth Big Green like go, go … concept in color. I like the unofficial mascots. It just tells you a lot about a college when the unofficial mascot is a Keg. That’s what I’ll say about that. It says a lot about the culture there when the unofficial mascot is something that cannot play sports.

So what would the mascot of “The Talk” be?

Little chattering teeth, or, probably more accurately, a cocktail.

For Tyler’s NFL picks for Week 14, go to ftw. usatoday. com

DAVE KOTINSKY, GETTY IMAGES Among her pursuits, Aisha Tyler hosts a podcast, co- hosts a CBS daytime talk show and voices a character on “Archer.”