In the current issue of The Magazine—(our NFL preview issue)—check out my story on surfer Clay Marzo, “In His Element”. I flew to Marzo’s home in Maui last October to report the story, which came out just days after he won his first professional contest, the Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido. One of the most talented surfers in the world, Marzo was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome two years ago, at age 18. I’ll link to the story as soon as it’s online. For now, you’ve gotta buy the magazine. I promise it’s worth it!

The past three weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. I flew to NYC for what I thought would be a six-day trip. Instead, I bounced around the east coast for nearly two weeks. From NYC, I Amtraked it down to DC to report a story on Redskins backup quarterback Todd Collins, but after one day, was called away to Cape Canaveral, Fla, to chase Hurricane Bill with a group of east-coast surfers for another story. Then it was back to NYC and then back to DC for the Redskins-Patriots preseason game last Friday. This backup QB story has been a lot of fun to report. Look for it in the magazine in October.

Today, for another story that will run in our special Bodies Issue, which is due out the first week of October, I spent the afternoon in surgery with freestyle motocross rider Blake Bilko Williams. Bilko tore his right ACL ghost riding his bike to celebrate winning the X Games this summer. Not exactly the coolest “how I tore my ACL” story. Still, a torn ACL is a torn ACL and it required a reconstruction.

I spent the morning in pre-op with Bilko, his doctors and nurses and an ESPN film crew and then got to stand thisclose to Dr. Kramer as he performed Bilko’s ACL reconstruction. It was fascinating how involved an ACL surgery is, especially when the patient already had the same ACL reconstructed once before (only 10 months ago!). It was so cool to witness surgery firsthand. It’s not for everyone. But it was super cool for folks like myself who have always wondered what goes on in those operating rooms once we’re given the happy gas.

IN FLORIDA, OUR SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT WAVE …

AT THE END OF A LONG DAY, THE SOUTHERN VIEW FROM THE BOAT …

THE NORTHERN VIEW. THAT IS ONE SCARY STORM CLOUD!

AN EVENING RUN IN DC (THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL STEPS) …

BACK IN LA, REPORTING TO (AND FROM!) THE OR …

I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO DRILL INTO HIS FEMUR MYSELF! (NO, DR. KRAMER DIDN’T ALLOW ME TO DO THAT.) …