College sports attract a passionate and dedicated fanbase, and that holds especially true in the SEC. Arkansas fans wanting trusted information on all things Razorbacks have few key people to turn to – Otis Kirk is one of them.
For decades, Kirk has covered all aspects of collegiate and high school sports within the Natural State, becoming a staple among Arkansans and alumni. Matching their passion, the love for sports shines through with Kirk’s coverage of the Hogs but away from work, there’s an even bigger sports fan with a beacon drawn primarily to the west coast.
The Razorbacks may be the center of his daily life, but Kirk is one of the biggest Los Angeles Lakers fans you will find. The love for LA area-based sports traces back to UCLA squads featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which ties back to the Lakers in the 1970s to present day.
Beyond seemingly knowing every factoid about each and every Lakers’ team and player, the fandom stretches into the hobby. Kirk has an impressive collection of cards and memorabilia with a long line of certified autographs that makes other avid collectors jealous.
Covering his love of sports, how he got into the world of sports journalism, and his hobby enthusiasm, Kirk had the tables turned, being the subject of our interview.
Q&A Interview
Where did you grow up?
“I grew up in Mena (Arkansas), about 150 miles south of Fayetteville.”
When did you develop a love for sports?
“That’s all I ever played. I was the only kid in my family, we lived on a farm, and my dad didn’t believe in phones. My stuffed toys were my baseball team. I had to invent ways to play sports. My first love was baseball; I was pretty good at baseball. I started playing T-Ball and played Little League, Pony league, and semi-pro when I was out of school. I love sports.”
What motivated and/or prompted you to become a writer?
“The local paper ran a sports writing contest, and I won. I coached baseball with the publisher, he asked if I would write a couple of stories for $50 a week. I covered the (Mena) Bearcats for them. I’d write a preview and a follow-up story on Monday for $50 a week.
“I was supposed to write two, but I wrote five or six each week. I wrote more than they asked for, and they didn’t use all of them. Not long after I got on there, their sports editor quit. They hired me to take his spot. I started covering Arkansas recruiting; I was working with Clay Henry.
“I left in 1997 to work for the Morning News in Northwest Arkansas. I still do the Arkansas recruiting report. I’ve worked with Rivals, then 247; they were with CBS. I write for Hogville, Pig Trail Nation, and 14 papers still. It is not as bad as it sounds. I write one article that goes to all 14 papers.
“During football season, I write something just about every day, and I cover the games. I started working for SI (Sports Illustrated) this month; I’ve been writing some stories for SI.
Which college and/or professional teams do follow closely?
“I grew up following the Razorbacks. The only other team I followed was UCLA with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, known then as Lew Alcindor. I liked Kareem, Jamaal Wilkes, and all those guys. I still remember the games they had against Elvin Hayes and Houston Cougars.
“I followed all the Razorback teams until I got into the business. You lose your fandom when you start covering teams, but I still want the Razorbacks to do well. It is a lot easier to write about a team when they are winning instead of writing about coaches on the hot seat – it is a lot more fun to cover when they are winning. Covering Chad Morris’s teams, it was tough.
“Growing up, I loved UCLA, with Kareem, I was fascinated with him, the (New York) Yankees, the (Los Angeles) Lakers, and now the (Los Angeles) Rams; I started liking them a few years ago.
“I used to follow the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys when they had Darren McFadden; I pulled for his teams. I have been with the Rams since then; their players go to Lakers’ games.
“I stay true to the Yankees and have since 1961. I can tell you every position player on the team then, but not from last night (laughs) but I can for ‘61. I have been a Yankees fan for a long time, but I’m not a fan of Brian Cashman (general manager for the Yankees).
“If I had to give up all sports, keeping one team, it would be the Lakers, even over the Razorbacks. I would have withdrawals if I didn’t get to see the Lakers play.”
2011-12 Exquisite Collection UD Black College Vault Autographs #VLJ LeBron James
Which players for the Lakers are your favorites?
“All of them. My favorites are LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant) – they are my two favorites ever. Aaron Judge (Yankees) is right there with them. LeBron and Kobe are my favorites. I like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. I like Deandre Ayton, too.
“I got to sit next to the Lakers’ bench during a game. I love the Lakers. I love JJ Redick (head coach); I didn’t want (Dan) Hurley (UConn head coach). I love JJ; I love all the Lakers they have this year.
“I love Kareem, James Worthy, Phil Jackson, when he was coaching the Lakers, Robert Horry, Metta World Peace (Ron Artest Jr., Metta Sandiford-Artest) – I still talk to them. They are good guys. Metta is a good guy; you just have to understand him.”
How did you make the personal Horry connection?
“When Metta was on team, I was friends with his dad (Ron Artest Sr.). With Robert Horry, I wrote about his son. His son (Camron) was a tight end that went to Texas A&M. We started messaging each other.
“Metta, I met him through his dad. I know Julius Randle, Patrick Beverley, he was with the Razorbacks. With Horry, he started following me on social media and we became friends on Facebook. Robert is down to earth.
“I love the post-game and pre-game shows he does with AT&T. He and James Worthy, they know what they are talking about. I love that show.
“I have stayed in touch with Horry since then. Rick Fox, I’ve talked to him some. I have a lot of respect for him. Shaq was going to kill (Doug) Christie (Kings – preseason game fight 2002). That was one team I couldn’t stop watching.”
When and what did you start collecting?
“I started when I was a kid, thanks to my parents and grandparents. As I mentioned, my dad didn’t believe in a phone. They’d take me to my grandparents; they lived in town in Mena. They’d give me money to go to Ben Franklin; that was a dime store back then. I’d buy everything they had, baseball or football cards. I don’t think they had basketball cards then. I would especially buy baseball cards.
“As an adult, once I got married, my mother threw away all my cards. I see the Jim Brown rookie cards and the Mickey Mantle rookie cards; I had all those cards. She burned and/or threw them all away. They weren’t in mint condition or anything; they didn’t have folders or cases then.
“I got out of it for a while. When we moved to Fayetteville, I got my son into it. I’d take them to a card shop in Mena, that’s how I got my kids started. My oldest, Joe, still collects. He got me back into it.
“There were two card shops up here that I would go to during that time. I’d collect cards of the Yankees, Lakers, and some football. Now it is so expensive, I go strictly NBA and the Lakers.
“The Lakers may trade for a guy; I will look for a cheap autograph of that player. If I see one, I will buy it.
“I have a big NBA collection with a lot of ex-Lakers. I have all the former Razorbacks and all of them with an autograph. I have at least one of each. I have three of Adou Thiero, he was a second-round pick (Brooklyn Nets, 2025), and I have a personal autograph of his. I have Patrick Beverley and some former Hogs like Corliss Williamson, Nolan Richardson, I have two signed books, and a John Daly book that is autographed.
“A guy listed them for sell but he didn’t list them as being autographed. When I got them, saw they were autographed, that was neat.
In your PC, which cards are some of your favorites?
“My Luka Doncic PSA certified autographed picture, 8×10, in a Lakers uniform. A LeBron James autograph. I only have one autograph of him, that is on a picture as well. I have a LeBron Beckett graded card, that is one of my favorites. I have some nice Austin Reaves cards.
“I have a Luka first Lakers uniform autographed card. I got a pretty good buy on that. I talked the guy down to a reasonable amount, a lot cheaper than it was listed. I have a Wilt Chamberlain autographed magazine in a Lakers uniform.
“Anything Kobe I love. Kareem, I love Kareem. I have a Magic Johnson autographed 8×10 as well. I have all the Lakers that are in the Hall of Fame or of the ones they have retired their numbers – all autographs and that is including the Minnesota Lakers. I have a Jerry Buss and a Chick Hearn that I am proud of, too.
What’s the story behind your signed No. 24 Kobe jersey?
“The whole team that beat Orlando signed that jersey. That was their first championship without Shaq, which is special to me. I was more a Kobe fan than Shaq; (laughs) you had to take sides then.
“I got it from a dealer at a card shop for a reasonable price; now it is worth what you can get for it. Every single player on that team signed it, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, it was before Metta joined them, and Trevor Ariza.
“To get that jersey, the guy at the card shop here, he called me one day telling me about it, I went down there and got it for $1,000 or something like that. I have held onto that. Phil Jackson signed it – everyone autographed it – Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom. It is neat to have that.
Being from Arkansas and a Lakers’ fan, do you have a connection with Derek Fisher?
I don’t have a connection with him. I don’t think I have ever talked to him. I have his autograph, though.
“(Coach) Charles Ripley was a good friend of mine before he died. Everyone that knows him (Fisher) said he’s a great guy. That shot against San Antonio that year (2004), a turnaround shot like that, it was unreal. Horry’s shot against Sacramento (2002) – those are two shots that are in my mind more than any other in Lakers’ history.”
Did you know Austin Reaves as he was coming up through the Arkansas ranks in high school?
“I am friends with his brother. I saw him briefly in Memphis. We have a lot of mutual friends. I know a lot about him through those connections, but I don’t have a relationship with him. I have talked to him some, but very little. I love the fact he’s having a great year. He was a walk-on type recruit going into college, an undrafted free agent signing with the Lakers, and he’s a star now. He will get a big contract.”
Are you chasing any cards or memorabilia now?
“Not really. I was chasing Luka’s autographs, but I have two or three of his at the authenticator now. I was able to flip some Anthony Davis stuff for Luka cards. I chase LeBron, Luka, Austin, and I really like Deandre Ayton. He was a No. 1 pick by Phoenix (2018); if playing with Luka and LeBron can’t get you motivated. Portland bought him out; I think he will wake up this season or your days in the league will be over soon. I think the Lakers will get the best out of him. I think he will give it his all. I’m counting on that for him.”
Where all have you seen the Lakers play in-person?
“I have been to Staples (Los Angeles), Oklahoma City – I love the Staples’ gift shop. Dropping $600 or $800 in there is easy, and that was back in 2005. Memphis, San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, but not in Denver but I will see them there. I have a free bed to use there with my son living there. Those are my main ones off the top of my head.”
What is your outlook on the Lakers 2025-26 season?
“I’m a homer, I think they will be the best (laughs). They were third last year in the West, OKC is the best, I will not say they will repeat. I thought Boston would repeat last year. If you look at it, there is one new team each year. It has been mixed up. I don’t know that OKC will repeat, but they will be very good. Houston finished ahead of the Lakers last season. Denver got a lot better this offseason.
“With the Lakers, I wish they’d make one more trade for another wing maybe or another 3-point shooter. They showed what they could do when hitting their 3s against OKC; they won by 25 or 30 points. If they get those players, they can compete with anyone. They will be in the top four, somewhere in that mix.
“Minnesota is right there, Denver, Houston, and if Dallas stays healthy.”
Covering the Arkansas Razorbacks, do you have any favorite football and/or basketball teams and/or players?
“I really like Kam Curl, the safety for the Rams; he started with Redskins. He played on some bad Bret Bielema and Chad Morris teams (2017-2019). Hunter Henry, that play against Ole Miss was sweet.
“I loved Nolan Richardson’s (basketball) teams. They played hard, they never gave up, and they’d come back on you. The up-tempo ’40 Minutes of Hell’ was fun to watch.
“Dave Van Horn (baseball), the Oregon State play – no one catches the ball; you knew they were going to lose after that, which was so unfortunate. He is right there, too.
“There is some luck involved. Any team winning a championship, luck is involved from staying healthy and making plays. That is not a shot at anyone. The last LA championship, they were beat up before COVID, got that break, and everyone came back healthy from COVID. If a star pitcher blows out an elbow, that is bad luck. Having luck to win a championship is not a negative.”
2018-19 Panini Revolution Impact #128 Luka Doncic