Thanks to 25 years of standout roles in movies, sitcoms and now Netflix’s Atypical, Michael Rapaport is a pretty big star. But unlike many celebrities, Rapaport doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t speak through publicists or give one-word answers. No, the man happily speaks his mind, whether on Twitter or as the host of the popular podcast I Am Rapaport or in his new tome, This Book Has Balls: Sports Rants From the MVP of Talking Trash. The rowdy redhead recently sat down with HUSTLER at a sidewalk café in New York City, where in front of a crowd of eavesdropping bystanders he loudly shared his thoughts on “little-dick, dumpy Donald,” the state of race relations in America, the greatest “stickmen” in Hollywood history and his crush on Mary Lou Retton.
HUSTLER: In your new book you claim the greatest athlete of all time—male or female—is Serena Williams, but how much of that comes down to you being an ass man?
MICHAEL RAPAPORT: Ha ha! I’ve always loved Serena. She’s had such an incredible long run, dominating for so many years. The year that Ronda Rousey was nominated most kick-ass athlete Serena had a ridiculous year, and that’s when I started really pushing, pushing, pushing Serena. I mean, I always thought she was beautiful, but on top of all that I just think she’s an ass-kicker.
But how can she be the greatest athlete when John McEnroe, at age 58, thinks he can beat her?
John McEnroe probably can beat her, but that’s just the difference between men and women. And that’s a whole other conversation. Physically we’re different, and that’s a beautiful thing. To try to make the argument that men and women are the same, like that Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs thing, that ain’t reality when it comes to high-level sports. But I got nothing but respect for Serena.
You also reveal in This Book that one of your nicknames is Gringo Mandingo?
