Star Apps: Tribble Reese
Tribble Reese is used to admiration for his pretty-boy face and athletic physique, honed and toned as a college and arena-league football player. The model and athlete was voted Cosmopolitan's most eligible bachelor for South Carolina in 2008 and Jezebel's most beautiful in 2010. Since breaking out in reality TV shows "Sweet Home Alabama" and "The New Atlanta," Reese has returned to football, playing for the Elmshorn Fighting Pirates, a second-division team in Germany. I tossed some questions to Tribble Reese about his move abroad, the reality shows, dating, and mobile software.
Tribble Reese is back, playing the field.
(Credit: Courtesy of Bravo)
How did you end up playing football in Germany?
I haven't played in three years, and this was an opportunity for me to play football, which I love. I was in between projects and was asked to play quarterback here, so it was also a chance to travel and learn about a new culture. So I couldn't turn it down.
How is playing in Germany different than in the US?
There are translation problems -- I speak zero Deutsch. But really, football's football. The Americans get paid by the clubs to come and play, and the Germans don't get paid, so they're playing for the love of the game. It's cool to see guys so passionate about working out and practicing. You hear the Germans are a cold people, but I've had to say that I haven't experienced anything but love.
As someone who also models, do you worry about getting injured?
Listen, I'm gonna do me. Getting away sometimes provides clarity. I don't worry about getting injured, because I feel like the face mask will take care of it, and then maybe I'm athletic enough not to.
How much of your success would you credit to your looks?
Looks fade, but I will always be Tribble. Whether I get hit in the face by a baseball or burn my face cooking broccoli, I will always be me. While I like the compliments, it's all good and well, but it doesn't keep me going. It's me being me that does that. It's a spark that started it, but then they find out who I am, a happy-go-lucky guy that loves life and is passionate about it and not afraid to make a fool of myself. I'm ready to take it to the next level.
What does it mean to be a Southern gentleman in 2014?
I love the Instagram meme talking about class being for men and swag being for boys. I think that people have lost a lot of these values. People want to express themselves through different trends, but you can't lose your true Southern core. You still have to open the doors for the ladies, go and get a beer with your guy friends -- and it's getting lost in the shuffle. It's not losing who I am at the core.
Do you keep in touch with bachelorette Devin from "Sweet Home Alabama"?
Yes, Devin is a close friend, and we keep up a lot. A lot of good things came out of "Sweet Home Alabama." I made a lot of good guy friends when I was a contestant. Then when I was the bachelor, there was romance during the show with a lot of them. But when you get back to your own life, they become friends for life.
You don't list "The New Atlanta" as part of your Web site bio. Do you regret that experience?
This is what we call a stepping stone where we don't know where it's going to lead.
On the show, it seemed like you were the only person that wasn't getting any. You said you had a huge crush on your castmate Africa, but nothing came of it.
The way it was produced was, the producers asked, "Who are you feeling?" I didn't have a love interest. I had just gotten out of a year-and-a-half relationship, and there were girls I'd date, but no one I was interested in. So they asked if I thought Africa was cute, and I said, "Yeah," but I've never dated black girls. But I think they were setting me up for failure, because behind the scenes, she was either feeling Vaughn or told that was the route it was gonna go. So I ended up falling flat on my face.
How did you end up the sole white boy on a mostly black show?
I don't know. I knew Emily before the show, and I knew it was the producers of "Love and Hip Hop," but didn't know it was going to be modeled after that show.
Have you ever dated a woman of color?
I have not. I am not against it. I am from the South, and as a Southern gentleman in 2014, it's about realizing that people have different tastes and flavors, whether it be same sex or different races. It's all about love.
Are you dating anyone now?
I am in Germany right now, so I've got my weed whacker out and am just looking for any single German ladies that adhere to the hygiene that most Americans do. I am keeping an open mind and seeing what happens.
What do you miss from back home that you're not getting abroad?
There's no ice for anything, and I love a cold drink. I haven't even seen ice, and I'm wondering if there's an ice shortage. Also, there's no regular water here. I took a swig out of a guy's bottle at practice the other day, and it was sparkling water, which wasn't refreshing. And beer is cheaper than Coke here. In America, you can find peanut butter anywhere, but here it's taken six grocery stores to find it.
I saw a screenshot of you Skype-ing with your family, posted on Twitter. How have Skype and FaceTime helped you keep in touch with people back home?
I get to Skype with different buddies and girlfriends back home. It's so cool that you could be 3,500 miles away with an eight-hour time difference, and I can Skype with you; I feel like I'm living in the future. But that's also what being a Southern gentleman is like in 2014 -- being a family guy and using Skype to keep up with your family.
You're on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Any other social media apps?
I do a little bit of Vine, but since Instagram did the whole video thing, I don't Vine as much. There's a cool new app called JamCam. If you've seen my selfie videos, it's cool 'cause you can play a song in the background on your phone. Even if you're at a football game and there's a lot of noise in the background, all it plays is the actual song that you picked.
Check out this Tribble Reese video selfie, created exclusively for Download.com:
Which is your favorite social media app?
Probably the first app I check after my email in the morning is Instagram. It's quick; if I don't want to see another picture of a baby, I can just swipe up. It's quicker than reading a Facebook feed.
Do you ever play any games on your iPhone?
I think my Flappy Bird score is higher than anyone else that I know, so I'm kind of proud of that. My score's 123, so I'm pretty excited about it. Other than that, whenever I have downtime, I try to listen to a book or do Lumosity, which is really cool, because not only am I improving my brainpower, it's fun.
What are your top five apps?
I love music, so I am always using Shazam, 'cause I'm always curious about different songs, and Spotify, as well. JamCam is definitely up there, 'cause I don't play musical instruments, so for me, it's a way to express myself. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are checked constantly, 'cause I like to be in touch with the world and friends -- and use them for inspiration. I follow guys that dress nice or badass people that post inspiring quotes. I love listening to books on tape, so I have an Audible app when I want to kill time. I've been using the German-American dictionary LinguaDict Pro a lot, because it's a tough language, along with a metric converter, 'cause everything here is in a different measurement.
