Erin Andrews and the Cubs locker room: Discuss

And if it's Billy Bob Boofer who does that to you? Knowing you, I think you'd kick his ass in front of everyone or give him a good verbal undressing.

So (and don't take this the wrong way), do you not do anything about Tony lest your press privilges be revoked suddenly and without reason for some other woman reporter who'll stand there and let a guy like Tony Stewart rub her down in front of the fellas?

 

I call David Poole "dear".

 

Plus, he's from Columbus, Indiana. That's not his fault.

 

Wow. You really do jump to conclusions.

He put his hand on my shoulder blade and moved it side to side for 1 second. I never said he "rubbed me down."

And yes, Billy Bob Boofer did actually touch my arm last night at the short track. I didn't kick him in the nads. It's a friendly conversation.

 

My boss has this cliche she uses me on when I get pissy about things: Is this a hill you want to die on? It helps me to rationalize things and realize certain incidents may not be as big a deal.

I have a funny feeling that IJAG is a tad bit smarter than to think one guy touching her back -- whether it was in a 'suggestive' manner or not -- is worth freaking out over.

 

Exactly. Then those who don't deal with this, yet somehow wrote the book on how to deal with it, condemn us for dealing with it our way.

 

If he "rubbed me down," Xan, while asking if I wanted to go back to his bus for a "one-on-one", yeah, there'd have been a throwdown.

But an aside to cover up his obvious sexism? When it was one second and the interviews never halted? Not a scene to be made.

Not when there are other female reporters on that beat who refer to crew chiefs by their nicknames in press conferences, especially one named "Stiffy."

 

I'm curious, that's all. Don't fault the questions. It's what I (all of us here) do.

It's OK to expand these conversations to the bigger picture. If I (or other guys) ever get overly personal, I think you'd let me (us) know, IJAG.

 

I just took offense at how you decided I was OK with being "rubbed down" in front of a crowd of people, and how I would just giggle at that because I was afraid of my press rights being revoked.

That's offensive. Any way you slice it.

 

Christ, I had a major junior hockey player follow me home one night. Another pulled up next to me at a stop light and asked me if I wanted to go back to my place and fuck.

Did it freak me out a little bit? Yes.

Did I freak out at the time and throw a hissy fit? No.

Did I ask them at the next practice to respect my boundaries and knock it off? Yes.

Luckily, they got the message.

 

I don't think it came off as 'dirty old man,' Mike. I wouldn't worry about that. I don't think most people will come away with that conclusion.

But I do think if you're going to be critical of her personal choice of dress and her professional behavior... and if it was true that she WAS the story of the postgame (which, from everything you're saying, your instincts were dead-on correct), how can you not seek out the subject of your column?

I applaud your boldness for doing the story, and I applaud you for saying if you had to do it all over again, you might seek comment from her...

But I can't get past the nagging feeling of unfairness.

Just because it's an opinion piece or column does not mean you throw balance (or basic fairness) out the window.

 

Grabbing onto Soriano is more creepy than noticing it.