Erin Andrews and the Cubs locker room: Discuss

Hottie airheads of both genders can last a long time in TV without ever getting it.

 

It also has to do with who is keeping score. When you have people scrutinizing your every move it's different. Since this thread was started I've witnessed more contact between reporters and athletes than I have in a long time, because usually I tune it out. I'm sure a lot of us do. Nadel should have given some context in his piece, because he made it sound like the rest of the media acted like they were wearing Hazmat suits.

 

A lot of good points on both sides.

At the risk of needing a flame-retardant suit, I have four things to add:

1. I was taught early on in my career that there are some things you just can't write without giving your subject a chance to respond.

2. I love summer dresses that leave little to the imagination as much as the next guy. However, I think Andrews could have worn something more appropriate to Miller Park on the day in question.

3. I typically begin and end in-person interviews with a handshake. But, at least among the college ranks these days, there are some players that are going to reach out their fist for a bump. It feels less professional, but you get over it pretty easily.

4. The NFL draft is the most overrated thing in sports. The second-most -- and this is in no way a sign of disrespect to her -- is Erin Andrews.

She does her job competently, although I can name a few sideline reporters who are better. And I've seen her in person at the College World Series; she is indeed cute. But I have no clue what it is about her that make some people react as if they've never seen an attractive woman before.

 

You might need to be careful about allowing your Smasher_Sloan and Simon_Cowbell identities to overlap.

 

Absolutely true. But airhead or not, there are plenty of beautiful chirpy women who don't get as far as Erin has, and it's not just luck...you have to know how to work the lines between professional and adorable and nauseating. One day you're the perfect combo of looks and talent and charm and brains, and suddenly you lean too far in one direction and you're all about looks. Not the way to survive. We'll see what happens here.

 

That was basically my point as well. If a subject initiates contact, there's not much you can do, but you can do something about what contact you initiate. That's just professionalism 101.

That's my only dog in this fight.

 

Agreed on all counts.

 

And I still contend that "simple, innocuous, casual stuff" has gotten males in the workplace hauled before H.R. to explain themselves. The last time we had a sexual harrasment seminar in our office, we were told that the rules applied to clients, interview subjects, etc., outside of the office as well. Apparently it's okay if you're a hot female reporter and the objects of the "simple, innocuous, casual stuff" are male athletes.

 

Poor men. They're so often victimized in our culture. They really have it rough.

 

I've still got to guess she did not initiate the contact, be it hand or biceps. It's far more likely he said, "Look, you can feel where the break was,'' or something like that. I've had players say that to me, and I've seen them say it to male reporters, it is not unusual at all. Maybe they think they're providing a more clear picture of how serious their injury/break was. Frank Thomas was getting reporters to feel his torn quad a month or so ago, trying to make the point that it felt really, really weird, and the injury was way more of a problem than suspected originally.
I can't believe she just said, "Hey, let me feel your hand!'' or grabbed his hand. If she did initiate it, I'll agree it was out of line. But I'd be really surprised if she did.

 

Pat White probably asked to be kissed too.

 

I'm not feeling another guy's quad no matter how much he offers.