I have never been so embarrassed of fellow journalists

Lohen - I agree with you, please understand, but you can take that same logic (in terms of jeopardizing the image of professionalism) and apply it to those who plagiarize and others who behave unethically in other ways. Leads me back to what I said - I'll worry about myself, and hopefully the people I interact with know I do things in a first-class manner.

 

Last autograph I ever asked for was at the age of 13. I began stringing for newspapers at 14.

If that's big-timin' it, well, tough.

 

No, it's impressive.

But you know and I know the ones who pull the "don't you know who I am" crap...

 

I guess what I'm saying is, as a grumpy old bird, I just don't see why some of the tenets of our business need to be challenged. And they are, more than at any time in our existence.

You don't cheer in the press box.

You don't take freebies on your beat.

You don't act the fan on your beat (i.e., asking for autographs).

And there are people who will argue each of those.

 

lighten up on the free shit, you rat bastard.

 

Exhibit A, your honor.

 

just sayin'.

 

I haven't asked for an autograph since I was about 10, when I went to an MLB game, got there early, and found Tug McGraw sitting in the stands talking to someone. They were about 20 rows from my seats, so I went over to them and said, "Hi Tug." He said, "No."

Asshole. Actually ran into him in press boxes a couple times after I got into sportswriting and didn't have the guts to tell him what a jerk he was. Wish I had.

 

The more famous people I meet, the less I'm impressed by them.

And I don't mean that in a negative way.

They are simply people. Rich people, but people.

And just like the population at large, there are all types of celebs — gracious ones, asshats, self-important ones, etc. People.

Never have I felt the need to ask them to write their names on a piece of paper to validate where I've been.

 

Had to think about it, but "embarrassed of" just doesn't sound right if you try to put it into another sentence, so I think "embarrassed for" would be right.

As for autographs, the only gray areas I have ever considered in this are A) if it's for some kind of charity deal, a legitimate one or B) in one of those rare instances where you meet, say, your father's boyhood idol and this would be a chance to do something special for him, so you suck it up, break the rules and just go ahead and ask.

This never happened to me when I was a writer, but I'm not going to look down hard on somebody who puts family, or being a good human being, ahead of the rules in a one-shot deal.

 

I don't understand what people do with these autographs. I get the autographed book. I get the autographed hat. But the piece of paper with someone's sigature on it, I don't get. I suppose it can be framed and hung. When you're a kid, I get that. But as adults, I don't get it.