Principal bans reporter from press box, apologizes

[slappy4428]

You were right, guy. You are do seem like an asshole. Good call.

Ace, I know why you can't get a sniff at the Plain Dealer. you're too wordy. Check out my edit. See, two less words.

Might be the first time in history you were not only concise but on point. This is one of those watershed moments like Kennedy getting shot, the 1980 hockey win over the Soviets and the Lions opening the 2007 season with a win.

What are you talking about? I didn't shoot Kennedy. I was nowhere near the grassy knoll.

Not you... the fact that HS was right was a watershed moment...

 

[BillyT]

If I get kicked out of a press box for something like that, I don't cover the game. Period. I call the AD and the Superintendent on Monday.

Especially if you've had advanced notice. Find something else on the sked and cover that.

I would politely disagree with you on this.

It's perfectly easy to cover a football game without being in a press box. (I do it pretty much every time I go to a high school football game).

You may be punishing the school (and the principal through that), but you are penalizing the reader, especially if the other team local. ("Why didn't we cover the game you won 72-0 and set nine state scoring records? The other school's principal is a deck.")

OK, slight exaggeration.

My concern is the principal's anger at the reporting. Considering what has been happening in Jena, Ark., he oughta be all over this incident.

(If you have not read the Jena stuff, check it out on Google News)

 

[BillyT]

Usually, I stick to the side that has the chains, unless there's a compelling story on the other sideline on which I wanna check in.

That's an excellent point!

But . . . back in the day, I sued to switch at halftime so I would not be accused of favoring one team. Seriously.

 

[BillyT]

You were right, guy. You are do seem like an asshole. Good call.

Ace, I know why you can't get a sniff at the Plain Dealer. you're too wordy. Check out my edit. See, two less words.

Three.

Fewer,

 

[mpcincal]

Usually, I stick to the side that has the chains, unless there's a compelling story on the other sideline on which I wanna check in.

That's an excellent point!

But . . . back in the day, I sued to switch at halftime so I would not be accused of favoring one team. Seriously.

You had to go to court do that? Or did you just transpose a couple of letters?

 

[BillyT]

When more than half of the schools in the circ area are 2A or below, there are NO pressboxes. Not really a choice of how I cover a game.

As far as access goes, while the principal or AD or whatever can try to "ban" you from a box, etc., if it's a public school, they can't deny you entry. They may make you pay, but they can't turn you away. You can still do your job, even if it's not by your preferred method.

If someone is hindering you from doing your job, the biggest "fork you" is to do it regardless of the situation. Don't give in and get all pissy.

Just do the job, it's all that matters.

(If it's a private school and they throw you out, you're forked.)

They can ban you from the box.

They ban most of the rest of the public from the box.

They could ban you from the sideline, too.

They could make you pay and sit in the stands.

And, really, since it's a school event (even though it's a public place), they can toss your butt if they want.

 

[BillyT]

Usually, I stick to the side that has the chains, unless there's a compelling story on the other sideline on which I wanna check in.

That's an excellent point!

But . . . back in the day, I sued to switch at halftime so I would not be accused of favoring one team. Seriously.

We have now discovered Billy's favorite typo.

 

[Ace]

Usually, I stick to the side that has the chains, unless there's a compelling story on the other sideline on which I wanna check in.

That's an excellent point!

But . . . back in the day, I sued to switch at halftime so I would not be accused of favoring one team. Seriously.

You had to go to court do that? Or did you just transpose a couple of letters?

Usually, you can just call a friendly judge and get a court order. That's what I did back in the day.

 

[sportpro]

I am the one that this story is about. Just to clarify a few points. I am the only paper that covers the team and a one-man sports department at a daily newspaper. I DID NOT write the story about the incident at the school. The press box has more than ample room for me. I have never had a problem with this school in the past. As a matter of fact, they have been more than cooperative when it comes to sports. All coaches submit their scores when I am not there and they go out of their way to accomodate us. There has never been a problem in the past, and yes I have been objective in my coverage of sporting events at the school. Covered the game because it was the right thing to do. I am far from LAZY and I am on a tight deadline on Friday night, so therefore I do most of my writing at the game and then go back and do Saturday's paper (one-man staff). So I would reserve comment on the "lazy" issue until you are in someone else's shoes. I don't work for a big metro and have other people lay out my pages, so yes, it was tough for me that night. I think the press box is for what it stands for - the press. The radio station was present and the TV station that aired the story last week was there as well. So what's fair for one is fair for all. Everyone is entitled to an opinion on this issue and rightfully, so. But, I am not lazy.

 

[sportpro]

That is a well-written TV report. :

Who the fork is Taylor? It's George ROGERS Clark, not Roger's. And what is with all the extraneous commas?

So glad I work for Media General, which owns that station. I'm proud today.



I am Keith Taylor

 

[BillyT]

Keith: Thanks for the explanation.

While I espouse working the sidelines, I personally have no issues with those who choose to work from the press box.

My thought was that being banned from the press box wouldn't negate your ability to cover the game.

 

[sportpro]

I understand, brother. Just wanted folks to hear it from the horse's mouth! Glad everyone knows who I am now! Just kidding. Peace