The "Homer" sports writer

[BillyT]

Had an amusing moment tonight. Shooting a girls basketball tonight. Player from the team in my coverage area comes up with a steal and is running the floor. Blows past a defender for a lay-in. Just as the ball goes through the hoop I mutter "Dammit!" A few fans sitting above me look at me with funny looks, wondering why I am actively rooting against their team. But it had nothing to do with rooting for anyone. I lift up my camera so they can see the image. What should have been a great shot of a kid driving to the hoop turned into a nice shot of the ref's fat ass as he wandered into the frame just as I pressed the button. Sort of an "anti-homer" moment I guess. But it was good for a chuckle.

it's almost playoff time. isn't everybody rooting for "their prep teams" to lose?

I know our paper always had a "hit list."

 

[BillyT]

I don't think it's "sigh" worthy for that older reporter to wear the cap the baseball team gave him in the offseason -- he was smart enough not to "cheer" in the press box ... who are you to judge what he does when he's not in the press box? I've had teams give me t-shirts and crap too ... no, I've never asked and it's the kind of thing that I've tried to refuse 100 times but eventually learn it's just easier to take and say "thanks." I wear them around the apartment, or when I go for a run. I don't use them as toilet paper like it seems some of you do.

I've always liked sports because they're exciting and they get me excited. I hope I never turn as dark and negative ... as "unbiased" as some of you.

Does your paper not have a policy about accepting gifts? Even if you have say it a thousand times, I wouldn't accept any hat, shirt, etc. I was given because it's ethically wrong to me.

Who am I to judge? Someone who feels that other's foolishness reflects poorly on me and my profession.

I don't think people are trying to out-do each other. Just sharing horror stories and our shock that this crap actually happens out there.

Diabetus, do you eat the free food in the press box? Do you pay for your own parking? Not trying to be confrontational or anything. Just genuinely curious as to where you draw the line.

Is this a serious question?

(I hate it when people ask that)

There is a definitely line between gifts and things like parking and food that make it possible for you to do your job.

But we have been down that road so many times before.

 

[inkstained]

I don't think it's "sigh" worthy for that older reporter to wear the cap the baseball team gave him in the offseason -- he was smart enough not to "cheer" in the press box ... who are you to judge what he does when he's not in the press box? I've had teams give me t-shirts and crap too ... no, I've never asked and it's the kind of thing that I've tried to refuse 100 times but eventually learn it's just easier to take and say "thanks." I wear them around the apartment, or when I go for a run. I don't use them as toilet paper like it seems some of you do.

I've always liked sports because they're exciting and they get me excited. I hope I never turn as dark and negative ... as "unbiased" as some of you.

Does your paper not have a policy about accepting gifts? Even if you have say it a thousand times, I wouldn't accept any hat, shirt, etc. I was given because it's ethically wrong to me.

Who am I to judge? Someone who feels that other's foolishness reflects poorly on me and my profession.

I don't think people are trying to out-do each other. Just sharing horror stories and our shock that this crap actually happens out there.

Diabetus, do you eat the free food in the press box? Do you pay for your own parking? Not trying to be confrontational or anything. Just genuinely curious as to where you draw the line.

Is this a serious question?

(I hate it when people ask that)

There is a definitely line between gifts and things like parking and food that make it possible for you to do your job.

But we have been down that road so many times before.

I haven't been privy to those threads, but that's fine if no one wants to discuss it.

I personally think the line is pretty blurred. If you're willing to take a big stand against accepting shirts, hats and whatnot, then you'll find a way not to accept other stuff. And it goes beyond the $5 chicken dinner you eat while spending eight hours at a football stadium.

How about those golf outings at plush resorts?

How about swilling beer and liquor on a conference's dime in the hospitality room?

I could go on. But the point is, almost everyone accepts free stuff in one way or another. And I don't think playing a $200 round of golf on a conference's dime is much different than accepting a $40 shirt on a conference's dime.

 

[kingcreole]

Had the old "You guys" line last night.

Sitting there in the pressbox, talking with the other newspaper guy for a couple seconds as he heads out. Last thing he says? "Well, don't worry about the loss. You guys are still going to be tough in postseason."

fork ...

 

[zebracoy]

Had the old "You guys" line last night.

Sitting there in the pressbox, talking with the other newspaper guy for a couple seconds as he heads out. Last thing he says? "Well, don't worry about the loss. You guys are still going to be tough in postseason."

fork ...

I hope you turned around, held up your hands and told him, "You betcha. You wouldn't believe some of the things these babies can pound out on deadline, especially when I'm in San Antonio at the Final Four. Watch out."

 

[Rex Harrison]

I'm actually not hoping for losses at this point. I just submitted my hours yesterday, and this check will be quite nice. The next will be very fat, and if the right teams win, so will the one after that, hopfully allowing me to take MrsExpendable somewhere nice for a weekend.

Must be nice to get overtime. If I got overtime I'd be rooting for all of my teams as well. Instead, I don't get anything, except long ass drives around West Texas to watch shirtty basketball.

That would change my entire tune.

Indeed. My last paper paid overtime, so I'd bust my ass for about a month of district and state tournaments and enjoy the spoils of a fat forking check soon after. Then I was back to the 40-hour week. Because nobody gave a shirt about spring sports, we didn't cover them that much.

 

[mudduck]

How's this for a homer?

So called sports writer for local paper also a member of the school board, yup, same school he 'allegedly' covered.

Yes, he wore Small School High gear to the games.

 

[Moderator1]

heck, that's pretty bad. But, to cross thread, at least the dude had one really good source on the school board. That never hurts.
Can you be your own anonymous source? There's one for discussion.

 

[mudduck]

This guy only does sports.

We'll leave it at that.

 

[BillyT]

I don't think it's "sigh" worthy for that older reporter to wear the cap the baseball team gave him in the offseason -- he was smart enough not to "cheer" in the press box ... who are you to judge what he does when he's not in the press box? I've had teams give me t-shirts and crap too ... no, I've never asked and it's the kind of thing that I've tried to refuse 100 times but eventually learn it's just easier to take and say "thanks." I wear them around the apartment, or when I go for a run. I don't use them as toilet paper like it seems some of you do.

I've always liked sports because they're exciting and they get me excited. I hope I never turn as dark and negative ... as "unbiased" as some of you.

Does your paper not have a policy about accepting gifts? Even if you have say it a thousand times, I wouldn't accept any hat, shirt, etc. I was given because it's ethically wrong to me.

Who am I to judge? Someone who feels that other's foolishness reflects poorly on me and my profession.

I don't think people are trying to out-do each other. Just sharing horror stories and our shock that this crap actually happens out there.

Diabetus, do you eat the free food in the press box? Do you pay for your own parking? Not trying to be confrontational or anything. Just genuinely curious as to where you draw the line.

Is this a serious question?

(I hate it when people ask that)

There is a definitely line between gifts and things like parking and food that make it possible for you to do your job.

But we have been down that road so many times before.

I haven't been privy to those threads, but that's fine if no one wants to discuss it.

I personally think the line is pretty blurred. If you're willing to take a big stand against accepting shirts, hats and whatnot, then you'll find a way not to accept other stuff. And it goes beyond the $5 chicken dinner you eat while spending eight hours at a football stadium.

How about those golf outings at plush resorts?

How about swilling beer and liquor on a conference's dime in the hospitality room?

I could go on. But the point is, almost everyone accepts free stuff in one way or another. And I don't think playing a $200 round of golf on a conference's dime is much different than accepting a $40 shirt on a conference's dime.

Well, seeing you have really only posted three times, then you wouldn't have.



I am not saying we shouldn't discuss it, but I don't think deep into this thread is the place for it.

I see someone has linked you there.

 

[shotglass]

And the one that actually churned out some great discussion ("W-B vs. the world" ): http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/posts/1289460/

Yeah, I just looked at W-B taking on the masses there.

One thing I got out of it was all the pooooor sportswriters crying because they didn't have time to eat while covering the game, and that's why they will gladly eat the free grub.

Well, I think we hang onto our self-ascribed "morals" too much sometimes in situations like this. Still, I can't remember the last time I've seen a sports journalist -- myself included -- who would waste away from missing one meal.

 

[mike311gd]

I think I've got two shirts given to me by teams I've covered in the past. The only time they've moved from my closet was to make a three-hour move to another state, where they now rest in a different closet. I've got no problem with accepting the gift, so long as it's something dinky like a mass-produced T-shirt. But that forker's not touching my back until I'm far away from the gift-giver.