Spring Break
No cheering in the press box
Scott Richey/Online Editor
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Sports
When Micah Rucker caught a one-handed touchdown pass by reaching around Murray State corner back Derrick Parrott in the first half of Eastern's 27-24 victory against the Racers, I wanted to jump out of my seat and cheer.
When Ademola Adeniji rumbled through the entire Racers' defense on his way to the end zone, I wanted to cheer.
When Ke'Andre Sams intercepted Racers' quarterback Jeff Erhardt for his first interception of the season, I wanted to cheer.
If I was merely a fan at the game I could have jumped up and cheered. But I wasn't just a fan. I was working; covering the game from the press box.
There's a sense of professional stoicism that exists in the press box. It's unreasonable to think I would not have invested interest in Eastern's football team because I am an Eastern student and cover the team at each game. The same can be said for professional and student journalists who cover other football programs as well. Having invested interest, however, does not mean there should be a bias in the press box.
When I'm on the job I refrain from being a cheerleader in the press box. The most I'll say is an occasional "wow" or "what a play" because there is no reason not to acknowledge a good play made by either team. Nonetheless, I take the journalism standard of press box stoicism seriously. I'm there to do my job.
The same cannot be said about two men who shared the press box at Roy Stewart Stadium Saturday afternoon. When Murray State running back Charlie Jordan broke free for his first touchdown run of the game, a man in the press box started cheering.
I was shocked. Sort of. This man also talked on his cell phone during the playing of the national anthem, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised he would also cheer in the press box.
I wasn't the only reporter who was astounded by this behavior. Another reporter in retorted with something along the lines of it was the damn press box not the cheering section.
When Ademola Adeniji rumbled through the entire Racers' defense on his way to the end zone, I wanted to cheer.
When Ke'Andre Sams intercepted Racers' quarterback Jeff Erhardt for his first interception of the season, I wanted to cheer.
If I was merely a fan at the game I could have jumped up and cheered. But I wasn't just a fan. I was working; covering the game from the press box.
There's a sense of professional stoicism that exists in the press box. It's unreasonable to think I would not have invested interest in Eastern's football team because I am an Eastern student and cover the team at each game. The same can be said for professional and student journalists who cover other football programs as well. Having invested interest, however, does not mean there should be a bias in the press box.
When I'm on the job I refrain from being a cheerleader in the press box. The most I'll say is an occasional "wow" or "what a play" because there is no reason not to acknowledge a good play made by either team. Nonetheless, I take the journalism standard of press box stoicism seriously. I'm there to do my job.
The same cannot be said about two men who shared the press box at Roy Stewart Stadium Saturday afternoon. When Murray State running back Charlie Jordan broke free for his first touchdown run of the game, a man in the press box started cheering.
I was shocked. Sort of. This man also talked on his cell phone during the playing of the national anthem, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised he would also cheer in the press box.
I wasn't the only reporter who was astounded by this behavior. Another reporter in retorted with something along the lines of it was the damn press box not the cheering section.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story