Cheering on press row?

Here is an upsetting trend that I'm just starting to notice: Some schools allow big-time boosters (or rich people) to sit on press row. As in, at the table with seats next to the scorers or on the opposite side. Now, I understand the Basketball Writers Association is taking on this issue of moving the press back, and I'm all for the fight.
But what really drives me crazy is that these fans sit on press row and cheer. That's their right, I know, but people looking on don't know they are fans. On TV, they look like press. So I'm covering a college hoops game on TV recently, and I'm getting text messages from people back home wondering why so many media members are cheering and clapping.
Really doesn't help our rep.

 

You think that's bad? I once knew a reporter who got tossed for arguing with an official from press row.

 

I hope he/she is an ex-reporter.
I have heard about radio commentators getting technicals.

 

didn't the legendary Bus Saidt get a technical at a 76ers game once?

 

Moland--not sure how prevalent it is in bother NBA arenas, but in Boston, they've cut down seriously on premium press spots and sold those spots as tickets to high rollers. It's created a similar situation, an odd one when people ask local basketball reporters why they're standing and cheering the Celtics. Doesn't help the rep one bit.

 

Didn't a Texas A&M announcer get tee'd up after a ref mistook the announcer's fixing his tie for the choke symbol?

 

State wrestling always seems to bring out the worst in small-daily sportswriters. Not comdemning everyone, but have seen these guys show up to state wrestling wearing T-shirts of the school they're covering. They cheer, whine, boo and carry on like the other 15,000 fans in attendance. State athletics assocation finally booted a couple. End of problem.

Second story. Girls basketball team was the best in the program's history. Only one loss before losing in a regional final. A reporter (not from my paper) walks up to the star player and gives the kid a hug and tells her how sorry he is that the team lost. Talk about an awkward moment. Girl looked like she wanted to run and her dad had a "What the fuck?" look on his face. Guy TRIED to do this to a couple other players without success.

 

That's one way to get in good with wrestling parents.

 

I knew an SE who cheered on the sidelines at football games he'd cover, high-fiving guys coming off the field. If I was there when he did it, I swear I would have clotheslined him like my name was Nikita Koloff.

 

I've definitely seen an older-than-death college radio announcer rip off his headset and scream at the refs until his voice gets hoarse. And people go, oh, he's old. As if that explains it.

 

I was five seats away from Dave South, assistant AD and broadcaster for Texas A&M athletics, when that happened. He was not just T'd, he was escorted from the building. And he was not straightening his tie, he was giving the universal choke signal. It's the only time I ever felt like cheering from press row.

 

Gotcha. I remembered the incident, didn't remember all the details. Didn't it take place during a tournament?