Dressing for NFL press box

[LazyReporter]

Wear what you feel comfortable wearing.

There have been a lot of silly conversations in press boxes at games I've covered, but I can only remember two about what another reporter was wearing. First dude showed up in his surf shorts, tank top and flip flops. Another time, dude showed up in jacket and tie.

Moral of the story: If you don't stand out one way or the other, nobody will notice what you are wearing.

 

[happygirl]

It's not an issue during football season, but I feel shorts are unprofessional, no matter how hot it is. I see it all the time in MLB press boxes. Jeans are fine. Just don't wear a white T-shirt with cigarettess rolled up in the sleeves and in your ears.

 

[slappy4428]

Just once, I want to wear this to a NASCAR race ...

Thank you, Bruce martin

 

[da man]

Just once, I want to wear this to a NASCAR race ...

You'd only get to wear it once ...

 

[Armchair_QB]

If you dress like the janitor, you should expect to be treated like the janitor.

I was at a college game several years ago and a kid from the student paper showed up in cutoffs, sandals, baseball cap, a dress shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a tie.

The SID, to his credit, chewed the kid's ass about it and told him he wouldn't let him back in the box if he showed up like that again. On Monday he called the paper's advisor and told him about it.

 

[Trey Beamon]

The rules I try to adhere to in any press box or on press row... (I'm sure I've broken them a few times...)

No shorts.
No sneakers.
No jeans.
No sandals.
No T-shirts.

All the more reason to cover preps.

 

[Sly]

I'll wear a sportscoat over a button-down shirt and no one says a word, but if you wear a tie, you'll spend the entire game justifying it to someone who is wearing shorts and birks...

1) You can never be overdressed. The guy wearing shorts and birks should have been justifying his dress to you. Whoever said if you dress like the janitor, you'll be treated like a janitor is correct. It's amazing how people around the stadium will respond to you differently if you're wearing a tie. That said, I think the dress code relaxes a bit in the summer, especially if you're covering baseball each day.

2) I have a friend who took his father to a fancy steakhouse for his birthday. The father liked ketchup on his steak. The meal comes and the dad asks for a bottle of Heinz. The next thing he knows, the head chef is at his table, asking if everything is OK.

 

[Screwball]

I'm happy to agree with Happy Girl. I don't know when it became OK to wear shorts to an MLB game just because it's hot outside. It's a shame and a wonder that some people consider a polo shirt and jeans a little too dressed up.

 

[Bubbler]

If you dress like the janitor, you should expect to be treated like the janitor.

I was at a college game several years ago and a kid from the student paper showed up in cutoffs, sandals, baseball cap, a dress shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a tie.

The SID, to his credit, chewed the kid's ass about it and told him he wouldn't let him back in the box if he showed up like that again. On Monday he called the paper's advisor and told him about it.

Press box dressing down? Yeah, OK.

Calling the advisor? Just a tad over the top.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Defintely wear clothes.

 

[Kritter47]

The rules I try to adhere to in any press box or on press row... (I'm sure I've broken them a few times...)

No shorts.
No sneakers.
No jeans.
No sandals.
No T-shirts.

I know some great writers who dress like **** and that's their prerogative... Martin Fennelly immediately jumps to mind. If memory serves, a few years ago he was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and Birks at the Super Bowl...

If you're at that level, you can probably do what you want. If you want to be taken seriously, wear slacks and a polo shirt...

The only one of those I disagree with in a professional press box is the sneakers. Then again, I'm a girl and easy to move in, non-sneakers are usually really ugly. I figure if the sneakers are comfortable and not beat to hell, they're okay.

When I was up in NFL boxes, I tried to wear slacks/knee-length skirt (no jeans) and a nice top. If I could wear it out to a nice business lunch, minus the shoes, I figured it would be okay in the press box.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Always liked this look:

 

[Armchair_QB]

If you dress like the janitor, you should expect to be treated like the janitor.

I was at a college game several years ago and a kid from the student paper showed up in cutoffs, sandals, baseball cap, a dress shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a tie.

The SID, to his credit, chewed the kid's ass about it and told him he wouldn't let him back in the box if he showed up like that again. On Monday he called the paper's advisor and told him about it.

Press box dressing down? Yeah, OK.

Calling the advisor? Just a tad over the top.

Not really. The kid needed to have his ass kicked for the way he acted.

 

[Just_An_SID]

If you dress like the janitor, you should expect to be treated like the janitor.

I was at a college game several years ago and a kid from the student paper showed up in cutoffs, sandals, baseball cap, a dress shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a tie.

The SID, to his credit, chewed the kid's ass about it and told him he wouldn't let him back in the box if he showed up like that again. On Monday he called the paper's advisor and told him about it.

I've pulled student reporters aside and chastized them about their appearance, but calling the advisor is a little over the top. I'd only do that if the student reporter was a total ass hat about the situation.

I've become proactive on working with the student media. I sit down with all of our student media and explain to them how our office works and some of the do's and don'ts of reporting. I tell them that if they want to be taken seriously, then they need to dress that way. I have gotten good results from this.

 

[Huggy]

Always liked this look:

They don't make jackets or pants - or rasslin' managers - like that anymore.

Damn shame.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I've seen a student reporter show up to cover a game with a huge pot leaf on his shirt...

That one had me in hysterics for days...

 

[SoCalScribe]

My first year covering baseball, I was really young and trying not to look it so I wore a coat and tie to every game... I was teased mercilessly for a few months by the other writers. I don't want to say it bothered me, but it was enough for me to stop doing it after a few months...

It's kind of sad that in this business dressing like a homeless person can be a badge of honor, but wearing a tie gets you made fun of... Of course, I've been made fun of for not drinking, so that right there tells you a lot...

You don't drink? What's wrong with you, son? Then again, if you can cover baseball without ever being driven to drink, I guess that's impressive in itself.

In today's casual climate, I think you have to reach a certain age or notoreity before you can pull off a really unique look. I'm thinking of Tracy Ringolsby and John Lowe and their signature hats. If a young kid came in nowadays and tried to do something like that, it wouldn't seem right and they'd hear about it in a hurry.

 

[patchs]

When I used to cover major DI hoops, I went with sportscoat and tie.
I've covered PGA golf, MLB and minor league baseball and went with polo shirts and khaki shorts with sneakers.
If it was chilly, then khaki pants.
When I was a college SE, I always wore a sportscoat and tie for away hoops/football games, more dress casual for home games.
You want to be comfortable, yet look like a pro.
I guess I let the weather dictate what I wear, but I have never worn jeans to a non-HS event.

 

[Sly]

My first year covering baseball, I was really young and trying not to look it so I wore a coat and tie to every game... I was teased mercilessly for a few months by the other writers. I don't want to say it bothered me, but it was enough for me to stop doing it after a few months...

It's kind of sad that in this business dressing like a homeless person can be a badge of honor, but wearing a tie gets you made fun of... Of course, I've been made fun of for not drinking, so that right there tells you a lot...

You don't drink? What's wrong with you, son? Then again, if you can cover baseball without ever being driven to drink, I guess that's impressive in itself.

In today's casual climate, I think you have to reach a certain age or notoreity before you can pull off a really unique look. I'm thinking of Tracy Ringolsby and John Lowe and their signature hats. If a young kid came in nowadays and tried to do something like that, it wouldn't seem right and they'd hear about it in a hurry.

I've often wondered what the players say about John Lowe's hat behind his back.

 

[slim72]

No one gives a **** what we wear. Only what work we do.