No autographs!

[Write-brained]

Ack, sorry Write-brained, honest mistake.

It sounds like an honest mistake but I think there may be more to this story. My guess is that joe may have been guilty of doing this sort of thing for a while, was asked to stop, and didn't.

You are correct. We're revoking his Write-Brained privileges. :D

 

[KP]

Yes. It's easy to think like an American journalist would about this, but imagine going to Japan and trying to learn the language and a different set of rules, rules that go against what you're used to here.

Absolutely. But when you know you're going to a culture that is in some ways polar opposite of ours, one would think you would take special care to learn what's proper and improper so you don't risk instantly losing your credibility.

You know, that seems to be a very common American expectation: if you go to their home/country/whatever, it's your responsibility to adapt to their culture.

I can't help but wonder if other cultures don't hold the same expectation, because this seems to be a common misunderstanding between America and everybody else, whether it's Hispanic people moving north, Japanese reporters traveling east, etc.

Are we the only ones who hold this expectation?

That holds true until the American is on the outbound flight.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

I'm sorry that he got his card confiscated but rules are rules in the BBWAA. It sounds like an honest mistake but I think there may be more to this story. My guess is that he may have been guilty of doing this sort of thing for a while, was asked to stop, and didn't.

This is pure conjecture, though, right?

You don't have any evidence of him asking for other autographs?

Of course he does! How dare you question the great Stoob.

 

[GB-Hack]

Perhaps we could learn something from this. The report says it's common practice in Japan for reporters and baseball stars to often dine together, so things like this are common practice. Here we keep it on a professional level...in some cases, like White-Brained has suggested, don't even take any type of handouts whatsoever for any services in some things.
What can we learn? Japan has the highest newspaper circulation rate per capita than any other nation, and is third in total circulation, ahead of the U.S. While US papers are making cutbacks, and seeing circulation drops, Japan papers have seen a slight climb.
Not sure what we can learn exactly, but maybe there is something to this let's-not-be-so-distant attitude the Japanese have. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's a clubhouse/MLB type rule, but we'd still say it's unprofessional to have relations with players like that.

WRite-Brained. The R is not silent. Anyway, I'm not sure your conclusion is correct. Go to Europe and Japan and you'll see not only more people reading newspapers but an overall emphasis on education. They want to be informed. They are just as knowlegdable about stuff in our country and surrounding countries as they are in their own country.

That may be the case in central Europe, but in Britain the population is getting stupider every single year.

 

[Write-brained]

Perhaps we could learn something from this. The report says it's common practice in Japan for reporters and baseball stars to often dine together, so things like this are common practice. Here we keep it on a professional level...in some cases, like White-Brained has suggested, don't even take any type of handouts whatsoever for any services in some things.
What can we learn? Japan has the highest newspaper circulation rate per capita than any other nation, and is third in total circulation, ahead of the U.S. While US papers are making cutbacks, and seeing circulation drops, Japan papers have seen a slight climb.
Not sure what we can learn exactly, but maybe there is something to this let's-not-be-so-distant attitude the Japanese have. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's a clubhouse/MLB type rule, but we'd still say it's unprofessional to have relations with players like that.

WRite-Brained. The R is not silent. Anyway, I'm not sure your conclusion is correct. Go to Europe and Japan and you'll see not only more people reading newspapers but an overall emphasis on education. They want to be informed. They are just as knowlegdable about stuff in our country and surrounding countries as they are in their own country.

That may be the case in central Europe, but in Britain the population is getting stupider every single year.

I'll put their dumb people up against our dumb people anyday ... unless of course it's a Guitar Hero competition.

 

[GB-Hack]

I'm sure you would, and I think I'd agree. But a lot of Europeans, especially from Britain, are dumber than a bag of rocks.

 

[Tom Petty]

I'm sorry that he got his card confiscated but rules are rules in the BBWAA. It sounds like an honest mistake but I think there may be more to this story. My guess is that he may have been guilty of doing this sort of thing for a while, was asked to stop, and didn't.

you're still here? **** dude, don't you have some legal issues to clear up?

 

[93Devil]

I know the autograph is way off limits. I usually will just shake the person's hand. That is my idea of an autograph. Shaking Elway's or Montana's hand has always been more important to me than that an autograph.

I have seen two actors from The Wire while traveling, and what I do is just look them in the eye, say hello, tell them I love the show and get a good handhake. That is plenty for me.

I will confess what I am guilty of, though. Twice I have asked a photog to snap a pic of me interviewing a person. Once it was Havlicek because he is my uncle's favorite player, and once I asked a pic to be taken with me interviewing a top NBA player because we went to the same high school. I infact remember the 10-year-old kid coming into the gym with his famously estranged father during summer hoops back when I was a high schooler.

Am I the only one guilty of doing the pic while you are interviewing?

 

[boots]

I know the autograph is way off limits. I usually will just shake the person's hand. That is my idea of an autograph. Shaking Elway's or Montana's hand has always been more important to me than that an autograph.

I have seen two actors from The Wire while traveling, and what I do is just look them in the eye, say hello, tell them I love the show and get a good handhake. That is plenty for me.

I will confess what I am guilty of, though. Twice I have asked a photog to snap a pic of me interviewing a person. Once it was Havlicek because he is my uncle's favorite player, and once I asked a pic to be taken with me interviewing a top NBA player because we went to the same high school. I infact remember the 10-year-old kid coming into the gym with his famously estranged father during summer hoops back when I was a high schooler.

Am I the only one guilty of doing the pic while you are interviewing?

I never thought of it as being any big deal personally. You aren't alone though. A lot of scribes have and will continue to do it.

 

[standman]

There are certainly some cultural differences in the way the media treats athletes in other countries. I remember at the U.S. Open (tennis) when the Japanese reporters would clap after a Japanese player finished an interview. The same thing happens with some Latin American reporters after an interview with Sabbatini... I couldn't blame them for that, she was fine.