Sports writers and drinking

[Your Huckleberry]

I know this is not quite a "journalism" topic but it does involve sports journalists only. It seems like to me there is so much talk about covering games, and then getting drunk, smashed, plastered or at least buzzed afterwards, I wondered just how prevalent drinking is among the sports writers on this board.

I guess I will go first since I'm starting the thread. I never ever have bought an alcholic beverage with company money and I never have drank while covering an event. I rarely drink at all but will once in a while get the urge for a really cold frosty beer in a frozen mug. I know I'm most likely the oddball here but that's OK with me. I find it quite allright for others to drink, I just prefer to stay sober --- plus I really can't afford very many $3 or $4 beers.

What's the board's take on this?

 

[WazzuGrad00]

Sometimes and seldom are still "Yes."

 

[Your Huckleberry]

yeah that was pretty unclear, i recognized that right away. I decided to edit it while you were posting I think. Anyway, it's a little better worded now, I hope.

 

[TrooperBari]

One-hundred percent teetotal.

The filter between my brain and my mouth barely functions as it is.

 

[Shaggy]

Like a fish, dude. Like a fish.

 

[didntdoit19]

I'm drunk right now...

 

[0-fer]

Like a fish. I don't know if it's my own personal situation or if it's just the nature of this business, or the way I do my job. To be honest, I wonder the same thing, Huckleberry. But I gotta say, when I've got a perfect page and something breaks -- and I love it, but it breaks up my page -- I damn-near drink myself into the next session. But I guess that's where it's at. There's always a next session. You gotta love it, and then you drink, drink, drink. Of course, that's a terrible, terrible answer, but I haven't met a sportswriter who doesn't drink. Have you?

 

[0-fer]

Following up, I've never bought an alcoholic beverage with company money -- like I have access to company money? I've also never drank while covering an event, nor have I ever drank during an event or on the clock. It's all about the 1 a.m. just-got-the-paper-out-and-the-Web-site-updated drink for me.

 

[da man]

I used to drink a lot, but I realized I just didn't like the way it made me feel physically, either while I was drunk or buzzed, or the next morning. Now I'll have a beer once in a blue moon just because I like the way it tastes. But I won't drink more than one, ever.

 

[da man]

You know, I was going to write that I can't remember the last time I got drunk, but there are those who could say that when the last time was yesterday.

 

[friend of a friend]

I'm drunk right now...

After reading your other posts, I believe it.

 

[DanOregon]

A lot of it has to do with the hours, you're busting your ass to deadline at night and are too wired to do anything but drink enough so you can fall asleep, alone, in front of your television, with your cat at your feet, a burrito you forgot about congealing in the microwave and a 2 a.m. showing of Good Times on TV LAND when you are suddenly jolted awake by J.J. shouting "Dyno-Mite". Ah the life.
Sportswriters should switch to meth.

 

[SoCalDude]

When I covered baseball and wrote for a PM paper, most nights I'd have a cocktail waiting for me when I got back up to the press box from the clubhouse. I didn't touch it until I was about halfway through my story. Then I'd go for it, figuring I could finish the story well before any sort of buzz started.
But we went out afterward most nights. My second year on the beat, as I was feeling more and more comfortable on the job and on the road, I remember thinking back that from the start of spring training in February until midseason in June or July, I couldn't remember one night when I didn't have at least one cocktail or beer and most nights it was more than that, especially on the road.
Obviously, I've tapered off considerably. My consumption now is maybe a beer, some wine or a margarita on days off. But I do cut loose a bit on vacation and on a yearly reunion I have with a few high school friends.

 

[amraeder]

We go out as a group Saturday nights. They're always ****-ass crazy, and, well, you need a drink and the prospect of picking up some girl afterwards.

 

[Mira]

A couple years ago I decided to expense drinks after I was on a road trip with a counterpart, who convinced me there was nothing wrong with it. I never expense more than two beers or wine on a tab. But I don't do it very often or on every trip. The higher-ups see my expenses, they know what's on there.

I never drink during an event (I cover college hoops), and would never touch a drink if I have to write on a given day or night. If I get to a site one day early or am at a tournament for a span of days, I think it's fine.

As long as you aren't stupid, there's nothing wrong with it (IMO).

 

[Igor in CT]

42 years old this past Wednesday ... and 21 years sober.

 

[Bob Slydell]

At my last job, I drank A LOT more than I do now. Several different reasons. We had an early deadline Wednesdays, and used to go out for drinks and poker afterward for a few hours. And almost always on Saturdays and Sundays. Then normally a couple a night during the week.

Now, I can't imagine drinking that much again. I feel so much better in the mornings. I jut have a beer every now and then, rarely even keep it in the house anymore.

Of course, my mother-in-law works in sales for a bourbon company so I can get that whenever I want!

I wasn't anywhere close to an intervention or anything, but it was probably more than I should have.

But after working until 1 or 2 in the morning, I needed something to wind down with, and beer was readily available.

 

[write then drink]

sports writers drink???

 

[Barsuk]

Wow. When I voted, I really expected to see a lonesome "1" next to "never." I'm pleasantly surprised I'm not the only teetotaler here. Not morally or otherwise averse to drinking, just realized long ago I couldn't do it responsibly. All or nothing, I chose nothing. Thank goodness.

 

[Some Guy]

As I've gotten older, I've had to calm down a lot. I've realized that if I drink too much or stay up too late, it sticks with me for a couple of days. I feel like utter ****. So I can't really drink if I've got something to do the next morning, especially before noon.

I don't bounce back as well as I did in my 20s.

I can still have my nights -- probably still too many for a guy in his 30s -- but I have to space them out well.