Trevor Bayne/Daytona 500: Cheering in the Press Box

[akneeland]

jaybusbee.com:

"It wasn't until later that I found out the race's finish had caused a mini-controversy in the media center. (I was in the garage area and watched the end of the race on one of the Jumbotrons.) Apparently, much of the press corps in attendance broke out in applause.

If you don't understand why that's a problem and you're not in the media, I can understand that. If you don't understand why that's a problem and you ARE in the media ... well, that's a bigger problem.

You don't cheer in the press box. You just don't. No matter how fascinating or astonishing or holy-crap-did-you-see-that, you keep your mind on why you're there, and you keep your mouth shut.

*snip*

Still, the applause at the end of the race, I can almost excuse as spontaneous, the equivalent of an "OHHHHH!" which often happens during a wreck. What really galled me was the cheering after Bayne finished his press conference. The kid did a fine job; I said as much on Twitter. But to cheer him as he left the stage? To rush up and high-five him, as some did? Come on, what the hell are you thinking?"

frontstretch.com:

I was among the many who applauded upon witnessing live one of the greatest upsets the sport has ever seen, as well as the accompanying appreciation of the accomplishment. It was not because of a biased allegiance to Trevor Bayne, or a relief that Carl Edwards was denied a plate victory. It was because I, like so many around me, knew exactly what the historical impact was of what I had just witnessed. Bayne’s victory was a positive outcome the sport has been in dire need of for a long, long time now.

*snip*

To have writers, some of whom will openly admit that this job is a profession more than a passion for them, call out those of us that happen to be both race fans and working professionals offering both ethical and relevant coverage of stock car racing is nothing short of infuriating. I, for one, am not going to sit here and apologize for being a race fan that took great pride and joy in watching this Daytona 500 play out the way it did.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Nothing new in racing.

I covered the Pepsi 400 when Jr. won it a little more than a year after his father had been killed. You should have heard the writers screaming for him when he came into the media area. I was standing next to one of the most respected racing writers in the country and he was cheering as loud as anyone.

 

[dkphxf]

Is it such a bad thing thing to high-five someone? (I'm more of a handshake guy.) If there's a big win, I don't think it's wrong to congratulate the coach or a player. You're building rapport and I don't think it compromises your integrity. It doesn't necessarily mean you were hoping they'd win.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Is it such a bad thing thing to high-five someone? (I'm more of a handshake guy.) If there's a big win, I don't think it's wrong to congratulate the coach or a player. You're building rapport and I don't think it compromises your integrity. It doesn't necessarily mean you were hoping they'd win.

There's nothing wrong with that. I was at the Super Bowl several years ago and after the team won, when I walked into the locker room, a 350-pound defensive lineman randomly picked me up and bearhugged me. The live feed on TV showed the celebration and when I got back to the press box, our columnist yelled to me, "Hey, (the slot guy) just called and said to tell you to stop hugging the players and start filing your sidebars."

 

[Ace]

I agree that motor sports writers tend to lean on the fan side more than any sport I have ever covered.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Quick to the tweet were well-known scribes David Caraviello, Nate Ryan, and Jay Busbee among others who all denounced the celebratory display from the media corps as amateurish and too fan-like. In doing so, they all but encouraged writers like myself who engaged in the applause to buy a grandstand ticket and leave the sportswriting to the real journalists.

Yes, you fanboi looser, if you're cheering then go sit in the stands and leave the press box to the professionals.

 

[Double J]

Nothing new in racing.

I covered the Pepsi 400 when Jr. won it a little more than a year after his father had been killed. You should have heard the writers screaming for him when he came into the media area. I was standing next to one of the most respected racing writers in the country and he was cheering as loud as anyone.

Maybe that's why Jay Busbee didn't cheer on Sunday - because Dale Jr. didn't win Daytona.

 

[Ace]

How can a writer not realize that "cheering for the good of the sport" is just as bad as cheering for a particular team or player?

The only exceptions to cheering are if your team wins an you get to cover them in Hawaii or someplace or if your team loses and ends a miserable season.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Daytona? Pepsi 400? Super Bowl? Lightweight.

I was in the press tent when Neil Armstrong came back inside after walking on the moon. I was the first one he passed on the way to the front. We bumped helmet visors. Always wonder if I should have pulled back. I was caught up in the moment, but as I look back, it seems a bit booster-ish.

 

[Ace]

Daytona? Pepsi 400? Super Bowl? Lightweight.

I was in the press tent when Neil Armstrong came back inside after walking on the moon. I was the first one he passed on the way to the front. We bumped helmet visors. Always wonder if I should have pulled back. I was caught up in the moment, but as I look back, it seems a bit booster-ish.

That's pretty ballsy. I would have been afraid of space cooties.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

While I wasn't there and don't condone cheering the press box, the real question is who the **** is Jay Busbee and does he think whatever readers he might have give a **** he got his panties in a wad?

 

[MileHigh]

Quick to the tweet were well-known scribes David Caraviello, Nate Ryan, and Jay Busbee among others who all denounced the celebratory display from the media corps as amateurish and too fan-like. In doing so, they all but encouraged writers like myself who engaged in the applause to buy a grandstand ticket and leave the sportswriting to the real journalists.

Yes, you fanboi looser, if you're cheering then go sit in the stands and leave the press box to the professionals.

Exactly. It's not even open for debate. And good for those guys for calling them out. (An aside: I'm friends with Nate and we're former co-workers. No surprise knowing him that he would say something like that.)

 

[93Devil]

I think I always said congratulations and shook the coach's hand if it was a one-on-one after a game, and I always made a point to click the pen in front of them shut and wish them "good luck the rest of the way."

The congratulations was just another way of saying hello. The losing coach would always get "can I have a moment, coach."

And, yes, I have no problem calling a coach a coach.

 

[akneeland]

... I always made a point to click the pen in front of them shut and wish them "good luck the rest of the way."

Same here. I say the "good luck" more in regard to my desire to see players avoid injury, and I have no problem telling a coach "congratulations."

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I say "good luck" and "congratulations" and have no problem with anyone who does. I shake hands socially and professionally. I've seen writers fist-bump with coaches and players after big wins, and it's something I'd never think to do or feel comfortable doing, but I'm not going to write 'em up for it.

Cheering and applauding in the press box? It would probably go in my blog.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I recall reading a column many years ago ripping college football writers at a different game that day who broke out cheering while watching Boston College knock off No. 1 Notre Dame in 1993.

It's to the point with me that I feel uncomfortable cheering or clapping in any context. I've gone to see politicians, writers, and so forth give speeches or lectures, and I always feel completely uncomfortable and awkward when the applause begins.

 

[daytonadan1983]

He should have been there when Dale Sr. won the damn thing ...

 

[EagleMorph]

I say "good luck" and "congratulations" and have no problem with anyone who does. I shake hands socially and professionally. I've seen writers fist-bump with coaches and players after big wins, and it's something I'd never think to do or feel comfortable doing, but I'm not going to write 'em up for it.

Cheering and applauding in the press box? It would probably go in my blog.

I thought the congratulations/good luck stuff was fairly common following one-on-ones or something.

Funny you should mention the first bump. I've been around a mid-major hoops team that has had some recent success, and a handful of the players started the superstition of fist-bumping the radio guys before the opening tip of any game. That spread to now include the majority of the press row.

 

[playthrough]

I miss David Poole.

 

[mediaguy]

Nothing wrong with simply congratulating a winning coach or player in prefacing a one-on-one interview. It's a polite introduction. You'd do the exact same had it been the other coach.