> Like I said, if they ask them to leave them alone, I think
> they should honor their wishes. Thats whats wrong with the
> whole business today, real journalism and general respect
> has been tossed out the window all in the name of
> sensationlism and ratings. It'll eventually come out in the
> wash what happened and I hope the local media illuminati are
> handed their backside.
>
Having covered sporting events for TV before, I can honestly say that I have never had one athlete ask me not to point the camera at him, either before, during, or after a game. That being said, I would have no problem telling him or her (very politely, of course) that I was just doing my job and I had an assignment to cover. But athletes are (for the most part) professionals, and they realize the media has a job to do which benefits the athletes directly.
Larry Rodriguez was not in Kenny's face when Kenny threw the camera off his shoulder. The evidence clearly shows that what Kenny did (both to him and to the FSN cameraman) was premeditated. Remember, in spring training he said he would not talk to the media all season because he was upset that he didn't get a contract extension in the off-season. So this has been brewing for quite some time, and Kenny's broken right pinkie (and his ability to pitch effectively being called into question) probably blew it up.
Regardless of whether Rodriguez is "faking" his injuries or not, Rogers was flat out wrong to do what he did. Bud Selig should have thrown the book at him, players' association or no. A 20-game suspension for a position player would just about kill a team's chances, since they can't replace that player; but a 20-game suspension for a pitcher is a slap on the wrist. Rogers should have been suspended for the remainder of the season without pay, and forbidden to take part in the All-Star Game. (And if he does agree to participate, this just adds another black eye to his already tarnished reputation. Kevin Brown may have been a hothead when he was a Ranger, but he was nowhere near the head case Kenny Rogers is right now.)
And as far as a journalist's or reporter's access to athletes on the field: If the reporter or journalist in question is properly credentialed, there should be no reason for players to get upset or angry (unless that reporter is unreasonably interfering with that player's pre- or post-game routine). Questions like, "When did you stop beating your wife?" obviously have no place during batting practice, but until a team adopts a policy that forbids reporters and cameramen from the field during pre-game warmups, players are fair game.<P ID="signature">______________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." - Robert Heinlein
dan</P>
