The B's Are Heading to the Finals

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

The Lightning and Bruins played a wonderful hockey game tonight. They needed to, since it was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The B's found just enough offense, with Nathan Horton scoring the game-winner a midway through the third period.

Holy cow. That's the way it should be. Now I know my buddy Harold was dying, but for the hockey fan, it was pure bliss. Tremendous.

Kudos to Boston for not reacting like it was amateur hour. They were loud, excited, and controlled. The exact opposite of Vancouver, whom they will oppose in the Stanley Cup Finals.

As for the last seven-game set of this 2010-2011 season, it was exactly what a fan could and should ask for. Boston - an Original Six team, which is NOT truly the first six teams in the history of the NHL, but the period before expansion in 1967.  The B's have existed since 1924, and haven't danced with Lord Stanley since 1972.  They'll take on Vancouver - they've existed since 1970 and took the Rangers to Game 7 of the 1994 Finals before falling to the great Messier, Leetch, and Richter (I'm convinced the Blueshirts made a deal with the Devil).  Vancouver has been largely known for a bizarre uniform combo until recently, when Roberto Luongo and the Sedin twins made them into a favorite to contend for Lord Stanley's chalice.

The bottom line is, either way, we've got a team that hasn't won in almost 40 years versus a team that has never won in just over 40 years.  I think that is very cool.

Tonight's Game 7 was just brilliant, with Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas putting on a clinic between their respective pipes.  The winner by Horton was off of textbook passing, and Roloson stood no chance.  No fault to him, his defense, or anyone else.  In the end, Thomas proved that it is he who is the true royalty of the sport, a fact that has been discussed for some time around these parts.  Roloson, for his part, stopped 37 shots.  He, and the rest of the Lightning, should feel no shame in coming up just short.

Steven Stamkos also deserves enormous respect.  The guy who had been thisclose to being a Ranger took a puck off the nose and I never expected him to return.  Yet he did return.  Hard to dispute that kind of determination.

Yet this is all about Boston.  Hard to believe but I am firmly behind them.  OK, OK, I loathe their baseball team (but respect them furiously) and have a strong dislike for their so-called football team (after all, they're the NEW ENGLAND Patriots), and I don't really love their basketball team.  But I like the B's.  I like the organization and the players.

Their bandwagon is officially loading up now.

I root for the Finals to be as good as tonight was.  Game 1 is Wednesday night in Vancouver.  We all get a few nights to catch our breath.

A quick PS - I saw the news that Gary Carter likely has a malignant brain tumor.  It comes as no shock that I loathe the Mets with every ounce of my soul, and often thought of Carter as being a whiny crybaby (get over Mike Scott in 1986).  That being said, I wish him and his family all the strength in the world as he wages this fight.  He was a wonderful player, a Montreal Expo, a Hall of Famer, and a member of baseball's brotherhood.  The rest of it is just for debate, part of why we love sports. 

A life is a life.  Be strong, Kid.

So Long, Wheeler and Kenickie

From the celebrity files comes word (not surprisingly) that Jeff Conaway, who most famously portrayed Bobby Wheeler on "Taxi" and Kenickie in "Grease", has died at the age of 60 (thanks, Stuck in the 80's and AP).

I'm first processing that Conaway was 60.  The fact that he passed away comes as no shock, given his addictions and the struggles therein.

We choose to remember him in two ways...

1) His most famous line from "Grease" (in my opinion): "A hickie from Kenickie is like a Hallmark card, when you only care enough to send the very best!"

and

2) "Slow down" (at 4:17)

Weatherman Oopsie

We've all made mistakes in the broadcasting biz.  Thanks to Mediaite, we get to see another one.

Clearly somebody didn't exactly rack that tape correctly!

More Info Revealed on Derek Boogard

Elizabeth Merrill has written a sad and deeper look into Derek Boogard on ESPN.com.  While he was on his way to being a very popular New York Ranger, Merrill gives the impression that he wasn't all that happy in the big town.

I think we all knew that there would be much more to this story.  Sadly we're beginning to hear it.  It's also sad that it takes this for ESPN to pay attention to hockey.

His Mother Has a Tattoo That Says "Son"

I find the Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" ad campaign to be brilliant and hysterical.

But I also stumbled across an interview with the actor that portrays him.  An NYU dropout named Jonathan Goldsmith.  Pop Eater interviewed him in 2009.

Of course, stay thirsty my friends!

Scottie Pippen is Out of His Mind

Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron James might be the greatest player in the history of the NBA. At least he might be.

And I might be Vin Scully. But I'm not.

LeBron lost his title of greatest anything when he took his talents to South Beach and was no longer the best player on his own team. Say whatever you want about MJ, but Air Michael Jordan (as said in White Men Can't Jump) was always the best on his team, and wouldn't take his talents anywhere that he had to take a back seat to anyone. Once Jordan had the pieces in place, he became a prolific winner. He was already an all-world player.

LeBron will be in the discussion of all-time greats.  But unless something happens, it will stay as Jordan, Wilt, Jerry West, and so on.  To me, it will always begin with Michael.

Period.

Missing Me?

Somehow, the idea of posting a "missing person" poster didn't seem all that funny.  But post a picture of Missing Persons and by gum you have comic gold!

I've been in the lost and found (blogerifically speaking, of course).  A weekend in Albany (more or less) with Carrie's family made for a lot of fun (two words: GARBAGE PLATE!  Though not the original one in Rochester...and yes, that was more than two words).  Then I worked Monday (yes!  Work!).  Then I worked Tuesday (double YES!).  In between I was doing other things.  So those with the cries of "post more, stupid!" had to wait their turn.

Your friendly neighborhood bench-rider has returned, as well-rested as Jorge Posada in the ninth inning of last night's victory.

I do have a question though.  Did I miss anything around New York?  I mean, nothing went on in New York baseball, right?  All is well, no? 

Oh, good.  Normally the idiocy in New York is handled by the Steinbrenner's and the Boss is in the big boardroom in the sky, so I just imagined that everything is fine.

Or not.

Doesn't Portland need a baseball team?  Or Vancouver?  Or anyone else?

Just asking.

Oh, and I've joined the smart phone universe.  The long national nightmare is over.  So I've got that going for me.

This should not happen (Stuck in the 80's).  Michael Hutchence isn't coming back.  (See: Queen, Freddie Mercury)

This is a question that I have pondered and discussed here (Behind the Steel Curtain).  Carrie and I drove past a Packers flag yesterday near Danbury, CT.  All I can do is sigh and shake my head.  There's a poll on the page asking which Super Bowl loss hurts more.  As of this moment, more people say it's the XXX loss to Dallas.  They both hurt - this one is more recent.

Well that's all for now.  Call this a brief "Off the Bench."  Other things to do...back soon (I hope).

Boom Goes the Dynamite with Gus!

Courtesy of Awful Announcing, we have an update on the guy who once uttered that immortal phrase, "Boom goes the dynamite."  His name is Brian Collins (if you didn't know), and Daniel Tosh got him to talk about the explosive moment on his Tosh.0 show.

He also got Gus Johnson to join Collins for a little goofy stuff.  Most amazing thing is that I watched the whole thing and didn't put my fist through the computer.  It's progress, people!

Still Missing Bobby

He is perhaps the patron saint of "Exit 55." Or at least one of them (there are at least one or two others - if I'm allowed to count Fred the late cat). Bobby Murcer was born on this day in 1946. He would have been 65 today.  The world lost a fine ballplayer, wonderful broadcaster, and terrific human being (I met him - he was great) almost three years ago.  He and Munson are no doubt causing trouble somewhere.

Just wanted to take a moment and recognize his birthday (and my friends Jon and Rebecca, who are celebrating anniversary number 11, and my buddy BL, who is celebrating bithday number???).

Jim Leyland on Interleague Play

In case you didn't know, he once managed the Pirates, when they still, you know, won baseball games.

Bravo to Jim Leyland (MLB.com). God bless his curmudgeonly heart.

I've hated Interleague Play since day one. I don't need to see the Mets play the Yankees unless it's in the World Series. I don't want to see the Pirates play the Tigers.

I hated it then and am immune to it now. I just. Don't. Care.

A Few Pictures

My Facebook friends saw these last night, but I wanted to share them with the blog-o readers.

My niece, Kristy, posted these shots (and others). She said the one above, of my dad holding her (in 1983) prompted her to start scanning the shots. I was pleased to see it. Facebook friends were most kind, with many people saying how they enjoyed seeing my father again. He's missed by so many. I can see the pride and love in his eyes. He really enjoyed being a grandfather.

I also enjoyed seeing this picture.

If I'm right, this is a Sunday, possibly in 1986 (maybe '85). I loved hammocks (still do), and had this cheapie model that I hung between a couple of trees in the back yard. That's Kristy sitting on me.

Just a snapshot back to other times in life.

Jorge Posada

I haven't been around the blog (or even near a computer) much since the Jorge Posada clusterf...err...story broke on Saturday, so allow me to weigh in as simply as possible.

Posada looked foolish.

Done.

Every Saturday, I announce the batting order to Carmel's Team One (the Red Team - the Fire Blaze).  Inevitably, the kid batting last will look at me like I just sent him to sit in the corner.  Posada did the same thing.

It's never easy to be on the downside of a good to great career.  Posada fits nicely in that converesation of great Yankees catchers, from Bill Dickey to Yogi to Elston Howard to Thurman Munson to Posada.  The converted second baseman became the catcher for a generation, but his production has declined terribly.

It doesn't simply seem to be about being asked to bat ninth.  There's more to it.  It seems more to be about a break in the chain of the Yankees clubhouse.  It is now about Joe Girardi getting this team back on the same page.  Obviously winning trumps everything.  The "Bronx Zoo" Yankees of the 70's could get away with their behavior because the won.  When the winning stopped, it became a true mess.

The same applies here.

The Yankees' brass wasn't happy with Derek Jeter's response to the Posada story, but I have no problem with it.  Jeter felt no apology was necessary and offered that if Posada wanted a "mental day", then so be it.  Truth is, players ask for days off all the time now, so I'm with Jeter on this.  In fact, Girardi believes in that kind of atmosphere - where players can ask for a "blow", a day off.

Of course, this just gave Randy Levine, the Chuck Schumer of Yankee-land, a chance to let his voice be heard.  Dude must talk in his sleep.

For me, the simple bottom line is that Posada failed by throwing a hissy fit when he was placed ninth in the order.  Honestly, one should just be happy to be anywhere in a major league order, but I suspect Posada has been quietly fuming for a while over several things - most notably being his own place on the Yankees team.  He is a prideful, emotional player - one who who has the additional concern over his son's health on his mind.

We loved when Paul O'Neill played with that same intensity.  O'Neill, however, never bowed out of a game, and never asked out when the manager put his name last in the batting order.

Posada apologized and completely "manned up."  To me, it's done for now, so long as his play on the field does the talking.

But it concerns me that bigger storm clouds linger.

Baseball, Work, Life, Writing, and The Renegades

Me - Dutchess Stadium, 2009

From Coach over at the All Things Next Blog comes a bit of pure genius.  Fans tend to get a little punchy (read: stupid) over three-game sweeps in May (imagine what might happen if the Dodgers...I mean, the Mets were to sweep the Yankees this weekend).

In a week in which certain people (like those who have too much time on their hands to comment on everything on Facebook, and a certain Cleveland Indians fan) have been throwing a little dirt on the grave of the 27-time Champs, Coach's post brought me a good laugh.

NOTE: Said Cleveland Indians fan hasn't been that bad.  I'm just messing with my friend, because he has a good sense of humor and that's what friends do.  No dirt has left his hands...yet (insert smarmy smiley-face here!).

Oh, since I brought up Coach and the Next Blog, I've been withholding the news that I've joined the "Next" team as a sports writer.  I'll get paid about as much as I get paid to call Renegades games (and yes, I've been asked to return there as well), but since I am working a little bit again (part-time and no, it's not in radio), I can afford to do these hobbies when I have time.

How many games I'll call for the Gades has yet to be determined.  Hopefully more than the, count 'em, two that I did in 2010, but we'll see.

While I'm talking about the Renegades, the longest-running voice in team history has returned to radio.  My friend and colleague Sean Ford has left New York (where he called the Gades from 1999-2008) for Missouri, where he will be a Sports Director.  He'll be settling into his new life there next week.  I'll miss seeing him around these parts.

That sort of brings us up to date.

It's Just Like a Mini-Mall!

I'm surprised I haven't posted this sooner.  Sammy Stephens is a Facebook friend of mine.  He first came to my attention via some of my road friends who stopped in and met him at the Flea Market Montgomery, where he famously rapped and danced in his commercials.

He's been on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show", and seems like a good guy.  The commercial is a riot.  This is the long version!

ESPN Got It Right!

Behold the best helmet design in the NFL.  Well, yeah, I think so, but don't take my word for it.  Take ESPN's!

There's something about the black with the gold stripe.  The steel shield on the right side - and ONLY the right side.  The white uniform number - one digit on each side of the gold stripe if it has two digits, or right on the gold stripe if it's a single digit.

It evokes the thoughts of hard hits and six championships (in, sadly, eight tries.  Holy cow that loss is still hurting).

I think the loss to the Packers is actually troubling me more than the loss in XXX to...I can't say it.  Google it.  It's like 2004.  It never happened.

The rest of the top 10 isn't bad, though I'm not sure I'm very high on the Browns because, well, it's just an orange helmet, and I ding the Dolphins because they have alterered what used to be a great design.

In the case of both the Steelers and Dolphins uniforms, well, that's a whole different topic.

It Seems to Me The NHL Should Be Trying to Gain Fans...

What you see above is a banner of support for the Canadiens.  It was posted by a Lebanese restaurant in Montreal.  It got the restaurant in lots of trouble with the NHL - to the tune of $89,000 (Canadian).

Yahoo! Sports has the rest (hat tip to Steve Casson, Voice of the Missouri State Ice Bears Hockey Team for posting the link in the discussion board on STAA).

My take?  Normally I'd be happy to dump on the Habs, but I think the NHL is overreacting just a tad.  Holy schneike, but have you ever noticed just how many sports logos are used "unofficially" (also known as "illegally")?  It goes on all the time, so why the NHL is choosing to make an example out of this case is beyond me.  I think it's unfortunate - especially at a time when the NHL is having a somewhat lackluster postseason with only one team that I think is worth watching from a "casual" point of view (that would be your fancy Boston Bruins).  Beyond that, meh.  Tampa Bay?  Vancouver is fair (they've got Luongo and the Sedin's and they're actually, you know, Canadian).  San Jose?  Nobody even knows the way there.

The star power isn't off the charts either this year.  Ovechkin?  Gone.  Crosby?  Injured.  Again, I get it - Vincent Lacavalier, Steven Stamkos, and Martin St. Louis are all terrific hockey players...who are only known in hockey.  Not marquee Madison Ave. names.  Same with Luongo, the Sedins, etc.  So for the NHL, they might want to rethink this.

Again, I'm talking about the playoffs for the CASUAL fan.  The diehard (present company included) are loving every minute of it.

Those who aren't watching the tournament are missing some crazy fun hockey.  Case in point: last night's 6-5 Boston win over Tampa Bay.  Tim Thomas (despite giving up a few cheapies and playing behind porous defense) put on a clinic as to why he should win the Vezina Trophy.  That's the life of a goalie by the way.  It isn't always the fault of the defense.  Sometimes the goalie also spits the bit.

I digress.

I hope the NHL takes the right path and drops the stupid fine.  I also hope the restaurant stands strong and doesn't pay it.

Sad News from Two Sports

On a day in which we learned that Harmon Killebrew, the Hall of Famer who played for the Twins and Senators, is entering hospice care and has accepted that his esophageal cancer can no longer be treated (Richard Sandomir, New York Times), we have just learned of some more terrible news.

Rangers forward Derek Boogaard is dead at the age of 28 (Yahoo! Sports).  The cause of death is unknown.

At this point I am too stunned to even try to figure this one out.  Boogaard had just joined the Rangers this past season and had become an immediate hit at the Garden - which quickly would have become the "Boogaarden" because of his popularity.  He was strong on the ice - happy to drop the gloves and mix it up as an enforcer - but a concussion ended his season much too soon.  Off the ice he was equally popular, and very thoughtful, as the Rangers wrote in their statement:

Boogaard was a supporter of the Defending the Blue Line Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation whose mission is to ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the great sport of hockey.

While with the Rangers, he created “Boogaard’s Booguardians,” hosting military members and their families at all New York Ranger home games. In addition, he made multiple appearances with partner organizations of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, including the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Media, MSG Entertainment and Fuse “to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles”.

I join with fans across the world in mourning Boogaard's passing, along with the news of Harmon Killebrew's farewell.

Life Throws a Curveball and This Kid Hits it Out

Jaydin Goldenstein (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

How would you react?  How would you feel if your mother found herself in various forms of trouble and disappeared from your life completely?  How would you deal with things when you're informed that that same mother is now in dying?  Would you go to be with her in the hospital, simply to get a measure of something back?  And lastly, how would you work with her death.

If you're Jaydin Goldstein, you stay with your mother as she slips away.  Then two days later, you go out and show the world what "must win" really means.  At that point, sports again becomes about the simple game.  Sure, your team needs to win a doubleheader against Wray to secure the league championship.  Sure, you're a pitcher, so you want the ball.  And yeah, you can hit pretty well also.

So let's see here...how about you throw a no-hitter in the opening game, and hit four home runs in the second?

That's how Jaydin Goldstein would react.

Many thanks to "Exit 55" Contributing Editor (made-up title, he'll like it) Mick for passing this one along - with articles on Yahoo (by Cameron Smith) and the Denver Post (by Benjamin Hochman).

Adele Rocks

Sometimes, I catch a trend when it starts.  Sometimes I'm late to the party.

I dismissed Adele and her latest effort 21 as being pop drivel.  Then Carrie asked me to download it (she's got a better finger on that pulse than I do).

One word.  I use it often.

Wow.

Adele is anything but drivel.  It's Amy Winehouse - but not as 60's cocktail-chic, and definitely without the wackiness of Winehouse herself.  The songs has a sense of blues cool - but more R&B, as if the Four Tops and Temptations and waiting in the background - and listening intently.

She took The Cure's "Lovesong" and turned into a completely different song.  It's a cover, of course, but trust me - if you haven't heard it, you'll be stunned.  I think in a good way.

She's hot enough that the occasional ROCK station is playing her, and not just the CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) stations.

Total credit goes to Carrie for this one.  She turned me on to something tremendous.  The sad thing, of course, is that my beloved radio industry (and TV, with "Glee" and "American Idol" and such) will now play her to overkill, if it hasn't already.

So enjoy it while she is still fresh and amazing.

"The Voice" Steps Away

Bob Sagendorf, the News and Sports Director at WATR in Waterbury (CT), announced this morning that he was retiring from broadcasting.  Although it's somewhat by choice, that probably isn't a fair way to describe this decision.  "Fair" would be the last word I would use in this.  Life, of course, isn't fair.  Bob has been blessed with fabulous pipes that garnered him that nickname: "The Voice."

The voice, unfortunately, has not returned following surgeries, procedures, and therapy.  Bob wrote eloquently on his Facebook page this morning that his doctor said his "professional voice will not return."

"And so", Bob wrote, "I move on."

Bob went on to thank the countless people who have impacted his career over 36 years.  The list of impressive names that he has had the fortune to work with is impressive - and it is they who have been fortunate to work with him.  Bob was with WATR, CBS Radio, ESPN (both radio and TV), Birds Eye Sports, and CTSN.  He counts Chris Berman, Brent Musburger, Phil Simms, Tom Jackson, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Ron Lundy, Harry Harrison, Wolfman Jack, and many other "known" legends as friends and colleagues - past and present.  There are equally as many names that Bob listed who have impacted him - personally and professionally.  You might not know their names, but Bob does - and that's what counts.

I don't know Bob that well, but have had the chance to speak with him via emails and messages over the past several years.  Bob was kind to keep me in mind when CTSN was starting up and has had many nice words to say.  It has been my good fortune to not only hear his work (which will always be exquisite) but to meet him - albeit in a vague way.

Bob and I share the passion for sports and radio, and it is with that knowledge that I find myself sincerely saddened by his announcement this morning.  I wish him many happy times in his future with countless rounds of golf and a fine glass of wine (or two or more).

It isn't often that I use the term "God bless you."  I'm not one to say it for sneezes, for instance, but as one who wants to believe, I say that very thing to Bob today, as he is at peace with God.

Bob, many thanks for everything, on behalf of a grateful radio community.  You've enriched us all.

Now go hit 'em straight!

Friends in Good Places

My friend and former WGCH colleague, Charles Costello, writes a blog, Teacher Talk, for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group.  The other day he paid tribute to Connell McShane, who took over for Charles McCord on the Imus in the Morning radio program.  Chuck and Connell used to work together on WFUV in New York.

Sadly, McShane is a Mets fan.  This is somewhat of an outrage, but we will soldier on nonetheless.

Seems like a nice guy (even if he is about 12, as Mr. Imus often says).  We wish him all the luck in the world.

Thanks, Chuck

Charles McCord probably deserves to go down as the best second banana ever.  We discussed Chuck's impending departure from the seat next to Don Imus a few weeks ago, and today was his last day.

I'm going to miss him.  Happy trails, Mr. McCord, and thank you.

Another Reason Why Vin Scully is Simply the Best Ever

On the day in which I read that CBS and Gus Johnson have split (via Richard Dietsch on SI.com), I read this from Tom Hoffarth, on how only Vin Scully could mention the death of Osama Bin Laden in a proper way during a baseball broadcast. 

On Monday's Dodgers-Cubs game, Scully talked about how ESPN's coverage of the Phillies-Mets game Sunday night in Philadelphia had suddenly gotten sidetracked by fans chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in the stands. "And you know where they were in the game at that point? The ninth inning," Scully said. "The score tied 1 to 1. Nine-one-one. Nine-11. How about that?"

That's the eloquence of the best ever.  Perfect, as always.

Mount Beacon, 1905

Mount Beacon Incline Railway, looking down, Fishkill-on-the-Hudson.  Photo courtesy Shorpy.com

Some of you in my beloved Hudson Valley will appreciate this, as will those familiar with the area (Jon from R-Va, I'm looking at you and Carrie).  It's from Shorpy, the great old photography site.  The picture was taken from the top of Mount Beacon (in Beacon, NY) in 1905.  Honestly, I had no idea that Beacon was that populated at that time.  Obviously, there's no Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.  There's no Interstate 84 (both roughly 60 years away from opening).  It's a very different time.  But still it's an interesting picture.

Rookie Mistakes (or Obnoxious Older Media Members Get Their Shorts in a Bundle)

Once upon a time, I was a rookie reporter visiting places like the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where I was among a room full of heavy hitters in both the media and professional sports.  I was getting the feel for the room when I looked to my right and saw that Dan Marino was standing right next to me.

The same Dan Marino who I watched play at Pitt.  The one who I believed the Dolphins had found a super star when they drafted him.  The same Dan Marino whose poster hung on my closet wall.  The one whose jersey I once owned. 

Stunning.

Still, on that day, as with the day I worked at THE Yankee Stadium (easily among the 10 best days I've ever had in my life), the Buick Classic, and others, I tended to follow the lead of the others in the room.  If it was appropriate, I recorded audio (Joe Torre, Roger Clemens, and even a one-on-one with Mr. Marino himself).  At Yankee Stadium, I let the pros ask the questions, and I just watched and followed along (I was fortunate to run into Sam Weinman, then with The Journal News, and he was kind enough to explain a few things to me).

The bottom line was that I learned by watching.

This, however, doesn't mean that it's the best way to go about it.  Over at the National Sports Journalism Center, veteran writer Dave Kindred tells the story of Stephanie Wei, a blogger/reporter who had a credential to the US Open and mistakenly walked into a players lounge to talk to Ian Poulter.  Poulter scolded her on Twitter (that's fairly obnoxious of him), and now the hand-wringing has begun to define what constitutes a "journalist."

It's a new day, folks.  I have no problem saying - quite loudly - that I'm a journalist.  I have the degree to show that I took the proper classes.  I have the audio cuts to demonstrate my interviewing and reporting skills.  I've written articles for publication.  Is that good enough?  Am I worthy of a credential, even though I write this little ol' bloggy, thus making me a...GASP...

BLOGGER?

I think that "we" (whoever "we" may be, and I am woe to leave this to the opinion of cranky old sports writers) need to address this on a case-by-case basis.  I've already spoken to my credentials.  Wei's strike me as borderline (only because of her "fan-like" approach), but she seems legit in her passion and knowledge of the sport.  I will knock her for walking into the players' lounge for the same reasons that I spoke of in my approach of Yankee Stadium.  I'd rather watch, follow, and learn.  That was my approach as a newbie.  Most of the time there's a seasoned reporter that will happily show someone around (as in the case of Sam Weinman).  So, yes, Wei should have been a little smarter.

That being said, Poulter didn't come off well.  Neither do those who question exactly who belongs in the club.