**From the Archives. Originally posted October 14, 2007**
Okay, so maybe I wasn't ACTUALLY kicked out of the American Bank Center, but in retrospect, I should've been.
While at work today, I was asked by my station's sports department to grab a little interview with a certain Houston Astros player with 2007 Rookie of the Year potential. (I refuse to say his name, seeing as how I am not a sponsor.) This player was signing autographs at a little event called "Best of the Best" and all I had to do was borrow 30 seconds of his time, ask him how it felt to be back in Corpus, and what fans are saying to him.
First things, first, though. I need to explain what "Best of the Best" is.
"Best of the Best" is the corporate version of South Texas corruption. The local news rag puts on a little event where the people can attend and vote for their favorite restaurant, dry cleaners, car dealer, meth lab, what have you. However, the paper sells ads and booths to many of its larger advertising clients, so the people attending this event can only vote for the companies in attendance. Therefore, the businesses that put up the most money will have a slight advantage on winning "Best of the Best." Pretty sneaky, right? Sounds a lot like our own government, doesn't it?
Well, this ugly little bit of democracy also includes news stations and news talent. For some reason I DO understand, my station chooses not to get involved and does not sponsor "Best of the Best." So needless to say, I'm not expecting to win the category "Best Local Male Reporter Between the Ages of 23 and 27."
Our two competitors - Channels 10 & 3 - do participate. But on this day, Channel 3 was the main sponsor.
So it was somewhat awkward to be walking around the convention center with my 6 News microphone seeking out said baseball player. (Again, not mentioning any names here.) When my photojournalist Rynnee and I finally got around to him, we set up shop and started filming him signing autographs.
After a couple minutes of that, I decided to grab the attention of a guy wearing a Caller-Times denim shirt, who appeared to be this baseball player's handler, to ask if I could ask him two questions. But before I could get a word out, he approached and stopped me.
"[He] isn't doing interviews today."
"Okay," I said. "So he's not going to be speaking with any station?"
Caller-Times guy replied. "Well, he's already done an interview with Channel 3."
I shot back a look at this guy that said: 'That doesn't fit the definition of Not Doing Interviews.'
"Channel 3's a sponsor. So they were allowed to."
Right then and there I realized what a bullshit operation this entire thing was. Just because some other station is a sponsor does not give anyone the authority to keep me from doing my job. So, I was determined not to leave that place empty-handed without an explanation. So I looked back over to Rynnee and gestured her to swing the camera my way. I raised my microphone and pointed it at Caller-Times guy's face.
"Could you repeat that so I can tell my producers why I can't do an interview?" I asked him.
Then Caller-Times guy pulled out the gauntlet.
"I'm not talking to you. And it you don't leave now, I'm going to have you escorted out of here."
Apparantly, "escorted out of here" must be magic words. Because security guards suddenly materialize whenever I hear them. Some guy in a white uniform appeared from behind a column we were standing next to.
Well, I wasn't going to go down in history as the reporter who was muscled out by the Caller-Times. So I simply put down the microphone and smiled my usual cocky smirk back at the Canadian Tuxedo.
"You know what? That's fine." I said. "I'm just going to chat with some friends somewhere else."
So Rynnee and I got out of there and headed back to the station with 40 seconds of a baseball player signing autographs. Not exactly what I would call productive.
But as I was playing the moment over and over in my head, I came up with the way I wish things would have gone. A way that would have definately been more productive...
(Call this the alternate ending..)
I raised my microphone and pointed it at Caller-Times guy's face.
"Could you repeat that so I can tell my producers why I can't do an interview?" I asked him.
Then Caller-Times guy pulled out the gauntlet.
"I'm not talking to you. And it you don't leave now, I'm going to have you escorted out of here."
"You know what?" I snapped. "I'm just trying to find a reason why I can't do my job. And if that's not going to be the case, you might as well drag me out of here."
Sure enough, security guards would show up and take me by the arms and start walking me out. And of course, I would shout at Rynnee to make sure to she was getting all of this on tape.
Caller Times guy would try to keep this from getting on our news, so he would catch up and put his hand over the lens of Rynnee's camera, causing the eyepiece to move back and hit her in the face.
"Haha!" I'd shout. "I got you now, sucker! I'm calling Channel 10, they'll run an assault story on you for a week!"
As we would get closer to the doors, I would wave to all of the Channel 3 TV personalities over at the Domingo Live booth that was there.
"I LOVE YOU, KATIA!" I would shout out. "YOU SUCK, HARWELL!"
And with one final show of shamelessness, I would topple over a stack of papers just as they shove me out the doors.
(And... Scene)
So whenever the "Best of the Best" awards are announced later on, just remember the load of crock those little ribbons represent.
And also remember that no one has the right to keep you from doing your job, especially when the same concession is made for a competitor.
Boycott the CallerTimes.
Never step aside, just step up.
AX
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