Man posed as sports reporter, Queens D.A. says (Another Gannon)

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050414/NEWS02/504140360/1020/NEWS04

Man posed as sports reporter, Queens D.A. says

Mark Sabia, yellow-flagged microphone in tow, has been a regular in press boxes at Yankee Stadium, Shea and Madison Square Garden for years. He pushed his way to the front in post-game interviews, button-holed players for one-on-ones, and complained when he felt he wasn't being treated fairly. In other words, he was indistinguishable from the rest of the small-market television sports reporters in New York's locker rooms.

Except the outlet Sabia represents — Westchester Cable Services — doesn't exist, according to the Queens County District Attorney. Sabia, who lives in Ossining, was arrested Monday when he showed up to cover Opening Day at Shea and was charged with scamming season passes for almost all of New York's professional teams, as well as for several World Series and League Championship Series dating to 1998. He was charged with five felony counts of falsifying business records and 16 misdemeanor counts ranging from petit larceny to criminal impersonation.

"Isn't that wild," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "That's sick, man."

But according to Sabia, he's a veritable David among broadcasting Goliaths, an entrepreneur who has been carving out a niche for himself for the past 23 years as an independent videographer who sells short feeds to small television and cable shows throughout the region.

"I'm just a little guy trying to make a living, and I would never intentionally or unintentionally hurt or defraud anyone," Sabia said. "I will tell you this — I have worked very hard since I was 17 years old to earn a living in this business, and I've never lied or misrepresented myself to anyone."

<</SNIP>>

[sabra]

1. Who thinks the media will make a bigger fuss over this than Gannongate?

[DulceDecorum]

2. Did Olberman accidentally "out" this guy?

I seem to recall KO saying something about canolis getting someone a seat in the press box.
(Press pass bypass February 17, 2005 )
I guess someone went a-digging and this turned up.

[KittyWampus]

3. This Points Out Potential Security Risks. How Many Spectators Fit In

Yankee Stadium? This guy had serious access.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. in reality anyone can do this

if you have a fax machine and the ability to make letterhead, you can get press passes to pretty much any non-championship sporting event.

[wicket]

5. Is his name "Dino Ironbody"?

:evilgrin:

[Moderator]

6. kick to combine

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Fake NY sports reporter arrested

April 14, 2005, 10:10 PM

To the reporters jockeying for interviewing position at players' lockers, Mark Sabia long was assumed to be just another among many microphone-wielding characters from small media outlets who roam crowded locker rooms after games.

Monday, though, Sabia was arrested at Shea Stadium while attempting to pick up Mets season credentials and was accused of representing a fictitious media outlet -- Westchester Cable Services.

Sabia, 39, did not return calls left at his Ossining home yesterday, but in an interview published yesterday in The Journal News of Westchester County, he insisted he is a legitimate independent journalist who sells video clips to small stations.

"I'm just a little guy trying to make a living, and I would never intentionally or unintentionally hurt or defraud anyone," Sabia said. Some area teams long have been suspicious. In 2002, the Giants looked into Sabia's claim of providing video to TV stations in upstate New York but in the end allowed him to keep his credential.

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/nyc-spfraud0415,0,6820304.story?coll=nyc-homepage-breaking2


So let me see if I get this straight. If you're a fake sports reporter you are subject to arrest. If you're a fake White House Press Corps Reporter you get invited to appear of C-SPAN. What's wrong with this picture?

[MadisonProgressive]

8. More slight of hand from bushco

Why, looky there - see, this isn't just a problem in guvmint!