No cheering in the press box doesn't mean no cheering

If you follow a couple of commandments, you might have a future in this sports writing business.

Thou shall not cheer in the press box.

Thou shall not show any emotion on the sidelines.

Of course, it also helps if you can write, but keeping yourself under control goes a long way in establishing your credibility as a professional sports writer.

I do know writers who show their emotions too much during high school events, even to the point of questioning officials or coaching decisions.

I always have tried to avoid looking like a homer on the sidelines. I ran into serious problems in my early days on this job because so many people knew I graduated from Arlington High School.

Naturally, they thought, he's going to cheer for his alma mater.

After Arlington beat Prospect in overtime in the first basketball meeting in history between the schools, Dick Kinneman, Prospect's head coach, walked past me as he headed to the dressing room and said, "Bob, your team played a nice game."

Your team?

My team?

I wasn't even wearing the Arlington High colors of red and white and was sitting dead center in the stands under the basket at one end, as neutral as possible, but I got his point. I would always be identified with my alma mater.

Interestingly, I first met Kinneman when he was coaching baseball at, of all places, my school, Arlington High.

Because I have made it known in this column that I don't like professional sports unless my family has a rooting interest, I do get asked occasionally what I do like.

Is there any team or athlete I cheer for? Especially since Arlington High School has been closed for 23 years.

I root for three Big Ten schools -- Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Indiana, because my daughter and son-in-law graduated from there and are big Hoosiers fans and would love to live in Bloomington some day.

Wisconsin, because my family now lives in Madison and likes those Badgers.

Illinois, because my sister, my late wife, her brother and I graduated from there and have many fond memories.

I root for the Chicago White Sox, and that's very difficult to do these days. But it was fun in 2005.

I grew up a fanatic Cubs fan and spent many summer afternoons with Dad at Wrigley Field, but my daughter grew up liking the White Sox and I joined her to keep peace in the family.

For the same family reason, I root for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cut me some slack, Cubs fans. Why wouldn't I like to see my grandson happy?

For the same family reason, I root for the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.

OK, Bears fans, don't bombard me with calls or e-mails.

For the same family reason, I root for the Milwaukee Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs. My grandson is a big Spurs fan and loves Tony Parker. He likes winners.

Otherwise, I never watch the NBA.

I spent a summer rooting for the Cost Cutters and Piranhas, my grandson's baseball and soccer teams, and now I'll root for the Regents, his fourth-grade YMCA football team.

I root for Tiger Woods in every golf tournament. If he's contending on Sunday, I watch. Otherwise, I find something else to do. I'm in awe of this man's talent.

I root for cancer survivors like Lance Armstrong, cycling's legend, and my son-in-law Tom, a marathoner and running enthusiast.

I root for any Team USA. Well, I must admit some of those NBA all-star teams don't excite me that much.

I root for any humble athlete or somebody resourceful like Greg Maddux.

I root for good people in all sports, the Tom Glavines of the world, so far removed from some of the idiots and prima donnas we have out there.

I root for Roger Federer because he's the only men's tennis player I know much about and he seems like a classy guy.

I root for high school coaches to have the patience to understand they're dealing with impressionable young people.

I root for parents to put more perspective on what high school sports are all about.

I root for good sportsmanship at all our events.

I root for fast games so our Daily Herald reporters can meet their deadlines.

Above all, I root for every girl and boy who has the thrill of putting on a high school uniform.

Yes, there is some cheering in the press box.