Journalists stick to sidelines but sometimes get thrown into heat of stories

One of the first things you learn as a reporter is not getting directly involved with the story you are covering.

This is easy, especially when it comes to sports.

Other than taking a couple of steps into the end zone in hopes of snapping a few photos of a touchdown — as long as one of the referees isn’t screaming at me or a group of 22 football players are running in my direction — we tend to stick to the sidelines or the warm comfort of the press box.

When we’re covering a story — particularly an event — we mainly observe and ask questions.

We don’t go looking for trouble, but that doesn’t m...