His John Hancock, for your job

The Baseball Writers' Association of America really wants you to know that your membership is a privilege, not a right or however that bullshit goes:

When a Japanese reporter recently asked Roger Clemens for an autograph, he got a signed photo and a swift penalty: His membership in the Baseball Writers' Association of America was revoked. Hiroki Homma of the Fuji Evening News said he didn't realize he was breaking the rules, though he took full responsibility and apologized to the New York Yankees.

"I didn't know," Homma said. "It was my fault."

Wait, he got his membership taken away for that? He was just "being a fan", right? Why hasn't ESPN had their membership revoked or whatever?

I'm pretty sure they do the same thing... like... all of the time. Everyone hears the Clemens slurppage every time he takes the mound on Baseball Tonight regardless of the decision. Steve Phillips brain would melt if he could sign Roger to clean his car.

It's a shame something like this happened in America, because I'm pretty sure Japan still penalizes reporters by cutting off their hands on a coconut. Man... imagine how Sportscenter would look if they got penalized for the things they do. Like revealing the All-Star line-up when they weren't supposed to, giving false scoops on football players and indictments, or just being a big time fan of the top two AL East Teams (do I really need to mention their names?).

If they had that tradition still alive, no one on Sportscenter would... well... let's just say they would have a hard time combing their hair. That's hard to do with nubs.