Should Journalists Root for the Home Team? Part II: The Sports Edition.

ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL analyst Kirk Herbstreit, a native Ohioan who was a star quarterback at Ohio State University, moved out of the state recently because he felt loads of negativity from fans.

Apparently, they chastised him whenever he said anything verging on critical of Ohio State University football.

"Nobody loves Ohio State more than me," Herbstreit told the Columbus Dispatch. "But I've got a job to do, and I'm going to continue to be fair and objective. To continue to have to defend myself and my family in regards to my love and devotion to Ohio State is unfair."

Is it wrong for fans to expect their hometown heroes to root for the hometown teams, even if they are journalists?

Should objectivity exist in sports
? It's not like football is the war on terror or the state budget. Shouldn't sideline reporters just own up to their team preferences?

(related story: Should ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews have accepted a high-paying endorsement deal from Reebok, provider of equipment for many of the teams she covers?)

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