At FIBA Championship, Journalists Root, Root, Root for the Home Country

Filed under: FIBA World ChampionshipISTANBUL -- As Serbia was beating defending World champion Spain on Wednesday, there were screams of joy and high fives being thrown.

Sounds like a festive night in the stands, right?

Well, yes. But also in the press seats.

Serbian journalists celebrated the dramatic 92-89 win at the Sinan Erdem Dome with zest as their nation's team advanced to the semifinals of the World Championship. It hardly went unnoticed.

"It was the worst (he's seen),'' said Jorge Sierra, the Madrid-based editor-in-chief of HoopsHype.com who has attended many international basketball events.

In the U.S., it's an unwritten rule for sports reporters to maintain some journalistic integrity, never cheering in the press box. Actually, sometimes the rule is written, most notably at college football stadiums, where fringe reporters and boosters often are also seated in the press box.

Tomasson: Serbia Tops Reigning Champ Spain
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