A Reporter Stiffed-Armed an Unruly NHL Fan to Keep Him Out of Her Live Shot and Everyone Had Her Back

In this story:
The Golden Knights took a 2–0 series lead over the Panthers with a 7–2 victory at home in Monday night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
It was an impressive victory in what was a very physical game between two teams each trying to win their first-ever title.
After the game, however, a jubilant Las Vegas fan took a major loss when he tried to get in a reporter’s live shot but was masterfully pushed aside by Samantha Rivera, who threw a strong stiff arm, all while keeping with her report.
Check this out:
Talking about Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, stiff-arming a fan trying to get on camera and getting into the highlights.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 6, 2023
Quite the display of multitasking by Samantha Rivera of CBS Miami pic.twitter.com/yvP8C3V4BS
Yeah, don’t ever do what that fan tried to do.
Rivera tweeted this shortly after:
Listen, I don’t give a damn what team you’re rooting for - get the hell out of my face when I’m working and respect that I’m here to do my job.
— Samantha Rivera (@JSamanthaRivera) June 6, 2023
Excited to get back home to some classy #Panthers fans for game 3!! pic.twitter.com/iWDQl0Rtvv
Fans loved her strong move and had her back:
1) Samantha is an absolute pro. Blocked him from the shot without breaking eye contact with the camera and went right back to the highlights. Unreal.
— Michaela Schreiter (@Schreids) June 6, 2023
2) Never, and I mean NEVER be this guy. https://t.co/aMstLxioFI
Derrick Henry would approve of this stiff arm, love Sam putting them in check! https://t.co/QIopmSkPPl
— Kayla Anderson ✨ (@KaylaAndersonTV) June 6, 2023
Well, they definitely picked the perfect person to cover hockey for them lol https://t.co/jaT4ob6EHy
— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) June 6, 2023
Great defense @JSamanthaRivera! People think they have the right to do anything they want after a victory, have some respect for people and their profession! https://t.co/0vHHul0Io2
— Drew Bogs (@DrewBogs623) June 6, 2023
Please leave reporters alone when they're live in the field. We are working.
— Stephanie Chavez KRQE (@stephYLC14) June 6, 2023
You go girl! https://t.co/oVPa5vnc6W
I have a new hero https://t.co/QleQ4ivPk8
— HER WAY (@abbieherway) June 6, 2023

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.
Follow anezbitt