A Guckert sports reporter

A local New York newspaper has reported that there may be a sports-press version of Gannon/Guckert.

Mark Sabia, yellow-flagged microphone in tow, has been a regular in press boxes at Yankee Stadium, Shea and Madison Square Garden for years. He pushed his way to the front in post-game interviews, button-holed players for one-on-ones, and complained when he felt he wasn't being treated fairly. In other words, he was indistinguishable from the rest of the small-market television sports reporters in New York's locker rooms.

Except the outlet Sabia represents -- Westchester Cable Services -- doesn't exist

Hmm?  Can anyone say "Talon News"?

More below.

It appears that Mr. Sabia regularly received credentials to Giants, Knicks, Nets, Mets, and Yankee games.  No word on whether he had a "hard pass".

Like Guckert, Sabia is pushing the "little guy" defense.

But according to Sabia, he's a veritable David among broadcasting Goliaths [...]

"I'm just a little guy trying to make a living, and I would never intentionally or unintentionally hurt or defraud anyone," Sabia said. "I will tell you this -- I have worked very hard since I was 17 years old to earn a living in this business, and I've never lied or misrepresented myself to anyone."

Sports media representatives, however, disagreed.

But unlike Guckert, Sabia actually got busted.

Sabia, who lives in Ossining, was arrested Monday when he showed up to cover Opening Day at Shea and was charged with scamming season passes for almost all of New York's professional teams, as well as for several World Series and League Championship Series dating to 1998. He was charged with five felony counts of falsifying business records and 16 misdemeanor counts ranging from petit larceny to criminal impersonation.

Let's get this straight.  A hooker enters the White House on the eve of war. He impersonates a journalist under a false name for two years and asks questions of the President of the United States.  No charges.

A guy gets into pro locker rooms under his own name. Five felony counts, including criminal impersonation.

Oh, and unlike Guckert's targets, Sabia's targets actually care that they were scammed.

"Isn't that wild," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "That's sick, man."

Oh, and unlike Guckert's "colleagues", Sabia's fellow sports journalists actually don't like people undermining the integrity of their profession.

"I think there's a lot of people in locker rooms, reaching over and climbing around that don't necessarily need to be there," said Mike Dougherty, who has covered the Knicks for six years for The Journal News. "I'm a little disappointed that somebody, for their own personal gain, (might) impersonate a member of the media."

Yeah, and the guy isn't even a hooker.  Somehow, I don't think Sabia is going to be invited to any sports media panel discussions.

Sabia has almost no online presence, which is rare for a media professional, and his business was not legally incorporated under New York state law.

I actually feel bad for the guy.  He scammed his way in, fair and square.  Someone should tell him to plead the IOKIYAR defense.  He should set up a blog, pledge allegiance to the GOP, and watch as Howie Kurtz leaps to defend him.