General view in the second period of the game between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Reporter stiff-arms fan during live report at Stanley Cup Final

By Jason Clinkscales | Last updated 6/6/23

In the midst of a live report during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights, CBS Miami reporter Samantha Rivera had to keep a fan from jumping in front of the camera, hitting him with a mean stiff-arm.

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.

Excited to get back home to some classy #Panthers fans for game 3!! pic.twitter.com/iWDQl0Rtvv
— Samantha Rivera (@JSamanthaRivera) June 6, 2023

Fortunately, Rivera's quick thinking kept her from any potential harm. It's not known what happened to the fan afterwards, but he was mostly pushed out of the frame, potentially avoiding becoming a new social media meme.

Unsurprisingly, her stiff-arm was compared to the likes of the NFL's best.

Elite form, @JSamanthaRivera.

Reminded us of someone else. @KingHenry_2 https://t.co/ippOU3qzxP pic.twitter.com/ONBYJtNaAS
— NFL (@NFL) June 6, 2023

While we can enjoy Rivera's reaction now, moments like this can be absolutely frightening for reporters. Even when a reporter is interrupted by an animal at the zoo or a proud mom, there are still far too many instances where people decide to make themselves the news in the worst ways. Some reporters end up as bystanders to a crime in progress while others can be confronted by onlookers in the midst of their main story.

Surely the fan, whose face was only partially seen, must feel embarrassed at the very least for going viral. Yet for his sake, being stiff-armed out of frame is better than becoming infamous if he did make his way through.

More must-reads: