I never look at the sportsjournalists.com site … which I believe is sj.com, if you want to peruse it. It’s pretty much sports journalists discussing (or arguing about) events in sports journalism.

But I know people who do look at the site, and occasionally they will tell me about how my name sometimes comes up. Which strikes me as odd, since it’s not a site that I follow or contribute to.

Anyway, a recent discussion apparently veered toward what I was doing in Beijing and, in particular, how much it cost — and whether this or that newspaper helped me pay for it.

To clear up a few things, for those who don’t know me but don’t mind speculating …

First, the expense. A number apparently thrown around on the overall cost of the Beijing Olympics was “$10,000 per journalist.” That’s a bad stat, kids.

I spent a fraction of that. Significantly less than half that, actually.

In part, I benefited from the print meltdown because one major U.S. newspaper organization paid for four more rooms than it eventually had people to put in them, and was willing to let those rooms go for about 40 cents on the dollar. And I was in one of those. (It was better for the company to get my fraction of the total fee … than getting nothing for them.)

I have trouble figuring out how a journalist could generate $10,000 in expenses. Maybe the only way was if that person flew business class (or first) … stayed at a five-star hotel … managed to find time to eat at a restaurant every night … and maybe bought drinks for a bunch of people — and expensed it.

Otherwise, figure $1,500 for airfare (and it should have been less, for those who bought early), $4,500 for 20 nights in a three-star hotel (and less than $4,000 for 20 nights in the media village), about $500 for a wireless hookup and maybe (maybe) $500 for cabs and meals.

Anyone paying attention to keeping expenses under control could have done this for $6,500. And if he/she bought a plane ticket early, stayed at the media village and avoided restaurant meals … it would have been more like $5,000.

I spent considerably less than that, thanks to picking up a cheap room late.

Second, no newspaper organization helped fund me. Not for $1.

As it turned out, I was able nearly to recoup the three main expenses — housing, airfare, wireless internet — with freelancing stories. And that was my goal. Not to make money. Just not to lose a bunch.

Just want to get on the record for the handful of people who may actually care about this.