LiveBlogging is a Crime
By: Trent | June 12th, 2007
At least that’s what the the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seems to think. The NCAA is the governing body of nearly all collegiate sports in the United States. The NCAA is more or less known for its boneheaded moves, so this most recent ridiculousness isn’t entirely surprising. Here are the facts:
A reporter for the Louisville, Kentucky Courier Journal was attending a baseball playoff game between the University of Louisville and Oklahoma State University. He had press credentials and all of the necessary accouterments, and was posting updates of the game onto the paper’s website. You’ve no doubt seen LiveBlogging here at The Offside and elsewhere.
This provocative and dastardly act was met with appropriate level of outrage, as the reporter was escorted off of the property out of the press box. As money is the driving force in sports, the NCAA feared that the exclusive broadcast rights already sold could be trampled on by this rogue blogging. Needless to say, the newspaper is not happy. Neither is the sports blogosphere in general.
So what does this have to do with Arsenal or even football? I see this type of behavior as part and parcel with the attacks on YouTube and the general unwillingness of big money sports associations to embrace new technology and the fandom that is spawned and sustained by it.
The NCAA, the EPL, UEFA, FIFA, et al. must foster interest in their sports, not nickel and dime it into submission. Also, please start saving your penies so that we might be able to bail Bob out of jail during next summer’s European Championships.
UPDATE: Here’s a brief interview with the reporter in question.
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Category: Arsenal News
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Comments
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That’s ridiculous. Pretty soon your not going to be able to talk about last nights game at the water cooler unless you are an officially licensed by the NCAA. That organization is so pathetic, some of their rules make about as much sense as drinking your own urine. Thanks for the post.
Posted from
United States
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Most of the liveblogging I do is from my jail cell anyway so this doesn’t impact me. But it is stupid. I am sure FIFA will adopt it too.
Posted from
United States -
If FIFA adopted this, would that make liveblogging at high altitudes a crime punishable by death?
Posted from
United States -
The death sentence would only come if you were wrapped in a Tibet flag while liveblogging at high altitude.
Posted from
United States -
All good points, but I wonder if, in Bob’s scenario, you could have Sepp Blatter commute your sentence if you’re wrapped in a Tibet flag while liveblogging at high altitude but you’re also a woman footballer wearing skimpy shorts?
Posted from
United States -
It worked for Jack Warner, Trent. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for us too.
Posted from
United States
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