NCAA vs. Bloggers

2008-09-10T06:59:04-04:00

NCAA vs. Bloggers

2008-09-04T19:16:06-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:25-04:00

2008-09-05T15:10:52-04:00

rdf2Diego

Houston 98920

Is the NCAA serious? People will read blogs instead of watching a game? I guess that live box scores will also soon become illegal. Last I checked, people read blogs because they either missed the game (not everyone works only 9-5 M to F) or the game isn't on TV (much like the mentioned Iowa vs Maine game). Just last night I missed the second half of the Vandy / South Carolina game and wanted to know how Vandy pulled off the upset. 2673941

2008-09-05T14:39:35-04:00

Luke Fleeman

Visalia 482215

Yeah, blogging sucks. Having a sport so popular that people are chomping at the bit for blogs about your sport is probably a bad sign. What's next? People at sporting events may not call or text their friends about what is going on? 2673650

2008-09-05T13:16:15-04:00

sagcat

Portland 511089

It might be difficult to prove State Action, as the NCAA is a sort of hybrid. It's a private entity comprised of several institutions, only some of which are "governmental" bodies. And private entities cannot, by definition, violate your first amendment rights. Regardless, it's a silly overreaction by the NCAA. And people & reporters can still blog from anywhere in the stadium. Just blog by texting from your phone or blackberry. Hell, you could blog a play-by play from any seat in the house or even just watching TV or listening to the radio. And there's no way the NCAA can prevent people from saying "2nd & 10 after incomplete pass" on their blog. No standing to prevent it. Denying press credentials is another thing. And I can't see courts upholding any orders to tell the press what they can say or how much they can say. It's just un-American. 2672599

2008-09-04T21:00:34-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/180/817/thumb/Todd_blackledge.jpg 5337 PA

Anthony E-is out.

Easton 181117

^ exactly. 2667013

2008-09-04T20:57:58-04:00

wakeriderof87

Valrico 162729

This seems pretty crazy... I don't know many who decide to skip a game or not watch it on tv, so they can read a blog instead. I don't see the issue. 2667032

2008-09-04T20:33:47-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/475/228/thumb/bearG0205_468x551.jpg 4107 Ga

norka

Bubba Spot 475668

The same or similar argument is being made about free music downloads. The NCAA feels like their product is being ripped off. Chalk it up to the age of the internet. 2666929

<img title="Stephen Mally/Icon SMI" src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/images/09/04/t1_iowamaine.jpg" border="1" height="326" align="top" alt="Stephen Mally/Icon SMI" width="425" style="width: 425px; height: 326px" />By Jay Christensen, <a href="http://thewizofodds.com/">TheWizOfOdds.com</a> Reporters at Kirk Ferentz's news conference Tuesday were handed a surprise by Iowa officials: A notice detailing conditions and limitations of the NCAA Blogging Policy.That policy, which also gives the host institution final authority on whether a credential holder or credential entity is following policy, allows for only five blog entries per half, one at halftime and two in an overtime period of football and basketball games.What sparked this missive? No one knows for sure, but the educated guess is that it was aimed at the Cedar Rapids Gazette, <a href="http://mikegh.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/ncaa-and-iowa-you-will-blog-when-and-what-we-tell-you-to-blog/">which hosted separate live blogging sessions</a> by Mike Hlas and Scott Dochterman during last Saturday's Maine-Iowa game.This isn't the first time the NCAA has cracked down on blogging. In June 2007, Brian Bennett of the Louisville Courier-Journal was thrown out of the press box for posting live updates on a Louisville-Oklahoma State baseball game. The NCAA said in a memo to reporters that "no blog entries are permitted between the first pitch and the final out of each game." Scott Bearby, an associate general counsel for the NCAA, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/sports/baseball/14blogs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">told the New York Times</a> that the governing body had a right to protect the contracts it establishes with television networks and its own Internet providers.But when the Courier-Journal threatened legal action, saying the NCAA's action was a violation of the First Amendment, <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/SPORTS02/706210481/1002">the governing body backed down</a>, allowing reporters to "blog about the atmosphere, crowd and other details during a game but may not mention anything about game action."Even with the clarification, the NCAA appears to be on shaky legal ground. Not only does the governing body appear to be in violation of the First Amendment, there are restraint of trade issues considering that many member institutions are tax-supported (public) institutions. 1241

The Sweep

New York 479813