Live-blogging is a not a crime

June 11th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Were it not for “The Sopranos,” I would have hastily posted this last night in a moderate rage over what, exactly, was going on. Instead, I’ve taken a day, counted to ten, and … actually, I’m still really pissed.

Long story short: Brian Bennett, University of Louisville beat reporter for The Courier Journal in Louisville, was kicked out of the press box during Louisville’s 20-2 rout of Oklahoma State last night for — get this — live-blogging the game.

Apparently, there’s an old rule somewhere in the NCAA rulebook about broadcasting rights which restricts “live representations” of the games while they’re being broadcast. According to a memo Bennett and others received during the game yesterday, nothing can be written about the game between the first pitch and the final out.

That, of course, makes no sense at all; what about ESPN’s Gamecasts? Those are around even when ESPN doesn’t have the broadcast rights. And what about your average for-fun blogger who wants to discuss the game while he’s at home? What about commenter threads, which often analyze the game and include the pitch-by-pitch anxieties of the fan? It’s all very incongruous and stupid, and The Courier Journal is going to fight back:

Courier-Journal executive editor Bennie L. Ivory challenged the NCAA’s action last night and said the newspaper would consider an official response.

“It’s clearly a First Amendment issue,” Ivory said. “This is part of the evolution of how we present the news to our readers. It’s what we did during the Orange Bowl. It’s what we did during the NCAA basketball tournament. It’s what we do.”

“It’s a real question that we’re being deprived of our right to report within the First Amendment from a public facility,” said Jon L. Fleischaker, the newspaper’s attorney.

“Once a player hits a home run, that’s a fact. It’s on TV. Everybody sees it. (The NCAA) can’t copyright that fact. The blog wasn’t a simulcast or a recreation of the game. It was an analysis.”

During the middle of yesterday’s game, Courier-Journal representatives were told by two members of the U of L athletic staff that if the school did not revoke Bennett’s credential it would jeopardize the school’s chances of hosting another NCAA baseball event.

“If that’s true, that’s nothing short of extortion and thuggery,” Ivory said. “We will be talking to our attorneys (today) to see where we go from here.”

Pass it along. Spread the word. The NCAA doesn’t want your fandom, and damn sure doesn’t want you to use the Internet to promote, discuss, or engage in that fandom one bit. It’s a bit ironic that a long-standing media outlet will be the one representing bloggers of all cuts in this, but if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.

Bottom line: the NCAA has no reason to be afraid of people live-blogging their events. On the contrary, they should welcome it, happy to encourage the interest that keeps the TV money rolling in. Without that, what is there? If no one cares — or cares to discuss the games — what’s the point?