Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Wordless Wednesday #44 (Tuesday Edition): Taking One For The Team


"Taking One For The Team"
Raleigh, NC - September 2007 (Click to embiggen)

Wordless Wednesday - Button Image by Smarmoofus

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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice action shot, Mojo. I thought cameras weren't allowed in the RBC Center during games?

Doctor Err said...

*snort*

Mojo said...

@tarheel: I haven't checked lately, but the progression went something like this:

1997-1998 through 2000-2001 nobody had a problem with cameras.

2001-2002 through 2003-2004 cameras "with detachable lenses" were prohibited. The story was this was a response to 9/11. The truth is probably more like somebody figured they could cash in selling photographs if people weren't allowed to shoot their own.

2004-2005 The NHL Lockout threatens to alienate the fan base.

2005-2006 cameras -- detachable lensed models included -- were permitted for hockey and basketball games. They didn't publicize this, but the word eventually got around. I still got a raised eyebrow once in a while but I wasn't turned away. I kept a hardcopy of the RBC Center policy on prohibited items in my pocket just in case though.

I guess the arena finally figured out that you weren't going to get a Sports Illustrated cover shot from a ticketed seat.

These policies are set by the arenas, not the teams (though in the case of the RBC Center, that's almost the same thing). But the NHL and the NHLPA govern how you're allowed to use the work product. And since the teams own the logos, trademarks, yada-yada you can't really do anything commercial with anything you shoot anyway. SO I suppose they finally figured out that they really weren't losing anything by letting people take their own photos, and that pissing off their customers was probably not a sound business plan.

Mojo said...

@Err: Was the snort for the skate in the onions, or because it was a player from Columbus who put it there? (Didn't help btw... the Canes wound up winning in OT anyway.)

Mimi Lenox said...

You like hockey? I never would have guessed....

The Bumbles said...

It used to frustrate me to no end that I could always bring a camera no problem to a baseball game but the NFL wouldn't allow it. Then when all the phones got better cameras they figured they were fighting a losing battle and now cameras are allowed. Maybe that was part of the issue in letting them back in to NHL arenas too?

As a supporter of the Whalers growing up and having family in NC I was happy when the Canes won the Cup. My hubby is a huge Bruins fan - life is much happier in the Bumbles house this hockey season.

Tony Gasbarro said...

Taking one in the team, is more like it.

Pretty Life Online said...

Perfect catch for wordless! mine's up too hope you can visit. Have a great day!

jams o donnell said...

Great shot. I must go and watch my local side, the Romford Raiders...

Sreisaat said...

That's one sport I would love to watch!! Great action shot!

Kimmie said...

OUCH! Meh! How is that team of yours doing anyway? ;-)

Kimmie

Mojo said...

@Bumbles: It wasn't that cameras in general weren't allowed in the RBC Center, it was just certain kinds of cameras -- i.e. those with telephoto capabilities (SLR's DSLR's). That's what always steamed me about it.

In any event, it wasn't the NHL that invoked this prohibition, it was the arena. As far as I know, other NHL arenas allowed still cameras -- of any kind.

I suspect the ban was repealed for a number of reasons, one of which was probably advances in point-and-shoot digitals. Some Canon PS digitals actually had adapters that allowed you to mount a telephoto (though not a very fast one) so it may have been partly resignation to the idea that eventually technology was going to overtake the ban. But I suspect it was the lockout as much as anything. When your fan base is already precarious, any goodwill you can muster you'd be advised to do it.

And yeah, I imagine Bruins fans everywhere are happy this year. It's a good year for the B's so far. Been a long dry spell there (though not as long as it's been in Toronto!)