Writing for followthemedia.com, Philip Stone has a good roundup of the blooming power struggle between sports sanctioning organizations and the media.
At the other end of the spectrum, Steve Klein notes that the National Hockey League is setting up a "blog box" -- a special area for live bloggers -- at some of its venues.
What's going on? Is the NHL enlightened and the rest of the sports world stuck in the dark ages?
I don't think so. This is fairly simple: It's all about power. The strike-weakened NHL needs all the attention it can get. Other sanctioning bodies are feeling secure, and they're going to grab for what they can.
Comments
In the press box
I think that it is important to remember that the press box at sporting events has long been used as a promotional tool. For decades reporters hit up the sports editor for tickets to the game and the sports reporters invited friends to sit in the press box.
Sports, arguably, is no more "news" than Paris Hilton's night-vision performances. It's an entertainment industry. Access to the the press box is the economic decision of the owners of the sports team. If they thought that telepathics could significantly influence ticket sales and TV revenues, they would give them press credentials/free tickets.
I never liked to approach
I never liked to approach sports from a political or economical sight, these things are beyond me. There is no doubt there are several real sports titans in the world and they sure have the power on their side. I prefer to enjoy sports and that's it, my only concern is the sports tickets accessibility when we are dealing with big events, but then again this is also a political problem...