I tried...

[CowbellGuy]

Yes, and because they're too petty to get past it, they get no photos in USCHO and a crappy webcam. Sounds like a win-win to me.

[Rosey]

Look, I agree: it's stupid.  You are a great promoter of Cornell hockey who puts many hours into something you love without them having to pay you for the effort.  But bitching about their attitude isn't going to make them any more likely to give you a pass.  That's all I'm sayin'. :-)  Think more constructively.

[Jerseygirl]

I think what we need right now is a good parable. Skip to the end if you want a point and not amusement:

A long, long time ago, in a kingdom far, far, away, a kind, beautiful, and smart peasant girl named Jerseygirl sought employment in the kingdom of what is now known as NBC-Universal. She traveled many miles from her humble abode in the shadow of the ivory towers of Ithaca to a hamlet called Secaucus.

Once there, she was given an audience with a man whose enemies may or may not have dubbed him Lord Poopypants. He seemed a kind and benevolent Lord, and so, when a member of his court offered fair Jerseygirl employment as a humble servant, she duly accepted. The pay was low and the hours were long, but still, Jerseygirl was grateful to have the means to provide for herself so she did not have to make like many others and call Lady Mommy and Lord Daddy for extra pence to spend at the local tavern.

Lo, the first few months were good to the fair maiden. Although she had to complete tasks she felt were beneath her, like call the local coach company constantly to make sure the Lord's coach driver had not gotten into an accident (because then the Lord would be unacceptably late for work), and pick the chicken out of the pasta salad her Lord ate for dinner, she felt welcome in the Lord's court.

Alas, one day, a dark cloud was cast over kind Jerseygirl's employ at the castle in Secaucus. Suddenly, her Lord was tempermental. He stormed past her. He did not acknowledge the research she carefully culled from kingdoms far and wide. She was confused and saddened.

She may have been going crazy, but slowly, it seemed as though her Lord would ask her to complete tasks for him, but then not give her essential information. Having been told by her Lord's closest advisors that it would not be wise to bother the Lord, she did not want to risk bodily harm by asking him to clarify the tasks, and instead, tried to complete them herself. You see, poor Jerseygirl thought that she had simply forgotten what she had been commanded to do.

One day, after being scorned by Lord Poopypants for failing to get him the 10 boxes of organic cereal he had not specified he wanted, and then daring to ask him if he needed alternate travel plans since he was unexpectedly traveling to a faraway kingdom in order to tell the world of a past ruler's death and funeral, humble Jerseygirl had enough. "I do not know what is wrong with me!" she cried. "I used to be smart and happy and pretty, but now all I do is push parchment around, cry myself to sleep, and wear my 'Cornell XL Athletics' hooded garment to work because I don't care enough to wear a real shirt!"

Suddenly, Jerseygirl's Fairy H.R. Godmother appeared. "I have heard your plea, my child," said she. "I can wave my magic wand, and tomorrow, you may leave this hamlet and never return. I shall even compensate you for your hardship. But know this. Should you leave suddenly while your Lord is in a faraway land, you will never be able to return. Now, shall I wave my wand and make it so?"

Fair Jerseygirl hesitated. Should she take the offered pence and leave, she had the deep satisfaction of stealing away suddenly, and without having made coach reservations for the following week. But it meant that no matter how talented a producer she might one day become, the drawbridge to that hamlet in Secaucus would be forever closed. Word of her action would spread far and wide to the kingdoms of Faux News, ABC-Disney, CNN, CBS, and perhaps even the WB. Many courtesans there would probably cheer her, but also wonder,  "If she did that to Lord Poopypants, how long until she does that to us?" Jerseygirl knew that everyone in those kingdoms, no matter how benevolent, had long memories and would not turn on one of their own. She knew that she did not have a chance of returning to the kingdom in Secaucus until her friend Sir Anthony the Smooth ruled, and Lord Poopypants had long been driven out by the Neilsen-goths.

Knowing this, Jerseygirl gratefully accepted the Fairy H.R. Godmother's offer. The next day she gathered her meager belongings and bid farewell forever to that hamlet in Secaucus.

And, by the way, she's living happily ever after, and just got a raise and a bonus at her new job.

***Basically what I am saying is, if someone screws me over, there's a damn good chance I'll take a few swipes at them myself. But I realize that the price to pay for those swipes is I forfeit my relationship with that person or organization as long as everyone who remembers the swiping is still around. Fair? No. Realistic? Yup. I particularly hate this issue because there are super cool people on both sides of it who are friends of mine. What amazes me is I am the most malleable of all of them. ***

P.S. What has two thumbs and is going to the Toledo Storm/Boardwalk Bullies action packed weekend Feb 20-21? THIS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I would say this, but it may be time to dust off the old game worn Cornell sweater.  Who's psyched?  I'm psyched. Mostly because I'll be drinking for free (kidding!).

[jy3]

so i dont mean to point out something that is likely obvious and not possible but can you not just ask whomever you would ask of such things - "what is going on?"

Not in a whiny-you-are-a-bastard-do-this-now attitude (not that i am saying you would do this), but just bluntly and politely ask them what you are doing wrong preventing you from covering Cornell the way you wish to cover Cornell. Kinda like when I have a patient who isnt adhering to our plan, sometimes asking bluntly what is preventing them from doing what they had agreed to do and had wanted to do leads to a solution.

[ninian '72]

Do they take a look at the ratio of forum/news type page hits?  Would it make a difference if those of us checking into the forum also clicked on the editorial or something similar each time we did so?

[DL]

Does all this bad blood have anything to do with the partiality that the site displays?  I know that this gift to the community is all Age, but maybe if the commentary was limited to just posting, rather than the permanent jabs like references to the Cleary "Jell-O Mold" ?

It'd be a little ridiculous for the athletics office to get so sensitive about these things, unless someone has actually filed a complaint.  That sure wouldn't be a first, and neither would over-reacting, either.

[madhatter]

The main issue, from what I've heard out of athletics in the past, is that to be issued credentials for sporting events a site/paper/publication has to have a legit and unbiased editorial board.

[Greg Berge]

I wonder if they would extend press privileges to TBRW.  I've been running it for 16 years, it is 99% statistical information, it has no message board, there is a healthy percentage of conference and NCAA information along with the Cornell content.  If so, I would be more than happy to have Age be the Official TBRW Ithaca Correspondant, or Photographer, or Athletic Department Fluffer, or whatever they deem would entitle him to be ticketed on behalf of the publication.

[CowbellGuy]

Again, you don't get any more legitimate than USCHO, and the fact that they turned them down means they wouldn't put my name on a credential, regardless of the source of the request.

[Robb]

How about if *I* become the TBRW correspondent, but get mysterious illnesses each weekend that prevent me from travelling to the games, necessitating finding a last-minute replacement...  :-D

[Beeeej]

Y'know, I kind of like that idea, Age.  I like the idea of your trying, as politely as possible, to make an appointment with the current SID or even with Andy Noel, and saying that whatever there was between you and Athletics in the past, you'd like to leave it in the past because that will benefit you and Athletics.  Then see if you can start fresh from scratch, ask what you can do not to step on their toes, and then ask how you can help, making it clear that there are specific ways in which you'd like to help that would benefit them significantly.

If that doesn't work, if they really just have it in for you, maybe an open letter to them in the Sun sports section (we could all pitch in a few bucks for a half-page ad or something) calling them out (again, politely but firmly) would be fun.  :-D

Beeeej

[Jacob 03]

I can't really bring myself to suggest further prostration to Cornell on Age's (or anyone's part), but the sheer amusement factor of calling Athletics out in the Sun would be worth a small donation on my part.  

[DL]

It is sheer pettiness for Athletics to require anything beyond simple compliance with a given set of 'standards.'  Why prostrate oneself to a department that should be unbiased itself?  If they cannot answer the question, "What can I do to get proper credentials," in a straightforward manner, they're clearly not doing a good job and should be called out for it, plain and simple.

[CUlater 89]

[Q]Darren Leung Wrote:

 It is sheer pettiness for Athletics to require anything beyond simple compliance with a given set of 'standards.'  Why prostrate oneself to a department that should be unbiased itself?  If they cannot answer the question, "What can I do to get proper credentials," in a straightforward manner, they're clearly not doing a good job and should be called out for it, plain and simple.
[/q]

If they're already being petty and vindictive, why would you think that publicizing it is going to cause an improvement in their attitude?  If the point is to get a higher-up's attention, well then why not go there directly?

[jy3]

[Q]Jacob 03 Wrote:

 I can't really bring myself to suggest further prostration to Cornell on Age's (or anyone's part), but the sheer amusement factor of calling Athletics out in the Sun would be worth a small donation on my part.  [/q]

no need for prostration, just ask "What can I do to get credentials." "Why was I refused credentials."

sometimes to get things you have to swallow your pride. might be better in the long run

 ::nut::