Links to free audio broadcasts by Cornell's opponents

[Al DeFlorio]

Yes, we certainly wouldn't want our world cluttered by "principled" people, would we.  Very inconvenient for those who aren't, I'd say.::rolleyes::

[kaelistus]

I would, pay more to follow hockey around, but that's irrelevant. I am willing to pay $60 for a live concert, but I'm sure as hell not willing to pay that much for a CD. $7 per month is not a reasonable price.

Given that. I'm not exactly compelled to give donations to a school that just cancelled my only connection to it.

[CowbellGuy]

I'm about ready to chime in here. My biggest beef with the situation is this: ::rolleyes:: has been going around telling everyone that alternatives were sought and the situation was discussed with people who actually understand the situtation. One would think I fall into that category. Naturally, I was not consulted, and I didn't get a whiff of this until everyone else did, at which point it was too late. The fact is I could have handled the netcast for as many sports as Cornell wanted for free without breaking a sweat (at least until CIT starts shafting everyone next year).

Furthermore, no one in athletics even wants to hear anything that's not neck-deep ass-kissing. During a rather unpleasant conversation with ::rolleyes:: on Friday (and thanks to the tool who forwarded my e-mail to he/she/it), he/she/it simply was not perpared to listen to anything I had to say and was quite steadfastly rooted in the warped alternate reality that surrounds athletics.

And this is simply the latest in a long, long stream of crap generated by athletics. Most of you are, no doubt, familiar with their refusal to offer a modicum of support for the HockeyCam. Their excuse for not assisting in the software license purchase was that "they didn't own any computers on which the software could be installed." Of course, the generosity of the Faithful (including former players and current players' parents, who were delighted at the opportunity to watch their kids) bailed me out of that situation, enabling the  HockeyCam to continue.

Before last season begain, ::rolleyes:: swore up and down that the press box would be wired for ethernet before the season started. Then he/she/it found out how much it would cost, and promptly backed out of the promise, leaving me to lay down about 200 feet of Cat-5 ethernet myself or risk losing the HockeyCam again. The cleaning staff was kind enough to completely shred the wire the first week it was in place, leaving me to lay another 250 feet of wire, out of my pocket to be sure.

This summer, USACH was looking for a Cornell reporter. I initially offered to supply them with photos from Cornell games, but since they couldn't find a writer, I eventually offered to do that, as well. This was strictly a non-paying volunteer position, but I figured it would look bad if Cornell were the only ECAC team without coverage. It would probably have been fun, anyway. Apparently, ::rolleyes:: was not interested in such matters and told USACH that he/she/it was concerned that my "role with eLynah and overall support of the Cornell hockey program would adversely affect [my] ability to cover the team" and that "he/she/it would not feel comfortable having the Cornell staff or student-athletes speak to you about articles for USACH, and that he/she/it would not issue media credentials or grant interview requests." Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it? I've since learned he/she/it hates me for some unbeknownst-to-me reason. Well, you can be sure the feeling is mutual now. Just because he/she/it can't be professional in her position does not mean I can't be either. he/she/it seems content to play god in he/she/it's little sandbox, Cornell be damned. Nice to know that my efforts are appreciated. Next time their idiot camera operator lets the tape run out and they need a copy from me watch how fast I go...

[CowbellGuy]

Just noticed that one of the 4 people who picked "will pay gladly" for the CornellPass poll was ::rolleyes:: . Yeah...

[kaelistus]

I wonder if she actually paid...

[melissa\'01]

Amen to Age's rant. Sounds like it was overdue.

I am tending to agree with everyone else about the principle of the whole thing wrt charging now for the broadcasts. If I had to estimate, I would say that I (and a bunch of others I can think of off hand) spent in excess of $2000 last year on cornell hockey. The thing is, we didn't think anything of it. We were supporting our team and watching some great hockey. There were few complaints about the cost. Thus, $7 a month ISN'T the end of the world. However, it does seem freakin ridiculous to try and offer up this REALONE deal as an improvement and a favor to us when last year it was nearly identical and free. We aren't idiots - contrary to popular belief. If an ivy league school cannot afford to offer its students and alumni such perks (or cannot be intelligent enough to negotiate a contract with said advantages) what the heck does it say about the state of our school?

[Adam \'01]

I have been reading the posts here, trying to consider both sides of the issue with great care.  In fact, I was talking to my former Cornell roommate (Graham '02) on Friday night during the (free!) OSU broadcast of the game.  We were both debating the merits of paying for the (not free) Cornell feed this season.  After that conversation, and some thought on the issue, I'd like to hear a response from the athletic department.

Can someone from the department (yes, we know ya'll read this board) please reply to some of the points made in previous posts?  I paid $100,000 to go to Cornell.  I gave $200 to the school this year in donations and $100 to my class.  I am not thrilled with the idea of paying more to follow the hockey team.  Universities fill this weird space between non-profit entities (which they should be) and for-profit enterprises (which they too often are).  But before I go making judgements, I'd like to see a public statement from the department.

If I don't hear (read) a response, I'll just continue to follow hockey through the opponents' feed (when available).  As far as other sports, I'll easily just shift my allegiance to Syracuse U., as they consistantly produce a far superior product anyway.

[Al DeFlorio]

melissa'01 wrote:

However, it does seem freakin ridiculous to try and offer up this REALONE deal as an improvement and a favor to us when last year it was nearly identical and free. We aren't idiots - contrary to popular belief.

Exactly the point, Melissa.

When someone tries to sell me a sow's ear by telling me it's a silk purse--with the implied expectation that I'd be stupid enough to believe it--it simply irritates the hell out of me.

[Al DeFlorio]

Age, I think the chad is still hanging by at least two corners so the ballot should clearly not be counted.B-]

[Adam \'04]

Quoting Bill Mack
[q]Here's a note that Laura Stange sent to me:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our internet broadcasting. We regret that we cannot continue to offer Big Red internet broadcasts free of charge.

Due to the recent upheaval in the Internet broadcasting industry, we had to look at new options for providing netcasts of hockey, football, basketball and lacrosse. In the past, we were fortunate to have a system that cost us nothing to use, but that option is no longer available. Several alternatives were explored for us to continue offering this service, but all came with a substantial price tag. Facing budgetary constraints that wouldn't allow us to do this on our own, but not wanting to cut off our online audience, we opted for a subscription package.

I would also like to mention that the move to a subscription service was not looked to as a strategic way to increase department revenue. Our agreement is simply a way to continue to make games accessible to fans outside of the normal radio-listening area.

On a related front: I am willing to pay the $6.95 per month. But, am unwilling to give RealOne open access to my credit card account. Has anyone found a way around that problem? RealOne doesn't reply to my notes on the subject (making me feel good about my decision to NOT give them my credit card number).[q]

If she is unwilling to give RealOne open access to her credit card account, then she is unwilling to pay, because that is the only method of payment. LIAR!!!

[jtwcornell91]

Adam, I think you've accidentally attributed to Laura something that Bill was saying himself.  It's hard to tell since the quote from Laura  is not in quotation marks or tags, but that's how it reads to me.

[Adam \'04]

Maybe. As I turn red in the face.:-/

[judy]

Chiming in...I guess...
Spent way too much money and time following Cornell hockey team around last year but something's got to be said for paying all that money to be able to actually see the play, and cheer with others, and at least for me, make comments to melissa who would be standing next to me, as opposed to listening to a game over the internet with no atmosphere, hoping the feed doesn't die, and melissa on the phone while the two of us are a few hundred miles apart and our neighbors thinking we're getting attacked because we're constantly screaming.

Checking the schedule...well, I could use the free trial for this weekend's Princeton game, I plan on being in Princeton when Cornell heads south...and the Everblades' tourny...well, hell, I think I missed all those broadcasts last year anyways. Anyways, I plan on catching 1 weekend of games a month. The money spent on traveling, well, I'm getting something more out of it than a hockey game (and football, bball, lacrosse broadcasts - none of which I care too much about though I did enjoy the lacrosse game in MD when they were here earlier this year).  The hockey weekends lets me see one of my best friends in the world and spend time with others who are as crazy (no, more crazy) about this damn hockey team as I am...

As for giving money to support webcasts, I will gladly give Age money because at least I can trust him and know what I'm getting since I have seen what he's done with elynah. Even if the money goes to fund his road trips, at least I know he's there, getting some good shots at the game, and cheering for the rest of us. Giving money to the school, or to the athletic dept... I'm way more hesitant cuz I don't know wtf their doing with it.

[redice]

John: You are correct.  The comment about the credit card payment was indeed from me.   I guess nobody else shares that concern, huh?
Adam:  The RED face should be mine.  Sorry about that!

[Al DeFlorio]

Maybe no one else is thinking about signing up, Bill.;-)