Photo Flap
The following responses were received from readers, or
posted to Al's Fastball, the leading website for Men's Fastpitch.
eScribe:
Al's Fastball List: Message: Photos in SoCal
[Posted to Al's Fastball, April 8, 2003]
Before I go to Launch Mode re: the purported banning of
the taking of fastball photos by the SoCal ASA, I really have to ask:
is there ANY reason that this guy (ASA Commish) has sought to restrict the
shooting of photos? Just curious. You know, a reason that is
something along the lines of......well, I can't even come up with a dumb
excuse for banning photographers on public property, let alone an
intelligent excuse for doing it. Perhaps the ASA, or the SoCal
Commish, would care to give their side of this bizarre saga? Jim @
Fastpitch West has done a truly spectacular job over the years of
promoting THE GAME of fastball, with no borders and no restrictions.
He is truly good for our game. SoCal: home of the USOC training
facility..........where the USA Men's National Fastball Team
trains........where the ASA has banned the publicizing of the game of
men's fastball......? We're not even into the season yet, and this
slobbering, drooling beast (ASA) has somehow forced its way through the
primordial ooze & is lurking on the local diamond again, making a mess of
a beautiful thing.....? Come on, it really can't be this neanderthal,
can it? Can it........?......?
Amazed Yet Again,
Michael Groves
Vice President
Federal Lock & Safe, Inc.
5130 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22205
USA
<mailto:falcon@fedlock.com>falcon@fedlock.com
The following was written in reply to
the response of Mr. Hernandez
eScribe:
Al's Fastball List: Message: "Protect Our Property?"
[Posted to Al's Fastball, April 8, 2003]
Re: ASA discussion
Interesting response from ASA's Hernandez to the SoCal photo-contretemps.
I was intrigued by Hernandez's comment that "we have accommodated requests
to distribute information or take pictures, but we expect those doing so
to ask permission. Our events are our events and being ASA property,
we have the right to protect our property. Those requests have
always been granted as long as it meets the requirements of the ASA code."
A literal translation of this remark, and it really should be a literal
translation, since it's obvious that Hernandez takes the ASA code
literally in his tournament enforcement actions, would entail that no one
be permitted to take pictures of competition, the umpires, the fans, the
grounds crews, the ballplayers, the coaches, the bat boy (God forbid,
someone should take a photo of a little kid who loves the sport of
fastball without ASA permission), et. al.
I'm tempted to run rampant on the humorous side of this issue, because
it's almost too idiotic to be true, and thus it is ludicrous.
Unfortunately, Hernandez is dead serious in his role of......protector of
the ASA photographic archives....?? I don't think you could make
this stuff up, even if one was a Hollywood screenwriter.
I'm baffled. Not only does Hernandez defend his position of
demanding people who attend ASA fastball request his permission to take
photos, he tells us that his actions are those of a reasonable man.
And then he boasts of his success in putting up outfield fences.
Hard to justify those outfield fences when people like Hernandez are
driving away participants from the game. Fences..........what an apt
metaphor for this situation.........
I don't think that the San Diego & Los Angeles media are begging for press
passes to ASA tourneys in SoCal. I haven't seen any photos of Todd
Budke or Todd Garcia or Tony Peeples playing in a SoCal ASA tourney,
getting their pictures snapped while doing so, and ending up on a Wheaties
box (three superb players in The Golden State). Once again, this
isn't just short-sighted & ignorant behavior on the part of an ASA
representative, it's just plain bad business for the game of men's
fastball.
It may truly be said, ad nauseaum, that, "The ASA just doesn't get it."
Regards,
Mike
FedLock
Arlington, VA
USA
Mailto:falcon@fedlock.com
eScribe:
Al's Fastball List: Message: Alien Landings in Midland [Posted to Al's
Fastball, April 8, 2003]
It would appear that the SoCal ASA Commissioner's worst
fears have been realized. Reputable sources of mine in the Midland,
Michigan region of the USA have sent me "anonymity-requested" emails
detailing dates & specific locations in Midland where The Little Green Men
have landed. My sources tell me that The Little Green Men are
quietly building bunkers & a tunnel complex
throughout the Midland region. Apparently, The Little Green Men are
on a determined mission to photograph the activities of the participants
in the 2003 ASA Major Fastball Tournament.
According to these sources, The Little Green Men (TLGM) were last active
in SoCal. Having honed their techniques in SoCal, TLGM they were
hounded out of the region by a wily, determined, & vigilant ASA
Commissioner there. This ties in perfectly with reports from the
SoCal region of people in public parks being banned from taking photos of
fastball tournaments.
Of interest is that The Little Green Men worked on the surface only in
SoCal, photographing tournaments, gathering data on the dietary habits of
the tournament attendees, and monitoring the cold beverage consumption
levels of various participants.
We can only hope that Kimberly is not next for......TLGM.........Don't
touch that dial, folks!
eScribe: Al's Fastball List: Message: Re: Response from Southern
California ASA Fast Pitch Commissioner
Robert
Our sport is dying my friend. Put the pettiness away, any coverage
of our sport is good coverage. The news you are making here helps to
further drive the nail home. Get over it.
Peter Hazelton
Canada
Mailto:peterhazelton@hotmail.com
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