Is The NBA Trying To Hide Video Footage Of The Big Brawl On YouTube?

from the as-if-people-don't-know-about-it? dept

Wed, Dec 20th 2006 2:11pm — Mike Masnick

If you pay any attention at all to basketball, you heard about the big brawl this past weekend that ended in the ejection of 10 players. Like with just about any breaking news story that has a video component, plenty of people quickly found the video of the brawl on YouTube and blogged about it, embedding the video in their blogs. While it may not be the sort of publicity the NBA wants, it did at least get people talking about the game. However, as an aside in a post on the Freakonomics blog, Steven Levitt notes that the NBA demanded that YouTube remove all clips of the fight -- and, indeed, if you look at the videos that were linked to or embedded from the various blogs, all are now missing. This could just be the NBA continuing its history of misunderstanding the value of online content. After all, just a few weeks ago, there was some discussion about how the NBA wanted to aggressively stop its videos from appearing on YouTube. However, a quick search shows that there are plenty of NBA videos on YouTube. But, if you search on brawl and nba, you get plenty of videos of the infamous Pacers/Pistons brawl (that included the crowd) from two years ago -- but all of the clips of the latest brawl have been removed. It seems clear that the NBA is trying to hide this event to prevent people from seeing it. This seems particularly short-sighted. It's as if they believe that by removing the videos from YouTube, people won't know it happened -- despite being blasted all over the news, including seemingly endless replays. Forcing the videos off YouTube suggests that the NBA isn't trying to deal with brawling, they're just hoping if they hide the videos, everyone will forget about them.

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34 Comments

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Yo ho ho..., 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:20pm

You can run... but you can't hide.
The NBA can't hide the fact that it has become a fourth-rate refuge for foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs to prance, taunt and flaunt their egos.

The NBA ceased being a sport (or even entertaining) a longgggg time ago. They should take a lesson from the NCAA if they want to be viewed as a real league again.

Hope the NBA dies -- attendance is falling and the fans are disappearing....
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:21pm

yep
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Thomas, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:22pm

Others Have it
goto ebaumsworld.com if you want to see the video.

Asking a site to take down something days after it happened is such a useless gesture. Once it's out there, there's no going back. One day the NBA and others will truly realize the whole globalness of the web.
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Beefcake, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:25pm

Clearly...
if the NBA was interested in stopping the actual brawls, Isiah Thomas would be suspended for the remainder of the season. Having the evidence (which Stern claimed doesn't exist) of Thomas ordering the first strike all over YouTube is just making him look sillier than he already does, so there isn't much doubt as to why it was pulled.
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anonymous coward, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:30pm

How can they demand all removal? If I was a blogger writing about the fight and I had the clip embedded in my blog, I would be able to use the clip of the fight (not the whole game) under fair use. Right?
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iRule, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:32pm

Shortsighted?

I think not!

It's called damage control. They have these obscenely visible and high profile athletes misbehaving, and want to limit the public access to seeing this.

The NBA obviously has other clips on YouTube (Mike pointed that out in his blog), so it is difficult to justify his stance that the NBA doesn't understand the value of online content distribution.

In fact, by disallowing content they feel is objectionable, and allowing other posts which they see as acceptible, the NBA is, in essence, admitting that YouToube has a very high impact on their product.

With these latest actions, the NBA isn't showing that they "don't get it," they are showing that they don't want to emphasize this specific incident. I believe a lot of TV stations take the same stance against limiting coverage of fans who streak across the field in an attempt to gain notoriety or political awareness for their cause.

I think the blogger was just trying to attach himself to a handful of other bloggers who are pointing out companies who refuse to admit that times are changing, and that business models should change with them. Unfortunately, the evidence he is submitting doesn't support his claim.
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anonymous coward, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:36pm

And wouldn't "selective enforcement" of its copyrights actually weaken the NBA's copyrights themselves since the obligation is on the copyright holder to defend their copyrights?

Couldn't someone claim in court that NBA had abandoned their copyrights because they only took down offensive items, not all copywritten content therefore they tacitly agree to use of their copywritten material?
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Paul, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:52pm

Google Video
The video is still up all over the place on google video!
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Sean, 20 Dec 2006 @ 3:52pm

One Word
Tubesock...

'sall I'm sayin
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Sarbanharble, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:02pm

If the NBA had a brain...
they'd leave it on their and try to appeal to the younger generation. What they are doing is holding on to the old fans, mostly old, white, rich men and trying to pretend that the game is still a good old sport from their college days. It's not anymore, and if the NBA could learn how to harness and adapt the new generation of basketball players, they'd have some pretty packed stadiums with people who wanted to watch gladiators instead of athletes.

The NBA straight up blows. It's one big pissing-match of egos.
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The Voices In Your Head, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:04pm

Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
"The NBA can't hide the fact that it has become a fourth-rate refuge for foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs to prance, taunt and flaunt their egos."

Thugs huh? Sounds kinda racist. Are players of other sports (like baseball & hockey) who get into brawls foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs too?
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AMP, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:21pm

Re: If the NBA had a brain...
Do you have a brain?
1. "they'd leave it on their" I think you mean there. The irony in this is hilarious!
2. The NBA, and any other major sport, targets the demographic with families and money to spend on THEIR families. Targeting a demographic without money will cost you your advertisers. Once your advertisers leave you lose the lucrative TV contracts. Once those are gone....well you can figure it out from here.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:44pm

Re: Others Have it
Yeah, eBaum definitely has it up, as he has habit of not removing copyrighted material when the owners request that it be removed. Since Eric Bauman is a steaming pile of thieving shit, I vote that we never mention his website again.
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NBA Hater, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:44pm

Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
A-fvcking-men!!
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Dec 2006 @ 4:49pm

Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
NBA Hater,

Yo punkass jus don't like no black people. Y'Know what I'm sayin?
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Bell_, 20 Dec 2006 @ 6:26pm

Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
"The NBA can't hide the fact that it has become a fourth-rate refuge for foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs to prance, taunt and flaunt their egos."

'Thugs huh? Sounds kinda racist. Are players of other sports (like baseball & hockey) who get into brawls foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs too?'

Since when did playing games suddenly constitute their own ethnic demographic? And yes, players of other sports that get into brawls and the like are often considered thugs. Have you forgotten the headbutting Frenchman in the World Cup several months ago? For all that he put into the sport, it will be for the tantrum he threw at the end that he will be immortalized.

Even boxing draws the line somewhere at what is tolerated and what isn't. Tell me please, which of the organizations for these sports stuck their heads in the sand the way the NBA does?
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Bell_, 20 Dec 2006 @ 6:30pm

Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
"Yo punkass jus don't like no black people. Y'Know what I'm sayin?"

The NBA always had its egos, but at least 10 or so years ago it was a pleasure to watch. These days, not so much. I'm not him, but I don't know what you're saying. Can you please elaborate?
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Tommy Jefferson, 20 Dec 2006 @ 8:30pm

Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
> Are players of other sports (like baseball & hockey) who get into brawls foul-mouthed, uneducated, ill-mannered thugs too? Yes.
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Hiphop, 20 Dec 2006 @ 10:00pm

Ummm... if this article held any water, why in the world does GOOGLE have several videos of the fight?

Go to Google Videos and search for NUGGETS and watch the videos; take your pick of which one you want to watch!

DUHHHH!
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Stephen, 21 Dec 2006 @ 6:12am

For a longer term view, if it becomes apparent that a lot of fighting is going on and it's easy to find (visible). Then there may be sentiment that they have to clean it up, take a tougher stance. But if it can be forgotten easily, no action need be taken. Particularly, actions which could upset its employee's unions.
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Andrew N., 21 Dec 2006 @ 6:25am

Not to burst a bubble or anything, but...
I hadn't heard of the fight at all until I clicked on this story. Not that I watch the NBA or any TV really, and I guess my friends aren't all that interested either.
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Whit, 21 Dec 2006 @ 7:09am

Forcing Brawls Off YouTube
"Forcing the videos off YouTube suggests that the NBA isn't trying to deal with brawling, they're just hoping if they hide the videos, everyone will forget about them."

The truth is that as a crowd, "everyone" is going to remember what they can see on YouTube and will quickly forget what they can't see on YouTube. The NBA knows this and are understandably tilting exposure in their favor. Yes, I think most people are really that easily manipulated.
Sad, but true.
Actively engaged, opinionated and thoughtful people are the exception on the Internet, and everywhere else, not the rule.
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Laurence Socci, 21 Dec 2006 @ 7:21am

YouTube caving in to the NBA
So the NBA wants YouTube to remove the brawl video. The sad part, besides the fact that grown men who are paid millions of dollars to play a playground sport act like spoiled brats, is that YouTube caves in to the NBA's demands.
The NBA should spend less time trying to hide the video and more time keeping their spoiled, overpaid and underskilled athletes in line.
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Unknowledgeable Geek, 21 Dec 2006 @ 8:19am

Educated
They asked for youtube to take something down that tarnished their name. I don't know why this is so suprising. It happens all the time, as previously mentioned with streakers, TV doesn't broadcast it because it doesn't want that attention. To say the NBA doesn't get it. I think they do get it and that is why they asked for it to be removed. Bad press is bad press, but press none the least. This move has once again made us talk about the NBA.

The NBA has to clean up its act. This is what the second fight in 5 years. Baseball there is a fight once a month. Hockey there use to be a fight once a game. Football, there is a fight once a game, is it televised, no, because that would be bad press.

Saying the NBA did nothing to try and prevent further fights. They players got suspended for 10 to 15 games. That is millions of dollars and I don't care how much money you make, millions makes a difference. The teams themeselves got fined 1/2 million dollars. I would like to say this is unprecedented, but I am too young to answer that question, but I bet it is.

NBA players are all thugs. And all white guys that post to this bored are all racists. Let's just generalize for ever.
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JM, 21 Dec 2006 @ 8:36am

Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
Racist: a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others.

Your understanding of the English language is pathetic.

To answer your questions: Yes.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Dec 2006 @ 8:37am

Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
Your dumb. How's that workin' out for ya?
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Adam Whitney, 21 Dec 2006 @ 9:23am

this fight is all over youtube, what r u talking a
takes one second to crush this thread, this fight is all over youtube, i simply typed nba fight carmelo anthony and saw numerous videos of the fight from many angles, where u getting your info son??????
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Adam Whitney, 21 Dec 2006 @ 9:42am

Seriously!
Damn, what a dumb post. This video is everywhere...especially YouTube!

How much you getting paid by the NBA to spark their PR?

Damn, what a gay sport.
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Madd, 21 Dec 2006 @ 9:57am

Re: Re: Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
Yes and what about soccer...hell, they call their thugs hooligans...at least they don't try to hide a problem
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Ali GÜR, 26 Mar 2007 @ 1:58pm

Saygısızlığı özgürlük sayanlara Allah hidayet versin. Düşmanlığı değil sevgiyi büyütmenin faydalı olacağını düşünmek bu kadar zor değil sanırım. Düşmanlıktan bir şey kazandıysanız söyleyinde bizde bilelim nasıl bir şeymiş o. Ayrıca başkalarını aşağılayan kendini aşağılamış olur.
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Ali GÜR, 26 Mar 2007 @ 1:59pm

Saygısızlığı özgürlük sayanlara Allah hidayet versin. Düşmanlığı değil sevgiyi büyütmenin faydalı olacağını düşünmek bu kadar zor değil sanırım. Düşmanlıktan bir şey kazandıysanız söyleyinde bizde bilelim nasıl bir şeymiş o. Ayrıca başkalarını aşağılayan kendini aşağılamış olur.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2008 @ 12:25am

Re: If the NBA had a brain...
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rendom, 4 Feb 2009 @ 3:33am

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mike lenns, 7 May 2009 @ 7:45am

Re: You can run... but you can't hide.
shut up yo ho ho
your stupid
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