Supposedly legitimate journalists are actually thinking of trying to get a soundbite from an athlete by crashing his friend’s wedding?

//shakes head

I’m sure he will be extremely amenable to being interviewed - as will the entire team in the future.  What a show of disrepect for Spezza, who has nothing to do with the proposed trade demand anyway.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/21/09 at 06:23 AM ET

That’s a good article by Ian. It would be pretty sad if the media crashed Spezza’s wedding. Hope it doesn’t happen.

Posted by Andy from Ottawa on 07/21/09 at 07:43 AM ET

It should not happen under any circumstances.

If it does, there should be outrage even amongst the fans who wanted to know what Heatley has been thinking.

In the end, it would be like a burning wreckage; we know we should not look, but most would not be able to resist, even if they did later express outrage at the journalist[s] who went there.

Small token, but if it does happen, I will not post any of it on my blog here.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 07/21/09 at 08:09 AM ET

Steve Simmons will find a way in.

Posted by Moneypuck on 07/21/09 at 09:02 AM ET

I am sure Garrioch is already at the refreshments table in his Pillsbury dough boy costume

Posted by WingMan from Qc on 07/21/09 at 09:30 AM ET

Even if they get into the wedding, do they really think Heatley will give them a good soubdbite or solid information after being bombared like that?

He may break his silence if he’s caught off guard, but he’s not going to give an answer worth the trouble of getting in, let alone the public backlash that may follow.

Posted by Hooks Orpik on 07/21/09 at 10:12 AM ET

I’m sure he will be extremely amenable to being interviewed

Baroque, while I agree with the general thrust of what you’re saying, what has Dany Heatley to suggest this up until now? I don’t think the media should crash the wedding, but neither do I think Dany Heatley has shown in any way, shape or form that he has any plans to address the media until he absolutely *has* to.

Posted by Josh from Fort St. John, BC on 07/21/09 at 10:58 AM ET

Josh, Baroque had her tongu. planted firmly in cheek.

In general North American celebs and athletes receive marginal paparazzi attention compared to celebs in Europe.  Having been chased at least 15 times daily by aggressive “journalists” in Europe, actress Sienna Miller set legal precedent by successfully suing them for harrassment.

Hockey journalists should aspire to greater reporting than ambush-style attacks.  What next?  Will desperate sports media then re-edit these attacks to put incredible editorial spin on the story like Bill O’Reilly specializes in doing?  No serious journalist should ever LOOK UP to the paparazzi or O’Reilly for inspiration.  Unless all they ever aspire to be is a gutter reporter.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 07/21/09 at 12:01 PM ET

Posted by Josh from Fort St. John, BC on 07/21/09 at 11:58 AM ET

That should have been in the yet-to-be-developed-universal-sarcasm-font. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/21/09 at 12:20 PM ET

Duly noted! I blame it on the West Coast time - I was just outta bed when I posted that.

Posted by Josh from Fort St. John, BC on 07/21/09 at 12:42 PM ET

In general North American celebs and athletes receive marginal paparazzi attention compared to celebs in Europe.  Having been chased at least 15 times daily by aggressive “journalists” in Europe, actress Sienna Miller set legal precedent by successfully suing them for harrassment.

What bothers me the most about papparrazzi is the assumption that just because someone is a public figure they might as well also be public property.  Everyone needs some level of privacy, especially at a function that is 100% personal with no professional obligations at all.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/21/09 at 01:07 PM ET

I hate when the media uses the excuse “the public needs/wants to know”. Like they’re working for us. They speak as if the public is one giant mass all with the same thoughts and questions. We are not individuals to the media. They only care about being first with a story (facts be damned), just for the sake of being first.

I do applaud Ian for his column though. He’s exactly right about reporters stalking Heatly at Spezza’s weddings. I’m not sure were the boundries lie, but know what it looks like when someone crosses it. And a wedding is definitly crossing it.

Posted by Lindas1st on 07/21/09 at 01:08 PM ET

It’s just sad when the media pries into the private lives of athletes.  There’s just no reason for it.  I don’t think that sort of news belongs in the press or in any blog (hint, hint).  It just isn’t relevant.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 07/21/09 at 01:12 PM ET

Where does it end?  Next they’ll be looking for soundbytes at a G.D. funeral or something.  It’s all celebrity worship, and I hate it with a passion.  The whole E! channel is dedicated to celebrity worship.  They actually have meetings about who they are going to ambush next and how they plan to do it.  I can’t watch for more than 30 seconds at a time before my head starts throbbing.  Paparazzi are scum, and they’ll do anything to invade someone’s privacy just to be the first to get a reaction or a picture of someone who just wants to have some privacy.  It’s sickening really.  OK, rant over.  Stay away from Spezza’s wedding.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/21/09 at 01:20 PM ET