Are You Sure That's a Ban?

Over the past couple of weeks, my inbox and voice mail has been peppered by media from the Minnesota area about a ban on SNW for University of Minnesota-Duluth athletes. Granted, I'm working off internet postings, but from one quote I've read of the UMD code of conduct, that's not a ban. Is it limiting the free speech of the athletes? Well, if having full license to rip your teammates on-line or posting photos of your beer-bong parties with underage teammates is limiting free speech -- yes.

As I've said repeatedly, student-athletes are public figures within their communities, and now with broader access to the world via the internet, at least minor public figures on the grand scale. College athletics is not a right; it's a privilege. A university has the right to defend it's good name and public image when those representing the university injure it.

Help me out here Corporate America -- what happens to the employee who blogs negatively about the company? It's a hard lesson learned, and better learned in school.

You might have a bumper sticker on your car that says something lewd. Doesn't mean it won't get you in trouble with the boss when you drive it to work. At the end of the day, remember you own the car -- and the right to free expression on it -- but your boss owns your job.

At the risk of sounding drudgish -- developing.