Comments on: “Hearing-impaired football fan sues Ohio State”

By: DH

DH — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:15:41 +0000

Having worked at a school for the deaf, and also having many deaf friends, I, to a large extent, empathize with Mr. Sabino. Experiencing a football game is, for the most part, visual; I agree. However, there are some vital things that Mr. Sabino is missing out on by not having the captioning. For instance, Mr. Sabino may not be aware that a certain runningback may be breaking a long held school record. Sure he can see the runningback carry the ball, but is Mr. Sabino expected to know every record of every stat and the stats of every player on the field to know that the running back is on the verge of breaking a record? Also, Mr. Sabino would like the captioning on the jumbotron b/c he wants to see the words and the picture at the same time. If the jumbotron were to replay a run or a pass, and if the announcer were to announce the key players in the replay, it would be a bit of a burden for Mr. Sabino to look down at a captioning device, then look at the jumbotron, then back to the captioning device, then back to the jumbotron.
Is it too demanding on the school to implement a captioning system on the jumbotron?

By: BG

BG — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:57:48 +0000

He’s really a Michigan fan.
😀

By: L Nettles

L Nettles — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:48:07 +0000

I am confused. Does Ohio State have an announcer who gives a play by play commentary to the fans in the stands? I’m just a poor Gamecock fan and there is no way I could hear something like this over the crowd at our games.

By: Bill Alexander

Bill Alexander — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:54:41 +0000

If they want to keep the announcer but still feel for whatever reason it would be a good idea to have closed captioning, it could be done with a portable reader and radio link, that could be checked out at the gate such as they do with amplified headphones in some venues. They could even be rented or sold to the non-hearing impaired and could have advertising.

By: Reformed Republican

Reformed Republican — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:54:22 +0000

The cheaper option is to get rid of the announcers so that everyone is on the same footing.

By: Dirk D

Dirk D — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:59:05 +0000

The yankees have a side screen next to the jumbotron that does closed captioning complete with sound effects. Wonder if they were threatened with similar action.

*applause*

By: kimsch

kimsch — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:27:46 +0000

Bob Lipton 07.20.09 at 4:56 pm
How about just hiring Garrett Morris?

You are SO old!

But so am I.

lol

By: SmartDude

SmartDude — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:23:43 +0000

Who can ever hear the announcer at these games any way? How about following the game by looking at the field like everyone else? How on earth are these demands technologically or financially feasible?

I love the sick, evil smile on the plaintiff.

This type of malicious lawsuit abuse cries out for Loser Pays.

By: gitarcarver

gitarcarver — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:11:07 +0000

TraciHae:

He’s not asking for closed captioning just on those TVs, but rather on the large scoreboard.

I realize that, which is why I said he jumps the shark when he starts making the demand for closed captioning on the scoreboard while in his seat.

Bob Neal:
This assumes then that TVs can be seen from every seat in the stadium….they cannot.

The article states that he wants to be able to know what is going on in the game like everyone else when he goes to the concession stand or the restrooms. I think that is reasonable. What I don’t think is reasonable is when he starts making demands on accomodations that do not have anything to do with his enjoyment or understanding of the game such as closed captioning on the stadium screen.

By: Bob Lipton

Bob Lipton — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:56:18 +0000

How about just hiring Garrett Morris?

Bob