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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Mitchell: Hey Giants, How About Some Same Sex Couples on the Kiss Cam

And when I see him/her in the seats
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat…

If the Jumbotron at AT&T Park is to be believed, there are no gay people in San Francisco. Either that, or the city’s sizeable gay community includes no baseball fans. The evidence of this is that during the sixth inning of every game, the filler between innings is something called the Kiss Cam. The Kiss Cam consists of couples from the stands being shown on the giant screen in centerfield. After a few seconds, the couple generally notices they are on the screen and kiss each other. The crowd then cheers and the next couple is shown. The couples on the Kiss Cam invariable consist of a man and a woman. Same sex couples are seemingly never shown.

...If these solutions prove unworkable and the logistical obstacles remain insurmountable, which they should not, the Giants should simply cancel the Kiss Cam. Preserving a silly piece of between inning entertainment, or letting policy be dictated by modest logistical issues, should be far less important for the team and the ballpark than treating all Giant fans equally. There are many other things the Giants could do other than the Kiss Cam for those two minutes or so. They could show cute kids, people in the goofiest Giants costumes or perhaps most radically, nothing at all, giving their fans time to contemplate the Giants lack of offense in silence. Giving up the Kiss Cam in favor of any of these options would be a negligible price to pay to avoid discriminating against some fans.

Repoz Posted: August 30, 2011 at 05:48 PM | 52 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: giants, special topics

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1. bigglou115 Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:24 PM (#3912467)

That's a great idea until they accidentally show two straight guys or girls at a game together, probably leading to a lawsuit.

Or is he saying you can tell who's gay by looking at them?

edit: I refuse to rtfa about gay couples attending San Fransisco baseball games. That can only be click fishing at its purest.

2. retro-shiite Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:26 PM (#3912469)

This kiss cam silliness is enough to make me not want to attend a ballgame with my sister.

3. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:30 PM (#3912475)

Giving up the Kiss Cam in favor of any of these options would be a negligible price to pay to avoid discriminating against some fans.

Making out on the JumboTron is now a civil right?

Well, perhaps in San Francisco they'd pass a law making it so.

4. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:32 PM (#3912479)

You know what you won't see in San Fran these days? Giants pitchers and hitters holding hands and being nice to each other.

5. Shock Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3912481)

This kiss cam silliness is enough to make me not want to attend a ballgame with my sister.

Or Shooty's mom.

6. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:35 PM (#3912484)

This kiss cam silliness is enough to make me not want to attend a ballgame with my sister.

The Biscuits are playing at home tonight here in Montgomery, where it wouldn't be a problem one way or the other.

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:36 PM (#3912486)

Gay couples don't kiss.*

*-I learn everything I know about gay couples from watching "Modern Family."

8. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:37 PM (#3912487)

Or Shooty's mom.

Mom's holding out for a cam of a more freaky nature...

9. Shredder Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#3912500)

Hey, how about we just get rid of the kiss cam altogether?

This kiss cam silliness is enough to make me not want to attend a ballgame with my sister.

My friend would always leave to either go to the restroom or the concession stand whenever he was at a game with one of his sisters and the kiss cam was on the screen.

10. Too Much Coffee Man Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:50 PM (#3912503)

So wasn't this a big issue in St. Louis last fall? As I recall, the Cards had a gay/lesbian day where you got in free/cheap if you self-identified as a gay couple. But, someone publicly challenged the Cardinals (before the game) to ALSO show a gay couple on the Kiss Cam, but the Cards refused saying that there may be some in attendance who would be offended.

I may be wrong on any or all of the facts, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

11. retro-shiite Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:52 PM (#3912510)

My friend would always leave to either go to the restroom or the concession stand whenever he was at a game with one of his sisters and the kiss cam was on the screen.

Did he ever have the opportunity to make his exit on camera?

12. Random Transaction Generator Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:54 PM (#3912513)

I may be wrong on any or all of the facts, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Sounds like you are practicing to be a politician.

*-I learn everything I know about gay couples from watching "Modern Family."

They've kissed a few times now. Probably as often as Ed O'Neill's character has kissed his wife.

13. retro-shiite Posted: August 30, 2011 at 06:55 PM (#3912514)

The Biscuits are playing at home tonight here in Montgomery, where it wouldn't be a problem one way or the other.

I love living north of the Mason-Dixon.

14. Steve Treder Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:00 PM (#3912528)

The Kiss Cam is irredeemably stupid.

But for some reason this reminds me of the old story, probably just an Urban Legend, about a baseball game broadcast on TV back in the 1960s ... the camera is panning the stands during a dull stretch of the game, and finds a young couple making out way out in the furthest lone corner of the upper deck or something ... and the broadcaster, trying to be cute as only a 1960s square could, supposedly said, on the air, "Yeah, Joe, they've got a system going. He kisses her on the strikes, and she kisses him on the balls."

Ooops ...

15. spike Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:01 PM (#3912529)

Rates high on my "White People's Problems" meter, but a Buck Owens intro reference can't go uncongratulated.

16. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:03 PM (#3912531)

Rates high on my "White People's Problems" meter, but a Buck Owens intro reference can't go uncongratulated.

Oh man, does my girl hate when I break out the WPP meter when she starts complaining about something.

17. kthejoker Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:05 PM (#3912533)

At Minute Maid, they frequently finish the Kiss Cam with two of the opposing players. They're surprisingly game for forehead kisses.

18. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:07 PM (#3912534)

If we're going to do this, then let's do it right.

19. retro-shiite Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:14 PM (#3912541)

Oh man, does my girl hate when I break out the WPP meter when she starts complaining about something.
I may just have to co-opt this, with your express written consent...

20. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:15 PM (#3912544)

I may just have to co-opt this, with your express written consent...

I basically stole it from Louis CK (and by basically, I mean 100% stole it) so feel free!

21. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:22 PM (#3912549)

If we're going to do this, then let's do it right.

There is no amount of money which could cause me to click that link from my office computer.

A few years ago in Texas they show A-Rod and Andy Phillips on the Kiss Cam. I'm presenting that information without comment.

22. winnipegwhip Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:29 PM (#3912561)

Get a wife....I mean life.

23. Steve N Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:30 PM (#3912562)

I can't even imagine caring about this.

24. hokieneer Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:36 PM (#3912572)

#18 did the Nanny get the link?

There is no amount of money which could cause me to click that link from my office computer.

Since the Network Nazis downgraded our office internet connection to where I got about 500 kbp/s (mind you I'm a software engineer, responsible for maintaining & developing code and such for dozens of clients on several servers, so I have to transfer files a lot. No seriously, here is a speedtest from my work PC) and then proceeded to block all forms of entertainment that keep me sane (netflix, hulu, pandora, even my text based browser game that transfers about 200 kb of information per 30 min of gameplay), I've been in complete #### you mode. It seems daily I'm one missed cigarette break away from ending up on youtube as one of those people who flip out at work and go on a rampage against technology.

25. Sam M. Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:42 PM (#3912580)

Gay couples don't kiss.*

That certainly was my experience towards the end of my relationship with my ex.

Except without the asterisk.

26. Good cripple hitter Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:59 PM (#3912605)

Rates high on my "White People's Problems" meter, but a Buck Owens intro reference can't go uncongratulated.

Given that it was posted by Repoz, I just assumed that it was a Johnny Thunders reference.

27. SantoFan Posted: August 30, 2011 at 08:38 PM (#3912631)

I was at a Giants game a couple of years ago and the Kiss Cam focused on a man and woman sitting together. The woman recognized herself on the screen, looked surprised and then turned and kissed the woman next to her. Big roaring cheer from the crowd, Kiss Cam moved on to other straight couples, no harm, no foul. I think the Kiss Cam is a silly gimmick, but overall harmless until it does the stupid "ha ha, let's put two guys on the screen next to each other" gag. That got old a long time ago.

p.s. Best Jumbotron entertainment is always bloopers. They should just show that between every inning.

28. McCoy Posted: August 30, 2011 at 08:45 PM (#3912635)

I don't think I recall anybody kissing in Modern Family.

29. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: August 30, 2011 at 08:45 PM (#3912636)

My friend and I once pretended to smooch each other when we popped up on Diamondvision (not a "Kiss-Cam" segment). There was actually a small "aghast" reaction. After the game, while the crowd was filing out, a woman spotted us and asked me in a smelling salts tone of voice, "Did you really kiss him?"

But I've known this guy since I was 4 months old and he was less than a week... so we were just promoting classically traditional family values. Like one of those arranged marriages decided by the kings of Spain and Bavaria.

30. spike Posted: August 30, 2011 at 08:59 PM (#3912642)

Given that it was posted by Repoz, I just assumed that it was a Johnny Thunders reference.

I do believe you are correct sir, but I wouldn't say that a Repoz reference to period rockabilly/country is particularly out of place. Still, well spotted.

The not quite right reference I imagined - http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/owens-buck/my-heart-skips-a-beat-17972.html

31. Adam B. Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:11 PM (#3912649)

At a lot of parks and NBA arenas, the kiss cam does end on showing two members of the opposing team (or their male fans, in jersey) together. Because insinuating that being gay is a bad thing never gets tired.

Between this and the Phillie Phanatic's limp-wristed taunts, it's a wonder I keep my blood pressure so low.

32. vortex of dissipation Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:17 PM (#3912656)

Given that it was posted by Repoz, I just assumed that it was a Johnny Thunders reference.

Actually, it's a Shangri-Las reference (yes, the New York Dolls later covered it). And if Repoz doesn't like the Shangri-Las, I'd be shocked...

33. RMc is the loyal supporter of the MLB event Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:24 PM (#3912662)

This kiss cam silliness is enough to make me not want to attend a ballgame with my sister.

Baseball games don't end in ties, dude.

34. spike Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:48 PM (#3912674)

RDF.

35. outl13r Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:59 PM (#3912678)

Baseball games don't end in ties, dude.

This year it counts!

36. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: August 30, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3912732)

Will kiss anyone to get Tejada off of the roster.

37. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 31, 2011 at 12:26 AM (#3912801)

I love the kiss cam. Have never been to a park that had one. I actually thought it was something unique to the Metrodome until about five years ago.

38. Baldrick Posted: August 31, 2011 at 02:36 AM (#3912985)

Three points to make:

1. The Kiss Cam is terrible beyond words
2. I was at the Giants game last night and they showed like 10 gay couples kissing
3. It was GLBTQ night, so maybe that's not normal.

39. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 31, 2011 at 02:39 AM (#3912987)

3. It was GLBTQ night, so maybe that's not normal.

40. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 31, 2011 at 02:43 AM (#3912992)

I see from thefreedictionary that the Q stands for either Queer or Questioning.

If the former, that has to already be covered amongst LBGT. There are enough letters there. (And I thought that word went out of vogue, anyway.)

If the latter, I think S for Straight should be in there somewhere.

41. Kurt Posted: August 31, 2011 at 02:52 AM (#3912998)

So, they weren't honoring John DeLancie?

42. jdbkaput Posted: August 31, 2011 at 04:46 AM (#3913062)

So wasn't this a big issue in St. Louis last fall? As I recall, the Cards had a gay/lesbian day where you got in free/cheap if you self-identified as a gay couple. But, someone publicly challenged the Cardinals (before the game) to ALSO show a gay couple on the Kiss Cam, but the Cards refused saying that there may be some in attendance who would be offended.

IIRC, that promotion came the week after the Cards' unsuccessful Hell Freezes Over Day promo. I can only imagine the paroxysms of outrage that would ensue among evangelical Cardinal fans if the team did something like this.

This may be what you're thinking of: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/15/Gays_Want_on_Cardinals_Kiss_Cam/

43. BWV 1129 Posted: August 31, 2011 at 06:59 AM (#3913082)

44. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: August 31, 2011 at 07:07 AM (#3913089)

o no teh gaze.

45. Something Other Posted: August 31, 2011 at 09:25 AM (#3913096)

My friend would always leave to either go to the restroom or the concession stand whenever he was at a game with one of his sisters and the kiss cam was on the screen.

I don't get it. Why not just wave at the camera and then go back to whatever you were doing? It's not like they send ushers with billy clubs if you don't start sucking face.

Or... do they?

Giving up the Kiss Cam in favor of any of these options would be a negligible price to pay to avoid discriminating against some fans.

If it's a good thing, keep it, and if not, dump it, but when we toss things out because someone, somewhere, might be offended, that's too limited (and limiting) a criterion for giving something up, imo

46. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) Posted: August 31, 2011 at 11:06 AM (#3913104)

If it's a good thing, keep it, and if not, dump it, but when we toss things out because someone, somewhere, might be offended, that's too limited (and limiting) a criterion for giving something up, imo

I think the issue is whether it promotes an idea of heteronormality that stigmatizes one particular group.

An analogy would be a KidCam that shows tykes in baseball gear, but only showed boys, never girls.

47. RMc is the loyal supporter of the MLB event Posted: August 31, 2011 at 11:09 AM (#3913106)

It was GLBTQ night

I'm waiting for POSSLQ night...

48. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 31, 2011 at 01:41 PM (#3913192)

Last night at the Biscuits' game (last home date of the season, & only one I've been to, to my shame), around the 8th inning they had a "pump your fist" cam.

Such a blatant appeal here in the Bible Belt for Option J left me outraged, of course.

49. Guapo Posted: August 31, 2011 at 05:00 PM (#3913439)

Believe it or not, this article might have worked

50. Charlie O Posted: August 31, 2011 at 05:53 PM (#3913499)

I was at a Washington Nationals game in 2009. The kiss cam jumped from couple to couple with all of them kissing once they saw they were on camera. Then it stopped on a couple where the wife was tearing into her husband like an enraged Archie Bunker hollering at his son-in-law. Her mouth was going a mile a minute. The husband sat there taking it without so much as a flinch. Nearly everyone in the park was cracking up. As he hears the laughter and looks at the scoreboard to see the whole park witnessing his wife's behavior, a huge grin breaks out over his face while she continues hammering away at his left ear. She stopped nagging and looked up at the scoreboard in time to see what was going on just before it ended. Kiss cam at its finest.

51. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: August 31, 2011 at 06:43 PM (#3913545)

By the way, all the negative things said about the Kiss Cam in this thread are probably true, but I will defend it to the death because it lead to this, possibly my favorite news story of all-time.

52. Charles S., consistent since he changed his mind Posted: August 31, 2011 at 07:05 PM (#3913582)

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Mitchell: Hey Giants, How About Some Same Sex Couples on the Kiss Cam

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