Why Lemieux Remains Private
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 17, 10:20 AM | Hype this story!
Oh, the joys of winning a championship…
An overwhelming feeling of accomplishment, champagne, parties, parades, and exploitation.
One of these doesn’t fit. Can you guess which?
Yesterday, photos were leaked of a Stanley Cup party at Mario Lemieux’s estate and quickly made their rounds on message boards across the internet.
The photos showed some players in Lemieux’s pool with the Stanley Cup, others posing for pictures, and others yet just lounging around.
No biggie.
But then there are the pictures that truly exploit Lemieux and his privacy.
First, a landscape view of his mansion, yard and pool. Not too personal, but a view few have seen.
Next, a picture of his trophy case. We’re moving inside, and this is not good.
Then, a shot of Lemieux’s office desk and chair. It’s getting a bit personal.
Finally, a few shots of his wine cellar. Now we’re in sacred territory.
It’s no wonder Lemieux keeps to himself.
When he opens up and invites people into his life, he gets exploited.
Sure, the “photographer” who took these pictures likely was an invited guest, but does that give him/her the right to make the private event and the private estate public?
Absolutely not.
Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there are no laws prohibiting such actions.
These photos, which have been removed from several message boards, will not be displayed on Faceoff-Factor, and any attempt to share them quickly will be removed.
Comments
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 10:28 AM
If there are any lawyers — and I know of at least one — who read this, could you please offer expertise on the legal side of this? It is my understanding that, if invited onto the property, taking pictures is fair game — and sharing them is just as fair. Am I correct?
Mike Adams
Jun 17, 11:22 AM
Matt, never mind the legalities, you are 100 percent right. The pictures of the Cup in the pool are harmless fun, but when a guest (invited or otherwise) takes pictures of the inside of someone’s house and then publishes them, that’s just wrong. That’s invasion of privacy. It might be legal, but it’s unethical and it’s just plain wrong. Good decision in not publishing them. And I don’t need to be a lawyer to say that.
Shannon
Jun 17, 12:26 PM
The photographer probably didn’t mean any harm, but whether or not it’s legal, it’s just disrespectful. And Lemieux is, in my eyes, one of the most respectable human beings in the universe.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 01:16 PM
You nailed it, Shannon.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 03:56 PM
@Tom, thanks. I had hoped you’d step in, here. I think that should clear up some uncertainties.
stoopidful
Jun 17, 06:30 PM
This is the thought I’ve had about other times I’ve read things on the internet where “fans” claim to have had personal encounters with the team, etc.:“Yo, idiot, you’ve just wrecked any chances of ever truly being that person’s friend or guest ever again.” If somebody of high profile is going to trust you enough to share their home or their time with you, the least you can do out of gratitude and common courtesy is not broadcast the details. I guess there is no such thing as discretion and decorum in the computer age. If the “photographer” was an employee or contractor providing services at the party, I sure hope that Mssr. Lemieux never engages their services again and makes sure that none of his associates do either.
DaBich
Jun 17, 06:54 PM
I bet you Lemieux won’t cry to the press about what happened. That’s the difference between true class…and the whiners from the Red Wings :)
Oh I said it!
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 09:43 PM
@Stoopid, well thought-out response. Completely irresponsible and immature.
@Dabich, darn right he won’t. But he’ll be even more guarded in the future — and he’s already extremely guarded.
Commenting is closed for this article.