After first placing mammoth, arcane restrictions on digital media and other accounts of their football games last week, the SEC announced a few days ago that they were “reviewing” policies. Good news, to be sure, but strictly dependent on a subsequent overhaul of practices, otherwise the review’s just empty words.

(If those pompoms get Internet service then the SEC’s going to be mighty concerned, boys, mighty concerned indeed.)

Well, the final - FINAL, people! - fan policy has just been released by the SEC, and as you can imagine, it’s full of great news and sorry for that misunderstanding earlier, their lawyers had a momentary spasm of unbelievable prickishness, is all.

Ohhh wait, just kidding. You’re strictly under their thumb and you’ll like it.

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Recall the news yesterday that the SEC was planning massive restrictions on usage of things like highlights and, according to TECHDIRT, “memories.” These days, it’s part and parcel of any giant new digital media deal, but it’s all so 20th century all the same.

(But how in the world are we supposed to genuflect before Tebow if most of the Internet can’t regularly use his likeness?)

After all, a ban on YouTube highlights? A 72 hour window to use highlights? Restrictions that only salaried media employees can cover SEC events? No twittering from the game, even from fans?! Heh… funny thing about that guys, you’d never guess; the SEC needs some time to tweak those rules just a tad.

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One aspect of the SEC’s $2.25 billion deal with ESPN that, frankly, we all should have seen coming is the inevitable overprotection of the digital rights to the games and - more importantly - their highlights.

(WARNING WARNING DO NOT LOOK AT THIS WARNING)

So with that in mind, try not to be too shocked that the SEC is going to keep their highlights to themselves. And we’re not talking about just online, either.

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Remember our story earlier today about the Yankees Stadium security guards who wouldn’t let fans back in a game after they told those same fans it was canceled? It turns out that’s not the only incident of arbitrary, adversarial authoritarianism run amok in the Big Apple - and it’s even spreading to both new NY stadiums.

(The Yankees’ current #1 security threat, apparently.)

That’s Paul O’Neill (above), whom our readers over the ripe age of 12 would remember as a beloved Yankee outfielder. He now works as a broadcaster for the YES network (”YES,” of course, stands for “Constant Yankee Verbal Fellatio.” They got the letters in the acronym wrong). He was out by the batting cages during warmups this weekend, which is basically what every announcer does ever, when according to the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, security told him he couldn’t “loiter” and made him leave. Then they decided to make things personal.

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