After Further Review ... the Rail Cam Blows

It had promise, really.

In theory, the rail cam could have opened our eyes to a fresh, new perspective on the game of hockey.

Unfortunately, technology doesn't seem to want to cooperate at this point in time. Maybe someday, but not now.

The rail cam made its NHL debut Monday night when the Stars and Avs played on Versus.

There were two immediate drawbacks that could be spotted when the game began. 1.) The rail adds another obstacle viewers must look around to find the puck. 2.) The camera itself distracts the viewers' eyes from the play.

Putting a monorail on top of the Plexiglas sounds cool. But the fact that it's not see-through like the Plexiglas isn't. For the entire game, viewers were treated to a thick black line running horizontally across their TV screens. Yeah, that's a pleasant experience.

And then there's that large black box that races back and forth in front of the main TV camera in order to follow the action. I was constantly distracted by the cam, often thinking that it was another skater trailing the play and crashing the net.

Wasn't the idea to allow more people to follow the play and see the puck? With the rail cam's equipment in the way... not so much.

It reminds one a lot of the little white rabbit that is used in dog racing (and yeah, I wrote this part before the Versus color commentator mentioned it). The rabbit shoots out when the whistle blows and the dogs go charging after it. As a matter of fact, I believe Eric Lindros dropped his stick and gloves during one rush up ice and began chasing the cam while making high-pitched yelps. Two minutes in the dog house, Big E. Bad boy.

Besides the obvious distractions associated with the rail cam, there were other visual issues.

First and foremost, there was an obvious vibration that blurred the image when the rail cam cranked up the RPMs. Not good. Perhaps one of those "Back To The Future" hoverboards would make more sense.

Next, the production crew apparently had little training with the cam in game situations. They spent most of the first period trying to keep up with the puck.

Up and down the ice, the rail cam went. Every stop, every start, every turnover. The poor lil' rail cam was plum tuckered out after the first period. And what did it provide the viewers? A whole lot of nothing.

There are a plethora of cameras in the building for televised games. There's the main camera shooting from the side. There are cameras in the corners. There are cameras above the goal crease. There are cameras inside the goals. Heck, they've even got cameras in the locker room showers (But why are the words "Do Not Touch: Property Of GB" etched into all of them?).

What we're trying to say is there are plenty of angles to cover the game. The rail cam doesn't have to replace them all. Instead of being directly overtop of every play, the rail cam should be used to open up the ice. Show the breakouts from the other end. Follow a defenseman as he rushes up ice. Tilt the cam down to capture a scrum along the boards.

Don't try to capture the speed of the action; you'll only make me nauseous. Make the players easier to see. Make it so I can follow the puck as it moves from side to side across the rink.

That is what a rail cam can, and should, be used for.

However, the previously mentioned distractions are just too much to put up with in order to get a new angle on the action. And I have no idea what those fans in attendance thought of the cam and any effect it had on their view of the ice.

So what's next?

Should the rail be moved to the other side of the rink, where it isn't in the way of the main TV camera? Sure, you'll have a gap in the middle where the benches are, but perhaps two rail cams are better than one.

Should the cam along the boards be scrapped altogether and in favor of cams on the bottom of the overhead scoreboard? Perhaps.

Should we forget robots and return to the days when monkeys ruled all minimum wage jobs? Hey, it worked for the Russian space program. Look how much better off it is today.

All in all, they gave it the ol' college try. Unfortunately, this one may be better off left in the frat house basement. Next to the fighting robots. And the glowing pucks. And Alexandre Daigle. And his nurse's outfit. And Kirk Maltby. And on ... and on ...

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