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The NBA Needs A Leader | 3 comments (3 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Beg to Differ (#1)
by TheRussianBear on Sat Jun 02 2007 at 9:37 PM EST

Not that it really matters, but I've got a few things to take issue with.

Point 1: Quick search shows cable penetration in the US to be about 85% of households... so the NBA most likely opted towards a healthier TV contract (i.e. more money for the league) while losing a couple of fans here and there. Chances are, if you're a sports fan, you have access to cable and ESPN. Seriously, how many people do you still know without it?

Point 2: The problem is not a matter of caving, it's a matter of league differences... the NFL often cites physical immaturity of younger players in a violent league as the primary reason for age-restrictions - it's not age discrimination if there's a legitimate point about young guys not being ready to join the big boys. The NBA, however, cannot use that argument...phenoms like Lebron and Carmelo show that younger players can definitely succeed that the pro level. So that, it would seem, would give people a case for age-discrimination. I'm surprised they've managed to keep the restrictions they currently have in place.

Point 3: I hate playing the race card, but I think that people just react differently to stories about different leagues. When benches clear in baseball, people look forward to the chippiness and call it a scrap...when it happens in the NBA it's a thuggish brawl. Big, BIG double standard, and it has nothing to do with the NBA. But no one in the media demanded a dress code, the NBA understands it has an image problem and tried to address it. Simple as that.

Point 4: here I agree 100%.

Still, I don't think this is Stern's fault. After all, he was also commissioner during the glory years you described. Just my two cents.

Stern (#2)
by Trevor on Sun Jun 03 2007 at 2:07 PM EST

The problem is that when you moved most of the NBA games to cable you detracted from the chances of the casual viewer stumbling onto games, plus you eliminated 15% of the people that own televisions in the country. I believe there are only 15-20 regular season NBA games on ABC per year. That is horrifying. The leagues needs to get back to having doubleheaders every Saturday and Sunday on network television. It gives the league more exposure. Do you think the NFL would ever move their games from Fox and CBS to ESPN?

The reason why you put the age restriction in is because it increases the profile of each player and makes them a brand image before they get to the NBA. It is easier to do this with guys that have been in college for a couple years. Plus it will improve the overall caliber of the league. Guys like Sebastian Telfair would have been forced to learn how to play instead of getting thrown to the wolves.

"No, cause it ain't sh*t. Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand to me? Ain't sh*t ... Next time I might shake my d*ck." --Randy Moss
[ Parent ]

: Still... (#3)
by TheRussianBear on Sun Jun 03 2007 at 5:37 PM EST

I still think that casual viewers will stumble upon games, and you'd think ESPN and ABC (being part of the same parent company) could probably make a shift if they were truly concerned. Still, I think that if you don't own cable, you're probably not really going to care if you stumble on a game.
As far as the NFL goes... that's exactly what they're doing. NFL network gets random games? The coveted Monday Night Football slot going to ESPN? Not quite the same level, but each football game counts for more than an NBA one.
Finally, I agree with you about cultivating a product, I'm simply stating the problem with the age-limit defense for the NBA...obviously it's beneficial for the NBA to have many players develop before hitting the league, but unlike football, they can't justify it AS much in terms of defending themselves form an age-discrimination lawsuit. There are too many high-school to superstar cases to argue otherwise (even if the development took a few years in the league). The NFL can just argue that a 19 year-old will get killed playing with 300 pound behemoths, but the NBA doesn't have that route.

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The NBA Needs A Leader | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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