NBA Draft

andynap

Senior Insider
Yawn- that I watched at all. Uninspiring. Redick at 11 after Randy Foye? His neck can be fixed. Marcus Williams at 22- his antics didn't help him. A 7 foot Italian?
 
I used to love the NBA. I thought it was particularly fascinating after the NBA merged with Julius Erving. Yes, Erving threw the rest of the ABA in as part of the deal. But the merger was for The Doctor.

After that, we had the Magic Bird wars which were DAMN entertaining. And after that, His Michaelness treated us to some fantastic ball.

But a Madison Avenue Decision was made in the early nineties that has all but buried the NBA. It was at that time that the Old School Commercials of "Be Like This Guy" were replaced with the New School Commercials of Gangsta And Thuggery.

Apparently, those ads have sold millions of sneakers and power drinks. Bravo. And those ads apparently have solidified certain demographics as fans. Bravo again.

But those ads have also run some folks off. There was something likeable about the likeable guys they used to pump in their endorsements. Or, at least the image was likeable. But I find little to like in the current unlikeable image.

This is another case of Unintended Consequences. You try to solidify one demographic with an ad campaign and achieve spectacular success.

While at the same time chasing off other demographics.
 
I understand what you're saying, for sure...I still love it....Football has just as much of the same going on...and I think NBA is trying to make some positive changes....Nowitzki is certainly no thug and there are many others who don't fall into that category...It only takes a few though.
I sat through the Cardinals game last night wishing I was home watching the NBA draft :)
 
NBA is a joke...and a mess..we spend so much time unteaching and reteaching the game to our kids who learn all that crap from watching the NBA, that its not funny .....nothing but a bunch of punks ( albeit talented punks) playing thugball


Brandon Roy is the best of the bunch and will fare the best out of them all...Morrison next....Reddick will struggle unless he learns to put the ball on the floor and create off the dribble.....dont know anything about this Italian dude...we are all very happy in our league that Nick Fazekas has decided to play another year of college ball at Nevada and enter the draft next year instead....wise choice...he was projected to go 22-25....but a sub par tourney performance dropped him to second round.....he will go higher next year....the last player to come out of our league into the NBA was Chauncy Billups....and we know how that turned out....Fazekas will be the next NBA star to come from our very tough competitive league.....count on it
 
I hate to say this but most of these college players become dead to me once they are in the NBA. They are commodities to be traded or cashed in like casino chips. For me, the real show is the NCAA, and the trend there has been downhill as well.
 
QUOTE:" NCAA, and the trend there has been downhill as well. "

I think just the opposite. This year was the most entertaining- a lot of overtime games- non-ranked teams in the final 16- great matchups. Maybe because Duke didn't make it?
 
I agree that the past year saw an exciting tournament. The downhill trend to which I refer is the pre-NBA attitude and behavior. Players leave early or showboat or do the gangsta, bling thing that the promise of riches allows. The word 'amateur' derives from the same root as 'amour' or love of the game. I know it's idealistic to think so but that's why I watch.
 
Watch an NFL game and then an NBA game. I would submit that there are dudes in the NFL who are every bit as tough as anyone in the NBA. Even so, the NFL tries to shine the spotlight away from those fellows. Instead, we see United Way commercials about a 350 pound defensive tackle planting flowers in The Hood.

Is some of this artificial? Perhaps. But, hello, is not most of entertainment artificial to a degree? News flash: When you watch a movie or a TV sitcom, those aren't real people. They are just actors who have memorized lines to craft a certain image. It is not real life. As such, if the NFL crafts an image of Kind And Gentle Giants, that is no more artificial than Superstar Recording Artists singing about how hard it is to struggle from paycheck to paycheck.

The NFL has done a GREAT job of crafting an image that appeals to everyone. The on-field play and occasional shenanigans satisfy The Bangers while none of the off-field presentation chases away The Scotch Neat Crowd.

The NBA buried itself. Even if they change their tune, I have been gone for 15 - 20 years and dont see myself coming back.
 
Didn't watch, but Shocked that Balkman of South Carolina went in the first round ahead of lots of better players...maybe he fits the 'new breed look'.

Ric
 
Didn't watch, but Shocked that Balkman of South Carolina went in the first round ahead of lots of better players...maybe he fits the 'new breed look'.

Ric

As you probably know, The State ran a nice article comparing Balkman to Hall Of Famer Alex English.

Hmmmmmm.
 
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