NBA Debut on ABC Slammed, Dumped

ShowBIZData.com ^ | 12/27/2002

[GeneD]

This might help redefine the old saw, "You get what you pay for."

If I owned Disney stock I'd lead the chant: "FIRE MICHAEL EISNER! FIRE MICHAEL EISNER!"

[johniegrad]

With salaries being what they are and the general lack of interest on the part of the nation, when will advertising revenues and television contracts dry up? They are propping up this unworkable situaton.

[mhking]

Considering that the first game was a complete blow out (Nets won by 40 or so), and that the second game's player matchup was tied to a fist-fight back in September that didn't rematerialize, I've got to say that I was underwhelmed by ABC's return to the NBA. They need to show me more than a has-been Lakers team and a Nets blow-out to keep my attention for more than a few minutes...

[lavrenti]

The NBA is rapidly losing market share.

They've been cutting back at the League Office, as well.

[Alberta's Child]

I knew the NBA was doomed a few years ago when I saw a television promotion for a game the following weekend, and the game was billed as a match-up between David Robinson and Patrick Ewing. There was no mention of the fact that Robinson played for the San Antonio Spurs and Ewing played for the New York Knicks.

At this point the NBA is closer to a staged event like a World Wrestling Federation event than a true competitive sport.

[dennisw]

I hope this overhyped league goes belly up or at least some teams do.

[mr.pink]

The commisioner runs the most tawdry and vulgar league amongst the four major sports, and he does so by choice.

I bailed on watching that show years ago and never looked back.

[N. Theknow]

Used to watch NBA when it was only one tattooed, punctured freak: Dennis Rodman

NBA is now an entire league of tattooed, punctured freaks.

Can't even stand to watch highlights on ESPN anymore.

Can't even name 20 current players in the entire league.

[BaBaStooey]

they killed 30% of my NHL coverage in favor of this crap, so bad news for abc/espn/disney makes me smile.

[big gray tabby]

They used Musberger and Sean Elliot as announcers and Musberger is lousy at basketball--even worse than football. Elliot's fine, but I had to turn the sound off.

I enjoyed every minute of the Nets humiliation of the Celtics.

[dirtboy]

I don't watch the NBA. I prefer to watch basketball. The 24-second clock is insane - doesn't give enough time to set up a decent play, instead an offensive possession typically consists of bringing up the ball, passing once and then one-on-one play for the shot. Up the clock to 30-35 seconds, get rid of their stupid pissantish defensive rules, call offensive fouls on Shaquille O'Neal and drop the fouls back to five.

The NBA will, however, get better in the upcoming years - because foreign players will slowly take over the game, and return it to fundamentals. Yao Ming is the best reason to watch an NBA game right now.

[Alberta's Child]

I never understood basketball's appeal, to be honest with you. It's like watching a hockey game with a 24-second shot clock and no goaltenders.

[FreeTally]

call offensive fouls on Shaquille O'Neal and drop the fouls back to five.

Shaq would be sitting on the bench with three fouls after the first three times he touched the ball. LOL!!! I hate the "Shaq Rules" the league had to adopt when he came in. I cant wait until he retires.

The NBA will, however, get better in the upcoming years - because foreign players will slowly take over the game, and return it to fundamentals.

You could be right, and I hope so.

Yao Ming is the best reason to watch an NBA game right now.

I have to admit that I thought he would be a bust. I think I was wrong after seeing him do so well. Right now, he is twice the player Shaq ever was - but he's just 100 lbs or so lighter and the league hasn't changed rules for him.

[AppyPappy]

Watch the trampoline SlamBall that comes on Sat night. That's the bomb.

[dirtboy]

I never understood basketball's appeal, to be honest with you. It's like watching a hockey game with a 24-second shot clock and no goaltenders.

Well, one could say the same about hockey - it's like watching a basketball game where you can't see the ball and teams shoot four percent from the field. Since I like both sports when played well, I tend to overlook their respective downsides. But at least the NHL is still interesting and not personality-driven. The NBA is just plain stupid anymore.

[Wright is right!]

Jay Leno said last night that he'd gotten something in his Christmas stocking WORSE than a lump of coal - LAKERS TICKETS.

Michael

[martin_fierro]

For REAL excitement, there's always

< /sarcasm> <|:)~

[inkling]

I used to LOVE basketball, and now I can't make it through a quarter. I've tried to figure out why I lost interest and have a few theories:

- Most modern basketball players look and act like a bunch of spoiled thugs. Top-to-bottom tattoos and piercings, off-court arrests, constant on-court cursing and zero sportsmanship. It's hard to root for anyone when they pride themselves on being jerks.

- My team, the Suns, are pathetic. This city used to go bonkers for them; now every game is quiet as a yoga class. It's hard to support a team that constantly sabotages themselves.

- Season is WAY too long and most games are meaningless. The Lakers snooze until the All-Star break, then casually lope to the championship trophy. Even though they seem to suck this year, they're still my pick to take the ring.

- Games are WAY too long and most of it is meaningless. The good teams just keep it within 10 points until the last quarter, then go on to win it. A few years ago, I stopping watching games until the fourth quarter. For the past three years, I don't watch the games at all.

Any other theories out there?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Why on earth would I support the NY Knicks with Latrell Sprewell and the ludicrously overpaid Alan Houston even when they weren't one of the worst teams in the league? The NBA is heading back to where it was prior to Magic and Bird rescuing it.

For now, I'll watch college basketball. Eventually that may become unwatchable too.

[Alberta's Child]

Well, one could say the same about hockey - it's like watching a basketball game where you can't see the ball and teams shoot four percent from the field.

But that's precisely the point. Most hockey fans can harken back to last night's game and remember the go-ahead goal in the third period, or the shorthanded goal in the second period that tied the score and changed the momentum of the game. Most of the points scored in basketball, on the other hand, are utterly non-descript.

I can just see the headline now . . .

NETS BLAST CELTICS, 101-89

Kidd's two free throws at the 6:04 mark of the second quarter tie the score for the 17th time in the game . . .

Celtics coach agonizes over Kidd's foul-shooting -- "I knew the game was over as soon as they scored those 34th and 35th points."