NBA Debut on ABC Slammed, Dumped

ShowBIZData.com ^ | 12/27/2002

[GeneD]

The debut of ABC's NBA telecasts, largely depicted as a "loss leader" for the network, turned out to be no leader at all Wednesday night as a double-header wound up in third place with an average 3.6 rating and a 7 share, falling behind the umpteenth rerun of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS (4.3/9) and a repeat of The West Wing on NBC (4.0/7). The top-rated show of the night was a rerun of NBC's Law & Order (6.8/13), which gave NBC a slight edge in the overall ratings for the night, as it scored a 4.8/10 to CBS's 4.7/9. On Thursday, in a night of reruns, CBS bested NBC's must-see shows, most impressively in the 10:00 hour, when a repeat of Without a Trace, with a 9.6/16 rating beat a repeat of E.R., with a 7.0/11. CBS averaged an 11.3/18 for the night, more than 50 percent above NBC's 7.5/12.

[RetiredArmy]

I loved the NBA back in the 60s and 70s and early 80s. I left for good when Larry Bird retired. I was only hanging on by my nails when he came in. The NBA today is nothing but a bunch of street thugs for the most part. Right, I want my kid to be like the Iverson punk on the 76ers. Sure, that is exactly what I want. I want my kid to be a street thug. If not for his basketball talents, Iverson would be a stat on a drive-by shooting by now.

[AshleyMontagu]

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

College hoops is very quickly being ruined by the NBA too. Basketball would be well served to go back to enforcing the rules so that the game is not simply based upon individual natural athletic ability. Skills would once more need to be developed.

[AshleyMontagu]

If not for his basketball talents, Iverson would be a stat on a drive-by shooting by now.

A major difference between basketball in the 60s and 70s and now is that a guy like Iverson would never have been allowed to play before. He would have been one of those playground legends who kept himself out of organized ball by his behaviour. Now ever thug can be accepted to college and/or go pro.

[t4texas]

NBA is in decline which is the predictable result of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Gangsta rap was a boon for a time but now the ticket buying/tv watching public see it for what it really is. . . TRASH!

At this point the product offered by the NBA is little distinguishable from WWF or whatever it's calling itself now.

When do pitchers and catchers report?

[Charles Henrickson]

traveling and double-dribbling

You can't watch one minute anymore without seeing both violations--uncalled.

(Double-dribbling, aka palming the ball.)

[albertabound]

The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings are a blueprint for the NBA of the future. They combine a fine blend of gifted imports with quality home grown professionals. The flakes are shipped out post haste.

[Charles Henrickson]

Too few guys to cheer for. Too many b*st*rd-sirin', dope-smokin', trash-talkin', tattoo-covered gangstas. Sportsmanship is dead. (Same story for the NFL.)

And the quality of team play is not as good. Too much uncalled traveling and palming the ball.

Former longtime basketball player and fan

[THE Aardvark]

The better basketball discipline of the foreign players was probably one of the major reasons the U. S. team flopped so bad in the last World Championships. A slower, more disciplined approach to the game will get the playground legends off their game and expose their weaknesses in fundamental basketball skills. American players will soon have to learn basic skills that were never needed and have been forgotten by most players and coaches. That will make the game better in the long run.

[AshleyMontagu]

Think of Magic and Bird. Two slow, vertical jump challenged guys who worked their rears off to master the fundamental skills (dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding) of the once great game of basketball. Now you have a guy like Iverson who is "great" simply because he is faster than anyone else and refs never call palming the ball. Or Shaq who is "great" because he is bigger and stronger than everybody else and refs don't call offensive fouls. These guys don't have basic basketball skills. The fact that basketball is no longer a skill game serves to discourage youngsters who don't have unusual natural athletic abilities from pursuing the sport.

[AshleyMontagu]

Amen. However, if the fundamental rules of basketball are not enforced than the non-fundies will still win. International ball still enforces the basic rules. If NBA refs (Stern's goons) officiated international competition than the US would still "dominate".

[AshleyMontagu]

Oops. Post 31 was meant for you.

[stands2reason]

I was wondering when someone would mention one of my two favorite teams...Mavericks have some wonderful men on the team, same as the Spurs. All those freaks are the guys they try to beat!

[SamAdams76]

What really ruined NBA basketball for me was the "slam dunks." Once the players started doing that, I was totally turned off. I mean, where's the athletic ability in that? If I was 6'10", I could slam dunk too. Big deal. So all we have now are a bunch of insanely tall players driving to the hoop for a slam dunk (and hoping to draw a foul in the process). The game is now boring as hell. Just like hockey where fighting is now all but banned and everybody hangs around the neutral zone for 60 minutes dumping the puck and hoping for something to happen. But that's a complaint for another thread.

At least we still have the NFL.

[Stew Padasso]

I thought ABC did a great job, they just had two boring games.

[Stew Padasso]

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

The league would be better off if about 5 or 6 teams went away. This would tighten up the competition. Unfortunately, they continue to add expansion teams, like Charlotte. Total waste.

[Stew Padasso]

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

Slamball is a blast. Those guys play with a lot of heart and are putting themselves at great risk of injury. I'm kinda hoping a slamball league opens up in my hometown. I'd love to get out there and try it.

[Stew Padasso]

"The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings are a blueprint for the NBA of the future."

Plus they keep there core team together. This breeds loyalty and a winning strategy. The PAcers are a similar organization.

[dirtboy]

Slamball is a blast. Those guys play with a lot of heart and are putting themselves at great risk of injury. I'm kinda hoping a slamball league opens up in my hometown. I'd love to get out there and try it.

I got injured enough playing regular basketball. I was on a first-name basis with the X-ray tech at the orthopedist.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I have a genetic defect- I can't stand to watch basketball games. The absolute stupidest sport ever invented, even worse than foosball. I understand that there are folks who enjoy watching these guys (or gals) running back and forth bouncing a big round ball and occasionally throwing it into a modified peach basket, but the whole thing escapes me. Sorry.

If the NBA went out of business tomorrow, I wouldn't know about it unless someone told me. Never watch, don't care.

Not a popular attitude in Alaska, where thousands of short people play basketball as their ONLY sport- but popularity is not a big thing with me.