[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?

[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

[Vinnie]

The NBA is booooooring. A bunch of overweight clods shuffling around the court. A very few actually hustle. The rest stake a claim to a spot and stick their a$$es out to try to knock the other off balance.

College basketball is another story.