The NBA All-Glare Weekend
The sports siphoning issue could resurface with DirecTV's planned exclusive deal with major league baseball for an out-of-market package similar to the NFL Ticket deal.
But having watched some of TNT's pre-NBA All Star Game coverage over the weekend, maybe there are some events that are just as well siphoned off somewhere else.
Watching the introductions to the rookie vs. sophomre made-for TV event Friday night, I can say without reservation, which I won't be making at the all-star game any time soon, that it was the sullenest, most insouciant group of overpaid game players I have ever seen. Not a smile in the crowd, for the crowd, among all those bling-blinged millionares. No "lucky to be here thanks for supporting my lifestyle" grins for the people who make it all possible, us. Not even a faked smirk for all of us saps. Just a "why must I put myself through this" grimace and even an occasional glare. Ok, there was one half-smile and a goofy mugging for the camera incident. But that was it.
This is a particularly star-less all-star game anyway with the withdrawl of some top players because of injury, but if the league wanted to get us excited by any of the new players, it would have been advised to advise them to pretend for the TV audience that they were going to have fun.
The first glimmer of hope was the slam dunk competition Saturday night, where a couple of the players actually seemed to be having fun, but it was not enough to make me want to watch the game Sunday night, which I didn't.
Pay me millions to play a game and see how much I can smile, even if sometimes I have to expend a little effort to do it.
By John Eggerton
Mark Cuban commented:
Are you kidding ?
These are kids that get criticized if they arent serious enough. They get criticized by you if while watching them on TV you dont think they are thankful enough.
The issue isnt NBA players. The problem is people who judge people they have never met based on a TV introduction.
THe problem is a commentator, you, that defines people by their bank accounts. It doesnt matter that they are one of only 420 people who have reached a level that many have aspired to and failed. It doesnt matter that they play hurt, or some go through operations almost annually just to be able to earn their salaries.
Anyone you know get bone chips taken out of their ankles or had their knee restructured to go back to work at B*C ?
And btw, not that it really matters, but I can assure you that vast majority of first and second year players are not millionaires. My hope though is that they have a better grasp of reality than you do.
There is no doubt an issue with the NBA if our marketing leaves you with the impression you have. Thats our challenge. Not the attitudes of our young players.
Broadcast * Cable has a far bigger issue if this is the best you can do
How about this. Pick any player that played in the game, and I will ask them what community service programs they have participated in. What events then have created and supported on their own. What they have done OUTSIDE team activities on their own. ANY player. Then we can compare to what you have done this year. Use any metric you want.