Politics, politics, and politics. Sports needs to stay NEUTRAL on politics. Pushing political narratives pushes fans away. And I turn off any game that has Doris Burke in it. AND, it seems like the old NBA was much more exciting and competitive. Vintage Celtics/Lakers. Vintage Pistons/Bulls. ETC. What current teams have the talent level that those teams had? There are some great individual players today, but those teams had exceptional talent at every position.
The "stick to sports" people are just upset that their own brand of politics isn't represented the way they want it to be (though it actually is, they just don't know it) In general I don't think anyone really cares if you turn off your TV and want to listen to Colon Catturd. Like I said the NBA just sold it's media rights for about 4x the previous margin, so evidently these complaints were not material enough to make a difference.
He already is and has been a Trump supporter for years. Literally begging Trump personally for money during COVID while his 2nd super yacht was being assembled in Europe. He was just supposedly appointed ambassador to Italy for funneling millions to Trump - after his disastrous, criminal first term and it's insurrection Tell me where this apolitical Tillman who sticks to sports is. I'd like to meet him
Sports should stick to sports! Instead they go with Woke messages like.. "It takes all of us!" or "Love is greater than hate." Who believes this ish? Love is greater than hate? Name me one dude that has started an entire movement based on love for the poor and children??? I'll wait... oh that dude: well this thread took quite the turn.
Thread title: “NBA ratings down …” Griftees: “Ratings are down because of this one thing I have been ordered to be angry about.” Objective people: “All TV ratings are down, and the NBA is making record money” Griftees: “Ratings are down, ‘nuff said”
Yet you are making a political statement by getting all worked up about Doris Burke because you think it’s all about DEI and whatnot. Who cares about women being able to color commentary and not sticking to their place as eye candy on the sideline? Burke whether you like her or not paid her dues for years on the sidelines and deserves a chance to call some games. Better than Reggie Miller who is annoying AF. Politics politics politics with some fans I guess I could say too.
My problem with Burke is not because she is female, but it is because of her pompous commentary style.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43032741/adam-silver-looking-critiques-increased-3-point-volume Silver also discussed the dip in the league's TV ratings early in the season. And though he said the NBA is doing "intense" research on the topic, he focused on the league's pivot to streaming in its upcoming television deal as well as social media and other aspects of its reach to indicate he doesn't believe the league has an overall interest issue. "I would just say, to say it directly, ratings are down a bit at the beginning of the season, but cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," Silver said. "We're almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programming on streaming than they are in traditional television. And it's a reason why for our new television deals, which we're entering into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service. "And as we move to streaming services, putting aside how the actual game is played on the floor, it's going to allow us from a production standpoint to do all kinds of things that you can't do through traditional television. All kinds of new functionality, all kinds of new options and screens that are available." "So, at the end of the day, we are an entertainment product, and the vast majority of people consume us through media, not in person," he added. "So, we have to pay a lot of attention to that. But if you look at other data points in terms of our business, for example, we've just come off the last two years of the highest attendance in the history of this league. We're at a point where our social media audience is at the highest of any league and continuing to grow exponentially. So, there's not a lack of interest in this game."
Yeah but that's a separate gripe about ESPN, and is a microcosm of what is wrong or right about the NBA product. When asking this larger question about the NBA product, and people focus in on Doris Burke it's obvious that a political statement is being implied whether intended or not or just subliminal. Now if someone wants to make a case that the NBA ratings are down because of our cultural shift in the US, and the rise of anti-"woke" culture, and in that context use Doris Burke's promotion as an example I think that's a point that you could make... (I think it would be incorrect but still it's an argument), but just saying the NBA ratings have plummeted because of Doris Burke and then try to side step your implied argument because you are afraid of standing behind the "anti-woke" argument.... yeah. Just my 2 cents that making an implication, and then gaslighting when you get pushback...yeah... I doubt you are intentional here, but you are doing it whether you realize it or not. ... FYI Doris Burke has worked for ESPN mostly as a sideline reported since 1991. Regardless of her color commentary value, it's crazy that people imply that she is a DEI hire when she's obviously put in her time to earn a chance at that position. Nobody ever made the case about Clyde Drexler being a DEI hire for the Rockets even though many people didn't enjoy his commentary. Everyone understood that he was a Houston legend, and earned a chance to do the job. Doris Burke isn't the issue, and if people want to bring her up, I would encourage you to just come out and say it rather than implying and then gaslighting.
Here's an idea I heard that really peaked my interest: -Limited, and strategic 3 pointers. Meaning each quarter every team only gets a certain amount of 3 point shots that actually count for 3 points. So that will force the coach, and team to be strategic about their use of 3 pointers, and only take them if they are truly open shots or strategically use them in game situations where they need 3 points. I think it's one of the more interesting ideas I've heard so far. Thoughts?
With the limited 3 pointer I'm guessing you'd probably need that further out 3 point line for late game situations anyways. So either bumping out the 3, or to have a 3 point line for extended 3's for late game situations makes sense. Having an actual 4 point line is freaking insanity. The thing about sports is scoring points needs to feel like an achievement. That's the payoff for the battle during the game. When you saturate the game with too much scoring you are just turning regular season games into another all-star game and killing your brand. Adam Silver needs to be fired if he thinks the answer is higher scoring with a 4 point shot being added.
The NBA is teetering on the edge of a cliff and they seem to be doing the Hollywood/NYC thing of just doubling down on their own supply instead of trying to make the game more accessible to everyone. The All-Star game has been reduced to a joke. The regular season is now a joke as well. With the expansion of the playoffs (first to 7 games in Rd 1 to now the Play-In) along with the NBA cup they were short term solutions that would eventually exacerbate the problem. First the Play-In. Teams (like the Bucks yesterday) can now mail it in in the regular season. If you are a half way decent team you can just fall backwards into the playoffs now. It doesn't feel earned and the Play-In team is usually first round fodder anyway. Just let the best teams earn it and don't let them feel like they can backdoor their way in. The NBA Cup. Oh man. In theory, it's good. The issue is the execution. No one gives a **** about Vegas except degenerate gamblers. So instead of OKC getting a home court game yesterday....we got....whatever the hell that crowd was supposed to be. Also....the red carpet like it's some sort of Hollywood Red Carpet affair. Get rid of that. Again, it's stuff that puts off "normal" people that don't give a **** about a players "drip" (i.e. a player wearing a clown suit). The thought of the MLB/NFL/PL doing that is laughable. The FA simply does an FA cup, it's an opportunity for unknown players to showcase themselves and the big squads can either go for it if they feel like they're not in contention or they can choose to use it to develop their bench players. Then there's the All-Star game. Get rid of it.
What? How did this become about Woke vs. Anti Woke Culture? I don't want to be lectured about any political or cultural position, right/left, woke/not woke, etc. while watching sports. I want sports to be an escape, a fantasy, a diversion. Sports should be fun. If it is arduous, stressful, or controversial I prefer other hobbies. It is very simple. There is no hidden meaning or agenda.
NFL still has "end racism" on helmets and other political stuff...... But the NFL has fantasy football which I think is a major driver in engagement for casual fans..... Like in my workplace in Austin, TX the number of fantasy football participants who don't actually have a team to root for outnumbers the NFL fans with a team.
