Haven't seen this posted yet. Cuban is basically saying that Kobe's trial makes the Lakers vs Mavs opener must see TV. Cuban on Kobe scandal
It was just a matter of time till that idiot opened his mouth. I'm not saying what he said isn't true, but it wasn't smart for him to say something like that.
that son of a b*tch. even though this kobe thing is a scandal, why do that jack@ss mark cuban has open his mouth and exploit this thing? daym, he is sick!
Damn. And Barkley hasn't even said anything yet. It's only going to get better. What he said is true. And in my opinion he made Dan Patrick look stupid. Because ESPN could care less what happens to the Lakers. This is a sensational story and ESPN is not reporting from the Laker side. They are reporting on Kobe. Which is fine. But don't pretend this isn't a money making deal. It is. That's why they cover it.
Maybe Cuban thinks it would be great for the Mavericks' championship aspirations if a key member of the Lakers' dream team goes to jail.
i disagree that this is true. i don't think kobe's problem has any effect on attendance this year. i certainly don't think more people will be buying more kobe gear. it's one less superstar featured in endorsement deals. i don't see how, from a long term perspective, your star player being accused (and ultimately maybe convicted) of rape is a good thing for your sport. the notion that reality TV folks will tune into NBA games is a joke. if you're going to watch a game, you're going to watch it...you're not going to watch a game simply to watch a player who,off the court, is standing trial. that's absurd. those reality TV folks will watch the trial, no doubt...but the NBA won't be making ad revenue off those viewers. no one is buying tickets to a game to see the guy convicted of rape. no one. someone might buy them to see a great basketball player play basketball. but no one is buying them specifically because he is accused of rape.
Did anyone see Dan Patrick and Mark Cuban going at it this morning on Sports Center??? I never liked Patrick, but he really got into it with Cuban over this issue.
Cuban maybe right but my problem with this is that he assumes Kobe is innocent when he talks about Kobe actually playing next year, let the courts decide this. Wait until the trial is over if Kobe is in jail and misses a good portion of the season, that is defintely not good for the league.
The thing is we all know Cuban is right in that IF kobe plays tons of extra people will be watching. But i also think he didn't need to say anything at all. But Cuban is a man that says what he believes and i respect that but he should be thinking more about the women in this trial then about Kobe.
As Madmax already stated, what person who doesn't watch basketball, isn't interested in the NBA,is going to watch Kobe because of the trial? "Did you see that alleged rapist dunk" Its silly. People will watch the trial, it won't bring in any new fans or even people to watch a basketball game. A lot of people were interested in the O.J. trial. I don't think there was a huge spike in Naked Gun rentals afterwards.
When I first heard it, I thought that was the most stupid thing Cuban has said to date. Then I read the whole article and found that it was actually not that stupid. He was in effect lamenting the condition of pop culture. Yet, I agree with MadMax that what he said was incorrect. The NBA might have gotten more attention because of this incident. But it won't be good for business long term. Basketball fans watch basketball because they like basketball, not because they are attracted by news-making people. People who like tabloid stuff might come to see Kobe for a game or two. But they won't last. On the other hand, if the league has too many distractions, it will turn the real fans away. So, no, Mark, you are wrong. It's not good for business. But it is good for the rest of the league if Kobe can't play for the Lakers.
It might not be good long-term, but short term I don't see how it isn't. Imagine if O.J. was still playing 10 years ago when it happened. they freaking interrupted a heated NBA Finals match-up for that car chase crap, and, if I'm not mistaken, the ratings were pretty good. If I didn't wach basketball religiously, I'd watch just to see what kind of questions reporters were asking him.
Brutal Honesty... That's what it is, plain and simple... Now, do we wish Kobe was in this situation, of course not, but Cuban is right, it makes it "Must See TV"... That is the only reason all of the satellite trucks are in Eagle County...The publics sthirst for the "truth"...
What about the folks who do watch basketball, are interested in the NBA, but don't really care much about the Lakers or the Mavs? Or the ones who think games early in the season don't mean much? Or guys who were debating whether they'd prefer to watch the game or go to a club? Won't they be wondering, How will the charges affect his game? Will he be distracted? Or, will it inspire him to play a monster game? Will he do an interview? What will he say? People will be watching.
Bet your bottom dollar that Kobe plays most of the season. The trial won't take place for at least 4-6 months according to his attorneys. For all we know it could happen next offseason. Kobe almost certainly won't go to prison. He needs all 12 jurors to vote guilty. That's the only way he sees prison time, and his lawyers would surely appeal the decision. If all 12 vote not guilty, he's acquitted. Anything less than 12 either way (even if 11 vote guilty and 1 votes not guilty) is a hung jury and the odds of a retrial probably aren't high. If Hurlbert doesn't win the first time (especially when he gets punked by Hal Haddon, one of the best lawyers in the country), I can't see him trying again at the cost of the Colorado taxpayers and to the chagrin of the townsfolk who already detest the freak show media in their town. Kobe will have jury profilers working to determine who might be sympathetic towards him. His lawyers can get rid of a certain number of potential jurors who they feel will be sympathetic to the accuser. And yes, we should assume Kobe's innocent until he's proven guilty. You'd want the same benefit of the doubt if you or someone you knew was in his shoes.
It may be good for the periphials (newpaper, internet, TV, radio), but I doubt people will buy tickets to a game. It may increase ratings short term, but networks are not going to pay a long term deal based on a ratings increase due to a rape case. I can not absolutely deny Cuban's comments had some some truth, but I absolutely believe he shoud not have said them.
Agreed we are for the most part: Short Term TV Ratings :Up Attendance at the game: Same Sales: Kobe Sales will be up too. Lot's of people are selling at discounted prices. So the short term market has been good. Long term: No one player has an impact. It should remain pretty much the same regardless of verdict or trial.
Do any of you guys think that the Kobe thing will be bad for the league? I don't think so. I think everyone should be able to see that at least for the short-term the Kobe thing will help the NBA. First of all, the Kobe jersey will probably be the top selling jersey in the NBA this year. No matter where Kobe plays this year there will be Kobe jerseys everywhere. Some of them will be in praise of Kobe and some of them will be accompanied by signs making fun of Kobe. I also believe the attendance will be greater in certain arenas. I definitely don't believe that when the Lakers come into town, people will decide not to go to the game. Cubans statements about the first game of the season being "must-see tv" are dead on. People that don't watch the Lakers along with people who don't watch much NBA are going to want to see how Kobe handles the pressure. Just about everybody on this board would watch that game even if you don't like watching the Lakers. I would bet money that if the Mavericks-Lakers season opener was on ABC it would have better ratings than at least the last two championship series and would probably be the highest rated basketball game in a very long time. Do you actually want me to believe that more people watching basketball is actually bad for the league? Please explain that to me.
