I agree with everything you said except that last part- They don't want fans of the game, they want to promote the brand through player promotion. They league doesn't care about teams or good play (otherwise the Spurs would be on constantly), they care about cultivating the popularity of stars so that people will gravitate towards them.
Global population of sports fans feel the same way about the NFL that most NFL fans feel about soccer in general. It's weird, boring, and the players lack actual skills . I know some football junkies will hate to hear that, but it is in a sense somewhat true. NFL Football is much BIGGER than NBA basketball in the states ... On the contrary, the NBA has MEGA SUPERSTARS compared to the NFL and is heavily more interesting in international circles, when it comes to endorsements, there's only one player who reaches NBA stratosphere ... Peyton Manning, maybe. There's like 1 to 9-12 gap of NBA stars to NFL stars when it comes to large endorsements. Most NBA all-stars are probably recognizable overseas in most countries, I cannot say that about NFL stars, especially outside of say someone, like a Peyton Manning or Michael Vick (before the dog fighting trial). Even, mild stars to slightly above average starters, like Delonte West, Ron Artest (Metta World Peace), and Lamar Odom are probably more well-known worldwide than most NFL star QBs. Also, throw in the fact that a proportion of the league's best players are from other countries, which have prosperous pools of basketball talents. I actually think it's a good thing that NBA is less like the monogamous, monotone, droning, -- military like NFL. The NFL thrives with copy-cat league, where players are easily interchangeable, as the faces change, but the format of the team stays the same. Oh yeah and the the "Draft"... In the NBA, the league's greatest players down to the perennial all-stars for each franchise are damn near irreplaceable with much more unique skill sets (look at the greatest players of all time, completely different skill sets and abilities that made them great), while there's alot more room for free expression and individuality, something the ABA tried to thrive with, but failed, sort of like the AFL. Looking at the greatest centers of all time, such as Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Olajuwon, Shaq, and Malone, there's almost no similarities in their skill sets and the things that made them successful, they all did it in different ways. Even look at the difference between small forwards, such as Bird, Dr. J, Havlicek, Lebron, Dominique, Melo, Dantley, and King... very unique and individualized skill sets. Speaking of the "Draft," only QBs can save a franchise in the NFL. In the NBA, any player at any position has the potential to save a struggling, downtrodden NBA franchise. Even with middle round draft picks (sometimes 2nd round) in the NBA, you hear analysts talk about how such players can help save a team or put together a future championship contender. In the NFL, it's like anyone can be replaced at any time, even in the draft, it's like "Oh, well, there's 100 other kids out there like our aging, yet pro-bowl caliber running back." Sort of like a real military draft. In the NBA, there's a premium on all talents, for the most part, it's almost laughable to replace a player, like LeBron or Kobe, while it is damn near impossible to find another Westbrook or Ginobili. It's even difficult to replace players, like Lamar Odom, Mo Williams, Al Jefferson, or even Kyle Korver.
I love football compared to basketball. NBA doesnt even support its entire league where the NFL any team can be on national TV on any sunday. I am stuck watching texans games on CBS but on fox i get to see every other team in the league. NBA i will be lucky to see the hornets at any time of the year
actually jordan was a product of the eighties just as much as he was a creator. the popularity started with bird and magic and to a lessor extent dr j. the nfl is the ultimate television sport. 16 games, all on the weekend, all on network television.
Not sure what I am watching on Thursdays and Mondays (as well as non-network channels like ESPN and NFL Network).
do you just like to argue with me. does your point really make my point moot, less of a point? is the nfl not the most popular sport? can you get the nfl network or espn in every freakin city. not sure what you are arguing? you're right, they are not all on the weekend. i mean monday night football, who watches that?
Only in the USA!:grin: Also, most people don't want to say it BUT LeBron, Kobe, D Wade, KD, and J Harden are ALL BLACK! And as long as that is the case, basketball in the USA is always going to be 3rd fiddle to Football and Baseball. Case in point, look at the recent out cry by Mayor Parker. She has been quiet all year about the CSN feasco unitl this week and why is THAT!!! Because it's time for the WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL
I keep seeing people say only in the USA. Well... considering the NBA gets most of its revenue and viewership from the U.S., the U.S. is really all that matters when you're making this comparison. The NFL is a bigger product, plain and simple. That doesn't make the popularity of the NBA any less, it's just hard to compare it to the NFL.
because i was just speaking in generalities. the point is this, all their games are accessable. it is a better sport on television anyway IMO, i think a lot of people would agree.
I have no disagreement with that at all. I would much rather watch an NFL game I have no vested interest in than an NBA game I have no vested interest in.
Why are people saying, "Yeah, only in America is the NFL popular...."? What relevance does that have to the topic at hand? Of course it's popular in America....it's an American sport being broadcast on American television. Between the NFL and the NBA, even WITH global viewership, I'd wager that the NFL is exponentially more profitable for television networks.
i told friends that the nfl wouldn't miss a game during their lockout. they make too much money even during the preseason. the nfl will never have a team in LA again. i've posted this before. they don't need revenue from a stadium in LA. Owners make their money off the shared television contracts. all they need is the LA tv market and it benefits them to not have a team in LA because they can show the most popular game in LA and not the sorry Rams or Raiders that's one of the reason their contracts are the best, they share off the top. no ny yankees having a bigger television contract than the kc royals and therefore the royals never being able to compete with ny in terms of payroll. no big market vs. small market, its all one market. no comcast sports holding up rockets fans from seeing their favorite team.
NFL is an outdoor sport, a stadium with 60,000 fans (Not including the tailgate crowd outside) sells more tickets than an NBA arena of 19,000 fans. Therefore the NBA needs to raise ticket prices and play more games, making each game less significant since it is only 1 out of 82.
Again, it's about the perspective of the situation. Most NFL superstars are unrecognizable outside of the United States, while most NBA superstars are mega superstars beyond American borders...pointing to endorsement dollars again. The NFL brand is marketable as whole, but not the players. I hate to say this, but football players are alot harder to market than say basketball players. Because, they're individual talent often doesn't stand out unless they are freakishly good, like say...Barry Sanders, even then it's mostly just a bunch of gigantic guys kicking each other's butts for 60 minutes whose careers probably last alot shorter than most other sports. It's like 50-60 players on one team over 100 in college, you cannot possibly know every player on team unless you are a sports junkie, a team personnel member, or ... a stalker/groupie. In basketball, it's only 12 guys and only about 6-9 of them are actually relevant. I can remember that many names and faces before counting to 12. I'm not saying that football doesn't have alot of skill and strategy involved, but it appeals more to American sense of life than it does most other countries. Even kids who come to these country as immigrants, I don't think they seem enjoy football as much as say soccer, basketball, baseball, or even hockey. We are talking about popularity here, and that encompasses many different aspects, and to say that the NFL is kind every single one is a bit short-sighted and even incorrect.
