Basketball

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by timothyrph, Mar 25, 2003.

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  1. timothyrph

    timothyrph New Member

    In reviewing the March Madness brackets I came across anotehr Lebron James story. Have we gone too far when a high school senior is having games televised on ESPN2? I love sports and hope the Sooners make it to the finbals, but man.......

    Or am I just jealous with my 1.5 inch vertical leap?:D
     
  2. timothyrph

    timothyrph New Member

    make that "another" and "finals".
     
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Bill Willoughby and Daryl Dawkins were the first players to go from high school directly into the NBA. That was in 1975. (Willoughby with the Atlanta Hawks and Dawkins with the Philadelphia 76ers.) Moses Malone went from high school to the ABA in 1974 (with the Utah Stars). Many players have done so since, with varying degrees of success.

    What has changed is the availability of sports coverage. When Moses Malone did it, the ABA didn't even have a national television contract. The NBA did, but even their finals were shown not live, but on tape-delay late at night! Now we have many versions each of Fox, CNN, Comcast, ESPN, other cable networks, plus the broadcast networks. But it isn't just the proliferation of broadcasting that's driving this. The bottom line is: If it didn't sell advertising, the networks wouldn't air it. They, along with print media, are giving so much attention to James because their coverage of him sells advertising. People want it. It is the free market in action.

    This is why a one-dimensional, two-bit actor like Robert Blake gets so much coverage. The networks remember the ratings boom the O.J. trial brought; they're trying to replicate it.

    (Warning: Off-topic rant to follow.)

    It is the same reason they're in bed with....uh....er.....I mean, "embedded" with the military in Iraq. It isn't to get the story. They can get that with far fewer sources. It is to sell advertising. Have you seen their promotional ads for their coverage?

    (I find it ironic that the U.S. Army is advertising during war coverage, coverage that shows their members getting killed. "Be all that you can be," until you catch one in the head.)

    I also think this coverage belies the "liberal bias" label sometimes applied to the U.S. media. None of them are talking about how we armed the Iraqi government for years, for example, for that would tend to spoil the show. They don't have a liberal bias. They have a ratings bias!
     
  4. timothyrph

    timothyrph New Member

    Gosh, I can no longer see a nail. Someone must have hit it on the head.
     

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