TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2000
NBA suffers from oversaturation
Matt Steiner
Sports Writer
Why did this year's NBA Finals become the lowest-rated since 1981?
Was it because his airness, Michael Jordan, is no longer in the spotlight and the series lacked the feature attraction?
Or was it because the Lakers have been the team to beat since day one of the 1999-2000 season, and nobody believed the Pacers had a chance?
Neither of these bears much weight. But, let's take a look.
There were plenty of exciting, marquee players streaking up and down the court. Shaq, Kobe and Reggie, just to name a few.
Shaquille O'Neal has proven that he's an unstoppable force who will throw down a Shaq-style two-handed jam in the face of anyone who stands in his way. And that silly "Hack-a-Shaq" thing added an interesting sideshow.
Kobe Bryant has shown flashes of brilliance. He took over game four, leading the Lakers to an overtime win when the Shaq-Diesel fouled out.This kid is awesome. He possesses the grace, athleticism and defensive play of a man named Jordan, and, given four or five years, may become just as dominating as M.J. ever was.
O.K., so the Pacers don't have the highlight-film players such as Shaq and Kobe, but any basketball fan could see that the heart of a Bird, Larry Bird that is, had touched each of his players. They battled to the end in every game of these finals. In game five, they blew the Lakers out of Indianapolis, showing just what they could do to Hollywood's team if on top of their game.
Plus, Indiana had an ace-in-the-hole in Reggie Miller. I know, I know, who likes this guy anyway? I don't care very much myself for this skinny crybaby who is just, too easy to hate. But every good story has its villain and you've got to hand it to him. He is one of the NBA's clutch players. Even if he couldn't quite come through.
The series had the stars to watch and the teams to make for an interesting series. So, I ask again, why was nobody watching the NBA Finals?
It's because we are sick of watching basketball. Shoot, most people are probably even sick of baseball by now as well, with all the networks showing all the games.
ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports. Where does it end? TNT shows a hoops game just about every night of the week. And when they don't air one, TBS is right there to pick up the slack.
We've been bombarded by so many games on so many channels that the game has begun to lose its appeal. The thrill of watching these sports on television has been watered down so much that what once had the appeal of lip-puckering lemonade gives us the same craving which is brought on by northern Ohio tap water.
As a kid, in the early 1980s, I can remember waiting the entire week just to turn on the TV Sunday afternoons for the weekly NBA doubleheader. My family would pull into the driveway after church and before the car's engine could fully stop churning, I'd be on my way to the family room to watch what I'd been craving all week.
The games were an event, even though they were just regular season. My buddies and I watched them on the edges of our seats and couldn't wait talk about the awesome shots and graceful moves for the entire next week.
It gave us the thrill which football provides every fall.
That's why football has made its way into almost every sports-loving American's heart. Yeah, it's a great game. But, I don't think that's why it dominates in popularity.
The teams play once a week, making Sunday a holiday to most sports fans. NFL fans have to savor every play. Just 16 games in 17 weeks is barely enough to wet their appetites. If they're lucky, their team makes the playoffs and extends the season a couple more weeks.
NBA fans are simply spoiled with coverage and bored with the game by the time the playoffs roll around. They've seen games virtually every night since October and can barely tell the difference from one game to the next.
I am one of the biggest NBA fans around. Now, I watch the games, but if I happen to miss one, eh, there will be another one soon. Just give me the final two minutes on ESPN and I'll be happy, and not so bored.