Basketball from a fans perspective

Only one source

So far only one source Basketball Network.com is providing us NBA Finals viewership information. Remember when skeptics claimed, “With no large market team in the finals television viewership will be down.” According to BN.com that is not the case, they claim viewership is up 13% over last season’s Lakers-Heat championship finals. They attribute a bunch of reasons why and I’m not going to bore you with all the details. In this day of streaming services and 300+ cable channels plus gaming and other distractions it would appear difficult to determine viewership. In this instance until someone proves this to not be factual, we should take it for what it is. 

It’s not the same

The NBA draft will occur on Thursday July 29, the 2021 NFL draft was held April 29 and concluded May 1. The baseball draft was held this past Sunday, the Royals had the 7^th pick, so I waited for their choice, but my viewing ended after less than 30 minutes. Why so soon, unlike the upcoming NBA draft and the recently completed NFL equivalent most of the names we hear called were known ahead of time. We have a vague idea who might be chosen but where is often an unknown. In baseball unless you follow the game closely (which I don’t) we only become acquainted with the names on draft day.

In addition, there is lag time, unlike the other sports these draftees are headed for a minor league station near you. It’s possible they earn a major league promotion of 3-5 years but that’s not a guarantee. After making the statement baseball people could say, “Every basketball or football player doesn’t make it either.” That is certainly true however we are bound to see NBA or NFL draftees in training camp immediately, we cannot make the same statement about baseball. If this appears to be a complaint about baseball that’s not the case it simply points out a difference. The NBA and NFL draft can keep you glued to the television set the baseball draft not so much.

This is different

The University of Hartford doesn’t play football, this proposed move applies to basketball, baseball and other sports. The school located in Hartford Connecticut is attempting to downgrade its sports teams from Division I to Division III. The school has played at the Division I level since the 1980’s, the move is strictly one of economics. The regents claim this will save the university $9 million annually but there is now push back. A group of athletes and student managers are protesting the move. They have filed a lawsuit indicating “they were promised Division I competition for up to five years.” This is a story which will be followed over the next few months. 

Good and Bad at the same time

19-year-old Jalen Lewis turned professional recently. No, he doesn’t play hockey nor tennis but he’s a pro anyway. He signed a contract with Overtime Elite a basketball league beginning play in the fall. The 6-foot 8-inch 215-pound Lewis had offers from 12 schools when his high school class graduates. All that’s out the window with this latest development. As for the details prospects can earn at least $100,000 to play, they will also receive health and disability insurance. Those unable to turn professional will have $100,000 of college tuition covered. That’s the good, as for the bad I know ahead of time what you are thinking.

16 is far too young an age to make such a life decision besides the fact players must quit high school and can never compete in college as an athlete. It’s hoped proper guidance will be given by the parent(s) or a guardian with such a decision. Overtime Elite is backed by Overtime Gaming a sports network esports and gaming related enterprise. Is this a risk for an athlete to play for this league, most certainly. Consider this, NHL great Wayne Gretzky signed his first hockey contract at age 18, former tennis star Nancy Evert began playing professionally at the age of 16. Venus and Serena Williams turned pro when they were 14-years old. There are other athletes who began earning large sums of money prior to their 21^st birthday. My chief concern, parents make sure your child receives guaranteed payment should the league fail at some future date. 

Air Jordan Ban

Don’t worry if you have one or more pair you are okay, there really is no ban now? That was then, this is now. We witness countless varieties of Air Jordans on basketball courts and in the NBA throughout America and the world. I’d be willing to bet few are aware of the history of the shoe. Air Jordan I was released in 1985 however there was another issue. The shoe was outlawed by David Stern and the NBA at the time it was released. The basis for the ban, “they had very little white on them.”

This was a violation of the 51% rule in the NBA which was later repealed. Up to that period shoes were either all white or all black, all black versions had white outer edges above the soles. If you are a certain age the wide variety in color seen on NBA courts didn’t exist prior to the Air Jordan brand. After a short retirement Michael Jordan returned to the game for the Wizards, he retired permanently in 2003. 18 years ago, and Air Jordans in all the numbers remain the top selling basketball shoe of all time. The Air Jordan XXXIII (33) were released in 2018 and its no telling how many more in the product line will be manufactured.