51. "well i mean it has been pretty hit and miss in since jordan though" In response to In response to 0
NBA still pining for that perfect TV, the infallible star who looks good and plays smooth for a big market team.
Shaq was Goliath, Kobe was an asshole, the Spurs and Pistons were as entertaining as watching ants fuck to the casual fan and LeBron is regarded by those same fans as another unrelatably gifted guy who is also an egomaniac and a choker.
If you wanna get the whole country's attention and big ratings, you need the Jordans and Magics and Birds, which frankly we have not had since those guys. This is not talking about the hardcore basketball fan, those people will always watch and make up their baseline demographic. I mean what we had in terms of Jordan, Magic, et al.
I mean in other sports this very clear, Tiger took the PGA to another level. Greg Louganis got people on the street interested in diving. Diving! Wayne Gretzky and to a lesser extent Mario Lemieux brought in a lot of previously indifferent fans to hockey.
The NBA was not popular before those stars. Today, I would say there is more peripheral crap (shoes and other merchandise) sold than ever, but if you wanna talk about eyes on screens, buzz and national hubub, you need the big name superstars who have a great image and don't lose in the big games.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.