The NBA has completely lost any appeal it ever had!

[riggs]

I cant understand why anyone would bet on a game played by a bunch of uneducated, overpaid, gangster rap thugs and cry babies? It's amazing, because I grew up playing & absolutely loving this game.

My problems with the sport:

1. Too many fouls - the game is not clean, a whistle blows every 30 seconds, it's essentially regulated street-ball.

2. Not enough White American players - This is not a racist statement, it's just the simple truth. I think the NBA needs an affirmative action policy for White Men. Hell if we have it for Black coaches in the NFL why not have it for White players in the NBA? As a White American I can not identify at all with this sport.

3. Too many thugs in the game - Listening to most of these guys getting interviewed at the end of a game is like sitting through ebonics 101. Gangster rap has also become entrench in the game. The NBA should institute the same rules as the NFL with eligability AND require these guys to dress and speak like human beings.

The days of Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Karl Malone are long gone!

Any thoughts?

[The_Kid]

This would make for an interesting discussion. Stern is trying to change the image of the NBA with that dress policy before the games so I guess that's a good start. But to think that young kids look up to most of these guys as role models is horrible. This is what our next generation will act like. I just can't imagine that. Good thing Stern eliminated high school players from jumping to the pros because that probably cut down on a lot of the dumbasses that play in the NBA now. For example, KG jumped to the NBA because he wasn't sure if he could pass the SAT. I'm sure it's like that for a lot of players. Look at Brandon Jennings. He decided to go overseas for a year and then see if he could get drafted by an NBA team next year. The foul thing is getting pretty bad too. The NBA protects its stars and it is clearly evident. All you need to do is yelp, scream, or throw up your hands to get the ref's attention and the whistle is blown. For example, I hate it when Corey Maggette just lowers his shoulder going to the basket and then flails his arms and the ball in the air. Guy gets to the line at least 8-10 times a game and it's not even funny. The interviewing part at the end of games or at halftime is pretty funny. I laugh at what some of the guys say... it's that stupid sometimes. Lebron James is a favorite. The dude always says, "We was playing well..." All these points that you bring up are true. We need change!

[mmike032]

i agree. I also grew up loving the game and playing organized ball until I graduated from high school. Times have changed in the NBA but it only reflects whats going on in society.
To be honest I havent been interested in the NBA in about 10 years. The only reason I might watch a game now is if I got money on it.

[MilfDriller]

Hit the nail on the head all across the board.

I can't stand the bartering system they have in the NBA. Iverson will spend about 10 minutes throughout the course of a game complaining to refs and bargaining for future calls.

Can u imagine if they did this shit in the NFL?

Oh, it's the NBA, we gotta protect our stars? They get all the calls. Wtf is that? Would you not call a defensive holding penalty on PacMan Jones because he's a star? I mean, it's ridiculous.

I have to say sometimes I see a lot of 'Asian gangsters' who try to act like NBA players.... and it's the funniest thing in the world. They just can't do it right. They try to do the walk, the talk... but I just bust out laughing looking at em.

Not a racist comment, just a comparison... you can say the same thing about those 'Enimem' creatures who look like clowns

[dr03]

NBA is doing fine. Arguably the 2nd biggest sport out there with tv contracts, worldwide presence in the states behind the NFL. The top players are more well known than in any other sport and the league has seen incredible growth. There are no white american players, or very few because white american players arn't good at basketball. I'm not paying to see inferior players. That's why black people dont play hockey. Fouls are better, you could maybe get me to agree. Thugs, thugs are in the NHL. People get career ending injuries because of those cheap thugs in the NHL. The last thug like action I saw was the malace in the palace. Just be honest, you say its a thug league because you dont like it and the majority of players are black. 99 percent of the superstars though I myself wouldnt consider a thug.

A thug to me is an opportunist, cheap shot guy.

A thug to you is a black person. That's where we differ.

[cocknocker]

Whatever...we now have a Black President, so I guess it's okay to have more White players when you think about it in a round about way. But talent is just what it is. If a player has talent regardless of the color of his skin or country, he will end up in the NBA. No one is trashing Yao or Yi for not being fluent in English, nor is anyone getting on Caucasian agents for putting on a "soul" act when courting a Black player for potential business. They certainly aren't putting on a South Korean act bowing after greeting and so on in order to get an Asian player to come into their office. Hey man, it is what it is. Trust me if you could jump over three trash cans and dunk you would be in the NBA and then we could critque your actions and the way you talk or flop in order to get a call too. Hell we can even have an opinion you if you cheat on your wife or get hurt riding a jetski when you are supposed to be getting ready for the season. Or maybe if you have a business venture go sour we could all laugh at your failure. Basically we all have our faults, and every sport has it's faults. But to wish for changes is fruitless unless you get up off of your tail, make some cash and then buy your own team. Then you can put as many White players on it as you want. hell you can have all 11 players be German if you want. It all boils down to those who own make the decisions on who ends up in their building.

As far as the post game interview is concerned, the public asked for it, and now they have it. Ironic though that when the media types get in trouble, Marv Albert, Harold Reynolds to name a few, they get forgiveness...but guess what..they talk and speak better and more fluently than you ever could, and have done things way more harmful than listen to rap music (sexual harrassment, date rape). Look man just get yourself some good whiskey sip it and don't spit on the carpet.

[dr03]

cocknocker has some good points. Some players can't communicate. Some take the training to be good at it in the media. Shane Battier, Kobe Bryant are a couple examples. Then you just have some idiots who you don't understand what they are saying. The majority of this country though can't communicate efficiently or correctly.

What just bugs me is his thug stereotypes. Very racist statement by riggs.

If he read the definition of a thug he would equate it to the NHL.

He sees a thug as a black person though, which is 1. stupid, and 2. racist. This just gets me going a bit since racism is my biggest pet peeve.

[vassman86]

The foul thing is getting pretty bad too. The NBA protects its stars and it is clearly evident. All you need to do is yelp, scream, or throw up your hands to get the ref's attention and the whistle is blown. For example, I hate it when Corey Maggette just lowers his shoulder going to the basket and then flails his arms and the ball in the air. Guy gets to the line at least 8-10 times a game and it's not even funny.

completely agree...i hate when professional athletes have to 'sell' to the referees just to get a call. absolutely pathetic. if the nba keeps doing this, they're gonna look a lot like soccer: where a guy barely makes contact with anyone, ends up falling to the ground in agony, and has to get carried out on a stretcher

[dr03]

Then you should turn off sports vassman. People bargain for calls in every sport. Basketball it's Kobe yapping. Football it's Cutler the other day screaming at the ref for a call down the road. MLB I see it all the time with managers and players staring at the Ump. Happens in every sport.

[Wilforth]

completely agree...i hate when professional athletes have to 'sell' to the referees just to get a call. absolutely pathetic. if the nba keeps doing this, they're gonna look a lot like soccer: where a guy barely makes contact with anyone, ends up falling to the ground in agony, and has to get carried out on a stretcher

That's a good point.

[MilfDriller]

If you don't know what a thug is, you don't have a clue. Take a little tour through some rough parts of Philly and tell me those aren't thugs ... but simply outstanding citizenes.

Puhlease.

[MilfDriller]

Christian Okoye was not a thug by any means, way, shape, or form. That's a respectable guy.

Now talk to me about Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson.... and you got you some thugs.

[cocknocker]

MilfDriller, thugs can't be only pinpointed by parts of Philly where Blacks hang out. There are parts of NewYork, Boston, Arkansas, etc where there is thugs' paradise and there isn't a Black person for miles around. Stick to the subject which is sports and not society on a whole. There is something wrong at every turn in society. Focus on the small picture in this case. We were talking about sports homes.

[vassman86]

Then you should turn off sports vassman. People bargain for calls in every sport. Basketball it's Kobe yapping. Football it's Cutler the other day screaming at the ref for a call down the road. MLB I see it all the time with managers and players staring at the Ump. Happens in every sport.

Did you read what I even wrote? My point is that I think 'bargaining' for calls to be made is ridiculous and has no place in professional sports. I never said that it doesn't happen in other sports. I don't think begging works too well in the MLB. Maybe you should try watching a baseball game to see for yourself

[MoneySportsGuy]

AI came into the league just when it was beneficial for him as NBA trying to become more fan friendly, and I think he recognized what was going on, what he himself wanted, and he rode the waves of it. Seems more and more its not about passion and love anymore, its just business as many athletes in general are playing for a lifestyle. Now that is not to say everybody plays for the money, but its easy to see athletes in all sports who play for the love or those that have recognized a way to make a living for themselves and others, took that opportunity and cashed it on it.

Society has been a huge influence in development and the quality and atmosphere of the major sports, all the positive influences - giving to community through reading programs, awareness about drugs and alcohol, thats great and very benefical. But you also have a society that is into entertainment, the suprise factor of whats going to happen next, and sports provide that as well. Who is going to take the clutch shot, are those guys going to get into a fight, can this team go undefeated. Its things that attract an everyday person to at least be in the know of sports in general as it has a large impact on society in general.

[MoneySportsGuy]

And I dont want comments about blah blah talking about just AI, that was an example in general

[riggs]

cocknocker has some good points. Some players can't communicate. Some take the training to be good at it in the media. Shane Battier, Kobe Bryant are a couple examples. Then you just have some idiots who you don't understand what they are saying. The majority of this country though can't communicate efficiently or correctly.

What just bugs me is his thug stereotypes. Very racist statement by riggs.

If he read the definition of a thug he would equate it to the NHL.

He sees a thug as a black person though, which is 1. stupid, and 2. racist. This just gets me going a bit since racism is my biggest pet peeve.

Political correctness is the pet peeve of 90% of the thinking public.

You and your california buddy have been programmed by leftwing marxists, you've been socially engineered to repeat pc talking points and to not question. I think we all know this!

I tried to make a reasonable argument with valid points, yet you attack my character and call me a racist. What are you a child? When someone is losing a debate or has no counter argument they call you a name.

"The truth is called hate, by those who hate the truth."