Jimbo614's Blog
If you get off work at 5pm in downtown Cincinnati, by 7 PM you can be settling into your courtside seat at any of the following schools;
Cincinnati
Xavier
Louisville
Indiana
Butler
Kentucky
Ohio State
Murray State
West Virginia
Ohio U
Needless to say, they love NCAA Basketball here.
But.. Here's where I have a problem.
They love College Basketball so much, they refuse to even acknowledge the NBA's existance.
To a man, they HATE Professional Basketball!
They'd rather watch a game between Montana State and U of San Diego than the Thunder vs the Heat.
If you ask them to switch over to the Heat game, you get dirty looks and refused.
They'd rather watch Poker, or Golf.
This has been the case in every sports bar I've been in since Larry and Magic. No exceptions period.
I get racial comments, complaints that the NBA isnt real Basketball. They don't play defense, they travel every time, its nothing but a dunk festival etc.
And I look at it... I love the NBA! How can anybody say they're a Basketball fan and NOT be a Fan of the greatest players in the game??
And don't they realize that the same players they're rooting for this year will be in the NBA next year?Assuming they;re any good. And the players they loved last year are now playing for the Bobcats and Hornets etc???
I don;t get the disconnect.
I mean I'm 55 years old. I actually remember Willis Reed limping out onto the floor to beat the Lakers.
And I've had my share of moments watching great college games too. I remember when Notre Dame stopped UCLA's winning streak etc.
But now, I look at College Ball, I see an inferior product.
First, it's kids playing. Men play in the NBA. Huge difference
Second, it's sloppy.. Missed passes, dribbling off their feet. Airballs etc.
Thirdly, it's slow. Scoring in the mid-50's at an all-time low.
It MUST be because they play Defense in College Ball...Really? I mean reeeally???
Because I've seen a whole lot of supposed Stars in college that got cut in the NBA precisely because they had no clue how to play defense.
So am I the only person that feels like a minority or an outcast because he prefers the NBA over College Ball?
Or is this just a typlical Cincinnati thing, being twenty years behind the rest of the country...
All I know is I can no longer stand being forced to watch meaningless college basketball games knowing that at the end of the season, EVERYBODY gets a shot to play for the Tournament.
Face it, you could go 0-30 during the regular season, and get hot, winning your last ten games and be National Champion.
So I walked out of the BW3 tonight. Came home with my tail between my legs, and popped in NBA2K13.
And just had to release this rant.
Hoping someone else feels the same way I do.
# 2
bigdoc85 @ Jan 27
Especially now that all of the best players leave college early, NCAA basketball is on the decline. During the late 80's thru the early 2000's, I used to love NCAA and hate the NBA -- now I feel exactly the opposite.
# 3
Jimbo614 @ Jan 27
I appreciate the responses. But it isnt that NCAA has declined...
Why am I experiencing such open hostility towards the NBA???
If I say I watch the NBA, I'm treated like I just said I was Jerry Sandusky.
I've had bartenders actually turn NBA games off, even though I was watching intently, and deliberately turn Poker on.
And these guys claim they're basketball fans.
Does NBA get such dis-respect anywhere else but Cincinnati?
Why am I experiencing such open hostility towards the NBA???
If I say I watch the NBA, I'm treated like I just said I was Jerry Sandusky.
I've had bartenders actually turn NBA games off, even though I was watching intently, and deliberately turn Poker on.
And these guys claim they're basketball fans.
Does NBA get such dis-respect anywhere else but Cincinnati?
# 4
HighCmpPct @ Jan 27
Because nowadays most people don't love sports. They only care about if their team is playing/winning. And obviously people feel much closer to their college teams than their pro teams.
Honestly I'll watch any team play any team in the NBA/MLB/NCAA I don't care as long as it's a good close game. I love the sports themselves, now not saying I don't have my teams just saying that even if they're not in the game I'll still watch a nicely contested game.
Honestly I'll watch any team play any team in the NBA/MLB/NCAA I don't care as long as it's a good close game. I love the sports themselves, now not saying I don't have my teams just saying that even if they're not in the game I'll still watch a nicely contested game.
# 5
tril @ Jan 28
its a combination of things.
1. you live a college sports belt. Those teams you mentioned are successful on a national level. So its only natural that the interest would be high.
2. The professional teams in that are do not have a history of being consistant winners.
3. In my town Boston, its opposite. Its a pro sporst town. Our teams are successful, and our college teams outisde of hockey get no interest; ane Hockey is a borderline niche sport.
People care about BC when they win consistently for a few years, and that hasnt happend in well over 5 years now.
All the other colleges are small time D1 schools, with no interest.
Last time Northeastern was relevant in Basketball, Reggie Lewis, was there.
1. you live a college sports belt. Those teams you mentioned are successful on a national level. So its only natural that the interest would be high.
2. The professional teams in that are do not have a history of being consistant winners.
3. In my town Boston, its opposite. Its a pro sporst town. Our teams are successful, and our college teams outisde of hockey get no interest; ane Hockey is a borderline niche sport.
People care about BC when they win consistently for a few years, and that hasnt happend in well over 5 years now.
All the other colleges are small time D1 schools, with no interest.
Last time Northeastern was relevant in Basketball, Reggie Lewis, was there.
# 6
tril @ Jan 28
its a combination of things.
1. you live in a college sports belt. Those teams you mentioned are successful on a national level. So its only natural that the interest would be high.
2. The professional teams in that are do not have a history of being consistant winners.
In my town of Boston, its opposite. Its a pro sporst town. Our teams are successful, and our college teams outisde of hockey get no interest; and Hockey is a borderline niche sport.
People care about BC when they win consistently for a few years, and that hasnt happend in well over 5 years now.
All the other colleges are small time D1 schools, with no interest.
Last time Northeastern was relevant in Basketball, Reggie Lewis, played there.
there.
1. you live in a college sports belt. Those teams you mentioned are successful on a national level. So its only natural that the interest would be high.
2. The professional teams in that are do not have a history of being consistant winners.
In my town of Boston, its opposite. Its a pro sporst town. Our teams are successful, and our college teams outisde of hockey get no interest; and Hockey is a borderline niche sport.
People care about BC when they win consistently for a few years, and that hasnt happend in well over 5 years now.
All the other colleges are small time D1 schools, with no interest.
Last time Northeastern was relevant in Basketball, Reggie Lewis, played there.
there.
# 7
fnz21 @ Jan 28
Also live in Cincinnati and I feel your pain.
Besides all the reasons you mentioned, it could be the fact that there are few very few (and zero highly successful) current NBA players from Xavier, Cincinnati, or Dayton. Fans do like to follow their players to pros more often than not.
Also, there's no pro team in Cincinnati. A lame excuse, yes, but one that is often used.
I had an argument with someone last year, where he said he didn't like the NBA because, he claimed, no one played defense. I asked what his proof was. He said "every team averages like 100 points per game." I don't understand how that is a valid response. Not only are these the greatest players in the world (increased shooting percentages), shorter shot clock (increased number of possessions per game), and four 12 minute quarters (8 extra minutes of game time), it's a given that scoring will be higher.
One thing I get about people not liking the NBA but liking NCAA basketball is the excitement factor, for the lack of a better term. One thing I struggle in watching/playing 2k13 vs college basketball is the lack of a top 25 and the upsets that come with it. Also the excitement of the NCAA Tournament in unrivaled. And this is coming from a big NBA fan.
You also forgot to mention my alma mater, NKU! We're D1 now!
Besides all the reasons you mentioned, it could be the fact that there are few very few (and zero highly successful) current NBA players from Xavier, Cincinnati, or Dayton. Fans do like to follow their players to pros more often than not.
Also, there's no pro team in Cincinnati. A lame excuse, yes, but one that is often used.
I had an argument with someone last year, where he said he didn't like the NBA because, he claimed, no one played defense. I asked what his proof was. He said "every team averages like 100 points per game." I don't understand how that is a valid response. Not only are these the greatest players in the world (increased shooting percentages), shorter shot clock (increased number of possessions per game), and four 12 minute quarters (8 extra minutes of game time), it's a given that scoring will be higher.
One thing I get about people not liking the NBA but liking NCAA basketball is the excitement factor, for the lack of a better term. One thing I struggle in watching/playing 2k13 vs college basketball is the lack of a top 25 and the upsets that come with it. Also the excitement of the NCAA Tournament in unrivaled. And this is coming from a big NBA fan.
You also forgot to mention my alma mater, NKU! We're D1 now!
# 8
keator @ Jan 28
"Does NBA get such dis-respect anywhere else but Cincinnati"
Take a trip down to tobacco road, College bball is alive and well down here
I love college bball bc im a tar heel fan, and grew up on tobacco road, however i dont disrespect the NBA and enjoy watching it for the ability and overall play.
But a lot of people in the triangle NC fell the same way they do in cincy. NBA will never rule over College ball down here. Same that the nfl wont be more important than college fb in the south.
Take a trip down to tobacco road, College bball is alive and well down here
I love college bball bc im a tar heel fan, and grew up on tobacco road, however i dont disrespect the NBA and enjoy watching it for the ability and overall play.
But a lot of people in the triangle NC fell the same way they do in cincy. NBA will never rule over College ball down here. Same that the nfl wont be more important than college fb in the south.
# 9
Jimbo614 @ Jan 28
Had to respond;
First, I'm also a fellow NKU Grad. Future powerhouse of the Atlantic Sun Conference! Tee Hee Hee.
Anyway, Glad to see the responses.
Yesterday, I spent the day at a couple of my favorite Sports Bars and engaged some guys in this discussion. Basically they said the same things as you guys.
However, I managed to talk the Bar Maid into switching on the Celtics-Heat game. Of course I was the only person interested.
Never mind it was a Double Overtime Thriller with no lead bigger than two points the entire game... The other guys put the Mich St/Indiana game on.
Picture this..I'm sitting at the bar, by myself watching Celtics/Heat, and five guys at a table in the back room watching Mich St Indiana.
I tried getting them involved. Tried talking about the old Celtics and how good they were. Tried letting them in on players like Chalmers and Chris Bosh. Even broght up Rondo's injury. Surely they would care about a favorite Kentucky Player.All to no avail.
I still don't understand the logic. They complain about money and Free Agency ruining the Sport. Yet they tolerate One-And-Done.
They point out the traveling and the double dribbles in the NBA, yet I see travelling and double dribbles just as much in College Ball.
One thing a lot of the guys said, "If Cincinnati had an NBA team, they'd probably be interested."
First, I'm also a fellow NKU Grad. Future powerhouse of the Atlantic Sun Conference! Tee Hee Hee.
Anyway, Glad to see the responses.
Yesterday, I spent the day at a couple of my favorite Sports Bars and engaged some guys in this discussion. Basically they said the same things as you guys.
However, I managed to talk the Bar Maid into switching on the Celtics-Heat game. Of course I was the only person interested.
Never mind it was a Double Overtime Thriller with no lead bigger than two points the entire game... The other guys put the Mich St/Indiana game on.
Picture this..I'm sitting at the bar, by myself watching Celtics/Heat, and five guys at a table in the back room watching Mich St Indiana.
I tried getting them involved. Tried talking about the old Celtics and how good they were. Tried letting them in on players like Chalmers and Chris Bosh. Even broght up Rondo's injury. Surely they would care about a favorite Kentucky Player.All to no avail.
I still don't understand the logic. They complain about money and Free Agency ruining the Sport. Yet they tolerate One-And-Done.
They point out the traveling and the double dribbles in the NBA, yet I see travelling and double dribbles just as much in College Ball.
One thing a lot of the guys said, "If Cincinnati had an NBA team, they'd probably be interested."
# 10
cusefan74 @ Jan 29
I think the NBA is boring. To many guys worried about getting their shots, and not playing defense. Traveling in the NBA is out of control. Then when they do get called for it they act like it is the end of the world. Or how about fouls that don't happen but get called. I watched 5 minutes of a game the other night and a guy was called for a foul and never did anything, he just stood there and let the guy have the lap and they called a foul. He never even put his hands up. It was bad on 2 points, the first one no defense, and the second the foul being called for nothing.
# 12
ParisB @ Jan 29
lol...I love the stereotypes against the NBA. Urban legends. The defenses, the strategy, complex schemes, offenses, overall talent is on a whole other level in the NBA. The NCAA is diluted and inferior talent. Hard to watch. I love the misconception that inferior talent + white somehow equals hustle and heart. You want to see heart? Look at guys like KG, Pierce, Kobe etc and all the greats that played.
# 13
Jimbo614 @ Jan 30
OK Boys..Looks like we got ourselves some fightin words.
I once saw a stat... Out of every 1'000 players to get a shot in the NBA, maybe only 50 make it. And of those 50, only about 5 get to stick around past the following season.
Out of the 60 players drafted every year, only about three make a significant impact.
The last guy on the end of the bench for the Charlotte Bobcats is in the top 1% of those who've played in the NCAA.
Thats how good you gotta be to play in the NBA.
If the NBA was so easy, everybody would make it.
I know a guy that played for UC under Bob Huggins.. He played for one week in the NBA on a 10 day contract.
He still talks about that one week years later. "I played in the NBA!!" Understand?
I once saw a stat... Out of every 1'000 players to get a shot in the NBA, maybe only 50 make it. And of those 50, only about 5 get to stick around past the following season.
Out of the 60 players drafted every year, only about three make a significant impact.
The last guy on the end of the bench for the Charlotte Bobcats is in the top 1% of those who've played in the NCAA.
Thats how good you gotta be to play in the NBA.
If the NBA was so easy, everybody would make it.
I know a guy that played for UC under Bob Huggins.. He played for one week in the NBA on a 10 day contract.
He still talks about that one week years later. "I played in the NBA!!" Understand?
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To me this is just totally wrong, it just appears this way due to two things IMO.
1. I mean lets face it they play 8 less minutes, so of course the scores will be lower.
2. As good as the players in college ball are they are still no where near as good as they can/will be. They just plain and simple miss more shots than NBA players, I mean just really pay attention next time and you'll notice that a lot more open shots get missed in the college game than the NBA game.