A blog dedicated to venting frustration about dumb members of the sports media via angry commentary. No, we're not the first guys to do this kind of thing. Still, Jay Mariotti and several other prominent members of the national sports media need to lose their jobs. We want to facilitate that process any way we can. Feel free to direct any pressing questions or comments to any or all of us at firejaymariotti@gmail.com.
It is now day 12 of the FIRST ROUND of the NBA playoffs.
Not day 12 of the NBA playoffs. Not day 12 of the conference tourney. Day 12 of the first round. And it could very easily go 3 more days.
That is stupid and I hate it and I hate you.
Labels: I hate David Stern
63 comments:
This is tedious, yes. But still not as tedious as 3 months of Mel Kiper Jrs.' mock NFL drafts, followed by the post draft events of this week- interviewers asking Mel Kiper Jr. for his analysis of the draft that just happened. With the disclaimer of "but we won't really know the results for some time."
Please make it stop.
yeah--the draft buildup is annoying too
But I will say this for the pre-draft hype
a.) It's not constant and does not dominate sportscenter EVERY DAY of the 3 months leading up
b.) It doesn't overshadow my favorite month of REAL SPORTS (i.e. Hockey playoffs, MLB's first month)
c.) the annoyingness is not INHERENT to the event (i.e. NFL doens't have 3 months of official draft hype)
I don't understand. Is your complaint that there's too much sports on TV? If you like basketball, having lots of meaningful basketball is good. If you don't like basketball then pick up the phone and dial up the whambulance.
Too much? Last I checked, the NBA will play the same amount of playoff games this year as the NHL (depending, of course, on how many series goes 5,6, and 7 games). It will just take the NHL approximately 1 month less to do it.
So no, dickface, it's not that I dislike having TOO MUCH sports. It's that I dislike the way David "I'm a big cuntstain" Stern draws out the playoffs longer than that scene where Mr. Orange moans at Mr. White on the way to the hiding place
As FJayM's resident NBA fan, I have no comeback for this. It's basically a result of trying to maximize TV income, I would guess. It kind of stinks.
i hate cursive as well
in short, i hate my job and i hate my life and if it weren't for my two kids, i'd hate larry b
It is to maximize TV income, but that's not a bad thing. The reason its more TV income is because this is way to let fans watch the most games possible. There have been 3 or 4 games on most nights. As far as I know, last night was the only night with just one game. So its not like they're doing anything weird, they just aren't scheduling the games at the same time, which allows fans to watch as many games as possible. If they were going a few days in a row without having any games I would agree that they're stretching it out, but that's not what's happening. Anyway, all of the weekday games are on TNT or NBA TV, so its only taking away from ESPN airtime on the weekends. Unless you're really that concerned about missing a few Law and Order reruns. In other words, I'm not a dickface because it is more sports on TV.
It also gives what I would consider a mildly unfair advantage to teams that don't have deep benches. It allows them to get away with running a 7 man rotation, which of course isn't possible during most of the regular season.
But it's OK, NBA- I still <3 u!!!!
I really don't think I'm wrong here. The NHL first round lasted 14 days, and there were nights were they had 5 games. Like I said before, I'd rather have less games than that because then I can watch more of them. And you didn't address my point about the bulk of the games being on TNT. I don't watch the NHL, but the games where on Versus so it doesn't affect me either way. If you aren't a basketball fan that's fine, but I doubt its because of how the league is managed. Maybe I'm wrong.
Fair point about the bench situation. I think its probably evened out a bit because guys are playing harder in the playoffs. But even if its not, I would probably rather watch stars play more minutes at a higher level than see my favorite 10th man off the bench.
Burden of proof is on you that players are playing harder in the playoffs. Better competition? Certainly. Giving 120% while giving 100% in the season? Sketchy.
I'm not really angry one way or the other on this issue. Yeah, they're too long, but when my team is in the playoffs, it's a lot of fun to watch.
I'm of the opinion that the NBA should do the playoffs the exact same way as MLB, with only 4 teams making it (3 div winners, 1 wild card, hey maybe that would make the current divisional structure significant rather than pointless!). That way there'd at least be some excitement about who sneaks into the last playoff spot, rather than mediocres battling it out to see who gets smoked by the 1 seed, with all due respect to the 2006-2007 Warriors.
The playing harder in the playoffs idea is a conventional wisdom idea, so maybe its just BS. I don't know. I can't prove it, but it sort of seems like it. We can drop that point. The part about wanting to see the best players play at their peak still holds though. And teams with good benches are still rewarded because benches give matchup flexibility. But I don't feel that strongly either way and its an interesting argument.
As for the larger argument, maybe the league would be better served by having less teams make it. Despite their success against the Celtics, the Hawks didn't really look like a playoff team. But at least basketball has the advantage of the better team winning the vast majority of playoff series. Baseball couldn't get away with a ton of teams in the playoffs, because its already a crapshoot. I'm not saying that this excuses the NBA, but its worth thinking about. Anyway, I agree that the NBA can probably do something to improve the playoffs (fixing the conference disparity maybe), but I don't have any problem with the way they've scheduled the first round, which is what I interpreted the original post to be about.
I could have written on April 20th: "This is day 12 of the FIRST ROUND of the NHL playoffs. Not day 12 of the playoffs. Not day 12 of the conference tourney. Day 12 of the first round. And it could easily go two more days!!!!" (which it did)
Wow, the NHL and the NBA first round was the same length... amazing! But still, it's more ridiculous cause it's the NBA or something.
eat a wiener
how many NHL first round series went 7?
How many NBA series went 7?
Ha ha, so what? You were complaining about how many days the NBA 1st round playsoffs were. The two 1st rounds were almost identical in length.
Maybe you should delete your original post and repost but this time with the "how many game 7's there were" thing and, of course, with more anger and angst. Def scould use more of that awesome and hip angst you got going there.
And, I mean I really shouldn't have to add this, but I guess I do... there was one Game 7 in the NBA and also the beginning of Round 2 this weekend. So... yeah, just exactly like the NHL in length . 14 days to game 7. Less Game 7s in the NBAthough (naughty NBA!!) but Round 2 started on the 13th day.
So... what's the point again? Oh yeah, you just hate the NBA.
I certainly don't hate the NBA, but the playoff schedule is ludicrous.
This has to be the shortest Easterbrook column I've ever read.
This Just In...
NBA Finals interrupted by season opener.
i have been publicly pwned:(
I still hate basketball professionally played
not really worth adding at this point, but by the time the NHL's 3rd round begins on thursday, it'll have been 29 days since the beginning of the 1st round.
i bet the reason why i give the nfl a pass is because the refs don't cheat and they actually have overtime games in their playoffs.
that's my story and i'm sticking to it
I love (read: hate) people who say things like..."I hate the NBA because it takes too long" or "I hate the NHL, it's not even a real sport"
I mean, whatever happened to TASTE. I am an NBA fan and a bagel with lox spread guy. You might be an NHL guy and a banana and peanut butter sandwich guy.
But to just make stupid posts about how YOU don't like something, I mean, it's pointless.
What's hilarious about this is that the NBA and NHL have the EXACT same schedule. In fact, up until a few years ago, the NHL had a longer schedule. How is it more absurd for a sport played on wood to end in June compared to a sport played on ICE?? Your point lacked any substance, rather you expressed your personal taste. And that's something 8-year olds should argue about but adults need to just allow others to do their thing (as I do for you and the NHL). I haven't ripped that league once.
And for the record, it took the NBA 16 days to do what it took the NHL to do in 14 days (i.e. finish their first round).
Considering there's 3 more rounds, those extra days add up.
But by all means, keep pwning me, everyone.
Well, normally I come to the site to read larry, pnoles, etc because they are FUNNY. What a concept. Obviously I don't want everyone to hold hands and sing in harmony about how great the world is. Cursing, insulting--all of that make this site funny.
But you--not so funny. At least your most recent post wasn't. You didn't call out a writer in the media. You just posted a lame 6-sentence post about how you don't like the NBA.
I'm thrilled for you. Now shut up for a few days so I can actually laugh when I read the site.
Also-- The NBA might take a little longer because they have to cater to TV deals. The NHL doesn't need to work around multiple networks which show other things (like baseball and the NFL draft). The NHL is pretty much free to go full speed ahead with their schedule without considering TV as much.
Man, this article has been pretty freaking popular. I actually like having a basketball game on every night, so I would not care what they did with their schedule as long as I have something to watch. I know Josh may get mad at me for putting my personal taste on here.
What's interesting is that we are comparing the NHL, which is incredibly unpopular compared to other sports, to the NBA, which is becoming unpopular. One thing they have in common is a long ass playoff schedule where it is hard to maintain your interest through the entire process. If I were the NBA I would not want to be compared to the NHL in any fashion like this. Maybe one of the reasons the NBA is losing viewers and the NHL has no national television exposure is the playoff schedule being so long.
I think what makes the NCAA Tournament so exciting is that it happens so quickly compared to the playoffs. It lasts four weeks but it feels like it lasts less, and is not 7 game series, so you have to pay attention or you will actually miss something. To each his own, but I feel like Chris W should be able to vent on his own blog if he wants.
There's a difference between these two types of statements:
1) I don't like the NBA because stars get preferential treatment and traveling hasn't been called since 1983.
2)It sucks because I just don't like it and my mom used to dunk on me in our backyard.
I mean, I have a TON of anti-NBA friends. It's not very popular anymore (compared to MJ era), and I don't try to convince anyone. I also love NFL, NCAA hoops/football and MLB and appreciate when others share those likes with me. I can deal with all the reasons Stern sucks (I hate him) and why the NBA is flawed. It is. My main point was just how pointless it is to write 6 sentences about how you hate something on a blog that's normally thorough and funny.
I personally understand the difference and it makes sense. I believe I am the casual fan, where I know enough about the league and my favorite team where I can honestly comment on what is happening, but not to the point where I watch every game on television.
I don't hate David Stern that much, I am gradually hating the refs though because I believe the consistency of the refereeing has gone downhill for a while now.
I think it is a compliment to Chris W and this blog that you expect such wonderful material from them on a regular basis. I think he just needed to vent and he feels a whole lot better now.
Maybe not, he may request I choke on a dick in response to this, I don't know really.
I really don't find this post much different than others on the site. Posts usually follow the pattern:
1. Writer is dumb
2. Reasons why said writer is dumb
This is a good pattern, and I enjoy it a ton.
The only difference here is it isn't a writer, but a league. Chris W says the NBA is dumb and give a reason for why he thinks so (plus I agree with it...fuck the NBA).
A little known loophole in the Constitution allows you to watch baseball whilst the NBA playoffs drag on, completely ignoring the latter and the high blood pressure that will doubtlessly result from your railing against the mere existence of another sport during a given time period.
you ever watch sportscenter, citizen x?
(eyeroll)
and josh: it's the oldest cliche on the internet, but if you don't like it, don't read it.
It should have been pretty obvious when you read the title of this post (and saw the short length of the post) what it would be.
I don't make a lot of posts here nor do I make a lot of posts in this fashion, so why are you throwing a pissy fit about this ONE post?
JUST CURIOUS.
But seriously. The Wizards/Cavs serieshaving game/day off/day off/game/day off/day off is not annoying at all. You convinced me.
ps: I LOVE YOU
Sportscenter? You mean the same show that has segments like "Who's More Now" and "Name That Crouton" and "Sunday Talk with a Toaster"?
Baseball is blessed with several months where it is the only major sport played, and as such, garners the lion's share of the sports highlight time. By and large, it is a much more difficult task to make game 20 out of 162 seem interesting than it is a game 7. The fact that there is an extra week of basketball highlights isn't worthy of such acrimony.
Don't trot out that cliche, Chris, because it doesn't really apply. If Josh were some random malcontent who constantly harped and complained about the lack of quality of the site, telling him not to read it is a pretty valid defense. But if he's a fan who has an interest in your improvement, and you allow comments, he's well within decorum to express his distaste with a particular post. He may have been a little dickish about it, but who are we to complain about that?
a.) I live out of market, especially for the teams I care about. When I turn on Sportscenter in the morning, I would like to see baseball highlights. Instead, for the next 2 months (AND the last 16 days) I had to sit through 20 minutes of NBA coverage per half hour.
THAT'S what I'm talking about, dillweed.
b.) I'm telling Josh not to read MY post if he's got such a problem with it. He's got a right to express his distaste, but I've got a right to say "why are you getting so upset about my post when:
i.) You should have known exactly what you were getting into reading the post
ii.) It's not like that type of post is a regular occurrence on this site."
ps: phbbbbbt
A.) If your argument really boils down to "waaaaaa I can't see my teams when I want to", well, then Josh is right to complain. Because that's a pretty self-indulgent post, which doesn't really get at the stated aim of the blog or amuse the reader in any way.
Dillweed?
i.) He could have expected some sort of cogent analysis, or at least a pithy turn of phrase. I've lowered my expectations, of course, but maybe Josh still dreams big.
ii.) You're proving my point. You try something fairly irregular; by pointing out that he didn't like it, he's actively trying to discourage that sort of post, or at least keeping you better informed as bloggers as to what a reader thinks. Why do defensive?
Let's recap...
Chris writes a post that is provocative, relatively devoid of content, and pretty openly inflammatory (e.g. "I hate you"). This attracts maybe the most comments for any post ever.
I feel there's a lesson to be learned here, and it has something to do with ESPN's business model.
And before anyone says anything0, I'm already eating a dick. It's delicious!
josh: I shall smash you into bits
citizen x: that's not all it boils down to. It boils down to the fact that just because "I can watch baseball if I choose to" that doesn't mean that is the extent to the ramifications of egregiously lame playoff scheduling.
something that nobody has pointed out which I find exceedingly annoying about the NBA playoffs sucking, is mostly because the next round starts before the 1st round ends. In the NHL that never happens
Anon - If the matchups work out that way, who cares? It's not like the Celtics were playing RD 2 Game 1 against the Cavs on Saturday but had to then play RD 1 Game 7 against the Hawks on Sunday. It also ensures we have a continuous stream of basketball on tv, which is great.
MLB had a problem with the opposite last year. There were like 5 or 6 days of no baseball between the Divisional round and the League championship. That sucked because only one first round series went past 3 games and we had a huge gap of no games.
And on a side note, I personally want to see this post reach triple digit comments.
And basically, it's lame because you can't watch Little League and Magic the Gathering highlights on Sportscenter?
As a casual NBA fan I just find it harder to keep track of when a round starts and ends. But a valid point as right now there is a 4 day break between the end of the 2nd round & the start conference finals not that it bothers me not to have a NHL playoff game every single night of the week (World Championship is on though if I need a hockey fix)...Also for those who don't like NBA playoff highlights off the top of show move to canada than you get the NHL than either MLB NBA
Yes, Citizen X that's absolutely right. You got me good.
Little League and Magic the Gathering.
Or, like, you know, maybe I was hoping for some actual footage of, say, the White Sox game. You know, footage which, day in and day out is NOT SHOWN ON ESPN
The White Sox aren't a Little League team?
touche salesman
Chris, you're worse than the Bush Administration on Iraq.
The NBA sucks, the first round has been 12 days already!
The NHL and NBA playoffs are almost the same length, huh? Well... the NHL had more Game 7's!
But, the real point was I hate watching 30 minutes of basketball highlights on ESPN...
...actually, really I just want to watch White Sox highlights on Sportscenter!!
And I'll save you the time and just go ahead and eat a wiener.
how is me saying I want to watch baseball highlights me flip flopping? I said that I wanted to watch baseball highlights from the beginning.
Futhermore, I'm not the one who brought up the NHL. The NHL is a strawman argument since IT DOESN'T GET 30 minutes of sportscenter coverage.
It may be as bad as the NBA playoff (actually--it isn't. It's shorter) but that doesn't make it as annoying.
but yeah, dude. I am totally flip flopping and spinning!
The NBA DOESN'T TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH 4 rounds of playoffs! You guys proved it!
congrats!
It takes a long time, and that's a good thing.
Except to you, because you can't watch Alexei Ramirez flail about aimlessly.
Although to be quite fair, that probably wouldn't make Sportscenter. He's not very Now.
What's your beef about baseball highlights? ESPN shows plenty of Yankees and Red Sox highlights! Those are the only 2 baseball teams, right?
John Kerry "flip-flopped". The Bush Administration never flip-flopped, they just made up new reasons for an invasion like every other week. That's you.
And no, in your original post, you didn't mention baseball, or the Sox, or Sportscenter or anything besides the NBA taking an AMAZING and UNPRECEDENTED 12 days with their first round. You also mentioned how much you hate everything on earth including us readers.
And then you changed your reasoning for the post like thirty four times in the comments, ultimately landing in such distant and foreign territory to render your logic and reasoning completely insane. See the Bush symmetry yet?
and by the way--the first round was AT 12 days when I made this post. The first round ended up taking 16 days to finish.
That's 2 days longer than the NHL--a league I wasn't even comparing the NBA to, Dishwalla.
Look, I just want to see this comment thread reach the triple digits. If that makes me a cunt, then call me delicious.
By the way chris, the gay store called. They didn't need anything, they just haven't seen you for a couple of days and were wondering if you were ok.
Dudeweiser? What in the hell is that?
Your angst is impressive, I must admit, ManAdams. (Am I on the right track? Are we just mixing beers with words and shit?)
And you're right, life isn't that hard to understand: The NBA playoffs are very popular, the NHL is woefully unpopular. Here's where it gets simple... so, Sportscenter covers MORE NBA.
Even more unpopular than the NHL if anything can be, is the Chicago White Sox. Thus, the equation goes NBA > NHL > classy, non-sexist clubhouses > ChiSox
Good grief. This is the most ridiculous thing ever.
I don't dispute that the NBA is more popular than the NHL, nor that it is more deserving of air-time.
My gripe is the fact that the NBA playoffs seem to be dragged out too long. It seems TO ME that if the NBA playoffs were, like, under 2 months, that would be tolerable. However, the NBA playoffs are not under 2 months, therefore I'm annoyed.
But yeah, go ahead and throw in all these references to the White Sox and the NHL as if that has anything to do with the fact that the NBA playoffs seem to go on forever :shrug:
Okay Charlie Brown, you're right, they don't. You brought them up though, so... yeah.
We've passed 66 posts! Only 600 more and we can activate blogger Satan!
Whoops...make that 599!
Pipe down, Archie, and quit spamming this thread. We have to have rules on this blog, you know. This isn't Korea.
Pipe down, Archie, and quit spamming this thread. We have to have rules on this blog, you know. This isn't Korea.
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