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Carlos Zambrano: Over-Shadowed by Greatness
With Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Greg Maddux and Matt Clement on his staff, Carlos Zambrano has been over-shadowed by other household name pitchers. After todays (May 13th) start, in which Zambrano pitched 8 innings giving up 0 ER and striking...
Cheaters
Cheaters - So What Else Is New? Baseball has seen it's fair share of cheaters. And let me define what I think defines a cheater. Simple: someone that breaks the rules. The list of cheaters in baseball has been legendary. As long as the game has...
Dark Ages: History of the Negro Leagues in America
The sport of baseball is often referred to as the "national pastime." For years it has played an important role in many people's lives, providing heroes and idols for millions of children and providing numerous memories of "spring eternal" for many...
Detroit Tigers: Pudge Proving Doubters Wrong
Ivan Rodriguez endured an onslaught of criticism this offseason when he opted to play for the Detroit Tigers rather than returning to the Florida Marlins or seeking a smaller contract with another contender. Sports writers and reporters...
Why Do You Run?
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
It is a simple question from a seven year old that starts me on
a life review. "Why do you run?" she asks when I stop for
lemonade at her make-shift stand, the one sporting a sign that
warms my heart: "...
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NBA Notes (March 23rd)
Could the NBA regular season end a couple of weeks earlier?
Yes.
The season now ends on April 20 and the playoffs begin April 23.
If the regular season ended on April 6 it would fit nicely with hoopla that surrounds the NCAA’s men’s Final Four plus the NBA’s playoffs could begin April 9.
This maneuver would reduce the regular season from the current 82 games to 74.
Would this provide for more meaningful late season games, and more inspired play?
Absolutely.
Approximately one-third of the league is realistically out of the playoff picture. They have lost a combined 500 games. Who wants to watch New Orleans and Atlanta square off?
Another large group are heading into the playoffs and are trying to stave off the threat of injuries. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan has sprained his ankle twice in the last two weeks, and may not play again this regular season. The second sprain may not have even occurred if the season ended April 9. Obviously the loss of a key
player can severely jeopardize a team’s quest for a championship. Ray Allen of Seattle is a similar example.
The most interesting games now belong to a few teams battling for the 8th and final playoff spot.
In summary, with approximately a month left in the NBA regular season, many of the games have hardly any value to the fans.
Would this severely reduce revenue for the league?
No. Of the thirty teams in the league only a select few consistently fill the seats of their arenas. And by the beginning of March many sports fans are preparing for baseball, golf, and auto racing. The NBA teams would be better off keeping the fan’s interest and selling tickets to those already empty seats. In addition teams have two weeks of expenses off the books.
Plus, with the NBA finals ending just past mid-May instead of going into June, television ratings could be better equating into a more lucrative TV contract.
About the Author
Dan Wilson writes for http://www.hoopsavenue.com
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