NHL gaining on NBA?

[Matra1]

This topic has come up again.

This article by Greg Wyshynski claims the NHL is gaining on the NBA and also says there may be an 'Enthusiasm Gap' favouring the NHL. Read it. (Includes informative chart comparing NBA and NHL attendance in the same cities).

It is a welcome change from the usual anti-hockey line taken by virtually all US sports reporters and commentators.

 

[Don Wassall]

Yes, a surprisingly good article.The authorwrites without comment: "Most mainstream sports editors loathe hockey." That "loathing" is not rational, because hockey is a great combination of speed, highly developed hand-eye coordination, and a warrior ethos. Well, maybe the warrior part offends their metrosexual, cultural Marxist sensibilities, but the media's hatred of hockey is predominantly race-based.


All the (contrived) enthusiastic media coverage the NBA receivesyet still crowds noticeably lack enthusiasm. Even out the media coverage and the NHL would be far more popular than the NBA, and already is more popularin many large U.S.markets.

 

[sport historian]

I have written before that in the 1960's, the Boston Bruin NHL team would often outdraw the perennial NBA champion Boston Celtics. More than once I have seen sports columnists complain about this and attribute it to "white racism."

 

[Matra1]

Though hockey is still popular in much of New England - AHL, NCAA, etc, - there's no doubt that the popularity of the hapless Bruins has declined significantly. The Canadian media often mention it when televising games from Boston. It is not a surprise when sunbelt cities show little interest in the NHL but Boston is surprising to Canadian observers because they tend to think of New England as a region that appreciates the game. I recall a Canadian TV commentator (about two years ago) saying on air that judging by the sports pages of Boston newspapers the Bruins are not a priority for local sports fans. I wonder if local media coverage was just as bad when the Bruins were selling out the Garden every night. One also has to wonder if the losing Bruins are just temporarily out of favour in an area that has been spoilt this decade by the success of the Red Sox and Patriots.

 

[sport historian]

Yes, a surprisingly good article.  The author writes without comment:  "Most mainstream sports editors loathe hockey."  That "loathing" is not rational, because hockey is a great combination of speed, highly developed hand-eye coordination, and a warrior ethos.  Well, maybe the warrior part offends their metrosexual, cultural Marxist sensibilities, but the media's hatred of hockey is predominantly race-based. 


All the (contrived) enthusiastic media coverage the NBA receives yet still crowds noticeably lack enthusiasm.  Even out the media coverage and the NHL would be far more popular than the NBA, and already is more popular in many large U.S. markets.

If "most mainstream sports editors loathe hockey," this is a development of recent decades. Before 1975, that would not have been true.

 

[jaxvid]

One also has to wonder if the losing Bruins are just temporarily out of favour in an area that has been spoilt this decade by the success of the Red Sox and Patriots.

Also their main competition the Celtics are reigning NBA champs.

In Detroit where the hockey/basketball teams are roughly even in success (both doing pretty good) it seems that the Red Wings have a lot more fan enthusiasm going for them. The media is pretty fair in coverage, the Red Wings are covered very well.

There's a lot of tradition for hockey in the area, and a lot of guys play or have played. You have to be a hockey "nut" to play the game. Rec hockey is usually played late at night, the game is physically demanding, there is so much equipment to get and take care of (and lug around), basketball by comparison is a walk in the park, a pair of shorts, sneakers and a t-shirt and some time at the local gym.

 

[pistol pete]

I just came across this from ESPN --weekend edition.

It is an interview by Marc Stein of an NBA advance scout. Stein asks him questions about the NBA. The scout says that Lakers, Celtics are pretty much the only contenders. With the Cavs thrown in there, and the Spurs in their basically out of respect. Also, the Billups-Iverson trade has helped Denver (who got Billups) more than Detroit (who got Iverson).

But here is the last question, with a response that caught my eye:


West scout on the league's worst first-quarter nightmare

"You know what I've seen so far? A lot of empty seats. Arenas are emptier than I've ever seen. I was in Atlanta recently and I know that the Hawks have traditionally had problems drawing, but they're winning now. It's a good team that just made a nice little playoff run and there was almost nobody there. I saw it to a lesser degree even in Denver, where the Nuggets have been playing great. It's scary."

 

[pistol pete]

... and here was a comment posted regarding that same article:



"I read recently that the nba has now slipped very low in popularity stakes - somewhere around 6% of people list it as their favourite sport.
Behind the obvious such as NFL/MLB but is approaching the doledrums of MLS/NHL."


oh yeah, and an obligatory poster complaining about how good NBA tickets are too expensive and some of the players are thugs...

link: http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/3748538/sort /oldest

 

[Deadlift]

I just came across this from ESPN --weekend edition.

It is an interview by Marc Stein of an NBA advance scout. Stein asks him questions about the NBA. The scout says that Lakers, Celtics are pretty much the only contenders. With the Cavs thrown in there, and the Spurs in their basically out of respect. Also, the Billups-Iverson trade has helped Denver (who got Billups) more than Detroit (who got Iverson).

But here is the last question, with a response that caught my eye:


West scout on the league's worst first-quarter nightmare

"You know what I've seen so far? A lot of empty seats. Arenas are emptier than I've ever seen. I was in Atlanta recently and I know that the Hawks have traditionally had problems drawing, but they're winning now. It's a good team that just made a nice little playoff run and there was almost nobody there. I saw it to a lesser degree even in Denver, where the Nuggets have been playing great. It's scary."

Charlotte and Memphis have been very empty.

Yeah, there are only a few contenders. I don't see a 7 seed beating a 2 seed in the playoffs. They should have just 6 teams from each conference be eligible for the playoffs!

 

[Deadlift]

Can we stop with the attendance? An excerpt:

"Compared to that ridiculous sport that somehow continues to get billing, the God awful NBA, only 3 teams at or over 100%, 12 are between 90 and 99% while SIX are UNDER 75% including the proud 76ers franchise who is pulling up 29th with a stellar 68%. Great job Philly...at least you have the Phillies now."

http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/messages/thread/12241939

That thread is a response to Asiatic Khazarian, Wes Goldstein's - "the sky is falling" piece about the NHL. CBS has no such feature piece regarding the NBA and empty seats.

Here's the article: http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/11166441

 

[j41181]

I don't think the NBA will admit it's losing attendance, and that the NHL is really gaining on them. Besides, the NHL has and always has been white friendly. No NBA crony will admit that. Hell, more white folks tune in to NCAA basketball, and NASCAR.

 

[pistol pete]

I don't think the NBA will admit it's losing attendance, and that the NHL is really gaining on them. Besides, the NHL has and always has been white friendly. No NBA crony will admit that. Hell, more white folks tune in to NCAA basketball, and NASCAR.

college basketball is huge!

I'm in Memphis and the Tigers are completely kicking the Grizzlies butt. If Bill Simmons is right, and the NBA locks out in two years then it's bye bye Grizzlies...

 

[j41181]

I don't think the NBA will admit it's losing attendance, and that the NHL is really gaining on them. Besides, the NHL has and always has been white friendly. No NBA crony will admit that. Hell, more white folks tune in to NCAA basketball, and NASCAR.

college basketball is huge!

I'm in Memphis and the Tigers are completely kicking the Grizzlies butt. If Bill Simmons is right, and the NBA locks out in two years then it's bye bye Grizzlies...

I'm hoping for the lockout to happen, what will Obama James say I wonder? No job and salary for a whole year!

 

[pistol pete]

I don't think the NBA will admit it's losing attendance, and that the NHL is really gaining on them. Besides, the NHL has and always has been white friendly. No NBA crony will admit that. Hell, more white folks tune in to NCAA basketball, and NASCAR.

college basketball is huge!

I'm in Memphis and the Tigers are completely kicking the Grizzlies butt. If Bill Simmons is right, and the NBA locks out in two years then it's bye bye Grizzlies...

I'm hoping for the lockout to happen, what will Obama James say I wonder? No job and salary for a whole year!

i think Obama James would do just fine. he makes over $10 million a year in salary? dude, can slum it a bit i think.

he could make a couple of commercials and clear a few million bucks. which ain't too shabby.


if there was a lockout maybe it would force the players to play harder.

the league should be fun, lots of great talent, but sometimes guys go through the motions. are there too many games?

 

[j41181]

I don't think the NBA will admit it's losing attendance, and that the NHL is really gaining on them. Besides, the NHL has and always has been white friendly. No NBA crony will admit that. Hell, more white folks tune in to NCAA basketball, and NASCAR.

college basketball is huge!

I'm in Memphis and the Tigers are completely kicking the Grizzlies butt. If Bill Simmons is right, and the NBA locks out in two years then it's bye bye Grizzlies...

I'm hoping for the lockout to happen, what will Obama James say I wonder? No job and salary for a whole year!

i think Obama James would do just fine. he makes over $10 million a year in salary? dude, can slum it a bit i think.

he could make a couple of commercials and clear a few million bucks. which ain't too shabby.


if there was a lockout maybe it would force the players to play harder.

the league should be fun, lots of great talent, but sometimes guys go through the motions. are there too many games?

I love College Hoops too! The seats are always jam-packed, and the atmosphere is always intense. Most NBA games are always played with half-filled stadiums.

I think James is better off being an actor.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

This article on the NHL gaining on the NBA is great news. I have never watched more than just the playoffs for the NHL, but it is a great game and certainly speed coveting.

I follow season NBA ball a little now to follow whites that are debunking stereotypes like the hated and "undersized" Kevin Love. However, the quality of team play in the NHL is certainly better..

Sidney Crosby is a phenom and the greatest player in the game! I must admit to you guys to liking Jerome Iginla though as somewhat of a Flame fan. Someone told me Iginla is black, but I always originally thought he was Indigenous Indian until I saw a close up picture of him.

 

[pistol pete]

College basketball is on fire.
NBA is lacking something. it just is. teamwork would help. oh yeah, and all the moves now in the NBA is about money.

I need to get into hockey more. NHL seems to be the most pure and most competitive and team based of any professional sport.

anyone think that summer hockey could work? take all the southern NHL teams, put them back into traditional hockey cities, then give southern cities semi-pro summer hockey teams. that way the sport gets introduced to Americans. Little competition in the summer (no basketball or football, and only snooze-inducing dog days of baseball summer). a summer hockey league in July, August, and September could work.

I always want to watch hockey after i get inspired after the Stanley Cup but unfortunately it marks the end of hockey season.

 

[P-NutLane]

They tried some semi pro Hockey here a few years back . We had the Waco Wizzards. They played teams from Abaline, Lubbock, Amarillo, Austin. It fizzled out after about 3 or 4 seasons. I went to a couple games, and had a GREAT time. I wish it would have lasted.

 

[Don Wassall]

The NHL's TV ratings on Versus are up 27% this season over last year, and up 63% among men from ages 18 to 34.


Versus will have nightly doubleheaders of Stanley Cup playoff games starting next month.

 

[pistol pete]

They tried some semi pro Hockey here a few years back . We had the Waco Wizzards. They played teams from Abaline, Lubbock, Amarillo, Austin. It fizzled out after about 3 or 4 seasons. I went to a couple games, and had a GREAT time. I wish it would have lasted.

summer semi-pro might work. make it about going to the game, the atmosphere and the action on the ice and i think it would work. it would be a cheaper alternative to the movies.

I have never been to a hockey game though. i know i need to go!

 

[Don Wassall]

IMO hockey is thebest sport to watch in person, other than maybe a good boxing match. Television fails toeffectively capturethe strategies and excitement that takes place in a hockey game.


Not to mention it has the highest percentage of female fans to be found at a sporting event, and most are of the young and attractive variety.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I completely agree with that statement. Hockey is far better in person than on t.v and the female hockey fans on average at games are hotter than the NBA ones and probably classier too from what I've seen.

The NHL playoffs is still at least as exciting as the NBA one to me on television though.

But...For some reason I have been watching the NBA more in season to cheer for white athletes facing up against the odds of the caste system.

 

[white is right]

I have always wondered how a league(the NBA)that has so many athletes that the average fan can't identify with(culturally)was perceived as the better league. You can literally count on one hand the FUBAR players of recent vintage in the NHL. From the NBA you would need an abacus....

 

[cslewis1]

Playoffs are here! Let's go Caps!I can't wait. It's the best time of the year.

BTW, college hockey, without question, is the most exciting sport in the universe. If you didn't see the NCAA Championship game BU vs. Miami OH, you missed one of the best games ever.

 

[green fire317]

how many times do you hear of an nhl player in off the rink incidents. In the nba and nfl it is always something with black atheletes. Every day when you turn on espn, it will say at the bottom so and so charged with assault, drug posession, rape, weapons charges, the list goes on and on. I think people are finally starting to realize this. I have a ton of respect for nhl players because they do not get into off rink trouble.