As I sat in my dorm in London on a Sunday night ready to watch the Knicks vs. Heat game at 1 a.m., I couldn’t help but think back to the rivalry between these two teams in the 90’s; the gritty days of basketball. Today’s game is all about finesse and speed, but back in the 90’s it was about playing physical, emotional ball. Nowadays if player show any emotion on the court, it’s frowned upon and are likely to get T’d up. What happened the good old days where you could actually hit people and show emotions, without the referees overreacting and giving you a flagrant or technical foul, or even throwing you out of a game?
I know the ratings in the NBA at levels higher than the Michael Jordan era, but what has basketball really become? Great athletes that are afraid to get hit because they're scared of getting hurt and shortening their careers. What happened to the days when you hated the other team and everyone on that team? The days of high elbows and fouls that sent players to the floor or even to the locker room? Now all the players are smiling and shaking hands at pre-game. I thought they were supposed to be competing. When did it become more about becoming making friends than making enemies and winning at all costs?
When did the NBA become so soft?
-Dakota
I know the ratings in the NBA at levels higher than the Michael Jordan era, but what has basketball really become? Great athletes that are afraid to get hit because they're scared of getting hurt and shortening their careers. What happened to the days when you hated the other team and everyone on that team? The days of high elbows and fouls that sent players to the floor or even to the locker room? Now all the players are smiling and shaking hands at pre-game. I thought they were supposed to be competing. When did it become more about becoming making friends than making enemies and winning at all costs?
When did the NBA become so soft?
-Dakota
That's true The NBA has gone soft
ReplyDeleteThe NBA became soft when it became about the business instead of the the competition. I hate the Celtics since Im a Laker fan but they are the only team that is tough now. Bring back the bad boys of detroit with Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas. Bring back Kurt Rambis, Magic, Kareem, and Scott from the Showtime era. That would be great to see.
ReplyDeleteNBA is all about making money. Competition is the least of their ambitions. Heavily disappointed with the reffing of these games. How can you play a physical and tough sport if guys know they can do the drama queen fall down and draw a foul? I am only a casual fan so I don't understand why when I'm watching a game, the whistle is blown every 15 seconds. Let the men play like men. Never seen 6'6", 235 pound men falling down like cardboard as much as I have seen in the NBA. Surely they need to do something.
ReplyDeleteHey I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that. On top of it going soft I have been believing for the last couple if years that it is also rigged. Its got to where I won't even watch basketball anymore. Its really sad!
ReplyDelete