Sunday, March 6, 2011

Super (And Not So Super) Teams

Friends,

It has been a several days since I have done a sports message...not that there hasn't been a lot going on -- the NFL is working to avoid a labor stoppage...Nascar ended week three today...the conference finals for NCAA basketball are taking place...MLB spring training is well underway right now...golf is irrelevant without Tiger Woods playing well and...the haves and the have not are becoming more distinct in the NBA. It is this last point that troubles me, especially since the NFL seems to have a more relevant parity system where any of the the 32 teams have a chance to be good (or bad) in any given year. In the NBA, the Knicks are relevant once again thanks to trades for Amar'e Stoudamire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in the past year. The Oklahoma City Thunder also are gaining strength, but...it going to be pretty hard to get excited about basketball in Cleveland, Sacramento, Washington or Charlotte anytime in the future, if ever, which is unfortunate. The NBA has allowed itself to be a personality driven league, rather than team or competition driven. Therefore, when superstars become free agents, they can go to any team that they want and build a little super power as the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Bulls and now the Knicks have done. I understand that some people like the "super team system," but I believe it is ultimately going to lead to the demise of some of the weaker teams. Why will fans in some of the aforementioned places and other cities continue to shell out for teams that are never going to be above .500? MLB has a similar issue, but it is not pronounced. There are fewer cities who struggles, because baseball's revenue sharing and good management helps keep teams in smaller markets like Minneapolis, Oakland and Tampa relevant. So, all this to say -- come on NFL...pull it together! I don't think that I or any other die hard football fan is going to survive the Fall if there is a work stoppage. :-)

Blessings,
Don

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