11/05/24
June 04, 2008
David Stern Explains Late NBA Start Times: "That's what you jerks want.": It's not advertising dollars, it's the insomniac nature of NBA fans that's driven the NBA to schedule even weekend games to start at 9PM EDT.
posted by yerfatma to basketball at 12:48 PM - 19 comments
"Actually, when you ask kids about their fandom, the NBA is generating as many if not more fans among youths than any other sport, that's the reality," said Stern. "They're not watching TV in a significant way either, they're absorbing us in other ways. I can't even explain it because I don't live it, but we're doing great amongst those kids..." And here I thought Jessica Simpson held the record for unintelligable quotes.
posted by irunfromclones at 01:56 PM on June 04, 2008
I think the NFL generates many more fans among youths than the NBA does. The fact that almost all games are on Sundays certainly has a lot to do with it. Games starting at 9PM is really late. I have very little incentive to stay up that late to watch a game that doesn't even have my local team playing in it. As exciting as the Celtics playing the Lakers may be, it isn't worth watching it that late.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:03 PM on June 04, 2008
The late start isn't really a factor for the west coasters such as myself. What's a bigger deterent for me is the fact that the post season seems to take longer than the regular season. I know that it's just my problem, but my interest started to wane about a week or two ago. I know that longer post seasons mean more revenue for playoff cities and the league, but for me, the long term effect it has on keeping fans for subsequent seasons would seem to be not so much good.
posted by THX-1138 at 02:42 PM on June 04, 2008
the post season seems to take longer than the regular season Yeah, the idea that two games can't be on at the same time is ridiculous. No one watches every single playoff game except problem gamblers. Who you deny exist.
posted by yerfatma at 03:33 PM on June 04, 2008
Who you deny exist. Damn straight. Like the Easter Bunny. 'Aint no sech things.* *Oops! Sorry kids. Easter Bunnies, Santy Clause, and Problem Gamblers is all real.
posted by THX-1138 at 04:28 PM on June 04, 2008
Unfortunately this is just what happens when you end up with a Pacific-time team competing against an Eastern-time team, in any league. During last season's Stanley Cup final I had to pull my kids out of school early to make the 5pm starts...it happens. The Sundays though, that's just ridiculous.
posted by captaincavegirl at 05:27 PM on June 04, 2008
This is just like anything else... If you like it you'll do it, and if you don't, well, with enough pressure from the outside you'll do it anyway!
posted by emancipated107 at 09:04 PM on June 04, 2008
Had to be from a Celtic's blog. I honestly have no problem with this. West Coast rules. It's quite convinient actually. The game will finish around 9:30 here so you can do other things after the game. You don't have to go to sleep right after the game. I wish every game started at 7:30 here. Or 10:30 for yall Easterners.
posted by STUNNER at 02:25 PM on June 05, 2008
During last season's Stanley Cup final I had to pull my kids out of school early to make the 5pm starts...it happens. Wow, that's setting the example of life's proper priorities. Get those kids out of school, the game's on!!!!!!!
posted by gfinsf at 04:08 AM on June 06, 2008
To be fair gfinsf it was the finals. I left work early when the Steelers were in the Super Bowl in "06. Everyone knew I was (and still am) a Steeler fan, and I busted my butt to get my work done so I could leave.
posted by steelergirl at 08:46 AM on June 06, 2008
As exciting as the Celtics playing the Lakers may be, it isn't worth watching it that late. WOW!! Now that has to be the understatement of the year. How can you not stay up a little bit longer to watch this classic match up play out in front of your own eyes instead of just the highlights on ESPN? I know that this isn't Bird's Celtics vs Magic's Lakers of the 80's but com'on now, this is pretty damn close. There hasn't been this type of hype for an NBA finals since Jordan's Bulls were winning it all....and the Bulls really weren't playing anybody worth mentioning, it was just MJ that we were all watching anyways. We are now witnessing a new and improved rivalry between the Celtics/Lakers, one that'll last a few more years with KG, Pierce and Allen playing for the Celtics and of course Kobe, Gasol and Odem playing for the Lakers and LA can only improve when Andrew Bynum returns from his injury next year. I'll have to disagree and say that this years NBA finals are way beyond worth watching....and I get up for work at 4:30 am EST.
posted by BornIcon at 12:10 PM on June 06, 2008
We are now witnessing a new and improved rivalry between the Celtics/Lakers, one that'll last a few more years I might agree with that statement if they played in the same division or even the same conference. Since they don't I think this is just a matchup of two very good teams. I'll go as far to say that we won't be seeing these two teams play each other in next year's finals. Will this be a good series? I believe so. Will it be the start of an epic rivalry lasting a few years? I highly doubt it.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:12 PM on June 06, 2008
Steelergirl, there is a big difference between an adult finishing their work and leaving early and an adult who takes their children out of school early. I commend you, I condemn captaincavegirl.
posted by gfinsf at 09:24 PM on June 06, 2008
Taking a kid out of school early for a sporting event isn't going to destroy their educational development. They probably missed very little school anyways, so I imagine it was of little consequence. It is hardly an act that needs to be condemned.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:10 PM on June 06, 2008
I concur, YYM.
posted by steelergirl at 09:42 AM on June 07, 2008
I condemn captaincavegirl just fyi gfinsf... For the cup finals last year I took my kids out of school a whole 30 minutes early. As of right now THIS school year, my daughter has missed one day of school, my son has missed zero. They are both the best-performing students in their respective classes. Save your condemnation for someone else.
posted by captaincavegirl at 11:39 AM on June 07, 2008
I skipped school (afternoon classes) April 7, 1977. I got home as fast as I could so I could watch the Toronto Blue Jays first ever game. I watched the game with my mom and dad. I think what I gained that afternoon far exceeded anything I might have learned in class. My mom and dad would pull all of us (6) out of school for a day almost every year to go to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. You really think we would have learned more and gained more that day in class than we did being with our parents and seeing all the things we saw at the Fair? I commend captaincavegirl, time spent with family beats 30 minutes (or a whole day) of school any time.
posted by tommybiden at 01:38 PM on June 07, 2008
I commend captaincavegirl, time spent with family beats 30 minutes (or a whole day) of school any time. Ends the debate, IMO. Not everything you learn is in a classroom. Just make sure your homework is done.
posted by THX-1138 at 10:39 PM on June 07, 2008
[N.B., direct quotation tweaked for readability — ed.]