An assortment of Gasbags mentioned they didn’t watch “a second” of the NBA All-Star Game, then proceeded to spend no less than 10 to fifteen minutes speaking about it.
That’s not shocking. Valley of the Stupid bloviators are allergic to empowered gamers, particularly ones who dare not play protection throughout a glorified scrimmage.
And it was not shocking listening to Kevin Durant say the machinations surrounding his exit from Brooklyn introduced “more eyes to the league.” He added: “More people are excited. The tweets that I got from me being traded, Kyrie [Irving] being traded, it just brings more attention to the league and that’s really what makes you money when you get more attention.”
Durant is way from delusional. It’s exhausting to argue with him. He raises a great query: What form of “attention” is sweet for the NBA and its TV scores? When it involves the NBA, controversy issues — on and off the courtroom.
So, whereas the NBA All-Star Game, and its surrounding accoutrements (just like the Slam Dunk contest) didn’t produce a scintilla of competitors, and recorded a whopping 27% drop in TV scores from final season’s All-Star Game, it did feed the NBA media’s have to devour, then ship, delicious negativity.
Like Denver’s Michael Malone, who coached Team LeBron, describing the sport as “the worst basketball game ever played.” Or G-Leaguer Mac McClung embarrassing the likes of Knicks middle Jericho Sims within the Dunk contest.
And whereas common TV viewership from the 2022 version did drop 27%, the ASG, blemishes and all, nonetheless attracted 4.5 million viewers, nothing to sneeze at it on this aggressive content material setting, particularly for “the worst basketball game ever played.” NBA fits, and their TV companions, ought to exit-poll the viewers who caught with the sport.
A sanity test could be so as too.
Moving towards the playoffs, with the league eyeing a brand new collective bargaining settlement and new TV contract (the present one expires after the 2024-25 season), will NBA oddities and ends ship scores down the stretch of the season proper into and thru the playoffs?
At the All-Star break, common viewership for NBA nationwide telecasts (TNT, ESPN, ABC) was 1.6 million viewers, up an anemic 1% from final season.
Locally, on the All-Star break, the Nets on YES averaged 68,000 viewers in comparison with 70,000 pre-All-Star break final season. For the three video games which have aired on YES because the Durant commerce to Phoenix, YES averaged 92,000 complete viewers. If you consider Durant’s principle, a portion of the 92,000 desperately tuned in to get extra information on his departure.
The Knicks on MSG averaged 115,000 viewers on the All-Star break. NBA sources mentioned Knicks viewership had been trending upwards main into the break.
Now, with the resumption of NBA play, will the main target return to the sport itself? That could be a novel prevalence. Or will the NBA media proceed to evangelise in regards to the NBA devaluing its personal common season? Let’s simply say, don’t search for all of the load administration speak immediately disappearing.
In different phrases, enterprise as regular for the NBA.
BELTRAN BOUNCES BACK
After the uncooked deal he bought from the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, it was good seeing Carlos Beltran land with the Mets as particular assistant to GM Billy Eppler.
YES brass knew what it was stepping into when it named Beltran, who had no broadcasting expertise, as a recreation analyst on a restricted schedule of Yankees video games in 2022. He bought off to a rocky begin.
And when the fits didn’t like his performances or the criticism Beltran was getting from exterior YES headquarters, they took him off video games and stashed him within the studio.
Odds are they might not have introduced Beltran again to YES for the 2023 season. If YES was really dedicated to Beltran in 2022, it might’ve stored him within the sales space and let him develop. Again, Beltran was a novice who wanted time. Instead, YES brass confirmed that they had little endurance, and even much less want, to do what it took to assist Beltran succeed.
DON’T LET THIS DEATH FADE AWAY
While they gained’t need to be advised what to do, school basketball voices — courtside and studio — gained’t be dwelling on the story of Alabama basketball star Brandon Miller who, in line with legislation enforcement, delivered the gun used to shoot and kill Jamea Jones Harris on Jan. 15.
In the aftermath, the hoops media had a layup, a sports activities angle, to debate: Should Miller have been allowed to play in opposition to South Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 22, someday after legislation enforcement testified in regards to the gun supply?
But as March Madness strikes nearer, anybody invested within the Final Four (together with its rights holders TNT/CBS) wouldn’t thoughts if the story pale away. Or extremely ranked Alabama being knocked out of the match early. Do advertisers really need their merchandise related to an occasion with this type of controversy — and disappointment — hanging over it?
So, there’s no approach all of the “One Shining Moment” propaganda will probably be changed by tales about why “student-athletes” are toting weapons on campus. Or gun management.
No worries. Even in darkish occasions, these related to the match will cowl it in sunshine, keep on with the video games and the completely satisfied speak surrounding them.
RODGERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Never have so many been stored in the dead of night by a person truly dwelling in it.
While he was bunkered down, with out opening his mouth or lifting a hand, Aaron Rodgers fed the media seals a feast. His days in hiding led to so many hours of repetition, so many hours spent by Valley of the Stupid Gasbags (on FAN and ESPN 98.7) speaking about the place Rodgers will go, gained’t go or ought to go.
When G-Bags bought uninterested in listening to their very own theories, they switched to creating enjoyable of Rodgers for going into seclusion. Or delivering unsubstantiated “stories” about how a lot cash Daniel Jones is on the lookout for. Or how the Jets ought to signal Derek Carr.
Nonetheless, it was all Rodgers on a regular basis. Would anybody be stunned if one other report surfaces that Rodgers is contemplating becoming a member of one other workforce aside from the Packers, Raiders or Jets? Or a TV gig?
AROUND THE DIAL
Those insisting the Jets are a “quarterback away” from the Super Bowl are taking a grand leap of religion. … Can’t wait to see how baseball brainiacs work the pitch clock into their telecasts. … Better nonetheless, how is John Sterling going to maintain monitor of the pitch clock on the radio? Blow a warning whistle? Hey, he has sufficient on his plate protecting monitor of balls and strikes. … Sweeny Murti, who lately bolted WFAN is becoming a member of MLB’s social media editorial workforce. … Justin Shackil is predicted to exchange Murti on Yankees Radio Network postgame reveals. … Tom Brady will nonetheless be discovered on SiriusXM on a weekly foundation throughout soccer season. SXM lately accomplished a multi-year contract extension to deliver again his “Let’s Go” present with Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: SEAN PAYTON
For his TV enchancment. It took some time on Fox’s NFL studio present however the brand new Broncos’ coach ultimately revealed himself to be intelligent and insightful. He was a refreshing change of tempo on the Sunday studio circuit.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: LeSEAN McCOY
For predicting Eric Bieniemy will fail as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Washington Commanders. On FS1′s “Speak for Yourself,” McCoy, who performed for the Chiefs in 2019 and considers himself a Bieniemyologist, wished the coach nicely earlier than ripping him aside. Sounded like ax-grinding.
DOUBLE TALK
What Aaron Hicks mentioned: “My hands [on the bat] were really low the last couple years. All my success, my hands have been higher.”
What Aaron Hicks meant to say: “I’ll try anything to stop striking out with men on base.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com