[Archived] Basketball Not Worldwide Sport

[ABBEY]

according to jim...

posted this here then the terrorist thread can stay for just that.

here ya go jim ...its only small.

[neekoy]

according to jim...

posted this here then the terrorist thread can stay for just that.

here ya go jim ...its only small.

To me there is only 4 true worldwide sports, Football, Golf, Basketball and Tennis. That is played by every nation professionally or amatuer.

If you are looking at volume of participation, Football, Basketball and Cricket are the top three, in that order.

[Presty On Tour]

I would guess motor racing would be a top answer too if you count it as a sport.

[neekoy]

I would guess motor racing would be a top answer too if you count it as a sport.

I though it is broken up into Sport, Motor Sport, Mind Sports, Games of Skill and Leisure Activities?

Otherwise I would add Cycling, Aquatics, Fishing, Athletics, Chess ect as well?

[Nate]

And Volleyball and Handball.

[Exiled_Rover]

To me there is only 4 true worldwide sports, Football, Golf, Basketball and Tennis. That is played by every nation professionally or amatuer.

If you are looking at volume of participation, Football, Basketball and Cricket are the top three, in that order.

If you're going to include Basketball you've got to include Baseball.

[rog of the rovers]

Slightly off topic, but can I blatantly plug the fantasy baseball thread?

Anyone welcome!

[neekoy]

If you're going to include Basketball you've got to include Baseball.

Why would you include Baseball?

[dave birch]

Basketball= netball for 7' blokes who can't stop on receiving the ball. If you don't believe me, watch international netball.

Baseball= rounders for fatsteroidusingfatoverfortyblokes.

[ihtd]

Basketball is the second most played sport in the UK by children and teenagers, only football has more people playing it in this country. I won't say a bad word about basketball, i love the sport, i always have done. Basketball is a global sport, massive in the old Eastern Block, big in Southern Europe, at participation level it is big in Africa, Asia is a large developing market for the game yet it is producing only a few good enough to play in the NBA. (The rest signed to contracts for global media rights, jersey sales etc)

Baseball is played by a hell of a lot of people, the vast majority of the Latin American countries play it, along with a lot of Asian countries. Its not just for roided up athletes to play although A-Rod hasn't done the game any favours of late.

[RoyRover]

If you're going to include Basketball you've got to include Baseball.

The World Baseball Classic begins this weekend, which would give the idea of it being a global sport. But the teams involved are only ones who actually play it. The teams are either from the Americas, Australasia, two from Europe and one from Africa. It's a sport played around the globe and not a global sport.

I would say that basketball is a global sport. The game is huge in Europe, with the ULEB Leagues and Cups being proof of this. You just have to see the size of the fanatical crowds that are drawn to games in Greece, Serbia, Lithuania, Russia, Spain, Italy and Turkey, as well as the money involved too know how big basketball is. I went to university in America and by looking at the rosters in the college game, you can see how players are recruited from all over the world. Basketball is also massive in China, Argentina and to a lesser extent Australia. I know how popular basketball is in Ireland and in England. Again you could say that like baseball, there are only a handful of countries from around the world that actually compete at an international level, but I would say that there is far more organised basketball played at youth and recreational level than baseball, making it a global sport.

[yoda]

To me there is only 4 true worldwide sports, Football, Golf, Basketball and Tennis. That is played by every nation professionally or amatuer.

If you are looking at volume of participation, Football, Basketball and Cricket are the top three, in that order.

5 actually, you have to include dingle baiting

[ihtd]

The money being paid to what can only be described as average players in Lithuania can only be described as gross. The national team IMO is a very very good team, but the actual money being paid to overseas players that at best wouldn't be fit to play in BBL is disgusting. I know of one lad who used to train at the same academy that i did who went from playing Doncaster League basketball which is not even semi-professional and is below the standard of National League basketball, to be playing over there earning 120k a year. Fair play to the lad for getting the money and job, if you are willing to pay for an agent in basketball at academy age in Europe, you can pretty much go anywhere if you'd be coached by Neil Kelsey such is the respect for what he does for youth basketball development.

As for basketball being a global sport, David Stern (NBA Commissioner for the last 20+ years) has been banging on for years about how he wants to take the NBA totally global with Franchises all over the world. This pre-season saw teams like FCB Barcelona (not the football team ) travel to Los Angeles and play the Lakers and only lost after leading for most the game. CSKA Moscow brought over their team to Toronto and beat them on their own floor if i remember correctly. It really says something that when a football club is willing to be tied into a basketball club as to the sports popularity around the world. Real Madrid have a direct tie in with their basketball club to the point that their team as good as plays in the Real Madrid kit minus the sleeves. A bit closer to home we have the Everton Tigers, that are tied in with the football club. They romped over Plymouth i believe it were in the BBL trophy final this year and won by something stupid like 50-60-70 points.

At university level even in England basketball is booming, the English university system is nothing like the American system an unfortunately for English students it never will be, but it is still producing good level basketball players. Warwick university brings players into their university just on the basketball ability alone and are a force that not many teams want to face. My university team (of which i play SG ) just won our league last week and won again last night to guarentee our place at the Nationals in Sheffield later this month.

I wish the game would get the recognition it truly deserves in this country because at professional level it seems like it is promoted as cheap rip off of the NBA when really it is nothing like that. Its like when you watch WWE wrestling and then someone mentions UK wrestling and everyone nowadays thinks of it as being a cheap copy of the American product. Basketball gets very little recognition from people outside of the game in this country and it is a real shame. It's not all about who's the tallest etc, look at little Nate Robinson of NYK, 5ft8 wins two slam dunk contests and plays an integral part of the NYK franchise.

[Al]

It's not all about who's the tallest etc, look at little Nate Robinson of NYK, 5ft8 wins two slam dunk contests and plays an integral part of the NYK franchise.

You don't have to be tall. 6'11'' will do. Basket ball has to be the most boring spectator sport there is. Far too easy to score. The only time it was entertaining was when the Harlem Globetrotters were taking the micky out of the whole thing.

In netball at least some of the girls are worth watching.

[ihtd]

You don't have to be tall. 6'11'' will do. Basket ball has to be the most boring spectator sport there is. Far too easy to score. The only time it was entertaining was when the Harlem Globetrotters were taking the micky out of the whole thing.

In netball at least some of the girls are worth watching.

So 6'11'' isn't tall? Depending on what position you play height doesn't really play a big part unless your a forward or a centre. Guards can get away with being smaller. Iverson is tiny compared to Dwight Howard but thats comparing a guard to a centre.

It has always seemed to me that people who find basketball boring as a spectator sport don't understand the game e.g. the tactics behind it. The pick and roll/transition offence/defence or the different types of offence used by different teams. Phil Jackson's teams have always played the triangle offence using players like Jordan/Pippen/Rodman or Shaq/Kobe/Fisher in 2000/2002. (I didn't mean not understanding the game in a bad way, its difficult to understand the technical aspects of the game if your not a fan of it)

It is not really easy to score when two teams are playing that are known for playing great defensive basketball such as the San Antonio Spurs and even last years Boston Celtics when they balanced good offence with great defence. If someone wants to watch exciting, high-scoring basketball, just watch the Phoenix Suns at the moment, they've reverted back to the run and gun style of playing and are scoring over 120 points a night, but also giving up a lot of points on defence. I think they lost something like 124-136 to Miami last night but their games are always a good watch for fast-paced basketball.

The Harlem Globetrotters were never taking the micky of the game, the players they employ to fill their rosters have more respect for the game than some of NBA players who are only playing for the money. A lot of the Globetrotters players were filling out ABA rosters in the 70's. The Globetrotters showed the world that not only do they have tricks to entertain the crowds like a circus, but that they could actually play basketball as good as some of the ABA/NBA players of the time. Some of the AND1 mixtape players though today would rip some of the Globetrotters to pieces when it comes to tricks and skills. If anyone can be bothered to post the link to the 720degrees dunk that AirUpThere did in a mixtape game would see why.

Al you try watching the WNBA if your after watching a sport because some of girls are worth watching just make sure you shy away from the centres, most of them look like German men from the 80's

Just out of curiousity Al, what would it take to get you interested in the sport as a spectator sport? I don't know you, but do you have a good understanding of the game? or have you only ever switched it on SS1 and watched a few mins here or there? Just wondering as i'd like to know if it is down to a lack of understanding of the game because it is a hell of a lot more than one team running up one end and scoring and then the opposition doing the same down the other end and so on. I know a few of my friends have sat and watched a NBA game on Channel 5 with me before and found it boring because they didn't understand what were going on. I'd be properly getting into it after a big play made from a really good pick & roll and they just thought it were just another basket. Its probably the same with myself and baseball, i get bored watching it because i don't really understand the in's and out's of the sport. Its not meant to sound like a personal dig at you Al, i'm just interested to know as to whether what i'm thinking is right or not?

[Al]

So 6'11'' isn't tall? Depending on what position you play height doesn't really play a big part unless your a forward or a centre. Guards can get away with being smaller. Iverson is tiny compared to Dwight Howard but thats comparing a guard to a centre.

It has always seemed to me that people who find basketball boring as a spectator sport don't understand the game e.g. the tactics behind it. The pick and roll/transition offence/defence or the different types of offence used by different teams. Phil Jackson's teams have always played the triangle offence using players like Jordan/Pippen/Rodman or Shaq/Kobe/Fisher in 2000/2002. (I didn't mean not understanding the game in a bad way, its difficult to understand the technical aspects of the game if your not a fan of it)

It is not really easy to score when two teams are playing that are known for playing great defensive basketball such as the San Antonio Spurs and even last years Boston Celtics when they balanced good offence with great defence. If someone wants to watch exciting, high-scoring basketball, just watch the Phoenix Suns at the moment, they've reverted back to the run and gun style of playing and are scoring over 120 points a night, but also giving up a lot of points on defence. I think they lost something like 124-136 to Miami last night but their games are always a good watch for fast-paced basketball.

The Harlem Globetrotters were never taking the micky of the game, the players they employ to fill their rosters have more respect for the game than some of NBA players who are only playing for the money. A lot of the Globetrotters players were filling out ABA rosters in the 70's. The Globetrotters showed the world that not only do they have tricks to entertain the crowds like a circus, but that they could actually play basketball as good as some of the ABA/NBA players of the time. Some of the AND1 mixtape players though today would rip some of the Globetrotters to pieces when it comes to tricks and skills. If anyone can be bothered to post the link to the 720degrees dunk that AirUpThere did in a mixtape game would see why.

Al you try watching the WNBA if your after watching a sport because some of girls are worth watching just make sure you shy away from the centres, most of them look like German men from the 80's

Just out of curiousity Al, what would it take to get you interested in the sport as a spectator sport? I don't know you, but do you have a good understanding of the game? or have you only ever switched it on SS1 and watched a few mins here or there? Just wondering as i'd like to know if it is down to a lack of understanding of the game because it is a hell of a lot more than one team running up one end and scoring and then the opposition doing the same down the other end and so on. I know a few of my friends have sat and watched a NBA game on Channel 5 with me before and found it boring because they didn't understand what were going on. I'd be properly getting into it after a big play made from a really good pick & roll and they just thought it were just another basket. Its probably the same with myself and baseball, i get bored watching it because i don't really understand the in's and out's of the sport. Its not meant to sound like a personal dig at you Al, i'm just interested to know as to whether what i'm thinking is right or not?

OK, to be serious for a moment there is probably some truth in what you say. Apart from the Globetrotters, who were very entertaining, I have generally become bored within 10 minutes and switched it off. I did enjoy playing it in my youth at keep fit clubs but never could bear to watch. Could be lack of knowledge but it just seems to me like almost every posession resulted in a basket and the winners were the ones who managed to stop the other team from scoring on a few occasions. It's not that I won't bother to learn the rules because I really enjoy American Football and persevered with the rules. Although I must admit that I still do not know all of them. It did however have something that gripped me from the outset, unlike basketball.

Maybe you missed my sarcasm on the 6'11'' comment?

[ihtd]

I had an idea it were said in jest Al, its just a bit annoying to people who play the game competitively because we hear it all the time off mainly ignorant people (not aimed at you that Al, your definately not ignorant) who just believe its played by freaks.

In a way i think basketball is a bit like American Football in terms of needing to know the rules to get the most out of the game. Its great watching American football when you can see for yourself a pass rush or spot a face-mask or pass interference without needing Kevin Cade et al to point it out to you. The same can be said for basketball in that respect, it is great when you can notice the type of defence a team is playing and understand why they are playing it.

Al, if i am honest i couldn't sit and watch a whole game with poor teams unless i had some sort of vested interest in it. For example, i couldn't sit and watch Golden State vs Charlotte, i think i'd rather watch paint dry, but i could happily sit and watch Denver v Cleveland as they both play nice basketball and have players who's careers i've followed since their high school/college years in Carmelo and LeBron. The same can be said about teams like Lakers, Suns, Celtics and Magic. All of those teams are playing high quality basketball right now but IMO only two of those can really be named as most likely to win the Championships this season. (Lakers/Celtics (Again) )

Basketball needs a stand-out UK born player to bring the game to the mainstream over here, yes we have Luol Deng/Ben Gordon/Popsu Mensu(sp) but for it to really take off among the gen pop we need someone that is effectively the David Beckham of basketball and this IMO is not going to happen with the current infrastructure of the game in this country.

[Billy Castell]

Good as I'd much rahter see British giant freaks in the second row, and not playing glorified netball. Look at how powerful Shaq O'Neil was, he was a beast. Now imagine him in a scrum or rampaging towards the tryline. Fantastic thought.

[ABBEY]

no comments jim or was it just an empty vessel making more noise again.

[American]

To me there is only 4 true worldwide sports, Football, Golf, Basketball and Tennis. That is played by every nation professionally or amatuer.

If you are looking at volume of participation, Football, Basketball and Cricket are the top three, in that order.

Cricket and baseball are interesting in that they really do have a small set of areas in which to get their players from, but the areas have a good population.

For the comment about the number of countries in the WBC, there are also a small number of serious competitors in the international cricket arena.

Volleyball might have a very good shout at being above Cricket, as it is heavily played in South America and China.

[ihtd]

Good as I'd much rahter see British giant freaks in the second row, and not playing glorified netball. Look at how powerful Shaq O'Neil was, he was a beast. Now imagine him in a scrum or rampaging towards the tryline. Fantastic thought.

It'd be a very scary thought for any rugby player, him and Dwight Howard, Stoudemire(sp) in a scrum would be a very scary prospect. You guys should search Youtube for the videos of him nearly killing himself in a NBA Combine session before he were signed by Orlando, the whole backboard collapsed when he dunked it and the glass shattered over him when he landed on his back.

[ihtd]

Shaq's Deadly Dunk

[neekoy]

Cricket and baseball are interesting in that they really do have a small set of areas in which to get their players from, but the areas have a good population.

For the comment about the number of countries in the WBC, there are also a small number of serious competitors in the international cricket arena.

Volleyball might have a very good shout at being above Cricket, as it is heavily played in South America and China.

Yes but I was talking about Sport, not Women's Leisure Activities

[awhom111]

From an international basketball perspective, I have always wondered why some of the kids who grow up playing football make the switch to basketball as they grow taller. Does the added height not help them as footballers? Surely some enterprising manager could scout African countries for young football players who are "outgrowing" the game and give them quality training as a target man before they make the jump to basketball. As an example, there is a player for the University of Connecticut right now, Hasheem Thabeet. He was born in Tanzania and played football until he was 15 when he first discovered basketball (He was 6'8" at the time and now he is 7'3"). I know that Tanzania is no football powerhouse but this is a tall guy with some strength who can jump. We're not talking about a player in the Crouch/Zigic/Koller mold. He can really jump out of the gym and move a bit and could reach crosses and high balls that no other player on the pitch could. It's pretty clear from his shot blocking and rebounding abilities that he is coordinated in the air. Surely a 7'3" player could dominate in football? Maybe this is something we should be looking into...

[Exiled_Rover]

Maybe he doesn't have the skill to play professional football.