On the heels of Argentina's win over the U.S. at the WBCs in Indianapolis, Tony Kornheiser proclaimed on his radio show that basketball will become "the world's game" supplanting soccer as number one worldwide.
His argument is based on the game's growing influence globally, as well as the fact that it's popular in the U.S. where the TV money for sports is greater than in any country in the world, which could naturally spur the growth of, as he put it, the world's first international professional sports league truly competing in a "World Series" or something like that.
As Tony sees it, this could only happen in basketball because soccer is not popular enough in this country to make it worthwhile economically (i.e. the rest of the world would watch soccer, but the U.S. would not, but the whole world including the U.S. watches basketball, so it and not soccer is the natural candidate to have the world's first true international league).
I tried not to take this monologue as soccer-bashing (though I'm sure it pleases Tony to have the world learning "our" game -- basketball, that is -- and coming to love it as much as we do) but rather as his international sports/business analysis of interpreting a possible trend in the near future -- the growth of basketball as the true world's game since it's still growing in most countries, whereas soccer is already played in most of the world and theoretically has less room for growth, including here in the US, where the game isn't "tv friendly." If the 1s dont make it, look at what could happen - Mens College::
Beating Bob Knight in the Sweet 16 would be good for those who like to smile at a basketball game, since the sport is supposed to be fun and it never is with The General. And it might put a sock in Knights mouth when it comes to ripping Indiana and Mike Davis five years Kornheiser suspended from PTI for two weeks
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Tuesday Night Dawg Bites: Tony Kornheiser Listens to the Internet::
While youre at it, there, Kornheiser, Miami guard James Dews, top center, celebrates with Adrian Thomas (30) and other teammates after making the game-winning basket against Georgia Tech during an NCAA college basketball game in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Miami won 64-62. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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Attendence at USvARG: ~5600.
Any more questions?
I only saw 5 minutes of the USA-Argentina match last night, but after seeing an Argie rolling around on the court after being "fouled" I couldn't stop myself from screaming - THIS IS BASKETBALL NOT FOOTBALL!!!! at the television.
Originally posted by Andy_B
This arguement is so easily defeated, it isn't funny.
More people attend soccer games in the US, than attend basketball games ANYWHERE on the globe besides the US.
Andy
And even this isnt nescessarily true. There are several MLS teams that outdrew NBA teams last year.
Cleveland 14,539
Golden State 14,467
Memphis 14,415
New Jersey 13,760
Atlanta 12,344
Houston 11,737
Charlotte 11,286
And USMNT matches not played in Los Angeles nearly always get 35K+ King Kaufmans Sports Daily - Basketball - Salon.com::
Its not every day you get to see two legitimate NBA centers play each other in a college basketball game. Come to think of it, its not every day you get to see it in an NBA game, but well get to see it Saturday night when Georgetown and Ohio State meet in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. 7. Tony Kornheiser,
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Originally posted by Motterman
I only saw 5 minutes of the USA-Argentina match last night, but after seeing an Argie rolling around on the court after being "fouled" I couldn't stop myself from screaming - THIS IS BASKETBALL NOT FOOTBALL!!!! at the television.
Better tell the American player who stamped on him the same thing .
I'm just curious how long Tony thinks it will take B-ball to take over the world.
I could see B-ball coming close possibly, but don't think it will eclipse soccer anytime soon.
Also, don't you think b-ball has to overcome some of the insurmountable cultural barriers to becoming the #1 sport in other countries, such as soccer as being entrenched in the cultural fabric of other counties way longer than B-ball have even been played in the US?
He's also ignoring the World Cup, which has a heritage and prestige that no b-ball tournament can touch. IMHO only the Olympics comes close.
Also think the economics argument is hard to make, as I don't think most NBA fans will pay to watch teams from anywhere else, whereas soccer is doing okay without a huge American audience.
I would even argue that the NBA would find it in their best interest to monopolize rather than share the spotlight with other professional b-ball leagues and lose their status as the best basketball league in the world.
I like Basketball, but I can't see it taking over soccer anytime soon.
Just my two cents.
I've been to Europe, Asia, and South America. Everyplace I went soccer was played at all levels throughout the countries I was in. Basketball was merely a blip on the radar in all places. Tony is just saying this because he despises soccer so much, he would love for basketball to take over for soccer. And his claim that it is not popular in US, thats a very inaccurate statement. The sport has grown exponentially in just the last 10 years. MLS averages over 15k, the National team regularly plays in front of big crowds, and the world cup got very respectable ratings. Sorry Tony but your dead wrong.
You mean he's given up on pointy-ball (American Football) conquering the world? I guess he'd have to, as the only people going to NFL-Europe games are US servicemen.
Cricket? Hmmm...high scoring, looks similar to baseball...but games can last for days.
I recall a Sports Business News posting of some article saying that worldwide basketball popularity fell after the first Jordan retirement, and really hasn't recovered.
I do know this- if the American pros keep crapping on international competitions, any gains that were made will be quickly lost. Even with Argentina beating America, I'm not sure you motivate the Shaqs of the world to get involved.
In 1998, in Athens, when the worlds were held there and the NBA PA was on strike, the CBA All-Star team representing the US drew, oh, 1,000 fans a game. Most of the other games drew much more than that (Greece packed the arenas, of course). USA can't dis the world like that and expect to grow the game worldwide.
some of you need to remove your hexagonally shaped soccer ball goggles...I think his point was - IN THE FUTURE - basketball will take over as the #1 international sport. Calling out the attendance at last night's MEANINGLESS US- Arg. game (no affect on medal round) and relating it to the potential world-wide appeal of intl. b-ball is about as justified as using US Open Cup attendance figures to prove that soccer won't last in the US.
I've thought all along that the international aspect of US sports is the thing that was lacking. Soccer is on top because EVERYONE plays it and watches it, and there are many countries who could claim to have top tier competitive teams. No other US sport can claim that. Baseball? maybe latin america, but Eurpean teams?? Football - not even close. Hockey - not until countries below the mason-dixon line start palying too. Basketball is becoming that popular world-wide, and if the US starts to take intl. play seriously with Cup championships and Club championships, and FIBA gets it's act together...then yes, I agree, someday Basketball may rival Soccer's popularity.
Originally posted by Claymore
[B}Cricket? Hmmm...high scoring, looks similar to baseball...but games can last for days. [/B]
Whereas baseball games just FEEL like they last for days.
This arguement is so easily defeated, it isn't funny.
More people attend soccer games in the US, than attend basketball games ANYWHERE on the globe besides the US.
Andy
Tony, who has not been to Europe since the Barcelona Olympics, is the best person I can think of to proclaim how much hoops is growing abroad. How classic, he's so edgy.
So popular that the crowd was 5,623? In the biggest basketball state in the US?
So popular that the US sends a fourth or fifth string team?
please...
This arrogant banter is exactly why the rest of the world laughs at our view of soccer. And rightfully so.
Maybe someday there will be teams from the US joining with teams from other countries. David Stern has been quoted as saying that Spain, Italy and the Balkan republics are being looked at for exapansion for a "WBA" in the next decade. Maybe he was just giving a good quote, but just the fact that he implies it means there is some thinking going into it. That being said, there is NO way that basketball will surpass soccer in ANY non country outside the US, save maybe the aforementioned Balkans. Even then that is a big maybe.
Regardless, even if they could support teams on a fan base level outside the US (Toronto doesnt count here) there is no way they could ever finance the players.
Someone like Jim MacIlvaine, the scrub from the Nets, who makes the same amount of money a year as Figo and Zidane combined is going to be able to make that playing for the "Belgrade Red Stars"? Is Kobe Bryant going to enjoy eating tapas everyday in Barcelona?
Kornheiser is a tool
Originally posted by Ed NYC Firm
Better tell the American player who stamped on him the same thing .
Not the same play. It was earlier. Maybe that's what the stamp was for though.... :)
Actually the MLS and the NBA draw similiar numbers and the NBA is in decline while the MLS has a minute increase annually.
Originally posted by BackOtheNet!
kornholer is an idiot. I wonder how the rest of the world stacks up against our growing freakish 7 footer population. I think per capita our country has more freaky tall ghetto blastin mfr's than all the others put together. Hell youth soccer in this country is already bigger than football, baseball, basketball and hockey combined. I know damn well kids in other countries are not going to quit playing footie to shoot hoops. Ain't gonna happen!
Dude, I agree with your assessment of the sports, but could you ease up on the racially-based banter, a bit???
What about cricket? ;)
kornholer is an idiot. I wonder how the rest of the world stacks up against our growing freakish 7 footer population. Hell youth soccer in this country is already bigger than football, baseball, basketball and hockey combined. I know damn well kids in other countries are not going to quit playing footie to shoot hoops. Ain't gonna happen!
Basketball will never surpass soccer as the world sport, but someday in the future you could see some European and South American teams on equal footing or just below NBA teams as far as talent and wealth.
My question is which will come first MLS catching up to Europe and South American leagues or European and South American leagues teams catching up to the NBA?
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