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Here's something that I have wondered about for a long time: Why do many Americans so fervently follow College Basketball (NCAA) but often times frown upon the NBA?

Do racial undertones have anything to do with it? Because it is my general (unscientific) observation that you find more white boys on the NCAA basketball teams compared to the NBA teams. And the (predominantly black) NBA teams get paid a lot of dough for playing.

In fact, one of my co-workers even said a while back that he doesnt like to watch all these overpaid guys playing basketball. However, he didnt seem to mind watching those even more overpaid oafs who call themselves baseball players. At least basketball players physically work for their dough, while baseball players basically just stand around and spit and try to move their fat butts if the ball comes their way once in a while.

Because NCAA is competitive and exciting. NBA players are too talented for the game.... it's kind of like Venus Williams playing badmitton.

If it makes you feel any better, I think both suck. But if I had to choose, I'd go for the NBA. The 85 or so second shot clock in college sucks. If I wanted to see five guys pass balls around all day I'd go to a MAN meet.

The NBA is boring because there is no defense. Every game is over 100 points. NCAA is all about strategy - not showmanship. Plus, when almost every team is involved in the playoffs, why even watch the regular season? Collegiate rivalries mean more than NBA rivalries.

Same reason I don't like American league baseball. Let the pitcher bat - by having him in there, it 1) keeps old farts who can't play but can hit from staying around, and 2) it makes the game more strategic - you have the pitcher coming up - do you let him bat when you are down and a runner on second - or take him out even though he's pitching decently.

Although NCAA doesn't play with the same skill that the NBA does, I like it better because the guys have a lot of heart and give it their all. Plus when it's your alma mater that's playing, you automatically have a greater attachment to the team and the game.

Do racial undertones have anything to do with it? Because it is my general (unscientific) observation that you find more white boys on the NCAA basketball teams compared to the NBA teams. And the (predominantly black) NBA teams get paid a lot of dough for playing.

What? Granted, if you're watching UConn in lily-white New England, yeah, but how about the rest of the country? That's a typically liberal line--if you can't find any racism, why don't you suggest it or blatantly make something up?

I'm not ragging on you, that just bothered me.




I don't like pro sports, generally. Collegiate athletics are much more interesting to watch and root for.

One word that sums it up:

Money


More people bet on the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament than for any NBA playoff series. Even people that really don't gamble get in on the action.

The colleges see more revenue by way of their share of the NCAA TV contract. They attract students because of their success on the court; they attract fans from all over who'll gladly fork over $49.99 for a team sweatshirt.

The top college players are playing for money down the road, so they want to be successful in the tourney so they can get drafted by the NBA and make the money. Unfortunately, this is usually without a college degree.....

Money is also what has ruined pro sports. But that is for another thread.

In the NCAA, you don't see a bunch of spoiled rich kids whining over their playing time and bitching about the coach; You have players that are playing because they know that they'll never be good enough to make it on the professional level, so they go out and leave it all out on the court.

And for a final reason:

Bobby Knight. Watching a Bobby Knight-coached team is like watching a car race waiting for a crash, you just wondering when Booby's going to have a meltdown (Same was true in the NFL watching Mike Ditka on the sidelines.). Will he throw a chair at the refs or will he just cuss out his players?

The college game is more exciting. Unlike the NBA, the college players actually PLAY for 4 quarters, instead of loafing around for 3 quarters of the game, and only putting out in the 4th. I realize that the pro game is 82 games, vs 30 for college, but these overpaid premadonna's in the NBA can't be bothered, it seems.

It's just a better brand of basketball. But having said that, the international game is head and shoulders above both, because those players play tough, fast,fundamental basketball.

College athletes (though there are some prominent exceptions) play for the name on the front of their jerseys, not the back. There's something about playing for glory instead of money that makes 'em play harder.

I lost interest in pro basketball when they had the strike. Oddly, I picked-up on baseball immediately after the strike. Go figure.