Popularity of March Madness.

[Stillriledup]

NBA players are far superior than most of these players in this tournament, you have a few freaks who could step into the NBA today and fit right in, but many of these guys are going to be pumping gas when their college career is over.

Why the "lure" to watch players who are not as good as the pros?

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

NBA players are far superior than most of these players in this tournament, you have a few freaks who could step into the NBA today and fit right in, but many of these guys are going to be pumping gas when their college career is over.

Why the "lure" to watch players who are not as good as the pros?

haven't watched one game in 20 years.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by tucker6

haven't watched one game in 20 years.

Its all about brackets and gambling. And ironically, you have the NCAA fighting NJ on the sports betting issue when the only reason their basketball is popular is because of fantasy sports, gambling and office pools. Its a great gambling product, people aren't watching it because of the great players.

[Valuist]

Can you imagine an office pool on Triple A baseball teams in a tournament?

Its the brackets and nothing else. And the huge interest is opening Thurs-Sunday. It dies down quite a bit for the next weekend and then a resurgence for the Final Four.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Its all about brackets and gambling.

I haven't watched NBA games in untold years. I remember them as boring. Regular college games are a cut above that, one reason being you favor one school over another. College tournament or championship games are a step up from that because of the intensity.

March Madness is the best of all because of the drama, the one and done aspect, and the Cinderella teams. I don't make out brackets and I don't bet on any sports that only involve two-legged athletes. The NCAA this year is okay, but below average for a causal fan because of the preponderance of chalk.

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

NBA players are far superior than most of these players in this tournament, you have a few freaks who could step into the NBA today and fit right in, but many of these guys are going to be pumping gas when their college career is over.

Why the "lure" to watch players who are not as good as the pros?

Uh....Stein(maybe) Lyles(maybe) Townes(probably) Twins(no) Booker(no) Ulis(no) Lee(no) Poythress(graduates this year, can basically stay in college for free next year) Johnson(no)...

[Marshall Bennett]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

NBA players are far superior than most of these players in this tournament, you have a few freaks who could step into the NBA today and fit right in, but many of these guys are going to be pumping gas when their college career is over.

Why the "lure" to watch players who are not as good as the pros?

The excitement level is greater when you have kids playing their hearts out versus overpaid men that half the time seem like they don't give a shit. That's it for me, anyway.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

The excitement level is greater when you have kids playing their hearts out versus overpaid men that half the time seem like they don't give a shit. That's it for me, anyway.

I don't really agree that they're overpaid, if anything they're underpaid because of a cap on the contracts, there's only so much you could make, if there was unlimited amounts the players could get paid, Lebron and a few others would be making double what they're making. The owners aren't going to pay the players so much money that they themselves are in the red at the end...so, i think that if they're making a large enough profit, by definition the players aren't overpaid.

There's 82 grueling NBA games in the season, they play WAY more games than the college players, and the players are so much bigger and faster, its really tiring to play that many games, but the effort is pretty good, its much better than it used to be, i don't think kids who are going to be pumping gas in a year or two are "playing harder" than NBA stars. Is the 4th best player on Wisconsin playing harder than Russell Westbrook? I'd say no, not even close.

I think the idea that these college players are playing harder for free than NBA guys are playing (knowing that millions of dollars await them in their next contract) is just a little hard for me to believe. I just dont see it.

[Dark Horse]

No way I'm watching games with 29 timeouts (5 per half per team plus nine tv timeouts) over 40 minutes of play. It's truly amazing what you can stuff down people's throats. I remember when March Madness was fun, but this is a joke.

[Marshall Bennett]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

I think the idea that these college players are playing harder for free than NBA guys are playing (knowing that millions of dollars await them in their next contract) is just a little hard for me to believe. I just dont see it.

You have to be joking, right?

[Tall One]

Note to self...make sure you understand the topic of the thread before posting. Also, be sober when posting in said thread.

On topic, I don't think NBA players take it up a notch until playoff time.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Tall One

Note to self...make sure you understand the topic of the thread before posting. Also, be sober when posting in said thread.

On topic, I don't think NBA players take it up a notch until playoff time.

[YT=""]Qw9oX-kZ_9k[/YT]

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Tall One

Note to self...make sure you understand the topic of the thread before posting. Also, be sober when posting in said thread.

On topic, I don't think NBA players take it up a notch until playoff time.

And if the college teams played 82 games? They'd be laying down a lot.

I used the example earlier of Triple A baseball. Imagine the country in a frenzy over a Pawtucket vs Albequerque playoff, or an Arena League football playoff. I guess we certainly can use college football also, although that clearly has a big following. To each their own, but I have to agree with SRU; I'd rather watch the best in a sport, than a level that's clearly a cut below.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by Valuist

I'd rather watch the best in a sport, than a level that's clearly a cut below.

They are two different sports. Steaks and hamburgers are both beef, but they are two different foods. I'd rather have a great hamburger than an average steak.

I'd rather watch an exciting NCAA game than an average NBA game. You have a lot better chance of seeing best of class in March Madness than in the slog through an NBA season.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Clocker

They are two different sports. Steaks and hamburgers are both beef, but they are two different foods. I'd rather have a great hamburger than an average steak.

I'd rather watch an exciting NCAA game than an average NBA game. You have a lot better chance of seeing best of class in March Madness than in the slog through an NBA season.

Again apples and oranges. An NCAA tourney game should really only be compared to NBA playoffs. Yes, some NBA regular season games can be boring. Same could be said for plenty of college games in December and January.

I will agree with your great hamburger analogy. Unless its a filet, I'll usually take the good burger.