[
And can anyone honestly see (mostly) African-American kids (and almost any American kids for that matter) eager to play and live in these countries?
then why are their more leagues over seas then in the U.S. for those "kids"?
Look at most Non U.S. teams they all have U.S. players and those leagues have rules to limit U.S. players.[/quote]
Well, speaking just for myself, I think I would be a hell of a lot happier if I were forced to live and work in Rome, Paris, London, or Barcelona than in Milwaukee, Memphis, Detroit, or Salt Lake City. Jus' sayin'.
SR
__________________
"If the president does it, it can't be illegal." -- Richard M. Nixon
Well, speaking just for myself, I think I would be a hell of a lot happier if I were forced to live and work in Rome, Paris, London, or Barcelona than in Milwaukee, Memphis, Detroit, or Salt Lake City. Jus' sayin'.
SR
You make a good point, I guess I'm just remembering guys fleeing places like Toronto at the earliest possible opportunity (Vince Carter and Damon Stoudamire in particular) -- then again it is another cold-weather location, like the other rust belt cities.
Personally I had a blast living in Paris for a year, but if I had to endure grueling road trips back to the states, I see a large competitive disadvantage for these expansion teams when they travel stateside; they'd make San Antonio's annual "Rodeo Roadtrip" look like a stroll through the park.
I think it'd be really exciting to have teams in Europe, but the mechanics of it seem troubling. I think the NBA would have to consider dropping to a 74-game schedule, or something, so that teams would get the rest they ought to (particularly the teams based in Europe, which would have to travel across the pond almost constantly, it seems like...).
I think it'd be really exciting to have teams in Europe, but the mechanics of it seem troubling. I think the NBA would have to consider dropping to a 74-game schedule, or something, so that teams would get the rest they ought to (particularly the teams based in Europe, which would have to travel across the pond almost constantly, it seems like...).
Well they'd have 20 games within their division, 10 of which are "local" roadies, that leaves 31 road games stateside ... yikes.
and the 9 to 10 hour time difference between the west coast and some Eastern European countries is nothing to laugh at, especially when you factor in actual flight times.
Well they'd have 20 games within their division, 10 of which are "local" roadies, that leaves 31 road games stateside ... yikes.
and the 9 to 10 hour time difference between the west coast and some Eastern European countries is nothing to laugh at, especially when you factor in actual flight times.
Let me get the math: 20 games within their division (10 home, 10 away). That leaves 62 games - 31 at home against visiting US teams, 31 on the road in the US? (10+10+31+31=82)
Yeah, that seems ridiculous to me. But the alternative I see, of eliminating games from the schedule, may have all kinds of issues with player contracts, arena usage, etc. Perhaps Stern's announcement will answer these questions... but I doubt it, since it's just a "proposal" at this point.
Tip offs at 8 in the morning.......I can hear the Far East Bias now, I can't stay up till 4 am to watch my team play the Blazers in Portland. Plus, Eric would have to give up "Bones" and start making feature films to afford following the team during down times......I don't see how it could work for the current teams.
HOWIE says "NO".
Dude. You haven't heard of a DVR? I even DVR the normal games just so I don't have to watch that fargin spirit mountain casino commercial. Now that I think of it, I would feel even better if I knew some fans overseas had to sit through that horrible commercial as well. So I am all for it. Spread the misery!
Tip offs at 8 in the morning.......I can hear the Far East Bias now, I can't stay up till 4 am to watch my team play the Blazers in Portland. Plus, Eric would have to give up "Bones" and start making feature films to afford following the team during down times......I don't see how it could work for the current teams.
HOWIE says "NO".
Actually, TV is where you make the big money. It's the closest thing to a regular gig that you can get. And I'm getting the low end because this is my first series and I'm in a supporting role. But unless you're Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts, TV is where the money's at.
__________________
"When I come into a season, my goal is always to win a championship." -Brandon Roy
Actually, TV is where you make the big money. It's the closest thing to a regular gig that you can get. And I'm getting the low end because this is my first series and I'm in a supporting role. But unless you're Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts, TV is where the money's at.
Say Eric..if they need an extra on the set to..oh, I don't know..be a dead guy (on say...15 episodes?) I'm game.
__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".
when will the loss of life end?
I don't know what they have to say, it makes no difference anyway, whatever it is, I'm against it!
No matter what it is or who commenced it, I'm against it!
Your proposition may be good, but let's have one thing understood, whatever it is, I'm against it! And even when you've changed it or condensed it, I'm against it!
The jet lag alone would be killer. I seem to remember that players on teams that opened their regular season on Europe or Japan complaining that it takes a couple of games to get back to 100% after the trip. Imagine those European teams having to do this several times a year. Or they could just have a 32 game round trip play all their state side road games in one mega trip. They could be the Harlem Globetrotters or the New Jersey Generals.
Unless off course the NBA revitalizes the space program and charters the Space Shuttle to make all those trans Atlantic trips in a couple of hours. I could see Richard Branson starting up a Virgin Aerospace division and chartering rocket trips. If I were a player, I would hold out tele-portation. Now that's traveling with style.
How about playing all the games state side and transmitting a life size hologram to the European arenas.
I wonder if the European players playing here would demand to be traded to a Euro division team to be closer to home. I could also see certain player insist on putting in their contracts a no trade to Europe clause.
I just thought of something else. I'm sure they have the particulars worked out with respect to valuing players using Canadian dollars vs. American dollars when it comes to salary cap, trades, etc. for Toronto vs. the rest of the league, but I wonder how the details shake out when you're dealing with 3 currencies (maybe 4 if a team gets based in London?), differing labor laws, etc.
I'm sure the lawyers could all figure a way to work it out somehow, but when you compound this with the horrendous travel situation and the amount of leverage the players' union already exerts on the league and I just can't see anytthing but road-blocks.
I admit the idea is interesting at least in theory.
Is this European Division thing for real?
