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I would like to start off by making clear that in no way am I bad mouthing the NFL or the game of Football. I too love and adore the game that has been America's new favorite past time.
However, when I come in contact with delusional, arrogant and naive NFL fans I can't help but get defensive about the game I'm very passionate about. So, here are a few of my reasons:
1. Officiating
Most of you may have heard of the recent mayhem that ensued after one of the most horrific calls on Monday nights football game on Sept. 25th between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens. How I see it, that day signaled a shift in perception of how the games are managed. It is clear the NFL was hit with a black eye on this issue. But it's not just this one play or one night, it has been ever since this season has started with the replacement refs. Some of my NFL buddies have even admitted that this season should have an asterisk next to it.
Now the counter argument to the NBA would be the issue that arose back in 2002 during the playoffs and Tim Donaghy with the whole gambling debacle.
But here's the difference, this ref acted off his own pursuant effort for greed and in the end began getting tangled in with the mob that would not allow him to stop. Whereas the NFL is blatantly holding the fans, who fork over billions to this organization/game, hostage to replacement refs that came from High School or Community College level of play. That to me, as a fan, would be a slap to the face.
Others will try to comeback about "Conspiracy Theories" from the following seasons, but unfortunately these sound more like disgruntled fans or NBA haters. And no, a youtube video showing me a bad call or missed call on a particular game or even a few games doesn't equate to proof when there are 82 games per team which means there are thousands of calls in one season. If you can show me a video showing over 50% of all NBA games in a single season being called wrong on purpose and on a consistent basis then I'll believe you, until then.
2. More is BETTER
Now I'm not necessarily stating that "more" defines better in comparing sports because I think most of us can agree that MLB has MORE games, but can be a tad bit too long of a season. And the NFL is on the exact opposite of side of that equation. The NFL is just too short! Not just in games, but also the amount of action. When you sit down for your next fix of NFL consumption, try to have a stop watch, notepad and pencil handy and calculate how much action time did you watch during the game. The NFL comes in spurts where the NBA is constant. With the NBA there is constant action when the clock is running and the only time there is no action is when the clock stops for a timeout, foul or out of bounds play occurred. You could even make a case that during a foul where a player is awarded 2-3 shots, it too can be considered action.
Again, I'm not downing the NFL because I too watch it from time to time and I'm active with a football pool every year which makes the game more fun to me, but it's hard for me to watch a game where 1 team can be held scoreless. It's funny to me to see my NFL buddies hammer my MLB friend for the game being too slow and not enough action when in fact they are almost exactly the same in terms of spurts of action with long delays and possible shutouts. Some people may like shutouts....but I would like to think most people are on the side of offense over defense, if given a choice of which dynamics are more entertaining.
So all in all, with the NBA you get more BANG for your BUCK! 82 games, non-stop action, no shut outs equals AWESOME!!
3. Best of the BEST
Maybe more than ever the NBA has accumulated more talent than I can remember. I know each era had a lot of talent....shoot HOF galore, but the talent and athleticism in the league today is beyond words. When you watch the NBA, even a horrible team, you know your watching some of the most conditioned players in the world. (Soccer probably being one of the most conditioned athletes overall)
Much of the NFL are one dimensional players. The QB position, for the most part, just throws or hands off the ball. The receivers fair from being quick to fast and usually have good hands to catch the ball. And I could go down the line to the kicker. Can you imagine how silly it would be to have a guy who just shot free throws? Or another guy who just tips the ball at the beginning of each half?
And you will never see an out of shape basketball player in the NBA. I can probably name 5 or more players from each team in the NFL that couldn't run a mile without possibly suffering some sort of stroke or heart failure. Look, I understand they're building there bodies for the position they play, but if the game itself calls for out of shape players then what does that really say about the game?
4. More Talent
Now what do I mean by more talent? There's certainly just as much talent in the NFL than the NBA. Some of you may say there's more since the volume of players are larger per team than in the NBA. Unfortunately, I beg the differ. The NBA is one of the few sport in the world that have players that could transcend and flourish in other sports besides basketball. Take Lebron James for instance. As much as I despise him, he is insanely gifted and could unquestionably perform in other sports including the NFL. Even Charles Barkley once stated that he would take Westbrook as a WR if he could choose an NBA player for his football team. ha-ha. As funny as it sounds at first, he's not too far off on the logic. Westbrook is 6' 3" and his speed is constantly talked about. Remember, most of these guys are anywhere from 6'3" to 6'7" and athletic as hell. Most WR in the NFL are 6' to 6'3". Imagine if the NBA was gone and the Westbrooks and Lebrons of the NBA were let loose in the NFL? On the flip side how many NFL players could truly come to the NBA and flourish?
5. Playoffs
The last thing on this list is the one game elimination playoff system. Ironically this is what intrigues most people and even myself. To know that all it takes is one game and futures can be erased makes the stakes high, unfortunately this is also where I shake my head. Just like the 3 reasons I included above, the playoffs are the pure definition of each of those points.
-1. MORE IS BETTER - 1 game gives nice TV ratings, but I want to see what a team will do on both sides. How would they perform on an Away game and Home game. I want to see more games. More games equal more action and more fair balance. It tests each team equally in a grind out playoff run. More games=More fun!
-2. BEST OF THE BEST- In a best of 7 playoff contest you will know who the BEST of the BEST is! Anyone can get lucky. I don't want to watch a sport where I know the best team didn't win. If I want to watch a crap shoot I'll watch the crap shoot game at the local Casino. Some NFL fans say the Super Bowl champions ARE the BEST! But I completely disagree. At the Pro level of sports, even the worst teams can sometimes beat the best of teams. In knowing that simple fact that would also mean in a 1 game elimination would hinder you viewing the BEST of the BEST. Could you imagine if Jordan and the Bulls couldn't continue because of a fluke loss in the playoffs? You can argue and debate how those are the rules and if they win then they are the better team, but in a best of 7 match there will be know doubt. Where as the NFL has should-ofs and could-ofs.
-3. More Talent and More Stars.
And after seeing the BEST of the BEST make it you get what you get in the NBA Finals....the BEST. Star studded with nothing but HOF names and Superstars. In 2010 you had the rivalry of the Lakers & Celtics which included Kobe, Pau against Paul Pierce, Garnett and Rondo. Next year you had the Big 3 in Miami (Wade, Lebron, Bosh) against Dirk & Jason Kidd. Last year you had Miami's big 3 again against OKC's big 3 (Durant, Westbrook & Harden).
In the NFL last year the Super Bowl had Eli Manning vs Tom Brady. Woopty doo!
**Bonus**
People may get offended and claim that I don't know what I'm talking about or rag on the flopping or even bring up how the NBA is soft. Here are my answers to that:
1. I'm 32 years old and was brought up on College & Pro Football along with Baseball most of my life, so I can definitively say I know Football. My knowledge and love of the game, even though it differs from yours, is unquestionable.
2. As for the flopping, I agree this is an issue, but the last few years in football I too have seen flopping so to act as if it doesn't occur in your sport is being disingenuous. As for the amount of flopping, yes, the NBA "Recently" has been flooded with more than usual, but David Stern has already implemented a change of rules this following season to disengage these type of acts. So that argument alone falls flat right there. The NBA takes care of these issues when the voices of displeasure arise where as the NFL here's the noise from Monday's game and they could care less about what you think.
3. Yes, the NBA is much more softer in terms of foul calls on the defensive player and Technicals being issued for just foul-like behavior. However, the NFL has fall victim to the pressure of putting more points on the board as well with the "Protecting the Quarterback" Rules and no bumping rule on a pass. It too has grown soft. Unfortunately fans want more points which means more dunks or touchdowns. The NFL is no different.
So please comment below and tell me your opinions or views on each sport in comparison. And please be respectful.
