Archive for the ‘nba’ tag
Redeem Team my foot #
Tommy Craggs — with good reason — thinks that the whole “Redeem Team” shtick is nothing but the most insidious marketing campaign the NBA has ever waged.
The Redeem Team’s greater triumph in these Games, though, has been one of marketing, branding, and message discipline. With assistance from Nike, which partnered with NBA Entertainment to make a five-part Team USA documentary called “Road to Redemption,” USA Basketball has relentlessly peddled the notion that this new bunch has embraced the virtuous and selfless habits of international ball.
Why The Lakers are Favored #
Daniel Engbar makes a provocative suggestion: they’re three times whiter than the Celtics.
Last spring, economists Joseph Price and Justin Wolfers published a careful analysis (PDF) of league statistics and found evidence of racial bias among the referees. According to their research, the numbers of fouls called against white and black players varied depending on the race of the referees for that game—when there were more white officials on the floor, fewer fouls were called against white players. And since the majority of the league’s referees are white, this puts minority players at a disadvantage. (To be exact, the data showed only a relative effect—so it’s impossible to know which direction the bias went. White refs may favor white players, or they may discriminate against blacks. Or, black refs could just as well be favoring black players or discriminating against whites.)
New Orleans and Basketball #
At Slate, teacher David Ramsey gives a great summary of the city’s luke-warm relationship with it’s suprisingly stellar NBA basketball team.
While there is no question that the Saints are the “city’s team,” it’s the Hornets who are more emblematic of New Orleans. There was no sudden miracle. The team was slow to return and hasn’t been given enough attention by the nation at large. Rooting for them is marked by a spirit of unvanquished optimism (these guys could win a championship) and realist doubts (these guys could be in Oklahoma in two years). They are thriving despite it all, but the future seems grave.
Last Minute of NBA Game to be Replayed #
The Miami Heat won a protested call in an after-the-game ruling. This is the first time such a thing has happened since 1982.
Shaquille O’Neal fouled out of that game with 51.9 seconds left, but as it turns out, he in fact only had five fouls. So the next time those two teams play, they will first finish their last game. It’ll be the shortest basketball game in history, I suppose. Hope those coaches have some good plays ready.
(via kottke)