I love the NCAA Tournament…literally everything about it. As I was thinking about it today, I realized the reason why I love it so much it is everything the NBA is not.
First, two disclaimers:
· On principle, I have not watched an NBA game since the Sonics were ripped from Seattle in 2008. I did watch about 9 minutes of this year’s All-Star game, but after tuning into this absolute sham of an event, I quickly turned the TV off and took a shower.
· Second, I know that the NCAA is by no means beyond reproach. I think college athletes should be compensated, but that’s a topic for another blog.
Having said that, here’s my take:
The NCAA’s are Coach K, Dean Smith (may he rest in peace), Butler, Jimmy V (may he, too, rest in peace) Cinderella teams, Gonzaga and basketball in its purest form. The NBA is David Stern, Clay Bennett, ridiculously pampered athletes and the unapologetic prostitution of a sport.
March Madness rewards teamwork and passion. The NBA rewards ego and stats.
You can still buy a ticket to an NCAA tournament basketball game without breaking into your 401K. The NBA has become a sport that has priced families out of the market, and that’s just the regular season.
In the NCAA’s, a five point four rebound a night kid gets an education and the thrill of putting on a jersey and playing for his school. In the NBA that same player gets a multi-million dollar contract.
In March Madness, ordinary people who don’t necessarily follow basketball can be a part of the action and join an office pool for $10 and have some skin in the game. In the NBA, no one has ever – repeat NEVER – created a bracket and jumped all in on teams they know nothing about.
In the NCAA’s, players play for 40 minutes. In the NBA, you’re lucky if the players actually give a shit in the fourth quarter.
The NCAA’s represent the culmination of a five-month roller coaster season. In the NBA, the season is horrifically long, rendering the first seven months virtually meaningless. There is no reason – other than money – that a basketball season should start in November and end in late-June.
The NCAA’s are Chapel Hill, Tucson, Spokane and Eugene. The NBA is Las Vegas. Enough said.
The NCAA’s are passing, defense, teamwork, discipline and buzzer beaters. The NBA is four dribbles and a shot.
In the NCAA a #14 seed can beat a #3 seed. Just ask Bucknell and Kansas on 2005. In the NBA, this never happens, unless the heavily favored team rests it all its players because they’re tired from counting their money.
I could go on, but you get the picture. The best moment, bar none, in NBA playoff history was when Willis Reed limped onto the court for the NY Knicks in game seven of the 1970 playoffs against the LA Lakers. Where have those times gone? They’re still alive in the NCAAs and always will be. Long live March Madness