Is it inevitable? For the past few years there are speculations in cycles and / or ratings for the landing of the NBA in Europe. About a couple of times a year, coinciding with public hearings commissioner David Stern : usually during the annual All-Star weekend in January or February, in which concentrated many special envoys from non-US media- and also, as was the case, as in some European countries is held in October, a preseason game between an NBA team and a Euroleague. The timing is almost perfect for the subject does not fall into oblivion, approximately every six months. Calendar
aside, there are other common denominators say jump in the covers. One is the overall ambiguity of the message of Stern, who probably studied combines the analysis of the possibilities we can conclude that yes, indeed the NBA is about to arrive, with the reasoning it seems clear that it is unsuitable , or at least leave it for so many years later it's like to stay discarded. Another common denominator is that if Stern is the director of the Euroleague, Jordi Bertomeu , who is responsible for taking up the subject, warning of the danger it poses to our native basketball. And one more: when the issue is on the table there are many analysts and columnists, and even part of the public, which do not question the landing but simply his timing . And it is certainly curious that is so because it has not happened in almost 20 years during which many think is imminent.
On landing in the NBA in Europe must understand the implementation of the League in this continent, not any promotion campaign and even business and those that do we have spent many years hosting "from the old McDonald's Championship to the short tours of full-season teams and the NBA should get a good return or at least as they say, "no rest." Landing of the NBA in Europe is that with which many have speculated on many occasions that European teams - between existing large, others created specially? - Are incorporated as one of the official competition, a new and specific conference or spread over the existing ones.
The first time I heard of something like this was around 1988. At that time I do not remember if at the behest of the NBA or FC Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe Catalan club sent a representative to New York to see first hand what could be expected from what was nevertheless a project is under consideration, nothing really tangible, but over the years followed up. Much later, not long ago, Real Madrid also flirted with the supposed opening of the NBA teams from another continent. But it is obvious that since then, in these more than twenty years, there has been much debate about it, but revolutionary in the sense that he wanted to give that landing-no nothing has materialized. Nor has it been since shelved, at least officially.
aside, there are other common denominators say jump in the covers. One is the overall ambiguity of the message of Stern, who probably studied combines the analysis of the possibilities we can conclude that yes, indeed the NBA is about to arrive, with the reasoning it seems clear that it is unsuitable , or at least leave it for so many years later it's like to stay discarded. Another common denominator is that if Stern is the director of the Euroleague, Jordi Bertomeu , who is responsible for taking up the subject, warning of the danger it poses to our native basketball. And one more: when the issue is on the table there are many analysts and columnists, and even part of the public, which do not question the landing but simply his timing . And it is certainly curious that is so because it has not happened in almost 20 years during which many think is imminent.
On landing in the NBA in Europe must understand the implementation of the League in this continent, not any promotion campaign and even business and those that do we have spent many years hosting "from the old McDonald's Championship to the short tours of full-season teams and the NBA should get a good return or at least as they say, "no rest." Landing of the NBA in Europe is that with which many have speculated on many occasions that European teams - between existing large, others created specially? - Are incorporated as one of the official competition, a new and specific conference or spread over the existing ones.
The first time I heard of something like this was around 1988. At that time I do not remember if at the behest of the NBA or FC Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe Catalan club sent a representative to New York to see first hand what could be expected from what was nevertheless a project is under consideration, nothing really tangible, but over the years followed up. Much later, not long ago, Real Madrid also flirted with the supposed opening of the NBA teams from another continent. But it is obvious that since then, in these more than twenty years, there has been much debate about it, but revolutionary in the sense that he wanted to give that landing-no nothing has materialized. Nor has it been since shelved, at least officially.
The last thing Stern has been announced in the coming years, London will play a regular game of the Seaton and in the future, without specifying a date-be European Division of the NBA. While the most recent analysis has offered us , Once again, brilliantly, with data and documentation, Miguel Angel Paniagua . For my part, as I outlined months ago my point of view , always trying to give based on facts, not statements of intentions more or less interested and / or measure shows ambiguous.
For now, therefore, the real fact remains that the NBA has not landed in Europe in the terms we have defined the landing. What further evidence can be a fact even surprising when you consider that probably had more of an opportunity to try, especially in the highlights of European club basketball-in sporting, as media and therefore presumably also in the economic-that could be dated, the year above year down, about the last 90's. Today, as we have already pointed out in another time and another season also show season television ratings data, recruitment of sponsors, etc .- identity crisis is not resolved by our club basketball in Europe has become much ground less suitable. Paniagua
in article, mentioned above has explained in detail the other project is sponsored by the NBA does seem to be in a more advanced stage of implementation: management by a consortium U.S. NBA linked to the current Premiership or, failing that, the creation of another race. In England. And not with football clubs but with sections of basketball clubs in the Premier League.
single approach a project like this we draw two conclusions paramount. First, that the NBA is finally clear that professional sport in Europe, from all angles, is inevitably subject to football. And the second: if this is the landing of the NBA-in basketball English, a lot of residual absolutely basketball with the 2012 Olympics on the horizon you want to remove the head, is a landing of Second, Third or Fourth Division. Only be seen whether it is also a definitive renunciation of a first landing. Of course, there are still those who committed it. Paniagua himself leaves the door open rather than conceptually, but, like Stern, do not fix it on the calendar and further suggests that close. Of course, buying the Premier League or make up another with sections of Chelsea, MU and Liverpool can end up being a business, but does not seem to be a business to match what the NBA would expect from a landing at all rule. At the opposite pole, where the rule is reached the landing, "we must remember, Antonio Maceiras gave their arguments months ago.
In this new stage of the debate, personally I add to my assessment, now it as speculation of future-three case, more conceptual than prosaic, push me align myself with those who see the NBA landing in Europe, such as we have defined, will not occur ever.
1) In Europe football is above all: financial investment, sponsors, media and even political. It is a rival to the NBA does not have to face in the United States. In America, basketball is one of the three major professional sports, including, for the sake of the business of everyone, even come to a large extent shared calendar. In Europe this is not, nor will. A European Division of the NBA will inevitably have to compete-in audience, attracting sponsors, public ... - with the national football league and especially with the Champions League. More than a challenge seems a mission impossible.
2) The major players in European basketball, and also not so great, are clubs with a historical identity also impossible to overcome. Will be better or worst, but the big European clubs, some of which, indeed, large sections of football clubs are authentic brands, clone case. Dare NBA to organize a European division without Real Madrid, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bPanathinaikos, Olympiakos, Maccabi, CSKA, Olympia, etc? Do all these computers would point whose sole purpose is to be champions of almost everything to a competition in which before you know it probably will not play to win? My impression is that the first question and no to the second.
AND 3) A dropper, one or two exhibition games, the NBA can fill halls, but even without flashy stars can become a total failure media: a year ago, the match between Washington Wizards and New Orleans Hornets held Four in Barcelona reported in the impoverished audience than 116,000 viewers on average. The NBA is sold as a spectacle, but the culture of sport in Europe is not the culture of spectacle but of passion, victory and success and above all the defeat and failure and tragedy, with its consequent cathartic effect.
All this seems complicated it can get to offer an organization from a culture nonetheless very different and with a mentality not only very different but in many ways diametrically opposed.
And there is always added last argument: if after 60-year history of territorial expansion has reached the NBA only to Toronto, which is next to speak home, how can you expect a European Division to thousands of miles away?