Can't We Now All Agree that David Stern Has Taken Things Too Far?
I know you don't want to hear me whine about how paternalistic and culturally biased David Stern is.
But most people can agree that Mark Cuban has earned some equity as a voice that should be listened to concerning the NBA. He can be a little overbearing, but he's a billionaire, he's smart and, most shockingly, he turned around the lowly Dallas Mavericks.
But, this week, even Mark Cuban is fed up with David Stern (for real, this time). Mark Cuban told the Toronto Sun,
And Mark Cuban is justifiably exhausted by the geniuses who have been entrusted with the so-called "marketing" of the NBA.
In fact, David Stern has largely been content to let others market the game for him. (Briefly consider what "NBA" marketing would be like if not for Nike.) The results have been decidedly mixed.
I personally began to doubt Stern's marketing judgment when he started haphazardly awarding TV contracts. The NBA was the first league to start awarding a significant amount of games to cable. That in and of itself was somewhat distressing at the time, but I acknowledge the incorporation of cable broadcasts was something that eventually had to be done. Ultimately, one of the league's cable partners really rewarded the league. TNT was showing games three nights a week and it was surely an accidental blessing that TNT happened to deliver the best NBA broadcasts ever. TNT's "Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday" package was absolutely helping the NBA and enthusing the fan base. So when it came time for contract renewal, I was shocked that the NBA chose to award the bulk of the broadcasts to ESPN. Not only is ESPN's coverage arguably the worst of all the national broadcasters, TNT's coverage had been so good, I thought it was shortsighted for Stern to not reward them for so excellently showcasing the league, even if it had to come at a "discount." Low ratings and long-term lack of interest in the league eventually undermine the money grab. But Stern has no worries...
David Stern's mistakes continued.
The NBA network may have been the first of the professional sports league's networks, but it is mostly underwhelming, with shockingly low production values. The trajectory of the NFL Network has exposed the NBA Network as being particularly awful.
Why does Stern need to be convinced that he should be essentially forcing talent to participate in the All-Star game, especially the dunk contest? (Is dunking too "street" for you, Dave?) He should be a little more cognizant that having an All-Star event that resonates with the fans is the only advantage the league has over the NFL and MLB.
David Stern is especially fond of marketing the league by promoting so-called "good guys" as the face of the league. To be clear, that's not a comprehensive marketing strategy and I'm not even sure if it's advisable at all. For obvious reasons, the league has had to back track on its elevation of Kobe Bryant. However, the league still chooses to elevate Lebron James as the next great hype. Without speculating on whether James will eventually justify his hype, the truth is that Lebron had a Hummer in high school; he only made the playoffs in his 3rd year behind his high profile peers in the draft (not to mention, Dwyane already has a championship); and he is suddenly losing the ESPN-ready polish that he exhibited so effortlessly while lining up his endorsements (there was no excuse for him walking of the court against the Atlanta Hawks last week and then brazenly refusing to be contrite about it). You think that Stern would've figured out that he might not want to hitch his wagon to just a few guys. It is Stern's responsibility to ensure that, along with King James, NBA fans should also be familiar with Gilbert Arenas, Dwight Howard, Ben Gordon and Chris Paul, just to name a few. But I guess David Stern has better things to do...
David Stern clearly is excited with the notion that his lasting marketing legacy will be international expansion of the NBA. It's a noble goal, but how realistic or even ultimately beneficial is it? (Not to mention, I doubt Stern will outsmart the NFL and MLB by becoming some sort of global power). Firstly, the European market is not as financially lucrative as the U.S. market. And I'm certain Stern wants to mine Europe for White players to replace the thugs currently plaguing Stern's vision for the league. But beyond that, it is questionable whether the NBA will ever gain a meaningful foothold in Europe. Changing culture is probably beyond Stern's powers. Soccer is king in Europe. To the extent Europeans are interested in basketball, they will probably devote that attention to the leagues they've already created. There is no basis for expecting the European leagues to fold merely because the NBA has announced its presence.
And Asia? It is peculiar that Stern is hell bent on forcing a sport on a region that is not really physically ideal for the sport. There is surely a market there for viewing NBA basketball, but playing it? Stern ignores that most global excitement about the sport stems from the Jordans. LeBrons and even the Iversons and Artests of the leagues. You can't expect that part of the world to be enthusiastic about playing the game in a fundamentally different way than from how it's been presented to them. Yao Ming is an anomaly. Asian people aren't generally tall. You can't sell them a sport based on the overeating, hormone induced and historically informed physicality of Americans and other Westerners and expect miracles.
David Stern simply needs to forgo the frequent flier miles and pay more attention to the local markets. The Sacramento Kings, a model franchise, are dangerously close to leaving the city over a new arena, and the relevant players are practically begging the league to get involved. Why is King James still playing in Cleveland? Why has Stern allowed the New York, Boston, Philly and Atlanta franchises to flounder for so long? Small markets deserve support, but it is simply foolish to allow the Eastern seaboard markets to perform at anything less than full capacity. That's simply revenue left on the table.
David is supposedly devoted to the corporate audience. It is reasonable to address their concerns. They buy luxury boxes and advertising. But the dress code wasn't a business decision (especially since most corporations are business casual now). Stern hates Allen Iverson's gaudy bling-bling, but he had no problem with Steve Nash's greasy, stringy hair? Stern is so obsessed with the dress code that he is sending real life fashion police to games to make sure no players wears rubber bands with their names on them and that no one chews gum or sways during the national anthem. Seriously. If Stern was going to make a rational change, he would mandate that everyone wear NBA apparel on the bench, ala the NFL and MLB. That would be the most business oriented decision and simultaneously give order to player's appearances. But, curiously, that's not what Stern is doing.
If Stern was genuinely concerned about the players that represent the league, he would be more aggressively managing the amateur ranks. In fact, he should be doing more to ensure that the league is not continually flooded with underage non-fundamental having athletes with an exaggerated sense of entitlement that only play well enough to maintain their guaranteed contracts, street cred and/or endorsements. The NBDL has not really justified itself as a viable minor league. Stern has chosen not to confront the NCAA or otherwise exploit non-traditional means of culling athletes.
This all goes to show that Stern is advancing some other agenda than sound business judgment or even the ultimate interests of the league. He is apparently unfazed that attention to the NBA is dominated by trivial issues like dress codes, firearms and ball grip. Ironically, David Stern may become a bigger distraction than Ron Artest ever was. The game is still good. And Stern should have enough respect for the players and the fans to let the game market itself more organically. He is so conflicted about any perceived hip-hop image that he's abandoning his core audience. And no matter how much Stern values the red states, Marketing 101 teaches that the mainstream follows the core.
It is not easy to criticize David Stern. He has accomplished a lot in raising the NBA from infancy to the league that it is today. (And we are alumni of the same university.) Still, it's becoming increasingly evident that David Stern has morphed into a control freak who is letting his personal preferences and ambitions interfere with his governance of the league. Stern has succeeded at being an administrator. But maybe the league needs more now. The fans have plenty of other choices. College football is growing. NASCAR is growing. Even poker is growing. Not to mention the Tivo's, PS3's and Myspace accounts that demand attention. The NBA really can't afford to alienate anybody. If David Stern continues to ignore the truths of the modern landscape and merely make decisions based on his own limited sense of reality, David Stern's reign as NBA comminsioner is poised to outlive its usefulness to the fans and the league.
But most people can agree that Mark Cuban has earned some equity as a voice that should be listened to concerning the NBA. He can be a little overbearing, but he's a billionaire, he's smart and, most shockingly, he turned around the lowly Dallas Mavericks.
But, this week, even Mark Cuban is fed up with David Stern (for real, this time). Mark Cuban told the Toronto Sun,
"I no longer do interviews about the NBA, or anything that helps market the NBA. I leave that to the geniuses at the NBA."
And Mark Cuban is justifiably exhausted by the geniuses who have been entrusted with the so-called "marketing" of the NBA.
In fact, David Stern has largely been content to let others market the game for him. (Briefly consider what "NBA" marketing would be like if not for Nike.) The results have been decidedly mixed.
I personally began to doubt Stern's marketing judgment when he started haphazardly awarding TV contracts. The NBA was the first league to start awarding a significant amount of games to cable. That in and of itself was somewhat distressing at the time, but I acknowledge the incorporation of cable broadcasts was something that eventually had to be done. Ultimately, one of the league's cable partners really rewarded the league. TNT was showing games three nights a week and it was surely an accidental blessing that TNT happened to deliver the best NBA broadcasts ever. TNT's "Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday" package was absolutely helping the NBA and enthusing the fan base. So when it came time for contract renewal, I was shocked that the NBA chose to award the bulk of the broadcasts to ESPN. Not only is ESPN's coverage arguably the worst of all the national broadcasters, TNT's coverage had been so good, I thought it was shortsighted for Stern to not reward them for so excellently showcasing the league, even if it had to come at a "discount." Low ratings and long-term lack of interest in the league eventually undermine the money grab. But Stern has no worries...
David Stern's mistakes continued.
The NBA network may have been the first of the professional sports league's networks, but it is mostly underwhelming, with shockingly low production values. The trajectory of the NFL Network has exposed the NBA Network as being particularly awful.
Why does Stern need to be convinced that he should be essentially forcing talent to participate in the All-Star game, especially the dunk contest? (Is dunking too "street" for you, Dave?) He should be a little more cognizant that having an All-Star event that resonates with the fans is the only advantage the league has over the NFL and MLB.
David Stern is especially fond of marketing the league by promoting so-called "good guys" as the face of the league. To be clear, that's not a comprehensive marketing strategy and I'm not even sure if it's advisable at all. For obvious reasons, the league has had to back track on its elevation of Kobe Bryant. However, the league still chooses to elevate Lebron James as the next great hype. Without speculating on whether James will eventually justify his hype, the truth is that Lebron had a Hummer in high school; he only made the playoffs in his 3rd year behind his high profile peers in the draft (not to mention, Dwyane already has a championship); and he is suddenly losing the ESPN-ready polish that he exhibited so effortlessly while lining up his endorsements (there was no excuse for him walking of the court against the Atlanta Hawks last week and then brazenly refusing to be contrite about it). You think that Stern would've figured out that he might not want to hitch his wagon to just a few guys. It is Stern's responsibility to ensure that, along with King James, NBA fans should also be familiar with Gilbert Arenas, Dwight Howard, Ben Gordon and Chris Paul, just to name a few. But I guess David Stern has better things to do...
David Stern clearly is excited with the notion that his lasting marketing legacy will be international expansion of the NBA. It's a noble goal, but how realistic or even ultimately beneficial is it? (Not to mention, I doubt Stern will outsmart the NFL and MLB by becoming some sort of global power). Firstly, the European market is not as financially lucrative as the U.S. market. And I'm certain Stern wants to mine Europe for White players to replace the thugs currently plaguing Stern's vision for the league. But beyond that, it is questionable whether the NBA will ever gain a meaningful foothold in Europe. Changing culture is probably beyond Stern's powers. Soccer is king in Europe. To the extent Europeans are interested in basketball, they will probably devote that attention to the leagues they've already created. There is no basis for expecting the European leagues to fold merely because the NBA has announced its presence.
And Asia? It is peculiar that Stern is hell bent on forcing a sport on a region that is not really physically ideal for the sport. There is surely a market there for viewing NBA basketball, but playing it? Stern ignores that most global excitement about the sport stems from the Jordans. LeBrons and even the Iversons and Artests of the leagues. You can't expect that part of the world to be enthusiastic about playing the game in a fundamentally different way than from how it's been presented to them. Yao Ming is an anomaly. Asian people aren't generally tall. You can't sell them a sport based on the overeating, hormone induced and historically informed physicality of Americans and other Westerners and expect miracles.
David Stern simply needs to forgo the frequent flier miles and pay more attention to the local markets. The Sacramento Kings, a model franchise, are dangerously close to leaving the city over a new arena, and the relevant players are practically begging the league to get involved. Why is King James still playing in Cleveland? Why has Stern allowed the New York, Boston, Philly and Atlanta franchises to flounder for so long? Small markets deserve support, but it is simply foolish to allow the Eastern seaboard markets to perform at anything less than full capacity. That's simply revenue left on the table.
David is supposedly devoted to the corporate audience. It is reasonable to address their concerns. They buy luxury boxes and advertising. But the dress code wasn't a business decision (especially since most corporations are business casual now). Stern hates Allen Iverson's gaudy bling-bling, but he had no problem with Steve Nash's greasy, stringy hair? Stern is so obsessed with the dress code that he is sending real life fashion police to games to make sure no players wears rubber bands with their names on them and that no one chews gum or sways during the national anthem. Seriously. If Stern was going to make a rational change, he would mandate that everyone wear NBA apparel on the bench, ala the NFL and MLB. That would be the most business oriented decision and simultaneously give order to player's appearances. But, curiously, that's not what Stern is doing.
If Stern was genuinely concerned about the players that represent the league, he would be more aggressively managing the amateur ranks. In fact, he should be doing more to ensure that the league is not continually flooded with underage non-fundamental having athletes with an exaggerated sense of entitlement that only play well enough to maintain their guaranteed contracts, street cred and/or endorsements. The NBDL has not really justified itself as a viable minor league. Stern has chosen not to confront the NCAA or otherwise exploit non-traditional means of culling athletes.
This all goes to show that Stern is advancing some other agenda than sound business judgment or even the ultimate interests of the league. He is apparently unfazed that attention to the NBA is dominated by trivial issues like dress codes, firearms and ball grip. Ironically, David Stern may become a bigger distraction than Ron Artest ever was. The game is still good. And Stern should have enough respect for the players and the fans to let the game market itself more organically. He is so conflicted about any perceived hip-hop image that he's abandoning his core audience. And no matter how much Stern values the red states, Marketing 101 teaches that the mainstream follows the core.
It is not easy to criticize David Stern. He has accomplished a lot in raising the NBA from infancy to the league that it is today. (And we are alumni of the same university.) Still, it's becoming increasingly evident that David Stern has morphed into a control freak who is letting his personal preferences and ambitions interfere with his governance of the league. Stern has succeeded at being an administrator. But maybe the league needs more now. The fans have plenty of other choices. College football is growing. NASCAR is growing. Even poker is growing. Not to mention the Tivo's, PS3's and Myspace accounts that demand attention. The NBA really can't afford to alienate anybody. If David Stern continues to ignore the truths of the modern landscape and merely make decisions based on his own limited sense of reality, David Stern's reign as NBA comminsioner is poised to outlive its usefulness to the fans and the league.
Labels:
David Stern,
Mark Cuban,
NBA
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