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I love talking about sports.
I'm sure that rings true with millions of sports fans, casual and dedicated alike. Sport has a marvelous talent of being just as entertaining long after the actual event. It initiates discourse.
How many times have you been sitting in a class/bar/queue/etc. by yourself and used sports as a conversation starter? It doesn't matter if it's with a friend or a complete stranger.
"Did you see the game last night?"
"Who's your pick for MVP?"
"You see the article on Kobe in the paper this morning?"
Familiar phrases I'm sure we've all used or, at the very least, heard at some point.
The fact that the NBA is fast-paced and the rules are relatively simple makes it an ideal candidate for a topic of conversation. Whether it be analysing stats, comparing players, discussing fantasy picks, or trying to prove "your" team is better than "theirs," it can be an engrossing topic.
The main focus tends to be on superstars, elite teams, or both. Contemporary topics may be Bird or Magic, Celtics or Lakers, Kobe vs. MJ, or "Who is the greatest [insert position] of all time?" In my mind, this angle of discussion and analysis definitely adds something to the appeal of sports.
It also infuriates me beyond belief. Let me explain.
This season, this very new season, has already provoked discussion and started talking points. The main problem is that these issues tend to "stick" and dominate the entire season.
The Cavs, for example, have lost two on the bounce. Whilst many fans will simply say "So what? There is 80 to go," the media tends to focus intensely on one issue. In this case, Shaquille O'Neal. If Cleveland were 2-0, the talk about Shaq may very well die down and the focus may change to "Z" solidifying the second unit, then move on to Delonte West's health, and so on and so on.
You can guarantee, though, that the story for the foreseeable future will be all about Shaq and his role. It may be just me, but I don't think that the issue is important or valid enough to dominate every discussion on the Cavs. Lets face it, LeBron James' play and Mo William's clutch ability (or lack thereof) will be more important to the Cavs' future.
On the other coast, an even more annoying story is developing. Can the Lakers win 70? I have read this on a few Web sites, and it is just ludicrous!
For a start, it is way too early for that kind of talk. It also has the same ability to linger around. Once the magical number is mentioned, it just doesn't go away. Every win will be seen as as one step closer to the mark. Even if, come All-Star time, the record is statistically impossible, the talk will change to why the Lakers didn't win 70. What went wrong?
Personally, I feel that a discussion's usefulness is time-dependent. That is to say that a discussion may be great fun for maybe a couple days after the game, but after that there are surely other issues worth talking about.
As they say, variety is the spice of life.
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