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11-01-2002, 12:32 AM
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#1 |
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Guru
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 13,149
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http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/stein/1453485.html
Wednesday, October 30 Stern wants to reshuffle divisions if NBA expands By Marc Stein ESPN.com NEW ORLEANS -- NBA commissioner David Stern, speaking before the Hornets' first game in New Orleans, revealed Wednesday that he is open to a complete overhaul of the league's divisional structure if a 30th franchise is introduced in Charlotte, as expected, for the 2004-05 season. Stern's preference is to consider a broad shuffling as opposed to simply moving the Hornets into the West to make space in the East for a Charlotte expansion franchise. Minnesota and Memphis have also been lobbying league officials for a switch to the East, arguing that that's where they belong geographically. "If we were to (expand), I think we should go to six divisions and start some real trouble," Stern said. "Let's start from scratch. ... If we ever were to add a 30th team, that would be the occasion to turn it upside-down." The NBA has operated with a four-division format -- Atlantic, Central, Midwest and Pacific -- since the 1970-71 season. The NHL went to six divisions in 1998-99. |
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11-01-2002, 01:08 AM
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#2 |
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,283
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Hahaha why would Minnesota want to switch to the leastern conference?
Because they belong there geographically? Even if they do, that´s weak. |
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11-01-2002, 01:20 AM
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#3 |
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Minister of Soul
Join Date: May 2001
Location: on the Mothership
Posts: 4,893
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Stern's already seeing the inequity between the conferences as a problem.
He wants to shake things up.. but the problem is that it's all so fluid.. arbitrary groupings will always have periods of inequity. That's life. |
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11-01-2002, 04:44 AM
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#4 |
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Guru
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,363
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<< Stern's already seeing the inequity between the conferences as a problem.He wants to shake things up.. but the problem is that it's all so fluid.. arbitrary groupings will always have periods of inequity.That's life. >> Totally agree. I liked very much this post, Rhylan. It was smart.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] << Hahaha why would Minnesota want to switch to the leastern conference?Because they belong there geographically? Even if they do, that´s weak. >> Fidel, I think your oppinion is a specific example of Rhylan's. And was posted before! You're wireless connected. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]
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11-01-2002, 08:45 AM
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#5 |
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,832
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First, expanding when ratings and attendance are down nationwide is stupid. Second, the product is watered down as it is. Third, it is borderline unconscionable to discuss expansion to a city that lost a franchise less than 2 years earlier.
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At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. A fool's paradise is a wise man's hell. – Thomas Fuller |
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11-01-2002, 09:19 AM
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#6 |
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,509
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<< First, expanding when ratings and attendance are down nationwide is stupid. >> Except that the franchise fee would be an immediate shot of cash to the other teams, right? Plus they'd have a patsy to push around for a couple of easy wins a year, almost guaranteed. << ..unconscionable to discuss expansion to a city that lost a franchise less than 2 years earlier. >> Except that given the manner in which the Shinns mis-managed the franchise in Charlotte, tough to penalize the city. NBA obviously sees that there's a market for a pro franchise in North Carolina. Look at the NFL with Cleveland/Baltimore, and Houston--awarding franchises to recently vacated NFL cities with an intact fan base. Moving something into Charlotte isn't that different. |
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11-01-2002, 11:37 AM
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#7 |
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Banned
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Nowhere
Posts: 40,924
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Except that the franchise fee would be an immediate shot of cash to the other teams, right? Plus they'd have a patsy to push around for a couple of easy wins a year, almost guaranteed.
This does NOT help the league's growth or security. All that will be accomplished is that the NBA owners make a few bucks, the inevitable decline will occur, and the league becomes more watered down. You want great basketball? Contract about four teams and see what the effect is. Charlotte failed to keep their team....they don't need another, Shinn's be damned. |
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11-01-2002, 01:44 PM
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#8 |
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,509
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Not saying the owners' motivation is right--just speculating about why they might be willing.
Short-term gain over long-term security has claimed more than one billionaire of late. |
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11-01-2002, 01:53 PM
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#9 |
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,405
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Minnesota just can't hang with the big boys on the block...hahaha[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
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11-01-2002, 03:19 PM
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#10 |
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,672
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<< First, expanding when ratings and attendance are down nationwide is stupid. Second, the product is watered down as it is. Third, it is borderline unconscionable to discuss expansion to a city that lost a franchise less than 2 years earlier. >> Although this is a somewhat special case. Charlotte was not like Vancouver. It had proven that it could and would support a pro basketball team. But it had gotten personal with the Hornets' owner and Charlotte wouldn't support Shinn. And while Stern has a lot of power, forcing an owner to sell (which is what he would have preferred) is not something he can pull off (see also Sterling). So Stern (and the rest of NBA ownership) don't look at Charlotte and see a city that 'lost' a franchise. They look and see a city that has proven it can make money in the NBA but is currently empty--a wasted resource.
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Basketball 101: The point of the game is to put the ball through hoop. Corollary #1: If you put the ball through the hoop more than the other guy, you win. Corollary #2: If you can't do that, get off the floor. |
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11-01-2002, 04:14 PM
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#11 |
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Boom goes the Dynamite!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,008
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why dont they just move the clippers to charlotte?
wouldnt that be an easier solution? |
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11-01-2002, 05:52 PM
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#12 |
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,672
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<< why dont they just move the clippers to charlotte? wouldnt that be an easier solution? >> Can't move them if Sterling doesn't want to--and why would he?
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Basketball 101: The point of the game is to put the ball through hoop. Corollary #1: If you put the ball through the hoop more than the other guy, you win. Corollary #2: If you can't do that, get off the floor. |
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11-01-2002, 06:46 PM
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#13 |
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Guru
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,363
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...Sterling... LOL.
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