5 Reasons Why the NHL Is Better Than The NBA
Far be it for us to be the harbinger of economic doom, but the NBA may be headed for some tough times. In fact, let super-agent David Falk tell it: “I think [fixing the NBA system is] going to be very, very extreme, because I think the times are extreme.” Salaries are out of control, teams are losing money and the imminent end of the current collective-bargaining agreement is putting the 2010-11 NBA season in jeopardy. Sorry, but ain’t no Krypto-Nate stopping that.
So, what’s the solution? The NBA will always have its loyalists, but we have a suggestion that should be familiar to anybody who’s suffered through a declining relationship: Distance yourself now before the heartbreak, and start seeing other people. Or, in this case, another league. Yup, the NHL. Yup, ice hockey. Look, we understand that most of you are indifferent about, if not openly hostile to, following the NHL, but the time is right to give the league another chance. Read on for our top 5 reasons why it may be time to jump ship on the NBA…
5. BLOATED SALARIES ARE KILLING THE NBA.
Guess which one of these dudes is worth $13 million per year.
ISSUE: The NBA’s soft salary cap = overpaid scrubs, big-market favoritism; the NHL’s hard salary cap = proportionate contracts, competitive balance.
• The two athletes pictured above were in the news last Thursday, but for decidedly different reasons: The sports world was still abuzz about the previous night’s Alexander Ovechkin wonder goal; on the same day, the NBA trading deadline expired, meaning the usual desperate shuffling of salary-cap-killers like Larry Hughes, who was traded to the Knicks. The point in all this? Ovechkin'the NHL’s undisputed best player, who’s earned millions of dollars for both his franchise and the league'is in the first year of a contract that pays him $9 million per year. Hughes'a mediocre journeyman and funny-blog-inspirer'is guaranteed roughly $13.2 million for each of the next two years. Hughes is not an aberration, but an example of why the NBA is looking at a no-exception, no-luxury-tax hard cap, which will result in players like him losing money. Armageddon looms.
Click NEXT to see reason #4…
Slim February 25, 2009 at 2:09 pm
If dude is so nice why isn’t he on the cover of the new issue instead of Kobe? Fuck outta here
tim February 25, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Fantastic article. Couldn’t agree more… let’s hope more people see this and realize how true this is.
Renan February 25, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Yes, more sports should have a hard salary cap so that the poor owners get to keep more money while the players (the product) gets less. That’s definitely the sign of a superior sport.
Yeah February 25, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Ovechkin was on the cover of ESPN about 6-7 magazines ago..
DJ SG February 25, 2009 at 5:43 pm
And you don’t think watching Lebron james isn’t electrifying?
BOBO February 25, 2009 at 6:20 pm
NBA blows.Bunch of thugs dancing around on hardwood.
Dr. Destroyer February 25, 2009 at 8:02 pm
both GAMES are great at their core level. anyone who denies that never played either and doesnt appreciate both sets of athleticism. thats your own problem of bias for some “righteous” perspective.
the rael problem with the NBA is that there is no parity and is a waste of time to watch. ive followed the Bucks for a long time (wouldnt miss a game), being the home town team, but have always followed hockey and played hockey at the same time. after a while, its not hard to see why the NBA is complete bogus on so many levels. you could wait 20+ years to see your team in be successful in the playoffs because the economics suck, the politics on the floor sucks (home court “advantage”, marketed players getting scam calls constantly, the ref betting scandal which basically negates all credibility from an era, etc.), and the playoff system holds NO surprises. you get about one upset a decade and its looked at like a miracle. sorry, not entertaining.
i cant understand why theres a lot people who dont adapt to hockey because its not culturally “popular” among the mainstream, its “expensive” to play (all depends how you prioritize) if you dont live in a cold climate for free pond action and it doesnt have a diverse “racial” set of athletes (which is pretty stupid excuse since most white kids got into basketball in their youth with admiration of the african-american players – not the white players. grow up and appreciate all athletes.).
whatever. you can make up a million ignorant excuses on why hockey isnt a more entertaining league right now. just under the NFL for pro sports. it just doesnt have the hype. get on some skates and youll see just how great of a sport it is. guys like snoop dogg and michael bennett (ex-viking) became huge fans fast.
ps – watching sports just for “stars” is lame. get over it.
Slim's Enemy February 25, 2009 at 8:09 pm
“If dude is so nice why isn’t he on the cover of the new issue instead of Kobe? Fuck outta here”
First off, those words are English but that sentence is retarded.
Second, what new issue? What magazine?
Third, who cares about magazines? Especially sports magazines.
NBA basketball is terrible. It’s all about the numbers and the paychecks for these guys.
Slim February 25, 2009 at 8:47 pm
The magazine for the site your on genius. Are u serious? LOL!
DP43 February 25, 2009 at 10:28 pm
To Renan: Yeah, that makes sense. You do realize that most franchises barely break even, let alone turn a profit? There are plenty of NBA franchises losing millions per year because you have some bench warmer making 6 million per.
Junior February 26, 2009 at 3:51 am
First off, let me say that I am a basketball fan. I’ve only recently begun to watch hockey, since my roommate is a diehard Flyers fan. Whatever the case, the person who wrote this clearly is an NHL fan, so his opinions are tainted from his argument’s inception. But that’s neither here nor there. I’ll go through each assertion 1 by 1.
1) So Larry Hughes is overpaid? That’s one, pigeonholed, very special example of an overpaid player. However, if you watched the NBA for a long time, you would know that Hughes (who has constantly been criticized for injuries) signed that deal with the Cavaliers (ie: LeBron’s team) AFTER his most productive season in the league. At that point, LeBron was strictly a me-first player. Hence, the numbers of any player surrounding him were bound to decrease, especially after that player was THE man on their previous team. Long story short, Larry went to Cleveland, LeBron outshined him, Larry got injured in Cleveland, Larry got shipped out, and his numbers (and respect) quickly declined. For those of you without a clue, it’s circumstance that makes a contract bad, not the player.
2) You could say that every sport is becoming less accessible. Yankees fans pay an arm and a leg for a hot dog, Raiders fans get blacked out of their games in California, and you find a way to vilify the NBA as the corporate demon? News flash: SPORTS IS A BUSINESS!! During these tough economic times, every BUSINESS is finding ways to cut back and make more money. If that means ticket sales go up, so be it. If you have to sell your firstborn for a jersey, tough. You don’t HAVE to go to games. You can be smart like me, and just watch them online.
3) Again, author, you are pigeonholing. So what if the NBA relocated a team? The franchise was failing in Seattle due to bad ownership choices, not David Stern’s doing. Plus you make it seem as if there were numerous changes to the NBA’s teams compared to hockey. If I read right, since 2000 the NBA only had one new team compared to the NHL’s two. Who’s the more finicky league now?
4) Nothing in this section, aside from the Youtube video, has anything to do with actual gameplay. I agree with the fact that the NBA has it’s darlings and teams that they push harder into fans’ living rooms than others. However, to say that the last two minutes in an NBA game are boring is idiotic and indicative of your lack of knowledge of the sport. Have you watched the NBA in the last two days? How about the last month? Whoever wrote this sounds like the typical basketball critic: old and uninformed.
5) This one is almost too easy. Yes, I admit that Ovechkin is a monster. However, to say that he’s better than LeBron is a travesty. Alexander the Great isn’t his own brand name like LeBron. Alex also has been in the limelight for a shorter period than LeBron. Who does the average person recognize more? I’d say LeBron 9 times out of 10, not because he is a basketball star, but because he is THE basketball star. While I think Ovie is dope, King James is clearly the brighter of the two.
Well, if you read this, I hope you’re enlightened. If you didn’t that’s your loss. Whatever the case, this article is not only badly written, but clearly written by a hockey fan. Hopefully the author sees his stupidity quickly enough to catch the NBA action sitting there right in front of him (wait, he probably thinks that they’re all just traveling).
Justin Leon February 26, 2009 at 12:53 pm
The NBA is so boring. The only time I will watch it if its a last resort to resolve boredom.
Hockey is faster, more exciting and just more interesting than the NBA. It is a TRUE team sport that rewards team work vs. the NBA that promotes the individual only.
I really don’t care if the NHL doesn’t get the ratings that the NBA does. I’d rather not have it get super popular and be ruined by ESPN’s hype.
http://justinleon.com
Kobe's rape kit. February 26, 2009 at 2:57 pm
“If dude is so nice why isn’t he on the cover of the new issue instead of Kobe? Fuck outta here”
I can’t believe that rapist piece of shit is still on the cover of any magazine.
Ryan February 26, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Amen. Hockey games/highlights/players/coaches/commentators/seasons/playoffs >>> any other sport. No selfish douchebaggery (NFL) or a-holes (MLB) keeping athletes from playing hard. Watch an NHL playoff game and tell me it’s not faster, more exciting, more impressive than any other sports event including the Super Bowl.
Ryan February 26, 2009 at 7:26 pm
overpaid a-holes*
Fivas February 26, 2009 at 9:14 pm
reason 1) Wow, you posted Larry Hughes and a pic of the best player in the NHL? That’s extremely fucking correct. What a fucking idiot, but you are a hockey fan…so I shouldn’t be so suprised.
Fivas February 26, 2009 at 9:16 pm
reason 3) Are you fucking kidding me? Are you really, really that stupid? Wait you’re a hockey fan so yes you are.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are NOT AN EXPANSION TEAM they moved from Seattle you fucking IDIOT.
You really thought that one out
Fivas February 26, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I didn’t hate hockey fans until after this piece of shit article.
LBJ, KOBE, Duncan, Dwight > Ovechkin
Bdol February 26, 2009 at 10:22 pm
this article is so biased its not even funny. While the nba may be less skilled than it used to be there are still way more freaks of nature in the nba and more athletes too. The reason the nba players get paid more is because they bring in the crowds and sell the merchandise. if they didnt do you think they would be able to command the money they do. Its simple economics and by the way lebron or kobe>ovechkin any day all day
Gunny February 27, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I have always loved the NHL. But then again I am old goaltender. The NHL has great young stars and the changes made after the lockout were the right ones. I can’t speak to the NBA since I have never watched it.
DeShawn Stevenson February 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm
The NBA reminds me of the “Big Three” auto companies…just like the American auto industry, the NBA got very arrogant after MJ came and the league started acting like its sh’t didn’t stink and that people would buy the product regardless of quality. Now that the economic climate is getting rough, the league is suddenly realizing that things are going to get worse before they get better, and they are forced into reactionary mode. Hence, bailout. Something’s gotta give
DeShawn Stevenson February 27, 2009 at 3:02 pm
oh yeah sports guy sees it
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090227
Embiggened Walrus February 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Quoth Fivas: “The Oklahoma City Thunder are NOT AN EXPANSION TEAM they moved from Seattle you fucking IDIOT. ”
Quoth the article: “Since 2000, the NHL has added two teams and relocated none; meanwhile, the NBA has added a team (the woeful Charlotte Bobcats), while relocating two others (Seattle-to-Oklahoma City and Charlotte-to-New Orleans).”
FAIL much?
P February 27, 2009 at 5:40 pm
If only hockey was actually widely televised. What the fuck is a Vs. channel?
P February 27, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Oh and Kobe didn’t rape, that little girl just wanted to get paid after getting some championship dick. Fuck outta here with that petri dish she calls underwear.
James February 28, 2009 at 2:29 am
@ Renan
Just because you have a hard cap doesn’t mean the players don’t make any money. I don’t think there is a single player on a NFL roster that is crying poor because they have a hard cap. I think the NBA could easily institute a hard cap, but in fairness, I think it would have to be 5 – 10 million dollars above the current soft cap. And in case you haven’t noticed, many owners are losing money on sports teams because; like in Tennesse, for anything not college or football, nobody shows up. Ever seen a Marlins game? You can count the number of fans in your head without any sort of aid. Same goes for Predators / Grizzlies.
James February 28, 2009 at 2:43 am
@ Junior
1) Circumstances or not, you cannot tell me or anyone that Larry Hughes’ contributions to whatever team he is on is worth over $13 million.
2) Raiders fans get blacked out of their own games because it is unlawful to subject people to cruel and unusual punishment.
4) The last two minutes of an NBA game are only exciting if you’re at the arena or a record is about to be set (not really a record, but Kobe’s 81 was damn entertaining). The problem with watching the NBA on tv is a close game takes about 10 minutes to complete the final 2 with all the friggin time outs that are taken.
5)LeBron being more popular than Ovie doesn’t make him better. LeBron has more things going for him – like English as his first language, Sports networks being on his nuts since his senior (or maybe even earlier?) high school season, and Nike (which is basically only a B-ball company now – Adidas and others have them in Soccer, Nike Bauer isn’t that good for hockey, and Adidas and Under Armour have over taken them for football), just to name a few.
R February 28, 2009 at 10:08 pm
“NBA blows.Bunch of thugs dancing around on hardwood.”
As opposed to hockey, where certain people are paid to pretty much be thugs. (ie: enforcers)
KFC March 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Fivas your nothing but a mutt and the NBA is a joke. Basketball is filled with over paid thugs. Kobe Bryant is the most selfish rapist. Shaqs a big dumb animal. Ron Artest haha…..Marbury is a PRIME example of a no good piece of shit…..hes nothing but a thug like yourself. The only reason why the NHL is not on TV is because all the blacks don’t want it because the lack of black people in the sport
Kimberly March 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm
All of these teams of men could careless about the games they are playing now days . Its all about the big MONEY now & how many females they can donk and get prego and run away…Baseball,Football,NHL & Basketball …SAD… men & ladies used to walk miles just to get to play on a team of sports because they loved the games so much with no or little pay of 1.00 a game.
kage March 3, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I’m a basketball fan, but I have friends who play/watch hockey and I always respected the sport, but this article has made me lose respect. What kinda biased bullshit is this? This has gotta be a joke.
why is 2000 the cut off? March 4, 2009 at 12:15 pm
IN 1999 ATLANTA THRASHERS 06-07 ONE (AND ONLY) **DIVISION** CHAMP. AND YOU KNOW THEOR PLAYOFF HISTORY
**BLUE JACKETS IN 2000 THEY NEVER LOST A PLAYOFF GAME EVER..HMMMMMMMMM SEEING THEY DID NOT LOSE E-V-E-R IN THE PLAYOFFS AND HAVE NO CUP 1+1-2= zer0
NAHSVILLE-1998 THEY BEEN THERE FOUR TIME AND WERE BEAT BY THE SAME TWO TEAMS TWO DIFF YEARS…. LOL
KEEP IN MIND THAT IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS TO GET CUPS AND REAL TALANT BUT BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH ABOU THE NBA….. LOOK BACK TWO OR THREE YEAR BEFORE YOUR “2000 CUT OFF AND SEE THE NHL IS NOT ALL THAT HOTT WITH NEW TEAMS/ MOVED TEAMS.
2000 MINNI. WILD
07-08 DIV. CHAMPS.
why is 2000 the cut off? March 4, 2009 at 1:00 pm
First of all WOMEN ARE NOT TO BE BELIVED…. until proofen truthful….
somebody above said:”Fivas your nothing but a mutt and the NBA is a joke. Basketball is filled with over paid thugs. Kobe Bryant is the most selfish rapist. Shaqs a big dumb animal. Ron Artest haha…..Marbury is a PRIME example of a no good piece of shit…..hes nothing but a thug like yourself. The only reason why the NHL is not on TV is because all the blacks don’t want it because the lack of black people in the sport”
Kobe a rapist?? ha ha kobe could take your sister, cousins, momma, aunties, “neices”, your “girlfriend”, “wife” if he claps 4 times he will have females lining up to suck anything he says, even his friends di*k*.
over paid thugs??? what makes you a thug? “50 cent sold crack” if george w bush sold crack would he be a thug too?
tats’ do not make you thug, bad talking meadia(like barry bonds, like jose conseco, iverson or shaq)
now lets thing about this an over paid “thug” or a lying by**h. which is worst???
“iverson the thug” it’s practice, we here talking about practice. Not a game this is practice, a game is a game this is practice, practice, prac, man we talking about practice what do you not get…. practice…. practice…..
or susan smith “crying” to the world, a man drove my car into a ditch with my two kids in it…LIAR LIAR LAIR SHE DID IT.
LADY WHO CLAIMS BILL COSBY IS HE DAD BUT WILL NOT GIVE BLOOD SAMPLE….OH THE PAIN THE PAIN….(YEA THE PAIN OF NOT GETTIN $$$$ OFF HIM)
KOBE ….. YEAH RIGHT HE HAD LIKE A CELLY FOR EACH COAST OF GURLS HOW WILL SUCK, BLOW, LICK, SWALLOW…ANYTHING HE SAID, KOBE DONT GOTTA RAP SHY*…..BUT AGAIN SHE WILL NOT GO ON THE STAND AT COURT…..
CHANG THE LAWS SO THAT LIARS LIKE HER PAY FOR HIS LEAGAL FEES, AND DO THE TIME HE COULD OF FACED AND SEE HOW QUICK THE LIARS FIND A NEW HOBBY AND QUIT ALL THE LIES.
“OVER PAID THUGS” TELLING KIDS STATY IN SCHOOL, READ TO ACHIEVE, YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE…… WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THAT???
AS FOR HOCKEY AND NOT WATCHING BECAUSE LACK OF BLACKS, HA,
IN BASEBALL AND BASKET BALL I GOT MUCH LUV FOR NONE BLACKS
DIRK, NASH, Roy Halladay, Andy Pettitte, RANDY JOHNSON, Pat Hentgen. the list goes on…..
once again ladies lie ok so before you side with this money hungry skettle bomb, h()e,bytch, slut, may tag girl, liar, gold digger, tipical i want to be famous broad. women start / cause alot of drama she wanted to be another one of dem money hungry i got $ $$$ $$$ off a famous man.
lil kim . i sucked biggies dik
Monica Lewinsky….. men “are doggs” so why do women temp them so much.
2pac rape case, pac gotta rap some1?? ha ha ha
woman are not to be belived until proof is there
Kobe a rapist??? ha ha well old McDonald had a farm e i e i oh and on this farm he had a bytch and he name was Kate Faber. with a lie lie here and a “turth” “truth” there here a lie there a lie every where a lie lie oh this bytch is full of shy* e i e i o.
why is 2000 the cut off? March 4, 2009 at 1:04 pm
p.s.
hockey, baseball, basketball, football, tennis, golf………all have greats why compare which is better? they all got, as$ holes, men of class, over rated, under rated people. Some have heart and passion Jeter, Lb23James, Crosby, wayne99G. …. then they got
puszY like vince carter who do not play thier best…
Vancouver March 6, 2009 at 5:13 pm
The NHL certainly isn’t a blue collar sport by any stretch in Canada. The NHL has alot of work to do too. Its not even on ESPN 2. Vs? What the hell is that.
If the person who wrote the article was comparing the 2 leagues, I tend to agree. But comparing sports is idiotic.
I consider myself a total sports fan. I play and watch football, basketball, hockey and baseball.
I actually don’t understand people who stick to 1 sport. And as most said Ovechkin is awsome, but Kobe and Lebron are huge, and rightly so.
Mmgggbzc May 8, 2009 at 5:10 am
Blnka8 comment5 ,