And that, in three little words, says the whole thing in a nutshell.
It has BECOME all about entertainment, instead of just the sport.
Half-time shows with "name" stars; flashy uniforms; mega stars with their own publicists; seeing athletes on Extra and E!
I guess I'm part of a dying breed. I love the GAME of basketball. Have for over 40 years. The idea that players have to dress up in shiny uniforms to capture the attention of the fans makes me throw up in my mouth just a little.
Basketball should be entertaining, but it should not be about the ENTERTAINMENT as much as the competition between highly skilled athletes.
Look at the Spurs. They put out a superior product and they don't need a lot of shiny objects and flashy signs to do it. They do it with hard work and dedication and team effort.
The gold uniforms are nothing more than an attempt to convince some fans that they're the greatest fans around. Well, news flash - the Sacramento Kings fans have been loyal for a very long time and they didn't need to be reminded how good they were.
You really want to reach out to the fans and express your gratitude? Have a contest; let the fans design potential new alternate uniforms. Have the fans VOTE on the choices. Then use the winning entry. That would be fan involvement.
What we're seeing is smoke and mirrors. You don't keep support by being ingenuous. The Kings earned our love and respect because of how they played ON the court (or - in the early years - in spite of how they played on the court), not how they fawned about how good we were as fans.
Sorry, but this whole thing is just a little sad...
I love the Kings and I'll continue to love them. All truth be told, I don't care what they wear. I won't be buying one of those gold jerseys because my team's colors are purple, black and silver. I don't wear pink Kings jerseys for the same reason. (Retro jerseys are different. At least they actually represent colors the team once wore.)
What really disturbs me is how desperate this whole "fan love" thing has come across. And it still reminds me - more than anything else - of two stories: "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "The Wizard of Oz" (Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.)
Fans should be loyal to and follow their teams because it's what they want to do, NOT because someone in the marketing department decides the fan base will depart UNLESS they overwhelm them with flattery and shiny statues and uniforms to match.
Very well put.
