A Moose Track
I come home from a game. I walk into the kitchen for something to eat. I go to the computer to check my e-mail, Hibachi and SLAM quickly. After checking the 'Bachi comments and responding to a couple of messages, I call up SLAM. And what headline do I see?
"You Say H-O-R-S-E, The League Says GEICO"
My heart dropped to somewhere around my navel, and I sighed angrily. They sold H-O-R-S-E. I'd never thought they'd do it. But they did. They have found a way to get money off of the name of HORSE! What is this? It defeats the purpose of the game! It's HORSE, not GEICO. That is completely wrong.
OK. I put up with the T-Mobile Halftime Report. I was all right with our "DCU Sideline Reporter Greg Dickerson". I let them have the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. I let them do the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout without complaint. I let them get away with the NBA 2K9 Countdown To The NBA Trade Deadline. I even let FedEx sponsor the NBA International Players page without complaint.
But this was the last straw. They sold HORSE, a game that has forever been played on the playgrounds and for fun, one that will be played for many to come. And now, it won't be HORSE. It will be GEICO. And it won't be the same. As soon as I saw that, I considered boycotting watching it. I am still considering it. Considering it.
What if Dr. James Naismith--the father of basketball, and assumedly the ultimate purist-saw this? What is John Wooden saying right now? What would Arnold Auerbach say? It's disgraceful. They sold HORSE. They did it. And they won't stop. What will it be next? "The Salvation Army Charity Stripe" as the free throw line?
At this pace, they'll sell everything. I have learned to tune it out over the years, to roll my eyes and live and let live, you know? But they sold HORSE! The players will be spelling GEICO. It doesn't seem right. It isn't right.
It's sad. It's dishonorable. It's embarrassing. Shameful. Shameless. Sickening. I love the NBA and the game of basketball right now. But as I age and the advertisements get even more out of hand, I foresee that there is a chance that I would walk away from the NBA in a while. A long while. But when I can't put up with it anymore, I'll be done.
They need to do it for the love of the game. Purists are a scarcity right now, and trust me, I'm not one of them, I love the show of it, and the game of it. They do it for the money. And I understand, they need to get their dough in order to run. But they sold HORSE. Bad enough that ticket prices and souvenir prices are so high. They found a way to bring it to another level.
Let's hope it doesn't move up a notch. Step back and look at what you're doing, NBA, before you sell how a longtime favorite game is played.
--Moose
18 comments:
from a purity standpoint, this is fucking disgusting. but I don't give a shit what they call it, we need this game played. You don't have to just play Horse, you can play Pig, Copycat, I mean there are so many variations. Yes, it's shameless, yes, I am upset- but my anger is hugely outweighed by my thanks that at least it HAPPENS. Great, passionate ish mayne, great stuff.
I am happy that it's being played. But it is disgusting. Yes, you can play variations on it--I've played countless games of "K-O-B-E" with my friends (because it's bad to spell Kobe, haha) but they sold it to a company. An insurance company will be the name, not P-I-G. But LeBron better be in this thing.
Oh yeah, thanks for the complements, Justin. Most of my stuff IS passionate, I only write about stuff that I care about, really.
that is the idea, Moose. That is the idea. haha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wePGIGNJCic
Deron Williams nasty crossover from last night-Jason Terry falls on his ass. Great clip.....
Everything is sponsored now-it's ridiculous. The Chicago White Sox start home games at 7:07pm instead of 7:05 because of a deal w/7-11 convienence stores, and the list goes on. Eventually, NBA players will sell advertising on their kicks and unis like the Greek and Italian leagues. It will happen in our lifetime.
I'm with you entirely on this Moose. After I saw that headline on SLAM, I couldn't bear to click on it just cuz I didn't want to think they had replaced a playground staple with some sh*tty insurance company. The commercialism in the NBA now is absolutely disgusting and ridiculous. It's almost as bad as the Boston Garden being renamed the TD Banknorth Garden. Please, someone replace David Stern before what Jamey said happens
Totally agree. David Stern is really pissing me off right now. And sorry to correct you, 'Dre, but the TD Banknorth Garden is a different building than the original Garden, so it's a bit different. I'm over products being put on arenas.
Good stuff, Moose. Where is the Boston/L.A. recap? :)
Thanks, B. And man, what a game. There was nothing Pierce could've done. If you haven't done it already, B, check my comment on the post below on the LBJ/Kobe debate. And respond to my comment on WBBL.
it just bussiness. They arent changing the game, they are just re-naming it to get it sponsored so they can do it. Would you rather see this, or nothing?
Moose, I just couldn't agree with you more. I guess the move is understandable from a business standpoint, but sad and despicable from all others. Yes, the NBA is a business, but I wish they could forget that just for a little and let the game be played.
True that, Karl. And BET, it's just crazy. They sold HORSE? Come on, man. And I already said that I'm excited that it's happening.
even if they called it "HORSE, sponsored by Geico", that would be okay.
But this is ridiculous. You're right, moose.
no Moose, America is all about the sponsorship. GEICO wanted the world to know its name, so it payed the NBA big $$$$ for advertisement purposes. In a country where the commercials in the super bowl are more of a reason to watch then the actual game, i dont see how you could scream murder. I understand Stern needs more money, and i respect that.
GEICO is more appropriate than HORSE though. If you lose HORSE, that means you had to undergo being a ho, then a whore, then a pluralized whore, and then finally a dumb stallion. That's just mean.
The comment I made at SLAM ... It brings me back to my youth when my friends and I would invest no-look, underhanded scoops, and then taunt each other with, "I bet I could make you spell GEICO twice before you could make me spell GE." This is basically the NBA's version of fucking up Jello pudding ... I wasn't aware it was possible.
BET, I think Stern is greedy. He's re-naming a playground staple for $$$. Thanks for the agreeing, all of you guys. And, Hembergler, thanks for that too, I guess :).
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