Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Beneath the Surface

While it is hard to argue that the NHL playoffs are more exciting than the NBA playoffs, at least for a person whose favorite sport is neither hockey or basketball, the NBA have the NHL beat this year. And it had nothing to do with the sports themselves.

In the Stanley Cup Finals we have the Boston Bruins v Vancouver Canucks. Boston Bruins have not won the Cup since 1972, Vancouver has never won in their 40 years of existence, nor has a Canadian team hosted Lord Stanley's cup since 1993. There's also a great match up between 2 top goalies, Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas, with great players such as the Sedin twins, Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle playing, as well. And while we are guaranteed some great hockey (in my mind, there are very few better things in the world than playoff overtime hockey), there is something lacking. Hype.

Sports can only sell themselves so well and besides the fact that neither team has won the cup in a long time, there aren't many subplots to the Stanley Cup Finals, at least not for a neutral.

The NBA Finals on the other hand, have more substance than just the game itself. As with every series you have the aging star that no one knows how he is playing so well, Kidd and you have a super star at the top of his game but this series could be his final chance, Dirk. But this is not special, what is special is the emotion that the Miami Heat invoke from even the most causal fan. Whether you love them or hate them or simply fall somewhere in between, the Miami Heat and the personality of the players is what makes the NBA Finals.

The NHL could take a page out of the NBA's book and not try and crush young and talented players like PK Subban and encourage sport based on personality as well as excitement. And at the same rate, the NBA needs to look at why they are getting so much PR and that is because players are the main focus. Not the refs, not the owners, and not a potential Franchise tag.

Basketball and Hockey are great sports, but to neutral fans, the games are only as interesting as their subplots.

-Max

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