I agree with Stan...
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NBA's Christmas gift
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/columns/johnireland/blog
If he has to work an NBA game, Ireland doesn't care what day it's played.
December 25, 2009, 10:30 PM
By: John Ireland
After watching the Los Angeles Lakers play their worst game of the season,
and do everything to ruin Christmas for Lakers' fans everywhere, I'm sure
the idea of canceling the annual Christmas Day game sounds pretty good.
After all, Kobe & Co. have played on Dec. 25 for 11 straight years and,
after the Cleveland debacle, have a record of 4-7.
If it were up to Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, he would cancel every
Christmas Day game, every year. The Magic played the Boston Celtics in
Orlando, leading up to the Lakers-Cavs game on Friday.
"Obviously, basketball is very important to me, but there are some days of
the year where it's got to take a backseat to something," he said.
Although the NBA makes millions by playing on holidays, Van Gundy would
skip the paycheck. Orlando is scheduled on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Year's Day this season.
"The league has been good to all of us in terms of what we get out of all
these TV contracts and everything, so it would be a little disingenuous to
complain too much," Van Gundy said. "But if I had my way, we'd take a five-
day break at Christmas. I mean it."
Mychal Thompson, who works with me at 710 ESPN Radio, agrees with Van
Gundy.
"I don't like it," Thompson said of the Christmas Day games. "As a
Christian, I would rather be home celebrating the birth of Christ with my
family and friends."
Both Van Gundy and Thompson make reasonable points -- but I disagree with
both men.
I've worked almost every Christmas Day since I went into broadcasting 25
years ago. I figured out something early in that run that I think is still
relevant today: Not everybody has something to do at Christmas.
I'm lucky. I'm married, have a child, grew up in Southern California and
see my family almost every year. But when the Lakers go out on the road for
Christmas, I never complain. Because I realize that it gives millions of
fans something to watch and something to look forward to. Is it an
inconvenience, especially for the road team? Sure. But think about this:
There are tons of people who don't have anything to do -- and almost every
business, restaurant, mall and amusement park is closed.
On a secondary note, the financial aspect of playing on Christmas Day makes
it almost impossible for the NBA to say no. This year, the league was asked
to play five games on Christmas, more than usual. The networks know those
games will attract huge ratings because almost everybody is at home and
could be in front of a TV. So let's say the league follows Van Gundy's
advice and stops playing games on Dec. 25. What do you think the networks
would do next? If you guessed "call the NFL," you have a chance to be a
broadcast TV executive.
In this economy, you think any league is going to walk away from guaranteed
money? No chance.
For most fans, sports have always been an escape. A diversion from a
reality that, for a lot of people, isn't all that great right now. Even
though the Lakers laid an egg on Christmas, that's not the point.
If Van Gundy and I have to work an NBA game (a huge privilege, by the way),
I don't care what day the game is played. Just tell me what time you want
me there.
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september.org:
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I really only dislike day games...all basketball should be played at night so
games on Christmas night would be ok with me