Disagree. If it actually happened as I described before, I would be the first all over it. I just chose not to reach for things that are not there.
Giving superstars preferential treatment - That happens. That's not a conspiracy against individual franchises. No matter who ends up with a Superstar, that is going to happen.
Giving favorable treatment to teams with the best markets - This is a general statement. I have seen plenty of small market teams have success in the NBA.
Manipulating the draft lottery to ensure that talent is spread around to organizations that can better make use of it, or that need to to be viable. - If that was the case Orlando never would have ended up with Shaq. Lebron never would have gone to Cleveland. I could go on.
Changing the foul calls within a game to keep games closer, help comebacks, keeping fans interested. - 99% of the games in the NBA are NOT decided by 1 point. Again, Refs are not smart enough to pull something like this off on a regular basis without getting caught. Look at the average margin of victory for teams in the top 10 in the NBA. There was not much "comeback" from the teams they played night in and night out.
Look there is no doubt that big companies use bully tactics to get ahead in their industry. However, what makes the NBA, the NFL etc different then the examples you cited is that the players, teams etc. is their product. I am not saying professional sports is not above doing something underhanded. We all have seen examples of it. I just don't buy into the league is fixed when so many things they do are evidence against that.
Many professional league have made many changes over the years to promote parody. The leagues put in cap in place to even the playing field is just one example.
When I start seeing crap teams in big markets start getting the finals and small market teams like the Hornets etc.. all of the sudden become devoid of talent because all those player end up in big market teams...then fine. I would buy it in a heart beat. I will the first to shout from the rafters.."fix".
You look for overt evidence as if these guys are stupid. With the kind of money they have, they can hire people that are smarter than you or I. The business plan must be to spread the league, not let certain markets die. The bulls were invigorated with a pick(1/50 chance, an important market, perhaps top 4-5 in the NBA), a near dead cleveland franchise was invigorated, as well as portland. These guys can move around in FA(Lebron is gone to NY soon, and shaq DID go to LA), and their deals will be approved to larger markets in time.
If the refs are instructed to give teams coming back the benefit of the doubt in the playoffs, so what, its just a general instruction. If the refs are instructed to give the home team the advantage, so what? If they are instructed to crack down on shaqs physicality, or allow alot of contact by big men on little guys out on the perimeter, so what? If the refs are instructed that certain players should be watched, so what? The number of no calls every game can be adjusted by 5-10 fouls and it makes a big difference. No calls favor some teams over others("defensive" teams are favored by no calls), it would be easy to just change general instructions for each series and adjust the outcomes, including letting the home teams win an overwhelming number of the games. This by the way is maximum profit(max number of games), like the second round of the playoffs where home teams were 23-2. Refs hardly ever talk to the media, the NBA is very protective even limiting replays. If you work for a comapny like that you are not permitted to talk to the public plainly, its likely in your employment agreement. Only an idiot would throw away a 170K a year job for 7 months work. There are plenty of changes that can be made to officiating that obviously will not get your suspicions up, youre looking for the bad teams to win, the most egregious scenario. At that point everyone will believe its a conspiracy.
The NBA has taken on a WWF style promotion campaign and pushes certain superstars(not all) to maximize their profits. The WWF is a way more profitable scheme, and it appears the NBA understands that kind of promotion. The NFL is way different, hasnt had financial issues at all, dont see 5 teams winning all the championships either. Only the NBA has so many championships by "dynasties". Most NBA observers acknowledge the league does poorly with parity, that dynasties are more profitable by far, for everyone, all owners. I dont think the league is currently micromanaging every game, but I do think that the gasol deal smells bad. I do think that CP3 is protected by the refs much more than Nash. Hell, bowen got suspended for ATTEMPTING to kick CP3, but not for beating nash and kneeing him in the nuts. Superstar rules are not applied evenly, kendrick perkins is less likely to be called for a phantom foul than amare stoudemire, and much more likely to get a no call. The NBA has a rules problem, unlike other sports. Tom Brady is not allowed to pass from beyond scrimmage(kind of like travelling in the NBA), because he's tom brady. In the NFL, the league protects all quarterbacks with the same rules, special rules are not used to the best QB's. THe NBA is what it is, a league that is in finiancial decline and they are desperately trying to make it more profitable, but they are not stupid. I dont go through life expecting everryone else to be stupid, especially billion dollar interests, they are not stupid or they wouldnt be where they are.
so true.
