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 Posted: Wed 11:07, 25 Sep 2013 Post subject: Basketball in Britain-spun1 |
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Basketball in Britain
Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (7) is defended by Johan Petro in a 116-103 Nets win at O2 Arena in London, England. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images) Don't sweat it NBA. So there weren't many stories - make that NO stories - in most of the 13 daily papers you can buy in London in the leadup to the two-game series between the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets.
The NHL didn't fare any better when it held a couple of regular-season games here in 2007 between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings,[url=http://woolrichitaliaoutlet.albirank.net/][b]Woolrich Arctic Parka Cadriano Milano[/b][/url], and the NFL didn't exactly monopolize the sports pages back in October when the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers played at Wembley Stadium.
I often use the "London Taxi Driver Test" to gauge interest in these things,[url=http://duveticacanadashop.halod.com/][b]duvetica jackets canada[/b][/url]. I took one of the iconic London black cabs back from Canary Wharf on Thursday night after catching up with a few of my old NBA colleagues,[url=http://monclerjackenoutletonlineshop.albirank.net/][b]Moncler Jacken Online[/b][/url]. I asked the driver if he was a basketball fan.
"You gotta be jokin' mate,[url=http://duveticadownjacket.webmium.com/][b]Duvetica Down Jacket For Men[/b][/url]," he said in a thick East London accent. "It's all football here, innit?
"Spurs [Tottenham, not San Antonio], that's my team, that's what I follow. There's too much scoring in basketball."
What about American football or hockey or baseball or any of the other North American sports,[url=http://cheapsoccercleatswithfreeshipping.webmium.com/][b]http://cheapsoccercleatswithfreeshipping.webmium.com/[/b][/url], I asked. He quickly rattled through the usual response that you'll receive from most Brits towards those sports: American football? Not enough action; Hockey? Can't follow the puck but the fighting is good; Baseball? Not as good as cricket.
There you have it. In terms of British interest, there isn't much of it.
However,[url=http://billigeparajumpersjackenoutlet.olimx.com/][b]Parajumpers Jacken[/b][/url], general interest and press coverage may not be the best way to measure success. Sure,[url=http://billigeparajumpersjackenoutlet.olimx.com/][b]Parajumpers Jacken Outlet[/b][/url], getting minimal coverage from the British press and drawing a blank stare from most Londoners when you ask them whether or not they are aware of the NBA being in town is a drag.
But it is worth noting that all of the above mentioned events have been - or are in the midst of being - big successes at the box office. Ticket sales for the two NBA games have been excellent,[url=http://duveticacanadashop.halod.com/][b]duvetica jackets canada outlet shop[/b][/url], with 18,689 fans on hand Friday and Saturday's game reportedly close to a sellout. ex-pats in Britain - most of them living in Greater London - and,[url=http://norgeparajumpersjakkeonline.albirank.net/][b]Kodiak Parajumpers Jakker[/b][/url], crucially for the NBA, countries with more of a basketball culture - Spain,[url=http://duveticacanadashop.halod.com/][b]duvetica down jackets[/b][/url], Italy,[url=http://norgeparajumpersjakkeonline.albirank.net/][b]Norge Parajumpers Jakke[/b][/url], France - are well connected to London through frequent and cheap flights.
"It's close to home," said Raptors point guard Jose Calderon,[url=http://rogerviviershoes.webmium.com/][b]Roger Vivier on sale[/b][/url], a Spaniard. "So a lot of my friends and family are going to be here.
"It's a lot easier for them than going to Toronto. I think it's exciting and a good thing for us to do."
'A bit of an experiment' I met a couple from Spain in Central London on Friday and the man had a Jose Calderon jersey pulled over his sweater. They had flown in from Madrid to make a weekend of it. People like them are the biggest reason why the NBA,[url=http://woolrichdeutschland.gengfl.com/][b]Woolrich Deutschland Woolrich Arctic Jacket Online Shop Damen and Herren outlet deutschland[/b][/url], NHL and NFL are so attracted to London for their out-of-country experiments - you can come and operate in an English environment and still have the rest of Europe at your doorstep.
"A franchise in London isn't out of the question within the next decade," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said. "The world changes so quickly and part of the reason we're here now with these regular-season games is a bit of an experiment.
"We want to see how the players react to the travel, how they react travelling back to the United States … see what the market is for ticket prices and television rights for these games. There's a lot to look at, but we're hopeful."
Two well-attended games, a little coverage in the European media and a nice break from the usual mundane road trip for the staff of both clubs - from their perspective and regardless of the fact that the two games haven't managed to capture the attention of the average London sports fan,[url=http://norgeparajumpersjakkeonline.albirank.net/][b]Norge Parajumpers Jakke Online[/b][/url], coming across the pond to dip a toe in the water has been a worthwhile exercise for all involved.
Kyle Turris scored twice and Craig Anderson made 31 saves Monday as the Ottawa Senators shut out the Florida Panthers 4-0 in their home opener of the lockout-shortened season,[url=http://monclerjacketsoutlet.albirank.net/][b]Moncler Outlet Online Store Moncler down jackets Moncler jackets on sale[/b][/url].
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