Hi all. I wanted to do this when I started out blogging, but I was worried that my reader (thanks again, mom!) wouldn't comment on the post, thus making the post look silly. Now that I have multiple readers (paid by me, of course), here goes. Open Bias is where I don't say much and let you do most of the talking. Let's meet in the comment section, shall we?
My question this morning was, why do people dislike watching the Spurs so much, and like watching the Patriots so much? They're essentially the same team to me: hardworking, limit turnovers, bring in aging veterans looking for one last shot at rings, draft extremely well, have a very intelligent coach, win multiple championships and contend every year, etc. Yet people find the Patriots interesting and the Spurs boring. Why so? You might also ask, why did people disparage the Colts for their lack of toughness, and yet extol the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks for much the same type of wide-open offense?
Is it a difference between sports?
Is it small media market vs. big media market?
Is it East Coast Bias?
Is it the attitude of commentators?
Is it that the NBA is more of a highlights league, while the NFL is more of a "watch the whole game" league?
Is it somehow xenophobism (hating foreigners), because the Spurs stars are all foreign?
That's just a few ideas. Let me know in the comment section.
I'm not sure people do find the Patriots any more interesting than the Spurs; a lot of football fans are pretty bored with the Pats. Success breeds hatred.
ReplyDeleteThe goal of fans is for their team to win a title so other fans can hate them.
The patriots have a star, the captivating Tom Brady. He is able to drive the perception interest in the Patriots. Tim Duncan is not so dreamy.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right, hcic. But what I find odd is the bias that somehow football coaches are geniuses, while basketball coaches are not necessarily so smart. Bill Belichick gets a lot of respect, but who's writing books about Greg Poppovich? Is it me, or do you find that assumption there too?
ReplyDeleteAnd that's a funny closing line, Pacifist Viking.
Is it a difference between sports?
ReplyDeleteGood question.
As a basketball fan first I would rather watch the Spurs but that aside, let's see:
First in discussing the markets, the New England sports scene is far more rabid than the San Antonio scene. Advantage: Patriots.
East Coast Bias? In that New England is a far bigger media market. Add that to the fact that the Patriots play most of their games against East Coast teams while the Spurs are playing Denver and Houston, etc.
Is it the attitude of commentators? I can't see this as a reason, honestly.
Is it that the NBA is more of a highlights league, while the NFL is more of a "watch the whole game" league? Again, in my opinon, not so much. In order to appreciate both teams you have to be a fan and watch the whole game. But both sports are highlight film sports.
Is it somehow xenophobism (hating foreigners), because the Spurs stars are all foreign? I would like to say no, but it could be. Never thought of it like that but Brady is the lily white all-american QB. Let's look at the Spurs: Duncan makes Pete Sampras look verbose, Manu isn't the strongest of stars, and Tony Parker is from France and kinda wimpy looking. If Shaq or even LeBron was on the Spurs and he was dating Eva Longoria, no one would disrespect the Spurs.