lol, it'd be game over in the Midwest. And Seattle!

Nah. Only the NHL has less of an influence outside of metropolitan regions. NBA radio networks don't carry well; go to St. Louis and ask the general population, who are mainly Blues fans (and NHL vs. NBA animosity is real), and they'll tell the NBA to take a hike.

and viciously conflicted. It's like a two-headed monster of evil that I cannot compute.

It also fuels the perpetual tension between NHL fans who watch other sports and the NBA itself. Hence, the commentary about "not looking like 'normal' basketball" you get from Midwestern-based fans (ironically, Midwestern NBA fans have traditionally brought strong support to the league, save Indiana).

Yes, they would...on TSN.

+.08

Got 'em, coach.

I thought I had something witty, but the Book of Austin had me covered. Co-sign.

Nah, we need a college football title game to be on the line. Then KILL IT WITH FIRE.

Yeah, I'll pass. I don't hold my breath for hastily planned sports movies, and Draft Day is right up there.

They have a machine that's basically if James Dolan owned the Yankees, Knicks, AND Rangers while having voting interest in the Giants and Red Bulls: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_Lea…

Or the white Southern dude that tells his black friend the "n-word" means "stupid person" and he's using it in that context. *rolls eyes*

So, has anyone told Jezebel about this yet?

False, false, and false. Women who are big sports fans, from my experience, are LESS likely to watch basketball/the NBA in particular. Don't have a theory why.

Shoulda told the owners in 1967 that this would've happened. NBA has had the same amount of games for 47 years; it ain't changing anytime soon. It's all in promotion.

They might be beating the league's own network as the cable channel of choice for hardcore NFL fans. On the other hand, MLB/NBA/NHL aficionados (and they're shrinkin') are left to retreat to their own league's low-carriage channels or tertiary blogs (see: the Basketblogger Nation that Magary poked fun at.)

Columbus did get the short end of the stick with that TV deal. I can't even go past one of their stories without the fanbase piling on them for it.

My feelings exactly. I can't even turn on SportsCenter in the NFL offseason to think about anything other than WALL-TO-WALL NFL OFFSEASON COVERAGE. But the people love it, so draft debates go hand-in-hand with March Madness cooler talk. C'est la vie.

Football is so big, you don't even give a damn about other sports anymore. Neither do casual sports fans.

Applications for Mr. Catalon's job flying in, starting...now.