Iverson

Yeah, I remember 80s basketball and its overrated. Basketball is just as good now and in terms of talent. In fact, there's more talent now in the NBA then there was in the 80s. Old white guy media types will disagree, but its true. Players are MUCH better defensively now, they are more athletic (bigger, stronger & faster), more players have 3 point range and players are more versatile. The fact that HS players came into the league at an earlier age does lead to some initial sloppiness, but overall it has helped players like Kobe, Garnett, McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Lebron, etc. become better players throughout their career. If any time there was a talent dilution in the league, it was due to the lack of talent that entered the league between the years of 86-91. In this period I think there actually was a lack of talent in the NBA and it allowed some of the stars from the 80s to remain superstars when younger guys really should have taken their place.

Iverson

I didn't say it would work here or that it would create a balanced league. All I said is that it would reward teams for being good and punish teams for being bad. You agree that in American sports finishing with the worst record should mandate that you get the first pick in the draft? "Congratulations... your team did the worst in the league. Here is your prize for your ineptitude!"

Imagine if you ran a sales force like this. Would you give all of the best leads and to the worst salesmen from the previous year? I doubt it. I'm not saying that the Euro soccer model would or could work with US sports. But to claim that "the system is flawed" because the team that has performed the poorest (worst record) is not rewarded with the top draft pick I think is flawed logic. My only point is that the Euro soccer system has done a much better job of rewarding those who deserve to be rewarded.

Real World

Sports leagues are not a sales force. They are not an open market. They are exempt from anti-trust laws. They are basically a chain akin to Buger King or McDonald's, only, without each others competition. Leagues make money through a fan base, who are their customers. They have no competition but themselves. The reason they reward the worst franchises with the best draft picks is because they need some form of parity. If the same team(s) are always at the top, and your other 25+ franchises have zero chance of competing, you won't have a league for very long. You simply cannot compare a professional sports league to the real world, since the real world has actual competition.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

dhamz

Only baseball is exempt from anti-trust laws.

QuiGon

For all practical intents and purposes, the NFL is as well. Back in the 80's when the USFL sued the NFL for being a monopoly under anti-trust laws, the USFL won the lawsuit - and was awarded one whole dollar in punative damages.

QuiGon

It's amazing how many people don't understand the concept you just explained here... The New England Patriots are not in competition with the Broncos or 49ers or Jets or Seahawks or Cowboys or whatever... oh sure, they compete on the field but from a business standpoint they are partners. Creating a system where weak teams have a chance to improve helps the league overall.

Iverson

Who doesn't understand that?

I understand that weak teams have a better chance to improve by getting a top draft pick. I understand the current system allows for more parity and is better for business of the league. Does that make it the perfect system? I would say no. I'm not saying that Euro soccer is perfect or that it would work here in the US. But the fact that all of the teams in soccer have something to play for all season long is much better than teams purposely resting players so that they can have a better chance at being rewarded for ineptitude.

QuiGon

Countless Yankees fans I have had arguments with (mostly on alt.sports.baseball.ny-yankees). I wasn't trying to say that anyone here in this forum didn't understand what RW was saying and I apologize if it seemed that way.