I Got Questions/If I Ruled The World
Note: This is a two part series on what I would do to improve certain things in the W. Some suggestions are still relevant...some aren't. Look for an updated, more realistic version in the future on Common Sense Isn't Common.
Originally posted on April 6, 2004.
WNBA training camp begins on April 25th and I have a few questions for the Commish:
Why does the league act as if all its players are cornballs with no lives outside of basketball?
Why doesn't the league realize that the steady increase in the level of play and talent will increase ratings and attendance and not dumb vogue commercials with no substance and the players looking awkward and uncomfortable?
Why does it seem that if a player isn't a mother and/or married, the only people who get interviewed during those fluff pieces are siblings, parents and coaches? Do WNBA players not have friends?
Why is it that I can watch 7 years of interviews about the same 5 players and still feel that I know nothing about them? But then I can talk to a friend of a player for 7 minutes and be amazed at how interesting the player is, and not in a gossipy way, just a general knowledge way, you know, beyond what their favorite food is.
If a player stood up for anything controversial the way athletes did in the 60's, would that player suddenly cease to exist in those ridiculous promotional campaigns?
Why does the league treat us straight fans as if we're all idiotic homophobes who can't handle the fact that our favorite player might be gay?
Along those lines, is it safe to say that the league office would be in an uproar if a star player discussed their sexuality in an uncensored magazine interview? Or just did an uncensored non fluff piece in the first place?
Can you put a G rating on your website to once and for all let all of us over 13 realize that no matter how many times we visit it and pray otherwise, it sucks.
Can we ask players 20 good questions?
When will the WNBA wake up and jump on the reality tv bandwagon? Why do I feel that unfortunately, even this show would be so editted that once again, the most interesting players would only come across as lifeless basketball junkies?
Can someone answer my questions?
Originally posted on April 9, 2004.
If I was WNBA Commissioner, que dreamy music.....
At least 50 game seasons......the current season is too short.
Keep the current 13 teams, or add at most 1 more team to even it out.....Stop expanding in places with no fan base.
Better music in the arenas....no MTV, play stuff that would hype up the players and the fans.
Change the playoff format. The top 7 teams make the playoffs, regardless of conference, with the team with the best league record receiving a 1st round bye....I want to see the best teams in the league play when it matters most and the WNBA's eastern conference was about as good as the NBA's.
Change the uniforms....jerseys are meant to be tucked in.
Scrap the vogue commercials.....they stink, they're pointless and nobody cares.
Instead, we could have gasp, highlights of them actually playing.....what a concept. A tried and true concept.
You want to get creative, have a song people actually like playing in the background. One that relates to whatever's going on in the highlight. If it's a clip full of defensive plays, have a hard rap or rock instrumental. If it's jump shots, show the shots in slow motion with a slow r&b or jazz instrumental.
Get rid of that dumb sneaker rule.....Make it interesting, it'll spice up endorsements.
Charter flights....increase league moral, every owner has at least one pj anyway. That's private jet for all you small money folks out there. bwaaaaaaaaaahhhhh I crack my broke self up sometimes.
Advertise to everyone.....Since when do morals get in the way of making money in this country. It's all green. Go after all that disposable income.
Get a good gimmick....This Is Who I Am is not the move.
Better arena giveaways.....I don't need a lunchbox.
More organized events with players, some catered to kids, some catered to adults, but make the players accesible at these events, not just fish in a fishbowl.......Let the players and fans interact in their comfort zones, no autographs, just chill.
Better organization.....don't send the media guides out 2 weeks before or after the season starts. What kind of sense does that make?
Better refs....these suck.
Hear the streets......I can count maybe 5 players in the league now with street credibility. Stop acting like that kid in Nebraska or Jane All American are your only types of fans.
Qualified coaches....not just NBA rejects, wannabes, used to be's and never will be's. Cooper, Laimbeer, they're great, and they're the exception. The W in WNBA should extend to the coaching staffs and the front office. There are many qualified women and the players don't deserve to be treated as a stepping stone.
Take a more grassroots approach to advertising....the NBA is 50 something. What works for them won't work for you.
Inspire better media coverage......the AP for all road games thing sucks.
Promote the best players and personalities....but realize that there are more than 10 of them.
Better merchandise....I would never walk out the house with some of the stuff you all put out there.
Better announcers....half the ones you have now can't even pronounce the player's names.
Behind the scenes reality show.....what are the players really like. Lisa Leslie's probably the only one that can front for 18 hours a day for an entire season.
Have every team have tryouts in their local areas that only players from that particular area can attend, regardless of whether they went to college or not....even if they don't make it, get the community involved. Give people opportunities. You might find a player that can impact your team, but for whatever reason didn't take the traditional route.
Have winter All-Star games for charity....give back and remind people you exist in December.
Change the format of the real All-Star game.
12 players from each conference:
2 straight up fan favorite picks
the best player at every position (5)
the most improved
the unsung hero
the coaches pick
2 vets over 33
And last, for now....encourage the differences in players' personalities. Let them be who they are instead of corporate puppets. Let them do interviews live or in print that have nothing to do with the WNBA and more with who they are as people.
Originally posted on April 6, 2004.
WNBA training camp begins on April 25th and I have a few questions for the Commish:
Why does the league act as if all its players are cornballs with no lives outside of basketball?
Why doesn't the league realize that the steady increase in the level of play and talent will increase ratings and attendance and not dumb vogue commercials with no substance and the players looking awkward and uncomfortable?
Why does it seem that if a player isn't a mother and/or married, the only people who get interviewed during those fluff pieces are siblings, parents and coaches? Do WNBA players not have friends?
Why is it that I can watch 7 years of interviews about the same 5 players and still feel that I know nothing about them? But then I can talk to a friend of a player for 7 minutes and be amazed at how interesting the player is, and not in a gossipy way, just a general knowledge way, you know, beyond what their favorite food is.
If a player stood up for anything controversial the way athletes did in the 60's, would that player suddenly cease to exist in those ridiculous promotional campaigns?
Why does the league treat us straight fans as if we're all idiotic homophobes who can't handle the fact that our favorite player might be gay?
Along those lines, is it safe to say that the league office would be in an uproar if a star player discussed their sexuality in an uncensored magazine interview? Or just did an uncensored non fluff piece in the first place?
Can you put a G rating on your website to once and for all let all of us over 13 realize that no matter how many times we visit it and pray otherwise, it sucks.
Can we ask players 20 good questions?
When will the WNBA wake up and jump on the reality tv bandwagon? Why do I feel that unfortunately, even this show would be so editted that once again, the most interesting players would only come across as lifeless basketball junkies?
Can someone answer my questions?
Originally posted on April 9, 2004.
If I was WNBA Commissioner, que dreamy music.....
At least 50 game seasons......the current season is too short.
Keep the current 13 teams, or add at most 1 more team to even it out.....Stop expanding in places with no fan base.
Better music in the arenas....no MTV, play stuff that would hype up the players and the fans.
Change the playoff format. The top 7 teams make the playoffs, regardless of conference, with the team with the best league record receiving a 1st round bye....I want to see the best teams in the league play when it matters most and the WNBA's eastern conference was about as good as the NBA's.
Change the uniforms....jerseys are meant to be tucked in.
Scrap the vogue commercials.....they stink, they're pointless and nobody cares.
Instead, we could have gasp, highlights of them actually playing.....what a concept. A tried and true concept.
You want to get creative, have a song people actually like playing in the background. One that relates to whatever's going on in the highlight. If it's a clip full of defensive plays, have a hard rap or rock instrumental. If it's jump shots, show the shots in slow motion with a slow r&b or jazz instrumental.
Get rid of that dumb sneaker rule.....Make it interesting, it'll spice up endorsements.
Charter flights....increase league moral, every owner has at least one pj anyway. That's private jet for all you small money folks out there. bwaaaaaaaaaahhhhh I crack my broke self up sometimes.
Advertise to everyone.....Since when do morals get in the way of making money in this country. It's all green. Go after all that disposable income.
Get a good gimmick....This Is Who I Am is not the move.
Better arena giveaways.....I don't need a lunchbox.
More organized events with players, some catered to kids, some catered to adults, but make the players accesible at these events, not just fish in a fishbowl.......Let the players and fans interact in their comfort zones, no autographs, just chill.
Better organization.....don't send the media guides out 2 weeks before or after the season starts. What kind of sense does that make?
Better refs....these suck.
Hear the streets......I can count maybe 5 players in the league now with street credibility. Stop acting like that kid in Nebraska or Jane All American are your only types of fans.
Qualified coaches....not just NBA rejects, wannabes, used to be's and never will be's. Cooper, Laimbeer, they're great, and they're the exception. The W in WNBA should extend to the coaching staffs and the front office. There are many qualified women and the players don't deserve to be treated as a stepping stone.
Take a more grassroots approach to advertising....the NBA is 50 something. What works for them won't work for you.
Inspire better media coverage......the AP for all road games thing sucks.
Promote the best players and personalities....but realize that there are more than 10 of them.
Better merchandise....I would never walk out the house with some of the stuff you all put out there.
Better announcers....half the ones you have now can't even pronounce the player's names.
Behind the scenes reality show.....what are the players really like. Lisa Leslie's probably the only one that can front for 18 hours a day for an entire season.
Have every team have tryouts in their local areas that only players from that particular area can attend, regardless of whether they went to college or not....even if they don't make it, get the community involved. Give people opportunities. You might find a player that can impact your team, but for whatever reason didn't take the traditional route.
Have winter All-Star games for charity....give back and remind people you exist in December.
Change the format of the real All-Star game.
12 players from each conference:
2 straight up fan favorite picks
the best player at every position (5)
the most improved
the unsung hero
the coaches pick
2 vets over 33
And last, for now....encourage the differences in players' personalities. Let them be who they are instead of corporate puppets. Let them do interviews live or in print that have nothing to do with the WNBA and more with who they are as people.
posted by universalh8r | 12:10 PM
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