The worst part about the tanking situation is that so many teams are doing it, a healthy portion of the NBA fan base is going to be even more disappointed than usual come draft time. And if OKC or the Celtics somehow gets a first or second pick, the existential devastation is going to tough to come back from.
In the way it may be in the long term "best interest" of the young players on a tanking team to lose games, and yet they compete to win anyways, I choose to believe fans are allowed to participate in that same way. Why not win? It goes against he inherit nature of a competitor to play for a loss. It goes against the nature of a fan (a true fan) to root for a loss.
Totally agree with your take that losing on purpose destroys the soul. Why do you think it's always the same teams tanking year after year? I think it's because losing becomes their way of life, an expectation within the building, a culture that even the most talented players fall victim to. I read that the Jets have had 17 first round picks since 2015, most in the NFL. And yet, they haven't made the playoffs once. No matter who you bring in there, they come into a situation where they expect to lose and they continue to do so. Do enough losing and the fans start to expect it too. I see this with my Minnesota Vikings. We suck in big games, so the fans get nervous when we play in a big game, and the energy is palpable. The loss manifests itself. None of this is good for the human spirit. "You play to win the game," as Herm Edwards once said. Everyone mocked him for it, but he was right on the money.
Really great piece, loved the line "In other words, after clocking out of my depressing job, I had the privilege of clocking into my depressing hobby: watching the Brooklyn Nets lose."!
The worst part about the tanking situation is that so many teams are doing it, a healthy portion of the NBA fan base is going to be even more disappointed than usual come draft time. And if OKC or the Celtics somehow gets a first or second pick, the existential devastation is going to tough to come back from.
See this is why you bet Egor over 2.5 3's every day. A reason to feel good, win or lose.
Also I can't remember who said it but MPJ's looks like a create-a-player where one of the three "hair" sliders is locked in place for some reason.
Excellent stuff. Incoming MPJ 40-piece to fully set off the Knicks death spiral
In the way it may be in the long term "best interest" of the young players on a tanking team to lose games, and yet they compete to win anyways, I choose to believe fans are allowed to participate in that same way. Why not win? It goes against he inherit nature of a competitor to play for a loss. It goes against the nature of a fan (a true fan) to root for a loss.
yes…such a good framework
Totally agree with your take that losing on purpose destroys the soul. Why do you think it's always the same teams tanking year after year? I think it's because losing becomes their way of life, an expectation within the building, a culture that even the most talented players fall victim to. I read that the Jets have had 17 first round picks since 2015, most in the NFL. And yet, they haven't made the playoffs once. No matter who you bring in there, they come into a situation where they expect to lose and they continue to do so. Do enough losing and the fans start to expect it too. I see this with my Minnesota Vikings. We suck in big games, so the fans get nervous when we play in a big game, and the energy is palpable. The loss manifests itself. None of this is good for the human spirit. "You play to win the game," as Herm Edwards once said. Everyone mocked him for it, but he was right on the money.
Really great piece, loved the line "In other words, after clocking out of my depressing job, I had the privilege of clocking into my depressing hobby: watching the Brooklyn Nets lose."!