The Big Three Sports
lies with the NFL, and the NBA only coming in third because of the MLB’ tradition and history.
Finally, I will attempt to examine the overall health of each starting with the NBA. The general health of the NBA is improving every year with continued negotiations between players and owners bettering the financial situation in the league. The retirement of star players and the aging of many others is requiring the aid of young talent to carry the torch forward for the league to survive. There are many fresh new talents, but there may not be enough to sustain the popularity of the sport. The NBA is in desperate need for a young, fresh and enthusiastic generation of superstars, coupled with good management and player relations, to succeed. Perhaps with the ever growing popularity of NCAA basketball, this fresh talent will be produced.
Major League Baseball is still considered the second most popular sport in the country and is one of those sports that almost every youth gets signed up for. However, college baseball is never as hyped up as college football or basketball, but hype never follows to closely with the MLB. Perhaps the MLB’s new found affinity for the foreign market will lead to a growing world interest and an increased local interest from its fans. As for the business aspect of the league, it appears that the player/manager relations are still very unstable, but are slowly getting better. However, the growing disparity between the rich and the poor clubs and the ever diminishing competition value could potentially lead to the downfall of many baseball cities. This could prove dangerous for the league as a whole. Perhaps if every player that begins to prosper in small economic clubs like the Pirates or the Expos, chooses not to leave for the Yankees and Braves of the league, the competition value and the consumer interest will begin to rise again.
As for the NFL, things are looking nowhere but skyward for Americas new found pastime. Football is very marginalized as cities pride themselves on the winning of their team. Television ratings are soaring, deals are coming in left and right from television companies to beer companies and the Super Bowl remains a major venue for the unveiling of new commercials. Fan turnout at stadiums is high, many new stadiums are being built or renovated causing a surge in ticket and merchandise sales. The competition level is very high, games are often times close and fans interest levels are peaked during playoff time when almost every team still has a legitimate shot at going.
Overall, the rating is NFL #1, MLB #2, and NBA #3. Sports are a business, the spectator has become the consumer and it is the organization that first realizes that prospers. No business can survive without its consumers and every business must target those consumers primarily, for without them their product is nothing. Athletics has become this product and it is imperative that the “big three” continue to recognize this and keep [next page]