Think for a second about what NBA doesn't have. Mass viewership. Think for a second about what India has in plenty - Population.
How to make fellow indians watch some game, which they are not used to - Make some indians play in the league.
I agree that NBA is great and the players are simply astonishing. But the deal is definitely not for India's benefit.
Now lets think why only cricket in India. During my childhood, when I went to a sporting shop to buy something, the only item that was cheap is a small rubber ball. I cant even buy a chess board, with my pocket money.
Now, later on you can get only a cricket bat for 40 rupees and not even a shuttle-cork bat. Then, when I switch on a sports channel or news channel, I see only cricket. There are ad-campaigns for cricket.
So dear government, if you want to encourage some sport, guess from where you have to start? Yes reduce the cost of sporting items for non-crickets sports. Atleast give some tax sops. Encourage, coaches to train people in non-cricketing sports, again through tax sops. Fund major basketball events, form more and more state level teams.
Then get back to us. We will be here to appreciate those moves. No appreciation, without all these.
RE:My two cents
by Ajith Nair on Aug 30, 2007 03:35 PM
useful thoughts, just that watched sports and played sports are not the same....some sports will continue to be hugely watched sports but rarely played....Formula 1 for example
RE:My two cents
by aman bhargava on Oct 29, 2007 05:03 PM
hey as we all can see that in this site too there is another topic for cricket (look above left side of b ball )so why dont make topics for other games including basket ball it wud work definitely
A lot of BFI officials will go to America (Even if NBA people are ready to coem to India and teach) to understand basketball there and will come back with basket full of things purchased with Governments money for thier home.
RE:Another Scam in Making
by cool guy on Aug 30, 2007 03:14 PM
Shut up Saurav...sachin is GOD.....dont get jealous becoz he is earning more than ur generations ever can..
RE:Another Scam in Making
by Saurav on Aug 30, 2007 03:17 PM
yes we saw ur rubbish god in WC....runs away when the team is in trouble....Sachin is a loser
RE:Another Scam in Making
by cool guy on Aug 30, 2007 03:21 PM
GOD can never help everybody everytime...he gives happiness and sadness in equal proportion...
RE:Another Scam in Making
by Unlimited Storage on Aug 30, 2007 05:09 PM
oh get first of making sachin a god.... god is making money from your pocket.... if sachin can make money from 1 billion why the talk of pressure of 1 billion... absolute rubbish...
In India people only want cricket and know to cry and criticise when the pathetic team loses everytime...shame on such mentality people who cant accept other sports....Cricket is becoming pathetic due to our highly paid buggers like Sachin
Watching the Indian cricketers play has become more boring than ever before. We can easily see that our players lack that fightback spirit. Why should one invest a good 8 - 9 hrs of his day only to see the Indian flag on the losing side? We better show our cricketers the right place!
RE:Spineless cricketing!
by Sparrow on Aug 30, 2007 01:56 PM
let anything hapn to world... whether we sign agreements about basket ball or nuclear power it doesnt matter, indians want to discuss cricket in some or other way. what to say...
RE:Spineless cricketing!
by Anshul on Aug 30, 2007 02:00 PM
Rightly said. As long players like Ganguly, Agarkar, Munaf Patel and PIG Ramesh powar r playing, and Prasad and Robin Singh as India's coaches it's hard to see India winning.
good to see such steps from BFI. Basketball is surely entertaining to watch and but India has a long way to go if it wants to compete against the likes of Puerto Rico, Argentina etc (forget US. The way US team is playing in current playoffs from American region, nobody will be able to match them in the Olympics) Still it is a good way to promote the game and who knows someone makes another Chak De on Basketball after 5-10 years :-)
RE:nice initiative
by suchhando chatterjee on Aug 30, 2007 03:54 PM
Brother THis is very nice initiative I agree. I am from a place place in west bengal which has produced many national level players for basketball. As I was also playing the same game I can understand how much it is good for us to play with these guys.
But this is a way of marketing NBA in India. I am sure after this thing starts indiand will have enthu in watching basketball as well.
Training Infrastructure is very important for body contact games. I hope that will improve with this.Technical and physical strength will increase. we need more indoor basketball stadiums. Hope we can see india playing in the final round of the olympics within next 10-15 years.
India on sale! Great fares to India on Air France. Air France is offering its world-renowned service at bargain prices for flights from the US to Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore.
RE:Goo but why call them ''heroes ''
by ajay singh on Aug 30, 2007 01:59 PM
atleast some of them have promoted campaigns against diseases and other charity programs . Our cricketers are only promoting Colas, biscuits etc. Our crickets have scored only on one count - they don't have any cases filed against them like domestic violence, drunken brawls etc.
yes we shud not label them as heros. Our media shud call them NBA stars .. thats what the US media calls them
