preseason ouchies

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

Interesting trend we're seeing.  Scottie Pippen, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, 
Reggie Miller, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson are all 
expected to miss at least some, if not all, of the preseason.

Interesting in light of the ruckus that was raised over the World 
Championships last summer.  Remember?  Nobody wanted to play, and the team 
we sent couldn't come together well enough to win against some tough 
teams.  People questioned whether they wanted to risk their players on what 
they wrongly thought of as a worldwide exhibition match.

Now, the real exhibition games are here, and a lot of players are sitting 
out.  Wasn't the point of these games supposed to be giving the teams a 
real game situation to work out the offseason kinks, and gel the fabled 
"team chemistry" before playing games that "counted"?

Now, suddenly, the NBA looks like a MASH unit.  If it's not surgery delayed 
all summer long, it's an ill-considered fight on a yacht.  It's the kind of 
"coincidence" that makes really bad storytelling.  We're supposed to 
believe that this is all an accident.

But don't worry, they say--everyone will be here when the "real" games are 
played.

Now, I have no doubt some of the injuries are genuine, and the result of 
unfortunate timing, or out-of-shape players.  But all of them?  No chance 
do I believe that kind of unbelievable confluence, and I write comic books 
professionally.

Let's face it.  The preseason game is going the route of the dodo and the 
sooner we realize it the better.  We have an 82 game season, plus playoffs, 
a commitment to the Olympics every 4 years, and after last summer, the 
World Championships every two years.  Nobody is going to want to do all of 
that, so something must give.  In addition, past preseasons have had their 
share of real injuries, and that's something nobody wants--injuries in a 
meaningless game.

Since contracting teams (a smart idea, I think) is not going to happen, the 
only option left is eliminating preseason games.  It'll start slow, with 
key  marquee players missing games, then the attendance will 
drop.  Suddenly it will become a financial burden, and before you know it, 
the NBA board of Governors will be holding a unanimous vote to end 
preseason altogether.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the Celtics Beagle Website at
http://users.mfi.net/fluteaphrael/celticsbeagle/celtics.html