Why are many basketball fans so obsessed with rankings?

Because vast majority of people here are mad d[I][/I]i[I][/I]ck-riders. These aren't really basketball fans. They are fans of a player, at a level where you start to think that basketball is secondary to the hero-worship.

For reasons that probably had to do with some character flaw, these people have decided to take a [B]team[/B] game and ignore its most basic precept. They treat it as tennis, boxing, Formula 1 racing, or any other individual sport. They couldn't care less about the team. Their hero is in competition with everyone. Opposing players, naturally. Teammates for playing time and the alpha-dog role on the team. Referees, David Stern...you name it. These people only watch games because they have someone to root for. The only time they'll watch other teams is when there is some sort of an agenda. Usually, it's to watch some perceived rival of their hero, hoping he'd fail. We're talking a complete inability to watch the games as a neutral, enjoying the action itself.

Of course these people have a pathological need to compare players. They identify with and live through them. Browse through any Kobe vs MJ, LeBron vs Kobe or whatever other player comparison thread and tell me you don't get the feeling that these people feel that if their hero is better than someone else's, it somehow positively reflects on themselves.

Rankings players is a good way to dig up the past and reminisce about it. It's a form of nostalgia.

No harm in that.

Talking of which, here's the top 100 of all-time: [url]http://basketballjournalist.blogspot.com/2011/07/ranking-top-100-players-in-nba-history.html[/url]

And here's the top 100 if we put every NBA player in the same draft: [url]http://basketballjournalist.blogspot.com/2011/08/nbas-ultimate-fantasy-draft.html[/url]

:pimp:

[QUOTE=RobertdeMeijer]By arguing for or against players, I learn things about the players. It's also a good practice in logic.

On a higher level, it's a case for reasonable judgement, something severely lacking in post-modern society.
For me it's a relief that people can actually agree on things that are heavily subjective. [b]It's also a relief we actually can discuss these things in a somewhat intelligent manner[/b][/QUOTE]

:oldlol:

Whew. Thanks for the laugh.

[QUOTE=SuperPippen]Of all of the sports I've followed and have been a part of informed discussions/message boards, it seems like basketball is the sport with the fan following that's the most obsessed with RANKINGS.

Why?

Why is it that this sport inspires so many "fans" (at least, those on this website) to blindly sing the praises of their favorite player(s)and to aimlessly bad-mouth and and criticize others?

Many of the people on this website seem to not actually care about discussing basketball; rather, they seem to be content rambling on and on about any certain player's placement on "the GOAT list," a completely abstract, hypothetical type of ranking system, which many people seem to regard as some sort of omnipotent, end-all be-all final judgment of a player's true merit.

I ask you, is this constant arguing ever going to accomplish anything? When did the fans become so fixated on mindlessly comparing every little facet of one player to another?

Why do we continue to endlessly over-analyze these players to the most minute, inconsequential detail, only to use these observations and details to belittle other players and posters with differing opinions?

Why is it that no other sport seems to have this problem (at least, not to the degree to which it is manifested on this board)?

Will we ever be able to simply appreciate all of the great players that have impacted the beautiful game of basketball in their own ways, without devolving into constant argument?[/QUOTE]

Excellent post. I have been blessed to have watched, first-hand, every great player since the early 60's. Instead of appreciating what so many of them brought to the game, there seems to be way too much "bashing" of them. I have been a life-long Laker fan (well, since 1968-69), but two of my most memorable seasons were in following a group of relative "no-names" in the Warriors of 74-75 and 75-76. Virtually no one would have anticipated that team, which was just ripped apart before the season, to become a champion. And their playoff run was one of the most remarkable in history, too. They had to overcome a 3-2 series deficit, and a late game deficit in that game six, to win the WCF's. Then, they staged four straight 4th quarter comebacks to sweep the heavily-favored Bullets for the title. The following season, they romped the best record in the league, but they constantly came from behind to win games. I recall listening to a radio broadcast on the way to my night classes, and they were down by 20 at the half against Detroit. When I returned, I was amazed that they had not only won that game, but by 31 points. And, in a bit of irony, they were then stunned by the 40-42 Suns in the WCF's.

My point being...that was one of the few times in my life where I really didn't have a huge rooting interest in the game. Wilt had retired a couple of seasons before, and my Lakers quickly went downhill. So, I just enjoyed objectively watching the game in those years, and found it to be every bit as enjoyable.

And I grew up hating Russell and the Celtics. And later, Bird and the Celtics. And, I'm sorry to say, it has only been in the last few years that I have come to respect and appreciate what they accomplished. Same with Koufax, Mantle, Montana (yes, I despised him for years), and some others. And when I look back on my many years of following sports...I have to ask myself, would those games back then have been as memorable without Russell and Bird? Hell no. They would have been like watching a routine Lakers-Clippers game now. Those players made the game's great, in both winning and losing. I can't recall lower points in my sporting life than the '68 Sixers and the '84 Lakers, nor a higher "high" than the '67 Sixers and the '85 Lakers.

The bottom line...enjoy these great players. They make the games worth watching, win or lose. And, sadly, the years fly by, and their careers come to an end way too soon. 10 years from now, Lebron will be an old veteran, playing on his last legs, and there will be a new rising star who will be the rage. And there will be those here on this forum claiming that a prime Jordan would be a scrub in that league. 25 years from now, the youth of that generation will be laughing at the vintage footage of MJ, and they will be comparing him to Cousy.

So, prepare yourselves now. It will come. In the meantime, enjoy the moment.

[QUOTE=ThaRegul8r]:oldlol:

Whew. Thanks for the laugh.[/QUOTE]

Define irony.

[QUOTE=jlauber]Excellent post. I have been blessed to have watched, first-hand, every great player since the early 60's. Instead of appreciating what so many of them brought to the game, there seems to be way too much "bashing" of them. I have been a life-long Laker fan (well, since 1968-69), but two of my most memorable seasons were in following a group of relative "no-names" in the Warriors of 74-75 and 75-76. Virtually no one would have anticipated that team, which was just ripped apart before the season, to become a champion. And their playoff run was one of the most remarkable in history, too. They had to overcome a 3-2 series deficit, and a late game deficit in that game six, to win the WCF's. Then, they staged four straight 4th quarter comebacks to sweep the heavily-favored Bullets for the title. The following season, they romped the best record in the league, but they constantly came from behind to win games. I recall listening to a radio broadcast on the way to my night classes, and they were down by 20 at the half against Detroit. When I returned, I was amazed that they had not only won that game, but by 31 points. And, in a bit of irony, they were then stunned by the 40-42 Suns in the WCF's.

My point being...that was one of the few times in my life where I really didn't have a huge rooting interest in the game. Wilt had retired a couple of seasons before, and my Lakers quickly went downhill. So, I just enjoyed objectively watching the game in those years, and found it to be every bit as enjoyable.

And I grew up hating Russell and the Celtics. And later, Bird and the Celtics. And, I'm sorry to say, it has only been in the last few years that I have come to respect and appreciate what they accomplished. Same with Koufax, Mantle, Montana (yes, I despised him for years), and some others. And when I look back on my many years of following sports...I have to ask myself, would those games back then have been as memorable without Russell and Bird? Hell no. They would have been like watching a routine Lakers-Clippers game now. Those players made the game's great, in both winning and losing. I can't recall lower points in my sporting life than the '68 Sixers and the '84 Lakers, nor a higher "high" than the '67 Sixers and the '85 Lakers.

The bottom line...enjoy these great players. They make the games worth watching, win or lose. And, sadly, the years fly by, and their careers come to an end way too soon. 10 years from now, Lebron will be an old veteran, playing on his last legs, and there will be a new rising star who will be the rage. And there will be those here on this forum claiming that a prime Jordan would be a scrub in that league. 25 years from now, the youth of that generation will be laughing at the vintage footage of MJ, and they will be comparing him to Cousy.

So, prepare yourselves now. It will come. In the meantime, enjoy the moment.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I know that feeling!

I guess that's what people do when there is an abundant of talent and nothing else to do.

People should stop arguing and appreciate the fact that we have so many amazing players in the league.

[QUOTE=AlphaWolf24][B][SIZE="7"]Kobe>MJ[/SIZE][/B][/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://abload.de/img/footballwelkerstare1n7srb.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=All Net]Because thats all they can talk about?[/QUOTE]

Like half the people on this site.

Interesting thread topic...how would you guys rank this thread against other ISH critical threads?

[B]Basketball is subjective based on the individual. Where in other sports there is generally clear cut line of greatness and elite. Some of it is haggled upon but there isnt a great stock in the matter. Basketball is more childish and opinionated. There is more bias towards what ever rank you want to justify. I guess thats what makes Football and Baseball so great to talk about awesome team sports. Its the sport itself and cherish the greatest moments and reverence the great players of the past where in basketball they are discredited.[/B]

[QUOTE=SuperPippen]Of all of the sports I've followed and have been a part of informed discussions/message boards, it seems like basketball is the sport with the fan following that's the most obsessed with RANKINGS.

Why?

Why is it that this sport inspires so many "fans" (at least, those on this website) to blindly sing the praises of their favorite player(s)and to aimlessly bad-mouth and and criticize others?

Many of the people on this website seem to not actually care about discussing basketball; rather, they seem to be content rambling on and on about any certain player's placement on "the GOAT list," a completely abstract, hypothetical type of ranking system, which many people seem to regard as some sort of omnipotent, end-all be-all final judgment of a player's true merit.

I ask you, is this constant arguing ever going to accomplish anything? When did the fans become so fixated on mindlessly comparing every little facet of one player to another?

Why do we continue to endlessly over-analyze these players to the most minute, inconsequential detail, only to use these observations and details to belittle other players and posters with differing opinions?

Why is it that no other sport seems to have this problem (at least, not to the degree to which it is manifested on this board)?

Will we ever be able to simply appreciate all of the great players that have impacted the beautiful game of basketball in their own ways, without devolving into constant argument?[/QUOTE]
Baseball is just as bad. The uninformed usually always believe Babe Ruth was the best to ever play the game. They would be wrong.

[QUOTE=Rameek][B]Basketball is subjective based on the individual. Where in other sports there is generally clear cut line of greatness and elite. Some of it is haggled upon but there isnt a great stock in the matter. Basketball is more childish and opinionated. There is more bias towards what ever rank you want to justify. I guess thats what makes Football and Baseball so great to talk about awesome team sports. Its the sport itself and cherish the greatest moments and reverence the great players of the past where in basketball they are discredited.[/B][/QUOTE]


That's why the NFL has better ratings than NBA.

[QUOTE=COnDEMnED]Baseball is just as bad. The uninformed usually always believe Babe Ruth was the best to ever play the game. They would be wrong.[/QUOTE]
[B]Perfect example of a misguided opinion with an NBA mindset...[/B]

[QUOTE=Rameek][B]Perfect example of a misguided opinion with an NBA mindset...[/B][/QUOTE]
It's neither misguided nor an opinion.