Comments on: postscript to Dwyanu Wadibili http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/ A graduate student in mathematics and a modern languages major take on politics and culture with the following aspirational motto: ‘Deregulate your mind.’ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:39:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: shonk http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-11098 shonk Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:03:51 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-11098 <blockquote>The only reason I could think for their American counterparts at ABC to do otherwise is that they believe criticism of the officials will ultimately lead to a decline in support for the league and a decline in their profits.</blockquote> <p>I suspect the much more important consideration is that ABC/ESPN doesn't want to piss off the league and jeopardize their ability to broadcast games. The fear being, presumably, that if they criticized the refs too much, the NBA would sell broadcast rights to NBC or something.</p> <p>Of course, the alternative explanation is that the commentators are idiots, which is a possibility that shouldn't be discounted too lightly.</p> The only reason I could think for their American counterparts at ABC to do otherwise is that they believe criticism of the officials will ultimately lead to a decline in support for the league and a decline in their profits.

I suspect the much more important consideration is that ABC/ESPN doesn’t want to piss off the league and jeopardize their ability to broadcast games. The fear being, presumably, that if they criticized the refs too much, the NBA would sell broadcast rights to NBC or something.

Of course, the alternative explanation is that the commentators are idiots, which is a possibility that shouldn’t be discounted too lightly.

]]> By: Curt http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10967 Curt Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:26:32 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10967 <p><i>On a sidenote, having been away from the country for 7 years, I was unprepared for the irritating sycophantic nature of their banter.</i></p> <p>Yeah, well, just try watching a Congressional debate on CSPAN.</p> On a sidenote, having been away from the country for 7 years, I was unprepared for the irritating sycophantic nature of their banter.

Yeah, well, just try watching a Congressional debate on CSPAN.

]]> By: Tom http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10960 Tom Mon, 03 Jul 2006 19:28:44 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10960 <p>I caught extended highlights of games 1-5 of the finals on British terrestial tv the other night, and it got me thinking about the nature of American commentary. British broadcasters pick out highlights of every controversial call in every major sport and discuss them as neutral fans would. They don't pull any punches when it comes to criticising officiating. The only reason I could think for their American counterparts at ABC to do otherwise is that they believe criticism of the officials will ultimately lead to a decline in support for the league and a decline in their profits. But wouldn't it make more sense if the commentators approached the game from an objective standpoint? That way fans who notice these things would feel like their concerns were being heard and players would be more likely to change their ways. On a sidenote, having been away from the country for 7 years, I was unprepared for the irritating sycophantic nature of their banter.</p> I caught extended highlights of games 1-5 of the finals on British terrestial tv the other night, and it got me thinking about the nature of American commentary. British broadcasters pick out highlights of every controversial call in every major sport and discuss them as neutral fans would. They don’t pull any punches when it comes to criticising officiating. The only reason I could think for their American counterparts at ABC to do otherwise is that they believe criticism of the officials will ultimately lead to a decline in support for the league and a decline in their profits. But wouldn’t it make more sense if the commentators approached the game from an objective standpoint? That way fans who notice these things would feel like their concerns were being heard and players would be more likely to change their ways. On a sidenote, having been away from the country for 7 years, I was unprepared for the irritating sycophantic nature of their banter.

]]> By: shonk http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10594 shonk Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:24:47 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/06/28/postscript-to-dwyanu-wadibili/#comment-10594 <blockquote>The author also tries to criticize this visceral dislike of that sort of behavior by implying that everyone sharing this feeling is a chauvinistic racist, which is one of the most infuriating (and, unfortunately, increasingly popular) ad hominem argument strategies out there.</blockquote> <p>Well, thank god there's someone out there who isn't afraid to speak out against the outrageous racism that the Iberians, Italians and Dutch suffer from. If Dr. King were still alive, he would no doubt march in solidarity with them.</p> The author also tries to criticize this visceral dislike of that sort of behavior by implying that everyone sharing this feeling is a chauvinistic racist, which is one of the most infuriating (and, unfortunately, increasingly popular) ad hominem argument strategies out there.

Well, thank god there’s someone out there who isn’t afraid to speak out against the outrageous racism that the Iberians, Italians and Dutch suffer from. If Dr. King were still alive, he would no doubt march in solidarity with them.

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