Raptors TV broadcast thread

[KeonClark]

I have no issue including stuff like bowling, golf, curling, auto racing, etc... as sports, but that's not really the issue.

The issue is that none of those secondary sports should ever take priority over the big-4 sports, especially over Canada's lone NBA franchise, on Canada's premier sports networks.

Hockey, I get, especially when Canadian NHL teams are involved. Same with baseball and the Blue Jays. I would hope that the Raptors would come 3rd, ahead of football (NFL with no Canadian teams and the CFL), considering a national (opposed to regional/provincial) audience on the main network.

Football (nfl or cfl) is way ahead of the raptors. Football is number 2 in this country

[Nilanka]

Well my point is ok, your opinion is valid. But where does this argument lead? Debating whether Basketball or Curling are more legitimate sports is like debating whether blue is better than red.

There is no objective reason for superior athletes to get more TV exposure than lesser ones. What Kevin Martin does debatably requires more skill and finesse than what Lebron James does, and he debatably conducts himself in a more professional manner.

So how do you decide which of those things should, in an ideal world, get more TV exposure? You don't. What gets more TV exposure is what people want to watch, and clearly, in Canada, it is curling.

Well blue and red are both considered "colours". But which is the better colour between blue and ravioli?

Yes, people want to watch curling in Canada more so than basketball. And that's what annoys me. I'd be just as annoyed if TSN was bumping the Raptors for the Spelling Bee (regardless of what the viewership dictates).

[KeonClark]

How did this become basketball vs curling? Old people like curling. Case closed.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I have no issue including stuff like bowling, golf, curling, auto racing, etc... as sports, but that's not really the issue.

The issue is that none of those secondary sports should ever take priority over the big-4 sports, especially over Canada's lone NBA franchise, on Canada's premier sports networks.

Hockey, I get, especially when Canadian NHL teams are involved. Same with baseball and the Blue Jays. I would hope that the Raptors would come 3rd, ahead of football (NFL with no Canadian teams and the CFL), considering a national (opposed to regional/provincial) audience on the main network.

[stooley]

Everything ever written in these forums (besides referenced statistics) is subjective.

I'm sure most readers on this site would agree that Lebron is a far superior athlete to Kevin Martin (the curler). And that's how this all ties into the OP. Superior athletes should, in an ideal world, get more TV exposure than lesser ones.

This politically correct notion that "everything is equal" is clouding reality.

Well my point is ok, your opinion is valid. But where does this argument lead? Debating whether Basketball or Curling are more legitimate sports is like debating whether blue is better than red.

There is no objective reason for superior athletes to get more TV exposure than lesser ones. What Kevin Martin does debatably requires more skill and finesse than what Lebron James does, and he debatably conducts himself in a more professional manner.

So how do you decide which of those things should, in an ideal world, get more TV exposure? You don't. What gets more TV exposure is what people want to watch, and clearly, in Canada, it is curling.

Therefore, clearly, many people believe that Curling is deserving of more airtime than Basketball, and I'd imagine that they have some reason, equally as legitimate as yours, for thinking that.

[Nilanka]

I consider any game that involves any physical component beyond simply using ones fingers skillfully to be a sport (ie Krokano is not a sport, nor is PicK-Up-Sticks). (You could talk me into including darts as a game, although if we want to be real, it's actually elbow down.) Anything that involves skilled fingers alone, or is purely mental (ie checkers and chess) is a game. Bowling is a sport. Some would say a lesser sport, but a sport nonetheless.

Fair enough. But my point is less about the semantics, and more about the clear physical distinction between basketball and curling from an athletic standpoint.

[Nilanka]

This is stupid. What you define as a sport is subjective.

Lebron James is a far superior "athlete" to Kevin Martin, the curler. Does this make what Lebron does more admirable? Maybe. To some people it does. To some people it doesn't.

I don't see what the issue is here with you two.

Everything ever written in these forums (besides referenced statistics) is subjective.

I'm sure most readers on this site would agree that Lebron is a far superior athlete to Kevin Martin (the curler). And that's how this all ties into the OP. Superior athletes should, in an ideal world, get more TV exposure than lesser ones.

This politically correct notion that "everything is equal" is clouding reality.

[JimiCliff]

I suppose my comments being considered "intelligent" is debatable. But to summarize, my opinion is that there are sports, and then there are pastimes. Although curling involves practice and skill, as Axel mentioned earlier, so does Bowling. It's not right to stand LeBron James and Kevin Martin (the curler) next to each other and call them both "athletes".

As for the strength of arguments, that's also debatable. I'd place more importance on Zack Lowe's opinions than Bill Walton's.

I consider any game that involves any physical component beyond simply using ones fingers skillfully to be a sport (ie Krokano is not a sport, nor is PicK-Up-Sticks). (You could talk me into including darts as a game, although if we want to be real, it's actually elbow down.) Anything that involves skilled fingers alone, or is purely mental (ie checkers and chess) is a game. Bowling is a sport. Some would say a lesser sport, but a sport nonetheless.

[stooley]

I suppose my comments being considered "intelligent" is debatable. But to summarize, my opinion is that there are sports, and then there are pastimes. Although curling involves practice and skill, as Axel mentioned earlier, so does Bowling. It's not right to stand LeBron James and Kevin Martin (the curler) next to each other and call them both "athletes".

As for the strength of arguments, that's also debatable. I'd place more importance on Zack Lowe's opinions than Bill Walton's.

This is stupid. What you define as a sport is subjective.

Lebron James is a far superior "athlete" to Kevin Martin, the curler. Does this make what Lebron does more admirable? Maybe. To some people it does. To some people it doesn't.

I don't see what the issue is here with you two.



PS: the merriam-webster definition of sport (the noun):

: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other

: sports in general

: a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

[Nilanka]

Perhaps, but you haven't offered any intelligent comments on the matter. You don't have to step on an NBA floor to comment on the NBA, but your arguments will be much stronger if you have. Hence, why networks bring in former players as analysts and we sit in our basements on RR.

I suppose my comments being considered "intelligent" is debatable. But to summarize, my opinion is that there are sports, and then there are pastimes. Although curling involves practice and skill, as Axel mentioned earlier, so does Bowling. It's not right to stand LeBron James and Kevin Martin (the curler) next to each other and call them both "athletes".

As for the strength of arguments, that's also debatable. I'd place more importance on Zack Lowe's opinions than Bill Walton's.

[RobertArchibald]

I didn't think that's what this thread was about actually. Nobody expects bball to get equal or more coverage than hockey.

Has anyone noticed how poorly timed replays are on Raps broadcasts? Where sometimes we miss entire sequences?

What about poor cuts? And I don't just mean the Milwaukee game. Every now and then, for a replay, or at a whistle, or whatever (luckily most at least happen at or around a dead ball), the broadcast will cut at the wrong time.

What about the quality of broadcasters? And I don't mean our commentators, but can anyone explain why Rod Black, who clearly has no fucking clue about bball and is easily one of the worst sports broadcasters in Canadian history has become the host of Raps pregame, halftime and wrapup segments? As well as occasional courtside reporter?

Then there are glitches as well....the score guys not properly adjusting the graphic...How many times has the score changed, they put up the wrong one, it seems to freeze for a minute, then they have to take it down completely and put it back up again?

Honestly, it's like the Raps broadcasts are done by the worst personnel possible.

And then you get simple things...like being bumped from their own scheduled slot on main TSN for rain delayed NASCAR. Not a late-running live event (in the sense of the actual race going late). The race didn't start until after the Raps game would've ended. They could've easily bumped their pointless recorded footage of old NASCAR highlights to TSN2, instead of bumping the Raps game. Then they could've made the switch again at halftime, or as it turns out, not missed a beat and gone back to the feed after the game.

These are the kinds of things that irk fans. No one cares about coverage compared to hockey. People are tired of poor quality work on their broadcasts, and inexplicable second class treatment compared to other niche sports.

Completely agree with the bolded. Obviously the budgets are higher for a network like ABC, but the Raptors production team isn't even comparable. I guess it all comes down to fans though. The more people watch, the bigger the budgets become, the better the broadcasts get.

[RobertArchibald]

You don't even need to try something in order to intelligently comment on it.

None of us have ever stepped foot onto an NBA floor, but according to Mr. Archibald's logic, this forum should be shut down.

EDIT: I've never ran for office. I guess that means I shouldn't be voting :|

Perhaps, but you haven't offered any intelligent comments on the matter. You don't have to step on an NBA floor to comment on the NBA, but your arguments will be much stronger if you have. Hence, why networks bring in former players as analysts and we sit in our basements on RR.

[RobertArchibald]

I'll start at the end, with the bolded statement. You are incredibly naive and ignorant to think that everyone who criticizes something hasn't tried it before. That seems to be your constant defence, yet is entirely an ignorant assumption on your part. I've played golf, I've played curling, and many other games.

All sports are games but not all games are sports. Golf requires a lot of skill to be good at. Body control, which is really a subset of dexterity is a physical skill, same as balance, and hand-eye coordination. Same as curling, pool, darts, and bowling.

No point arguing with someone who's entire argument is based on opinion. You're right, I did assume you hadn't tried other SPORTS, that was wrong. But, am I wrong to assume you've never played a 72-hole golf tournament or played a round-robin curling championship? If you had, I believe you would have a much better appreciation of the athleticism needed to compete at the highest level.

[Charlie Brown]

Yep. Done with cable. Just canceled it. Ballstreams for me.

+1 had my cable shut off last week, going with ballstreams in the offseason when it's cheaper.

[stooley]

Yeah I know, was just fooling around. I foresee basketball becoming as popular as hockey in Canada, soon, like in 4 years, when your NT will start winning medals and Raptors will become an contender.

noooo, no, no lol.

lets just match the jays first.