It’s Thursday and I just realized that I don’t have a post for tomorrow. I try to write ahead about two weeks, but I skipped this Friday’s “non-sales” post for some reason … and completely forgot until just now. So, what can I write about? What’s happening right now? Well, all I’ve been hearing about in the world of sports is the NFL Draft that starts tonight – and the amount of air-time it’s getting on sports radio and TV is driving me nuts. We’re in the middle of the NBA and NHL playoffs, baseball is hitting its stride, and the airwaves are dominated by a draft that doesn’t really matter. It’s one of the most overrated sporting events of the year and gets way too much attention by the sports media. Aha … I’ve got my topic for tomorrow.
The Top 10 Most Overrated Sporting Events of the Year (in no particular order)
College Football Spring Games. Did you read where Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt was unsatisfied with their attendance of 65,000 fans at their spring football game? Really? Its practice.
NBA Dunk Contest. How many ways can one dunk a basketball? Yet, every year there’s drama leading up to who is going to participate and who got robbed in the scoring. Come on … really?
NFL Schedule Release Day. I understand this one for season-ticket holders or anyone planning to attend a game in the coming season; but why does it have to be on every sports talk show that day?
Spring Training. I love baseball - I really do. However, don’t fill up the score ticker on the bottom on the TV with a bunch of pre-season games. During Spring Training, we’re in the middle of the playoff surge in the NHL and NBA, March Madness is happening, and the pre-Masters golf tourneys are in process … I don’t care what the C-team for the Dodgers did that day.
Notre Dame – USC Football Game. I think this game has been relevant twice in the last fifty years. They’re not conference foes and they’re usually not any good, but for one week a year we have to hear all the stories of the past about this “rivalry”.
NBA Lottery. This isn’t even the draft – it’s a bunch of loser teams waiting to hear about their fate in the upcoming draft. (For the record, I’m an Orlando Magic season-ticket holder so it’s possible I’m a little bitter, and tired of having to care about this event.)
PGA Championship. Since they’re moving this to earlier in the season, it might become more significant to me. However, after watching the other three Majors and several other tournaments, I’m usually tired of golf by the time of the PGA.
NFL Pre-Season. Take my Spring Training words above and magnify them by 10x.
New York Knicks “fill in the blank”. If the New York Knicks do anything, that’s all the sports media talks about for days – anything. Sure, it’s the same scenario with the Yankees, Cowboys, and Lakers. Except one thing: those teams have won championships in the last 45 years.
College Football Signing Day. Along the same argument as draft days … who cares? I know: “It’s not about the x’s and o’s – it’s about the Jesse’s and Joe’s”. And I agree – you’ve gotta have the talent. However, why does the media spend all of my listening time discussing some kid in Wichita that has never left the state of Kansas and may never see the field as a starter?
And finally, although there isn’t a category or defined event, anything an athlete does on social media gets way, way, way too much attention by the sports media. Who cares if Kevin Durant liked a photo on Instagram that made fun of his former teammate?
Whew … I feel a lot better right now. That was fun. I felt pent-up anger flowing through and out of the fingers as I typed. Well, I gotta go … the draft is in twenty minutes.
