OT: The Basketball Tournament
How amazing does this sound? A nationwide, five-on-five basketball tournament open to almost anyone, with social media elements and a half-million-dollar, winner-take-all prize. And all how long before Jalen tries to get the Fab Five together for one last run?
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/welcome-to-the-basketball-tournament/
February 28th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
Wow the board is really humming today. This is the 15th thread and it's not even lunchtime.
More to the point, it's hard to see this being very entertaining. You have semi-pro or retired pro players competing for money, which is essentially just postseason in the minor leagues.
February 28th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
You are going to get absolutely no work done today!!
Yeah. We didn't get much done on Friday either. ;)
February 28th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
This tournament would have pretty much zero interest to me.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
February 28th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
In his defense, the OP did ask people how it sounds to them. Champswest simply was stating his opinion, which he had been invited to provide.
February 28th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^
That's what we're shooting for. We we really surprised that Dodge Ball wasn't at least an Olympic exhibition sport after Ben Stiller showed the world what it could be!
February 28th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
Yeah, I dunno about a 32-team tournament being open to almost anyone. You basically still have to be really good at basketball.
Now, a real nationwide tournament open to as many teams as want to play? Find four other schlubs and participate? A 500,000-team deal. Set up local and then regional brackets and play it out over several months. That would be fun to follow. You'd still have the winners being really good at basketball, but it'd be a lot more interesting.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
Agreed. They should do it FA cup style. 9000 soccer team tournament in England... surely we could get a 500,000 team bball tournament here.
February 28th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
I'm imagining the Denslow cup bracket from BASEketball
FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia: All models and aspirations. [We've got one in the USA that's over 100 years old, too. The US Open Cup. It's awesome.]
The coolest part of an open tournament is that it's open. Anyone can create a team. Anyone can play.
And you're probably right re: a 500,000 b-ball tournament.
btw: Barca's back, huh? So much for it being a down year! Mes que un club.
btw(2): fan owned team. vote on the president. how great is that?
February 28th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
Don't think that's necessarily true. High profile athletes will draw press attention, but are they going to post the kind of content and interact with the public as well as the people who have figured out how to maximize the reach of social media? Debatable. People like to root for the underdog, right?
This is Joe Schmo vs. the Volcano, to mix Joe metaphors.
Also, we really, really hope your use of "Joe Schmoe" is a reference to the Joe Schmo Show. Matt Kennedy Gould is our favorite Kennedy.
And, we're thinking of hiring Ralph Garman to bid adieu to all the losing teams by saying, "Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. You're dead to us now. Please leave." Good idea?
That's the goal. Gotta start somewhere. btw: Even in that scenario, you're going to have to be really, really, really, ridiculously good at basketball to win. Nevertheless, TBT is open to anyone.
February 28th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
I wish there were some way we could get a team of all former Michigan players together. That would be a great squad.
February 28th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
ZACK NOVAK IF YOU'RE READING THIS YOU NEED TO JOIN A TEAM STAT
February 28th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
February 28th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
We love hockey. Hmmmm
February 28th, 2014 at 2:55 PM ^
Novak, Douglass, Simms, Anthony Wright and an honorary slot for Patrick Beilein. Still need 3 more. Maybe Kevin Pittsnoggle can join.
That would be a great team.
February 28th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
It could be interesting but probably not until the final 4. People love the NCAA tournament because they are at least somewhat familiar with the teams. People love seeing upsets and teams like FGCU and VCU make their runs. But those teams have a season long track record and they have that magical double digit seed in front of their name. This tournament will have none of those elements. A #7 seed beats a #2 seed! Who cares we know nothing about these teams or where they should be seeded. And ESPN hasn't been cramming storylines down our throat for 4+ months.
Can't tell if that last sentence refers to something you like or don't like. ;)
The point of this model and our site (www.thetournament.com) is that the onus is on the players and the GMs to tell you who they are, to get you to want to root for them, and to tell you their stories. You're right about there not being a season's worth of games by which to judge a 1 seed vs. a 16 seed. But, honestly, is boxing or MMA any different? What's better than tuning in to a big time prize fight with a champion everyone acknowledges as GREAT, only to see him get a comeuppance from an unknown who is a LOT better than people realized?
When you don't have a large sample size, the chances for random variation increase.
We hope you'll log on and see if any of these teams catch your fancy.
February 28th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
None of them played any major college ball. Bunch of guys that played high school ball together.
Feel free to register and become a fan of the Butternut Midgets. All your help would be greatly appreciated!
This is what TBT is all about. We saw their profile on there. Good luck to Butternut!
February 28th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
February 28th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
Great idea. Get on it!