Basketball as a World Sport

[ws26]

How extreme do you think it will get with players going abroad to play around the world? Will there be a day when NBA teams and Euro teams are evenly matched, the NBA recognizes this competition and people start creating tournaments around the world like soccer? I think this would be a great idea, with World Cups being played every now and then.

[Hitman33]

I agree, it would be great. I don't think the NBA having teams in Europe is going to happen, as brothers from the hood are not going to be to keen on being drafted by Paris or Moscow. But if there was some type of tournament, where the best TEAMS around the world could compete against each other, I think that would be awesome.

[britblazerdude]

I think it would be so cool if Basketball was the #2 worldwide sport behind soccer. Can you imagine the FIBA world championships being turned into a huge event like the World Cup. 2 billion worldwide viewers for the final. That will be the day.

A champions league/euroleague style event between teams from not only europe but from around the world.

[El Turco]

I think it would be so cool if Basketball was the #2 worldwide sport behind soccer.

isnt that already the case?

[britblazerdude]

Eh, I would put Rugby ahead of Basketball.

[DubOverdose]

Eh, I would put Rugby ahead of Basketball.

Pretty sure basketball is #2 by the numbers...

[asdfgh]

Eh, I would put Rugby ahead of Basketball.

Maybe in Britain and some Commonwealth countries, basketball however is way more popular than rugby worldwide. Rugby is probably not even top 5 in popularity.

[BubbaTee]

What about cricket and table tennis? They're pretty big in the world's 2 biggest countries.

[Farm Raid]

It's probably gonna be alot like the MLB and the Japanese Leagues. There's no doubt the MLB is generally better, but I bet the best Japanese team could give the Pirates a very good series, maybe beat them outright.

[britblazerdude]

Yeah cricket is actually the second most popular team sport in the world. Kind of weird. I found taht out abou a week ago.

anyway here is the official list:

http://www.sportingo.com/all-sports/a9188_revealed-ten-most-popular-sports-world-no-prizes-guessing-whats-no

(Hockey refers to field hockey for all you idiots that don't know)
And what he says about the NBA being the most popular league in the world is NOT true. It is the English Premiership League

[Farm Raid]

In what way is that official?

[britblazerdude]

Because it has relatively accurate estimates for each sport...it was the best one i could find. It's not "official" but it is as close as you can get. thank you for your insightful comment

[Farm Raid]

Well, here's a tip: Don't say something is 'official' and then have a link to a guy saying "Well this sport is popular in these countries, which have a population of this, so if this percentage of people are fans than the sport has this many fans." Keep that one in your back pocket.

Also, you're doubling down on that mistake when you, in the very same post, refute his 'officialness' by saying he's dead wrong about one of his 'facts' and then one of the two comments to his article state he's wrong on another point.

It's no way official, you coulda saved yourself this embarrassment if you would've just left that word out of you post. Now you look like a douchebag, especially with your sarcastic last sentence. Go sit in the corner.

[T-dot Raps]

The only thing we know for certain is that the beautiful game is the most popular sport in the world. The #2 sport is debatable and probably very regional.

[britblazerdude]

Well, here's a tip: Don't say something is 'official' and then have a link to a guy saying "Well this sport is popular in these countries, which have a population of this, so if this percentage of people are fans than the sport has this many fans." Keep that one in your back pocket.

Also, you're doubling down on that mistake when you, in the very same post, refute his 'officialness' by saying he's dead wrong about one of his 'facts' and then one of the two comments to his article state he's wrong on another point.

It's no way official, you coulda saved yourself this embarrassment if you would've just left that word out of you post. Now you look like a douchebag, especially with your sarcastic last sentence. Go sit in the corner.

I'm sorry my choice of words offended you that much. some people out there really need to grow some skin before they start dissing people left and right on the internet. I find it hilarious. One word offends you THIS much.

Does anyone want to go back to discussing the original point of this thread?

[Farm Raid]

Does someone telling you you're wrong usually mean they're offended? I bet you 'offend' people alot, in that case.

Thanks for the insightful comment. Get back to sitting the **** down, you're ignored.

[britblazerdude]

Thank god. Now i can chat with the big boys.

[asdfgh]

He does have a point though britblazerdude. Calling that list official is ridiculous when his "scientific" methods of calculating popularity include the following:

Cricketing countries have a total population of 1.63 billion. Now, assuming that 40 per cent of those follow the game, that makes 0.65 billion which helps it to sit comfortably at No.2 spot in the world's most popular sports.

I mean come on, who wrote that article, a 12 year old?

[britblazerdude]

HAHA I didn't even read the article. That's good stuff.

[orangutooth]

i'd assume on a country by country basis, basketball is probably the second most popular team sport. like soccer, in almost every country there are a significant number of people who play/follow basketball. i doubt a lot of people in non english affiliated countries know the first thing about cricket.