NDCR: Pop-Culture Update
Take me out to the Ball Game: The 90’s Sports Wars
Basketball had been a growing sport during the 1980’s, however, the league would suffer because of the war. In an act of patriotism, commissioner David Stern, agreed to let NBA players be drafted (other leagues arranged for draft exemptions in return for propaganda work). However, numerous potential superstars, including Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwan, Isiah Thomas would die on the front lines.
Six stars who did survive the Third World War, would come to dominate the league, to its detriment. One other’s scandals would hurt the sport’s reputation, in an America seeking universiality. Patrick Ewing and Gary Payton for the Seattle Supersonics, Dennis Rodman and Clyde Drexler for the Portland Trailblazers, Chris Mullin and Len Bias of the Phoenix suns. The "Super Six" were simply too talented for the rest of the league to handle. To make it worse, they all were held in smaller TV Markets, thanks to fabulously wealthy owners.
At a grassroots level, basketball always had a natural space in the Pacific Northwest and Inland Southwest. In the PNW, Basketball’s indoor nature made it a natural fit as it allowed exercise in the rain. Meanwhile, in the SouthWest, Air Conditioned gyms allowed for exercise and entertainment to escape the heat. However, outside of these areas, youth were increasingly attracted to other sports.
Scandal would be what really hurt the league, however. In 1994, Len Bias and Chris Mullin were arrested by the FBI for cocaine use as part of a “celebrity roundup”. Mullin would be acquitted of being punished for using cocaine, unlike Bias, but was found to have laundered money. David Stern initially tried to cover up the arrest, and as a result was arrested for bribery. Worst of all, this occured right in the middle of negotiations with the player’s union. During the trial of David Stern, it was found that he had tried to rig the last couple lotteries in favor of New York and Los Angelese. This lead to the cancellation of the 1994 season (thanks to an extended player’ strike), the shrinking of the league to 12 teams, and a PR Nightmare. The fact that millionaires were striking, was ridiculed across America on Late Night TV. Meanwhile, many questioned the integrity of the league. The NFL and NCAAF in particular attacked the “skulduggery, drugs, and criminal nature” of the NBA. What was unusual was when the MLB and PTC set out in a joint venture to attack the sport. This would set the stage for future cooperation...
While new league manager, Jeffery Skilling, would right the ship, the NBA, and basketball, would be severely limited to the PNW, SouthWest,Kentucky and Indiana (where Tradition remained strong, even if the sport is weaker than in the past), Nationally, it would only be relevant for a couple weeks during the year: the NBA Finals and the NCAA Tournament. The Big Four of Football, Soccer, Baseball, and Tennis had captured the national spirit, and looked to hold unto it for the foreseeable future.
NBA Champ Clyde Drexler
NBA Finals
1991 Seattle Supersonics df. Cleveland Cavaliers in 4
1992 Portland Trailblazers df. Cleveland Cavaliers in 5
1993 Phoenix Suns df. Baltimore Bullets in 4.
Chris Mullin with the Phoenix Suns
At the College Level, the NCAA, made a huge mistake. Believing that the GI Bill would lead to an increase in Division I School Participation, the NCAA expanded the field to 96. However, Division I did not grow past 169 teams (during WWIII it had shrunk to 111). Most GI’s preferred to attend larger universities, and many smaller colleges preferred to expand academic programs instead of athletic deparments. Meanwhile, College Basketball suffered from the same issue that the NBA did: dominance by smaller markets. Programs like Kansas, Indiana, BYU and Washington State simply didn’t attract big enough TV Markets. One NCAA executive was ridiculed when it was reported he threw a desk when Wyoming made the NCAA Final Four in 1992 on the back of the Four Corners Offense*. Combined with a now worthless regular season, the NCAA would enter a dark period in popularity that while it would have to claw out of.
NCAA Final Four Results (including Third Place Game)
1991
1. BYU
2. Kansas State
3. Oregon
4. UNLV
1992
1. Kansas
2. Wyoming
3. Arizona
4. BYU
1993
1. Washington State
2. Kentucky
3. Arizona State
4. Georgetown
1994
1. Indiana
2. Washington State
3. Kansas
4. New Mexico
*No Shot Clock in College yet ITL. More conservative America and bad NCAA leadership. Soon though..
Wyoming Fans Celebrating after winning in the Elite Eight over a hated rival
In all, Basketball was arguably “the great what if” of the 90’s. While the exciting and popular sport could have easily taken the country by storm, especially if stars like Michael Jordan had survived WWIII. In addition, the desire for consensus eliminated little chance of this sport growing much on a "rebel image". As such, it would be squeezed out of the national picture for the time being.
Author’s Note
I had written this a while ago, and forgot to post. Woops.
I’m a pretty big basketball fan, so this chapter really hurts to write, but it makes sense in the grand scheme of things. However, look for basketball to have a comeback in a changing culture later on...
Also, OTL Len Bias was a prospect with the potential to be a Hall of Fame Player who died because of a Cocaine Overdose. Chris Mullin never had drug problems as far as I know.
Thoughts? Comments?
