Essay on The Commercialization of Basketball - 2589 Words

The Commercialization of Basketball The game of basketball is changing, but not willingly or by it own doing. Corporate America has been poking around in the petri dish containing American sports for years now, steering its path of evolution wherever desired. The effects can easily be seen on and around the basketball court in the form of corporate logos engrained on the floor, product advertisements everywhere from the rafters to the programs to the scorers table, and company labels stitched into players uniforms and shoes. Basketball, and sport in general, has become one of the most effective commercial vehicles and marketing tools, but at what price? How has sport, both the actual competition and the viewing experience,†¦show more content†¦Why is the Target Center so saturated with these images? Entertainment. These corporations have realized that people come to basketball games to be entertained and if their products can be marketed in a way that promises entertainment, or presented in a way tha t is entertaining, then people will pay attention, and money. With just a flip of the 2002-2003 Minnesota Timberwolves Yearbook cover this can be seen. The reader is immediately faced with faced with a multitude of entertainment opportunities that go far beyond basketball. The inside of the cover presents a combination advertisement for Whirlpool and Best Buy. The page is full of vibrant colors and centers on a mirror image of a young woman beneath a waterfall of both water and colors. â€Å"Wash Your World Clean† stands out in the middle of the page, and the slogans for the respective advertising companies also appear: â€Å"Turn on the Fun† and â€Å"Just Imagine† (Yearbook). Perhaps somewhat ironically, each company could effectively use the other’s catchphrase. Both promise some sort of entertainment, something that fans attending a basketball game are certainly craving. The words â€Å"fun† and â€Å"imagine† promise to fulfill what the readers desire. Incidentally, the â€Å"Turn on th e Fun† slogan belongs to Best Buy and â€Å"Just Imagine† to Whirlpool. The page adjacent to the colorful inside cover is quite different. It has aShow MoreRelatedDecision Making Among Ncaa Autonomy Institutions1485 Words   |  6 Pagesrevenue is primarily generated by football and basketball programs. College athletics has entered the â€Å"show business phase as football and basketball have evolved into commercial entertainment products (Duderstadt, p.69).† As the commercialization of collegiate athletics continue grow, the concept of student-athlete amateurism has become increasingly strained as there has been a push for providing student-athletes, specifically in football and basketball, additional compensation for their play. Read MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?960 Words   |  4 Pagestowards their sport and the commercialization of college level sports, justifies the notion of monetary compensation for college athletes. College athletes are known more because of their sports rather than what they are actually majoring in. College athletes put in immense effort and time towards the sport. They make the sport their main priority and manage their lives primarily around the team and sport they are playing. Many college athletes, especially basketball and football players are recruitedRead MoreIn Recent Years, There Has Been Increased Dialogue Concerning1275 Words   |  6 Pagesremuneration for participation in sports beyond their education-related compensation of tuition, room, and board. Compensation for student athletes, particularly Division I football and basketball poses a greater concern about the moral and ethical conduct of those in leadership. 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Essay1001 Words   |  5 PagesWith the passing of another academic year, fans were able to enjoy yet another nail-biting NCAA Basketball Tournament and a highlight filled football season. Most would agree that the NCAA provides competitive sport as popular as the professionals. In fact, its annual revenue makes that point clear. College football and basketball generate more than the National Basketball Association, a total of more than $6 billion yearly.[1] There is one major difference between the two associations, howeverRead MoreThe National Collegiate Athletic Association824 Words   |  4 PagesCollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) violated antitrust laws , former UCLA basketball great Ed O’Bannon said, â€Å"This is just the beginning† ( ). The landmark ruling in O’Bannon v NCAA may indeed just begin an evolution that changes amateur athletics. With the ruling, the NCAA can no longer enforce, â€Å"any rules or by-laws that prohibit its member schools and conferences from offering their FBS football or Division 1 basketball recruits a limited share of revenue generated for the use of names, imagesRead MoreCollege Athletics And Education : College Athletes1158 Words   |  5 PagesHoosiers basketball team recently went to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Although they didn t do the best, they still had to miss several days of class because the tournament was held during the week. Were they able to make up the missed class time? Unfortunately we won t be able to find out, but according to CNN, most of the student athletes that go to college aren t there for an education...they are there for the sport. In an interview, Rashad McCants—a former North Carolina basketball player—Read MoreGames Being Won, But Classes Being Dropped1175 Words   |  5 PagesCalifornia - Los Angeles. Some may ask why these colleges would be grouped together. Well, these are just a few of the most recognizable universities in our country. What makes these universities so popular? They have an elite sports team, whether it be basketball, football, or even lacrosse, and this attracts more attention to them. Sadly, these universities are thriving in the spoils that young athletes bring to them at unfair costs. College athletics benefit universities the most, but at the expense of