Posted by admin under David Stern, Michael Jordan

Buy viagra without prescription, When the original Dream Team tore through the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, it was like the Beatles reunited.  With the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler suiting up, the team touted so much star power that opposing teams didn’t mind getting drubbed by over forty points a game.  Although a gold medal for Team USA was a forgone conclusion before the games even began, the team was still a joy to watch.  It was arguably the greatest sports team ever assembled. 

 

It became clear to marketing wizard David Stern that the NBA could significantly expand its fan base, and revenue, by actively promoting itself overseas.  As fans worldwide became more enamored with the game, the NBA soon found out that young Americans were not the only ones who wanted to ‘be like Mike.'

At that point, international competition paled in comparison to the American version.  In the 1980s and early 1990s, foreign players in the NBA were few and far between.  There was Detlef Schrempf, Drazen Petrovic, Rik Smits, Sarunas Marciulionus and of course, Hakeem Olajuwon.  While these players were all talented, Hakeem was the only foreign player to have a significant impact on the league, having won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in the mid-1990s.

Fast forward to the present-day NBA and find a dramatically different league overrun with international talent.  Three of the last four MVP award-winners were foreign-born (Nash in 2004-5; 2005-6 and Nowitzki 2006-7).  Tim Duncan, cheap viagra no rx, Viagra cheapest price, born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, purchase viagra, Buy viagra once daily, has four NBA titles.  Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France) were alongside for three of them.  Andrew Bogut (Australia), Andrea Bargnani (Italy), cheap viagra on internet, Viagra online cheap, Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) and Yao Ming (China) were all number one draft picks.

In the past, order viagra no prescription required, Viagra india, there were few, if any, real viagra without prescription, Viagra cheap drug, Latin players.  And zero Asian players.  Now the league features possibly the most recognizable athlete in the world in Yao Ming.  International competition has proven it is currently on par with the Americans.  The game has truly become global.

To date, certified viagra, Buy viagra pills, the league has benefited from the influx.  Until now.

The NBA has recently seen one of its players leave overseas.  Former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress recently made news when he announced he was signing with the Greek professional team, cheap viagra pharmacy, Purchase viagra without prescription, Olympiakos, for three years and twenty million dollars.  While Childress is far from a big name and has largely failed to live up to his potential, buying viagra, Order viagra from us, other athletes of note have also opted for international waters.  University of Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings decided to join the Italian professional league instead of going to college.  And during the recent Beijing Olympics, both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have hinted that they would at least entertain the idea of playing overseas if the offer was on the table.  There was talk of international teams dangling as much as $50 million to top tier athletes to woo them overseas.  

The NBA has a rich tradition and is currently in great shape.  Despite still struggling with image issues, cheap viagra in uk, Viagra buy online, this year’s Lakers-Celtics Finals garnered the highest ratings in recent memory.  The league’s talent and star power are arguably at an all-time high.  The NBA still features the greatest basketball players in the world.  That being said, could the league survive an exodus of one of its biggest names, viagra generic. Order viagra no prescription, This is not the first time the NBA faced competition from a rival league.  In the 1970s, the ABA gave the NBA a run for its money.  The ABA was able to pay more for college athletes and landed such big names as Rick Barry, buy cheap viagra, Find viagra no prescription required, Louie Dampier, George Gervin, order viagra in canada, Order discount viagra online, Connie Hawkins, Spencer Haywood and of course, pharmacy viagra, Generic viagra, Julius Erving.  Since the ABA was able to throw more money at young college stars, the NBA had difficulty competing for the nation’s best college athletes, low cost viagra, Viagra from india, often losing out.  Many considered the ABA’s talent  on a par with, if not better than, canada viagra, Buy viagra in canada, the NBA.  Ultimately, the NBA won over and forced the ABA to merge.  Yet, buy viagra no prescription required, Buy discount viagra online, the ABA offered players something the NBA could not.  International leagues may be poised to do the same.

The NBA’s salary cap, cheap viagra no prescription, Compare viagra prices online, which is adjusted every year, does not allow for a team to sign one player anything close to what certain international leagues are rumored to be offering.  The entire team salary cap for the 2008-9 season will be $58.68 million, drug viagra online purchase, Cheap viagra, nowhere close to the purported $50 mil Olympiakos wants to offer King James.  And while most star athletes make up for their (lack of) league salary through endorsements, what’s to say those same deals would not exist abroad.  After all, order cheap viagra, Viagra without a prescription, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Nike all do fairly well overseas.

 

 

 

While players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James might yearn to be considered the best to ever play the game, buy viagra lowest price, Buy cheapest viagra online, accomplishing that feat now means having to win six NBA titles a la Michael Jordan.  Accomplishing that with the parity in the league these days is a near impossibility.  Most scoring titles are out of reach as well.  Kareem Adbul Jabbar is the league’s leading scorer after playing for twenty seasons.  He also holds six MVP trophies.  Both those records are likely unattainable considering LeBron hasn’t won one yet and Kobe just won his first.

 

So what is a player’s incentive to remain in the NBA?  The league’s rich tradition?  The hopeless quest to chase the legacy of Michael Jordan?  Dealing with a commissioner who won't allow them to wear a hat backwards or play basketball until completing two years of college?  Kobe and LeBron owe the league nothing.  If anything, the league owes them for its success.  Remember, even Michael took two years off from the league to pursue other endeavors.  Television ratings dropped as a result.

 

The league potentially has a serious problem on its hands.  Forget Brett Favre leaving the Packers.  If Kobe Bryant were to leave the NBA, that would be the sports story of the decade.  We’re not talking about a veteran player opting to finish his career elsewhere.  We’re talking about one of the greatest talents the game has ever seen thumbing his nose at the league in his prime.  It would serve as a harsh reminder to most ethnocentric Americans that our brand is not the best, or at least we can’t afford it.

 

 

 

 

David Stern will soon be faced with some difficult choices.  It is now Stern who will have to make adjustments, and the NCAA and/or multinational corporations may have to be involved.  Athletes are free to do as they please, unless they’re locked in to a contract, which LeBron won’t be in 2010.  This is a huge bargaining chip for the players’ union.  While the NBA has pushed for a franchise overseas, Stern may have to take a closer look at how the league now interacts with rival international leagues, possibly doing so on its own terms to ensure it does not cost them an exodus of talent.  Although the Association is currently thriving, it can likely not cope, if even survive, if Kobe and/or LeBron James leave the league.  Take a look at how PGA television ratings and attendance drop when Tiger Woods isn’t on tour.  While the NBA has more balanced star power and a more exciting product than the PGA, losing its biggest name(s) would undoubtedly have a devastating impact.

 

Of course, this could all just be talk.  Those offers might not be on the table.  Today’s player might have a change of heart and realize that the NBA is where they belong, for it made them into the stars they are today.  After all, there’s loyalty in business, right?  In the end, all it will take is one big signature on the dotted line to reverse all the good that Stern’s international impetus has brought to the NBA.

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