Where Complaining Happens

Posted by Annie Whittaker on February 09, 2009

The NBA, where once unique and creative commercials have become over-saccharine, overused, tired and lame happens.

It was bound to come to this. Anything that stands out and takes fire in the commercial media world follows the same path. The only positive outcome I can think of is if the composer of that amazing (tee-hee, pun intended) theme music from the aforementioned commercials gets royalties every time it plays. I do have to give credit to the “Cavemen” creators for Geico. They travelled down the wrong path with the sitcom, but got up, dusted off, and made some even funnier commercials.

The first time I saw LeBron James throw chalk into the air, it felt like I was given a priveledged look into a player’s personal routine. Now I feel like I’m required to hear about it, see it replayed and have a broadcaster drone on about it before I’m allowed to watch a game against the Cavs. When LeBron decides he’s grown tired of this ritual, will he receive grief for it?

I suppose it can be expected. We tend to over-dramatize things in our media. We beat that dead horse until it ceases to exist in physical form. It’s pulverized, vaporized by the time we finish talking about it. I mean, how long must the local news show the water skiing squirrel? Don’t get me wrong–I love animals, I think it’s the cutest thing, but meanwhile, my parents neighborhood is being robbed on a regular basis, and nobody is reporting that on the local news.

And while I’m complaining about tiresome things on a local level, can anybody do something about the guy with the bell at the home games? Yeah, it gets into people’s heads alright. It probably affects our players as adversely as it affects the opponents. The bell that guy rings in the air has the same pitch as a screaming child, or a maimed cow. It goes right to your gut. The anxiety instinct in the human brain that exists in order to make you get up and go help that screaming child is triggered by that bell. It sounds out especially well on t.v. broadcasts. He sits right behind the camera and microphone operators. No wonder Colin Cowherd says fans in Utah are nuts. They’re being driven to madness by one of their own, wielding an instrument of torture! Aha, that’s it! The solution to the problem. The bell is a weapon and therefore must be confiscated by security.

Another tiresome thing about the NBA is the number of injuries that are plaguing the Jazz (who are in the NBA). Talking about the injuries has been overdone too though, so we’ll move on.

Nasty facial hair is far too overdone in the NBA. Fabricio Oberto-nothing more need be said.

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J R Stewart on February 09, 2009 said:

I’m getting soooo old and forgetful, that every game, I just get up to the door and Hots is giving his recorded spiel, that we “shouldn’t smoke anyway”, when he reminds me, I can’t bring my weapons inside. Geeeze! I have to trudge all the way back and put my Glock, assault rifle and Uzi back in the car.

Now you’re saying I can’t even bring my 18 pound cow bell in?

Jazzaholic

Zack Jazz Fan on February 09, 2009 said:

Great reply JR. I liked that.

Montgump on February 09, 2009 said:

I want to make an NBA commercial with Dirk’s picture on it that reads; The NBA: Where overrated happens.

Mal on February 09, 2009 said:

Yeah, the commercials from last year are getting super old and I can’t believe that they are still playing them this year! With that said, those new commercials with the guy giving bus tours are absolutely brilliant! I am obsessed with them. I love the one with Rip shooting his free throws. I hope they make more and use more players around the league.

And I don’t know Annie, I have to say that I think the LeBron commercial is clever and somehow connects to the human experience. I’ll admit that I still enjoy watching it! I love when the baker throws the flour and the kid throws the chalk in the classroom. The writers were brilliant on that one too.

Hmmm, while I was hoping these comments would show my passion for clever advertising, I’m beginning to realize they only demonstrate that I am completely impressionable and always get sucked in by the media.

Annie Whittaker on February 10, 2009 said:

Mal, I was mainly referring to the man crush that every broadcaster reveals when they blather on about the chalk thing. It’s like listening to jr. high girls give a play by play of how they saw their latest crush walk by their locker. “He like looked over at me for a second, and then he like, kept walking, and then like, said hi to Matt…” As I wrote, I really enjoyed seeing it–I just don’t like it when the media makes it sooo tedious. Case in point-this weekend on ABC, I don’t remember which game it was, but one of the guards (don’t remember which guard) was putting powder on his hands. No throwing, no intent to show anyone, just a normal action–the camera flung over to catch it because powder was flying somewhere! It was ridiculous! Like paparazzi flinging themselves in front of moving cars for a shot.

It isn’t just sports, but really, if anything is close to unique, we must cheesify it into oblivion. I remember an ice skater that was referred to as a delicate flower once-naturally, innocently. The next broadcast she was being referred to as the delicate flower by everyone and had her own flower related theme music. Seriously, this is a major peeve, I should stop now.

JayD on February 20, 2009 said:

Actaully , I was reading a article on Yahoo , after the Super Bowl . They were talking about the Steeler receiver that caught the game winning pass . He had used the ball as a prop which is suppose to be illeagal . He did the LeBron chaulk thing with the ball and threw his hands in the air like Lebron does . This turned into quite an arguement about who started that , going back to when Kevin Garnett did it . It really got heated this arguenent . I am just boered with it . Because it taunts the other team .
Speaking of getting tired things in the NBA , I am getting tired of all the tats that players are infesting on themselves . Some may think it is cool and it definatley is getting to be the style , but I think that it is unattractive to see someone with tats all over them . This isnt just in the NBA either .
Well , that might ruffle some feathers , and I am sorry if I upset someone . This is just my opinion .

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