am not a big NBA fan.
I use to be when it was about basketball and playing the game.
When it became a political tool, then I was out. I didn’t have time for the drama. It is about the game.
The NBA Finals is a different story.
Players are playing every play and not taking a play or two off. They are actually tired after the game.
The finals weeks have had a tendency of being played during the Arkansas high school dead season.
Basically, the last week or so and the first week of July is known as the dead period in Arkansas. High school coaches are not allowed to call a practice, have a camp or in any way demand something of their athletes.
When your wife is or was a high school principal and your daughters are involved in sports, you work vacation time around these dead weeks.
We might have left a week before dead season, but our vacations were always around that time. It is also around the same time of another celebration period. This has caused a lot of interesting trips to say the least.
However, no matter where we are or what country that we are in, the NBA Finals is something that seems to be on the televisions that we are visiting.
We were in an upscale restaurant in the Cayman Islands awaiting our table. There in the lobby were screens that had the NBA Finals playing. Patrons of the restaurant would slowly leave the lobby after their name was called. They were watching the game.
The NBA has done a great job of marketing itself outside of its home country. They have set the example that other organizations are trying to learn from. Major League Baseball played a series outside of the United State to start this season.
The NFL have played games in Europe and Mexico. This year they are expanding to Brazil.
It is all about tapping other markets to increase brand awareness and ultimately to increase revenue.
In the NBA, the league is not dominated by Americans like it is in the MLB and the NFL. A couple of the best or most known players are from afar.
That has increased brand awareness in other countries.
Now, it is Finals time and guess what, the NBA will get its share of views.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has made it to the Finals to the delight of a Boone County couple. My parents, Dean and Shelby Brasel, are Thunder fans. They like the team. They watch the team. They keep up with game scores even if they are herding their four great grandsons.
My entire family are Thunder fans. The last two spring breaks have been filled with going to Thunder games. Something that we enjoy very much.
I always add a decoration to my office after visiting the game.
A piece of advice to anyone that may be going to an NBA game. I have been to several games. The best atmosphere is the OKC Thunder. My poor wife has been drug to games — sometimes with her heels in the dirt — but she will skip to a Thunder contest. We stay in a hotel about five blocks away from the stadium. It is great fun.
The only problem with a mid-week game is that there is not a restaurant open after you get out of the contest. This large city rolls up the downtown early.
With America’s tallest building about to be built, maybe there can be someplace opened after 10 in the downtown area other than a convenience story.
Let’s go Thunder. I will be wearing my gear for the next three weeks (I know it isn’t that long).
Jeff Brasel is the sports and managing editor and general manager of the Newton County Times. E-mail him at sports@newtoncountytimes.com or follow him at X.com/jeffbrasel.
