Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel will face off on a hot topic in sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week. Lambert and Thiel will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why you they are right.
This week’s topic: Going global; should American teams follow?
Recently, the NBA’s Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors played a regular season game in London. This week, Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel voice their opinions about whether or not American sports should send a team overseas. Let’s talk about it… (Recap by Sam Thiel)
Matthew Lambert / Winonan
There’s a disturbing trend happening throughout American sports. While I’m always in favor of people from other countries playing in America, I can’t help feel a bit confused on why sports like basketball have to go to London for a game, like the Magic and Raptors did.
While basketball is one of the most popular global games, of course with soccer leading the pack, you have to question why it’s even worth it to go to a place like London. We already have a scenario where different sports compete in a foreign land: the Olympics.
We’ve seen the NFL increase their number of games in London each year since they first started playing there in 2007. There is even a chance that the Washington Professional Football Team will play there in consecutive weeks!
I digress from football, because basketball is more of a global game and what they’re doing is wrong. So I did some number crunching to see what the costs might be. A flight from Orlando is eight hours and can cost over $3,000. A flight from Toronto is a little over a $1,000 and is seven hours. That is a ridiculous amount of money to pay for one game. Once you factor in the hotel, food costs and transportation, it isn’t worth it.
So, what I say to London is, come to America and enjoy the teams you have now.
Sam Thiel / Winonan
For years, American sports have dominated the national aspect. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that the game went international, when the NFL played a game in London.
Last week, basketball became the latest sport to play a regular season game overseas, with the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors facing off.
The first reason why basketball and other popular American sports should go global is because of the increasing fanbase. While the Olympics feature sports such as basketball in foreign countries, they are only held every four years. If I were a basketball fan in a foreign country, I know I wouldn’t want to wait to watch Steph Curry and other NBA superstars when they play in the next Olympics. Millions of people watch American sports but can’t watch a game in person so team overseas would make fans very happy.
Finally, American sports should go overseas because, let’s face it, it’s time that the big four American sports (basketball, baseball, hockey and football) expand and send a team out of the country. Yes, there are already a lot of Canadian teams but no offense, it’s Canada. It’s right next door. Wouldn’t it be more fun to play a game in Brazil or Australia? I think so.
To the commissioners of the NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL, say it with me: Let’s go global!
