Ralph Nader letter to NBA CEO regarding Christmas games
Dear Mr. Stern:
Later this month, NBA play will resume after a lengthy lockout and intense labor negotiations between the players and management. But why are you starting this abbreviated season with a tripleheader on Christmas Day, December 25—a religious day revered by a majority of the American people and a special time for remembrance, reflection and family get-togethers.
Obviously, most NBA players and coaches would rather be with their families on this historic, revered day for Christendom.
Just as obviously, in tune with the over-commercialization of Christmas by businesses that seems to intensify with each passing decade, there are those who see dollar signs and promotional extravaganzas for the Knicks-Celtics, Heat-Mavericks, Bulls-Lakers in order to rev up the dimmed enthusiasm of many fans caused by the prolonged NBA dispute. But you run the NBA and made the final decision which is why this letter is addressed to you.
I urge you to reconsider the Christmas day NBA overload in a spirit of decency, regard and recognition as to how this will disrupt family gatherings throughout the day with predictable arguments between children and parents about watching the games instead of spending quality time with siblings, parents, relatives and friends.
There is an NFL football game that evening which is bad enough. But at least it is in the evening after most Christmas Day traditions have been completed. Three NBA games belatedly on top of that NFL game is overload and piling on.
Take a poll and see how many people would agree that it is proper and respectful not to have this triple-header. Consider the article by Jason Gay in the Wall Street Journal (November 28, 2011) titled “Can the NBA Steal Christmas?”:
“Isn’t it a little presumptuous for the NBA to skulk back on Christmas? December 25 is a cherished day for family…. It’s a day for people you love, for stuff kids want. It’s not for a basketball league that spent five months dickering around in a labor dispute—and wants to waddle in through the front door like a sketchy ex-husband and plant itself under the mistletoe….
“The NBA has long tried to claim Christmas, but not all of its membership is convinced. ‘I actually feel sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game,’ Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy grinched a couple of years ago. Last season, Van Gundy snarkily suggested the league should run 24 hours of Christmas games back-to-back. ‘We need to start them at midnight on Christmas Eve and play them all through the day so there’s not a minute of Christmas Day where there’s not an NBA game on TV. The NBA is Christmas.”
The public deserves an explanation from you about this three-game basketball massing on the birthday of Jesus Christ. They need you to explain just why commercialism and monied interests should elbow into the many daytime hours of this major religious day. Why not reschedule?
I hope people who object to your tripleheader scheduling on December 25 express their displeasure with their sentiments directly to your office via this contact form: http://www.nba.com/email_us/contact_us.html
Your response is invited.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
Sports Forum Podcast
Episode #22 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Rethinking Sports Fandom with Author Craig Calcaterra – We discuss Calcaterra’s new book “Rethinking Fandom: How to Beat the Sports-Industrial Complex at Its Own Game” and explore new ways to be a fan in the year 2022.
Listen on Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor and others.
Follow on Facebook: @SportsForumPodcast
More Episodes on Apple Podcasts; Spotify; Google Podcasts; PocketCasts; & Anchor
Episode #21 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Chatting About a Broken Game With Baseball Writer Pedro Moura – Moura is a national baseball writer for Fox Sports. We discuss how and why the game of baseball is broken, what factors caused it, and offer a few thoughts on how to “fix” a great game.
Episode #20 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Coaching Youth and High School Sports Based On What’s Best for the Athlete’s Holistic Development – We chat with long-time youth, high school and college basketball coach Jim Huber.
Episode #19 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Capturing the Spirit of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League with Anika Orrock – We discuss the hoops AAGPFL women had to jump through to play the game they loved as well as the long-term impact and legacy they have in advancing sports opportunities for girls and women.
Episode #18 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking about the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and the Lia Thomas Controversy with Nancy Hogshead-Makar – Hogshead-Makar is a triple gold medalist in swimming, a civil rights attorney and CEO of Champion Women.
Episode #17 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking Sports With Legendary New York Times Sports Columnist Robert Lipsyte – We chat about Lipsyte’s amazing career and some of the athletes he covered.
Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- League of Fans Sports Policy Director Ken Reed quoted in Washington Post column titled "What happened to P.E.? It’s losing ground in our push for academic improvement," by Jay Mathews
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
Books