I’m not four years old. I don’t need to be entertained on that level. If I want fireworks, I’ll buy some. If I want a loud annoying hip-hop CD, I’ll buy one. If I want smoke, I’ll light a fire.

I’m there to watch a basketball game. Unfortunately in any given arena during any random NBA game, I’d guess that only about half the fans are actually there to see the basketball.

I’ll disagree here. Granted if smoke/haze/fire extinguisher foam is disrupting/delaying the game than, yeah, scale it back. But if not, then “put another dime in the jukebox baby”. I don’t think it is a matter of dressing it up, as a it is a question of does it add to the experience. You are not going to make everyone happy but what about the majority and what about the focus group, which is admittedly younger than Stern. I love this quote: “There’s rarely a quiet moment in Cleveland’s arena…” Why would you want it quiet, its not tea time. Or this quote: “they think if you turn up the loudspeaker it’s going to help them perform better even though there are babies in the building” People know what a NBA game is like, if they choose to bring babies than that is their choice.

He’s the one that changed the NBA from a purist league to a mass-marketed product designed to promote not the best basketball teams in the world but an entertainment experience that appeals to everyone. Now his little beastie is crapping all over the floor and tearing up the furniture and he thinks it’s a bad idea? Serves ya roit, mite.

in the wake of the Seattle debacle, but I still loved this quote:

"I always bite my tongue because I say, 'Well, maybe I'm not the demographic that likes to be assaulted by loud rap, smoke, pyrotechnics and chemicals."

I probably AM the demographic being targeted with the full-scale sensory assault, and I can’t stand it. I totally agree with dcblazer’s point above about losing the unique atmosphere in each individual arena; I’m not old enough to recall the Memorial Coliseum, but my dad has told me they used to blow the roof off that place, without any canned chants or fake noise meters. It’s almost an affront to my fandom—like the Blazers organization thinks I can’t figure out when to cheer or when to boo without loud, intrusive prompts.

The in-game music and sound is what bugs all hell out of me. I don’t care for all the silly races and contests and prizes during timeouts or between quarters, but I’m sure there are people who do, and that doesn’t intrude nearly as much on my experience watching the game. You know, that thing that’s supposed to be the focus of the experience of going in person…

There used to be a day when basketball used to be about the team. Where are the fans who come for the love of the game? The fans want to see the team, with a big man bangin’ inside——throw it down big man, throw it down!

Haha more seriously though, I don’t mind noise, but when you’ve got the best athletes in the world playing, guys who go to EXTREME MEASURES to keep their bodies in top shape—-and we stuff them into a stuffy arena and pump smoke into there, then make them run around and breathe it.

Wow, that’s intelligent.

Never thought I’d say THOSE words. I sure hope the NBA reviews this.

What’s up with the arena producers? Do they really think their product isn’t exciting without the hype and fakery? Sure, a litle bit of music and noise serves a purpose—it gets the crowd excited, drowns out players’ f-bombs, etc. But jeepers, they sure go over the top. It’s especially irritating when they kill crowd buzz with canned noise and ear-piercing sirens.

I agree that a good chunk of the crowd isn’t there to watch basketball, but I betcha they feel assaulted too.

I’m surprised the players union hasn’t made a stink about the smoke. At least the Blazers aren’t seriously into pyrotechnics (yet).

You can argue with the in-game noises and crowd prompts but I don’t know how you can argue timeout and halftime shows. “Don’t shoot a free t-shirt at me right now dang it, I’m trying to watch McMillian bend over and try to guess what he is telling his team. Sheesh!” I, personally, would love it if the mega-screen didn’t have to tell fans when to chant “de-fense” but unfortunately I only hear the crowd chant when George Foreman comes on. It would be great if our crowd came up with chants and cheers that rivaled soccer stadiums but those fans are KERRRAAAAZY.

Really David? Of all the bs that you have allowed to run through the NBA and all the shenanigans you’ve let owners pull over the years, the one thing that really pisses you off is pyrotechnics? Really?