Originally Posted by Hyde Park Flyer
Isn’t the semi-pro option the G League? Attendance and TV revenue are driving factors. I’m not sure that the G League buck is doing much banging. I’m a fan of high level amateur or low level professional play. If anyone wants to see great hockey, go to an OHL game. I prefer Dayton Dragons games to the Reds. Even if the Reds were playing great baseball, I would still enjoy a Dragons game. Football and basketball haven’t seen a similar option. I think it would be exciting if the G League and the USFL were able to meaningfully provide young players a spring board to pro success. It would be great if they were a pond for high draft picks. It would work in conjunction with college sports. I know it’s not the same level, but it works in hockey. The best players who do not want to play in college go to the OHL (players lose their college eligibility because they receive stipends). The best players who want to play college hockey play in the USHL (the OHL is Canadian major juniors; the USHL is the highest junior play in the States). They co-exist well. College hockey is at a much higher point now than most know. There are now many 1st round picks coming out of colleges. With so many more basketball and football players, they would be able to coexist in the US.
Fwiw, I admit that I have conflicting views on the ways to maintain the college game and development of players. So, please don’t bother with pointing out any hypocrisy in anything I’ve posted on this topic. I am taking a real shotgun approach.
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Sure, the OHL and USHL etc all co-exist well. As professional sports organizations whose purpose is to develop athletes and provide entertainment it makes perfect sense.
Has anyone stopped to ask what any of this has to do with a college?? Why doesn't every non-profit in the US sponsor a basketball team which competes for an annual trophy? Go American Heart Association of Dayton Flyers!!
The goal is NOT to put the best team on the court. I'm not the slightest bit bothered that the NBDL exists and the best players skip college and go there. Does that make the college basketball experience worse? NOT AT ALL. Because the college basketball experience is about camaraderie, sport, good-natured competition,and frankly tribalism. It does not matter that UD doesn't have the best team on the planet, it only matters that we're better than
_avier.
Which brings me back to my point: making colleges into a minor league capitalism driven professional sports organization crushes what it is. I'll go watch an OHL game instead. I like hockey. Yes you can cynically say "it's always been semi-pro sports don't be naive!!" Sure, to a degree. But we're clearly and obviously moving it from a grey area to a black (white?) area. The nuance is gone.
