People hate the NJ Nets! Why? I don’t know for sure, but I do have theory. New Jersey has something like 9 million people who live in a dense area but the Nets are hard pressed to fill half the arena playing one of the most popular US sports. I think the reason is, people love to hate on New Jersey, even people from New Jersey, and the Nets get the shit end of the stick because of that.
Fact: The Nets have been a much better franchise than the Knicks for the past decade. The fact is the Nets have made the NBA Finals twice in the past decade. They have also made the playoffs seven times in the past decade. The Knicks, by comparison, have not had a winning record in the past 10 years and only made the playoffs once, as the 8th seed, at which time ironically they were swept by the Nets.
So, the Nets have obviously been better, for a long time than the Knicks. Yet, even in Northern New Jersey, the Knicks are the team to root for. Why? The Knicks have made one bad move after another, yet, even at the height of Knicks suckdom, they sell out games. By contrast, during the Jason Kidd years in which they made the NBA finals twice, the Nets were hard pressed to fill the arena.
I have attended some Nets games over the past 10 years and it has been a sad sight. Even when they were good, the arena was half empty and, of those in attendance, only a small percentage were cheering for the Nets. Often times, shopping in NJ over the past decade, at Models or Foot Locker, Nets tickets were given away with crappy shirts and shoes, yet people still would not go to the games, and if they did, it was to see the opposing team.
The Nets are like the fat kid that lost weight, but still gets picked on for being the fat kid. People picked on them when they sucked, yet, even when they got good, people in NJ still viewed them as the easy target to hate.
The past summer should have been the time that Nets made the big dive into the free agent market. Last summer a Russian billionaire (hence the Name Nyets) became the principal owner of the team. This Russian dude seems mad cool, billionaire playboy type, who travels in a private jet with hot chicks. Also, Jay-Z is a partial owner, which is obviously mad cool. They also have cap space and young talent, yet they can’t attract any big name free agents because they play in Jersey.
It breaks down like this; if you live in North Jersey you falsely identify yourself as a New Yorker. If you live in South Jersey, you falsely identify yourself as Philadelphian. Hence, if you live in North Jersey you root for the Knicks. If you live in South Jersey you root for Sixers. Nowhere in NJ is Net country, because people from NJ hate their own state. As an aside, I think this self-hatred and desire to latch onto a big city for identity shows in our feelings towards Rutgers Football as well. When I used to meet people, especially when I was younger, I would advise people I lived “right outside New York.” I don’t even think I used the words “New” or “Jersey.” I guess the Nets need to move to Brooklyn to get some love because New Jerseyeans will never embrace a sports team as their own because of their own NJ identity issues.
Fact: The Nets have been a much better franchise than the Knicks for the past decade. The fact is the Nets have made the NBA Finals twice in the past decade. They have also made the playoffs seven times in the past decade. The Knicks, by comparison, have not had a winning record in the past 10 years and only made the playoffs once, as the 8th seed, at which time ironically they were swept by the Nets.
So, the Nets have obviously been better, for a long time than the Knicks. Yet, even in Northern New Jersey, the Knicks are the team to root for. Why? The Knicks have made one bad move after another, yet, even at the height of Knicks suckdom, they sell out games. By contrast, during the Jason Kidd years in which they made the NBA finals twice, the Nets were hard pressed to fill the arena.
I have attended some Nets games over the past 10 years and it has been a sad sight. Even when they were good, the arena was half empty and, of those in attendance, only a small percentage were cheering for the Nets. Often times, shopping in NJ over the past decade, at Models or Foot Locker, Nets tickets were given away with crappy shirts and shoes, yet people still would not go to the games, and if they did, it was to see the opposing team.
The Nets are like the fat kid that lost weight, but still gets picked on for being the fat kid. People picked on them when they sucked, yet, even when they got good, people in NJ still viewed them as the easy target to hate.
The past summer should have been the time that Nets made the big dive into the free agent market. Last summer a Russian billionaire (hence the Name Nyets) became the principal owner of the team. This Russian dude seems mad cool, billionaire playboy type, who travels in a private jet with hot chicks. Also, Jay-Z is a partial owner, which is obviously mad cool. They also have cap space and young talent, yet they can’t attract any big name free agents because they play in Jersey.
It breaks down like this; if you live in North Jersey you falsely identify yourself as a New Yorker. If you live in South Jersey, you falsely identify yourself as Philadelphian. Hence, if you live in North Jersey you root for the Knicks. If you live in South Jersey you root for Sixers. Nowhere in NJ is Net country, because people from NJ hate their own state. As an aside, I think this self-hatred and desire to latch onto a big city for identity shows in our feelings towards Rutgers Football as well. When I used to meet people, especially when I was younger, I would advise people I lived “right outside New York.” I don’t even think I used the words “New” or “Jersey.” I guess the Nets need to move to Brooklyn to get some love because New Jerseyeans will never embrace a sports team as their own because of their own NJ identity issues.
4 comments:
Nyets, that's fantastic.
The Kidd, Jefferson, K-Mart Nets were really fun to watch. I used to watch a lot of their games and follow them. With the exception of those 3 years, though, the Nets always seem to be on the verge of something. Rebuilding or something. Also the Brendan Byrne Arena (yeah, I said it) is in the middle of nowhere.
Do people go to the games in Newark I wonder?
PS - once they move to Brooklyn they will be enormously popular.
I agree with you Chuck, the nets will become very popular when they move to Brooklyn. I agree with you WCF that it is kinda sad that the Nyets will be in the finals but can't fill the arena.
In past conversations with friends, I have compared the Nets moving to Brooklyn to a child growing up and going to a better place where they can fulfill their potential. Upon moving to Brooklyn, the Nets will not only sell out almost all their games. I think they will win a championship in the first 5 if not 7 years.
Here's a suggestion for a team name when they go to Brooklyn...The Brooklyn Biggies. They could do a whole Biggie Smallz theme. Imagine the notorious ones silhouette on the jersey and his music as they introduce the team. Probably not going happen, but "it would be cooler if it did". -winit
Chuck, the Nets were very good for those three years, but also good (record wise anyway) with Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson. They made the playoffs anyway.
Rick, I (Evan aka BOTG) wrote this post. On Hobo, whenever you see "Posted by Evan" that means that I wrote it. If it reads "Posted by Walt" that is my bro. Also, Daffy and Hall occasionally post as well. And by occasionally I mean once a year.
WV- bonur... For real.
To quote the great J@son H0sey: "My bad, ur good"
BOTG-Not sure if you saw this, here is your buddy shaq singing the cheers theme at the Boston Bar:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sgtdopushups/shaq-sings-the-cheers-theme-21dz
I guess he is really "making the rounds" (hy) in Boston
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