Public Views On Sports Plummets-Gallup

rambot said:

You're missing the point.

If you were the BEST teacher in America, people would be clamouring to keep you happy.

That was the point

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Wow, that is a very arrogant point. The Lord said He didn't come to be served but to serve.

But this attitude of "people should be clamoring to keep me happy" really misses that point.

It is that arrogant, self important attitude, that explains the 70% drop in ratings for the finals between this year and 2 years ago when Lebron was last in the Finals.

I have no issue saying that Lebron is the best basketball player playing right now, or at least his body of work is the best of any active players, yet at the same time I see no need whatsoever to "clamor to keep him happy".

ZNP said:

Wow, that is a very arrogant point. The Lord said He didn't come to be served but to serve.

But this attitude of "people should be clamoring to keep me happy" really misses that point.

It is that arrogant, self important attitude, that explains the 70% drop in ratings for the finals between this year and 2 years ago when Lebron was last in the Finals.

I have no issue saying that Lebron is the best basketball player playing right now, or at least his body of work is the best of any active players, yet at the same time I see no need whatsoever to "clamor to keep him happy".

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Wow. Speaking of arrogance. You thought his original comment AND my reply had anything to do with your opinion on Lebron.
And then make airs that you are quoting me by including quotation marks but completely misrepresent what I said by changing "should" to "would".
If you're going to critique me, be honest when you represent what I say....and ideally, address what I actually say.

It is that arrogant, self important attitude, that explains the 70% drop in ratings for the finals between this year and 2 years ago when Lebron was last in the Finals.

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You can think that. But I'd argue it's more that "white folk" are all on vapours because the blackfolk are "talkin' back" when they should be just doin what they're told.

ZNP said:

Why? I teach inner city kids Earth Science and Chemistry. I would wager that there isn't a single NBA player that can do what I do nearly as well as I do it.

They can claim to be better at basketball, but so what? In the grand scheme of things so what?

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I would wager they donate time and money that might be helping you do that much needed work.
https://www.thethings.com/the-17-biggest-charity-donations-from-these-generous-athletes/
It is interesting you have so much passion for your students but resent it when one might strike it big in sports or entertainment. Interesting.

Public Views On Sports Plummets-Gallup

The multi-millionaires and billionaires who own professional sport's franchises aren't the most enlightened group in American society, but even they can recognize that the George Floyd protests represented a siesmic shift in American public opinion!

While the White House remains oblivious and tied to its white, largely male base, franchise owners recognize that "visible minorities" will emerge as the new majority by 2050 and irrespective of their personal biases, they can't afford the luxury of alienating their future supporters!

ZNP said:

What I am doing is creating an online program that levels the playing field for kids in the inner city with those anywhere in the US.

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There are literally tens of thousands, if not millions, of people who can do that.

Educational programs have been a thing since the Apple 2 back in 1977, and online programs have been a thing since, well, everyone went online. Heck, there are lots of websites that just give lists of hundreds, if not thousands, of educational websites.

Aldebaran said:

That they aren't managing their business very well knowing that they're losing viewers and support.

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But are they (losing viewers and support)? It doesn't appear that is actually the case. Yes, you can argue viewership is down -- particularly in leagues where, because of COVID, they scheduled more games in the daytime (because they operated in a bubble).

Also, it seems some viewers have been lost due to other schedule changes. For example, the NFL had lower ratings in Week 1 -- but that seems it may be because people didn't realize games were being played, largely because they are used to having preseason games. Since week 1, NFL ratings appear to be roughly the same as last years.

Of course, the other side of this argument is that if they lose their players (who the viewers are tuning in to watch) that they'd also lose viewers. And there is evidence, such as the NBA walkouts earlier in the season, that trying to keep players from talking, and not addressing their concerns, could cause an issue where large numbers of players would simply "walk away." We've seen what these types of walkouts have done to sports leagues in the past, and their numbers would be far lower (based on past walkouts) were that to happen.

Aldebaran said:

I've worked as a non-union member at a place where most positions were union. Those people sat around doing nothing most of the time, and got huge pay for doing it. They knew they could get away with it. As a result, prices on the products they produced went up and up, and the company (a factory) went out of business.

That's the power of unions, which democrats are usually in overwhelming favor of. It's a good example of why they shouldn't be allowed to run the country.

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In 2019, there were 14.6 million members in the U.S., down from 17.7 million in 1983. The percentage of workers belonging to a union in the United States (or total labor union "density") was 10.3%, compared to 20.1% in 1983. Union membership in the private sector has fallen to 6.2%, one fifth that of public sector workers, at 33.6%. Over half of all union members in the U.S. lived in just seven states (California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington), though these states accounted for only about one-third of the workforce. From a global perspective, in 2016 the US had the fifth lowest trade union density of the 36 OECD member nations.

Labor unions in the United States - Wikipedia
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- 2019, there were 14.6 million members in the U.S., down from 17.7 million in 1983

- percentage of workers belonging to a union in the United States (or total labor union "density") was 10.3%, compared to 20.1% in 1983

- union membership in the private sector has fallen to 6.2%, one fifth that of public sector workers, at 33.6%

- over half of all union members in the U.S. lived in just seven states (California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington), though these states accounted for only about one-third of the workforce.

- from a global perspective, in 2016 the US had the fifth lowest trade union density of the 36 OECD member nations

1) Just as the Constitution introduced a system checks and balances to prevent tyranny, unions operate on the same principle as a counterbalance to protect workers from the excesses of management!

2) Unionized workers have declined from 20.1% to 10.3% of the US workforce between 1983 and 2019, and comprise just 6.2% of those employed in the private sector!

3) Over 50% of union workers are concentrated in just 6 states that only account for 1/3 of the total workforce - these states are predominantly Democratic and represent the most prosperous regions in the nation - Ohio and Pennsylvania had been major industrial and manufacturing centers until "globalization" sent their jobs offshore!

4) In 2016, America ranked 31st out of 36 OECD nations in terms of the number of unionized members as a % of the workforce!

5) The real question is whether the decline of unionized labor has resulted in a corresponding increase in the standard of living for the working/middle class over the last 37 years, including retirement pensions, access to healthcare, job security, cost of living, etc - the general consensus is that the average American is currently working harder for less!

MIDutch said:

LeBron James built a STEM school for at risk kids in Akron Ohio.

Will you ever be able to do that?

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No, LeBron PAID for the school. Maybe he had some design inputs or something, but he did not build it and he's certainly not qualified to teach at it.

Aldebaran said:

I've worked as a non-union member at a place where most positions were union. Those people sat around doing nothing most of the time, and got huge pay for doing it. They knew they could get away with it. As a result, prices on the products they produced went up and up, and the company (a factory) went out of business.

That's the power of unions, which democrats are usually in overwhelming favor of. It's a good example of why they shouldn't be allowed to run the country.

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Funny. I worked as both and I can say in my experience that the difference of amount completed is pretty much negligable; to say nothing of the shoddy workmanship I have seen from nonunion members.

It's also funny because in a country like Sweden, they have about 82% labour union participation and they seem unphased by it.

It's funny to me that the biggest argument against unions is that it makes people lazy when there are plenty of examples of it not happenning. The biggest argument in favour of unions is that they create income equality and help a middle class prosper

Aldebaran said:

And now is used as a way to protect "workers" who basically don't even work, but know they can take full advantage of their union membership.

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Given that in 2019 just 6.2% of the American workforce in the private sector were unionized, just where are the retirement pensions, healthcare plans, job security, etc that once existed in the 50's, 60's and 70's?

This President never tires of reminding Americans when the DOW reaches record levels, but how does that translate into improving the quality of life for average citizens and their families when there is no counterbalance to force management to invest in its workforce?

jgarden said:

Given that in 2019 just 6.2% of the American workforce in the private sector was unionized, where are the retirement pensions, healthcare plans, job security, etc that once existed - as this President never tires of reminding Americans when the DOW is at record levels, but how has that translated into improving the quality of life for average citizens and their families?

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There are SOOOO many economic factors influenced by the lack of union power. It's shocking that more people don't see the shrinking middle class as a side effect of it. They are just fine with being poor and other people getting all the money I guess.

Aldebaran said:

In their case, it's not a "personal day" when they all walk out at the same time just before an important game.

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How do you know? It could be. It depends on their relationship with their employers. Whatever they decide is between them. Why is it your concern?

Aldebaran said:

You assume much here.

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Not assuming, but asking. You don't seem to have answers but that's fine. It's telling that you're concerned about the details of another person's relationship with their employer and even more telling that you disapprove.

If you have a certain relationship with your employer you can do things that other people without that same kind of relationship with their employer cannot do. I have a good relationship with my employer and can do things that a lot of others, even those who report to the same manager, cannot do. That's between me and my employer. I also know that others where I work get even more privileges and benefits than I do. For the most part, we get these privileges because we're worth a certain amount of high value to the employer.

So it is with NBA players. If they have that kind of deal going then what is it to you? What are you trying to say, what point are you trying to make by pointing to them and what they do and how their employers react??? What's the point?