Cohen: NBA Draft One Of My Favorite Childhood TV Events
By Josh Cohen
June 17, 2010
ORLANDO -- When I was a kid, there were two nights in the year that no matter what I had to be front of the television.
Even if someone told me Martians that resembled the creatures in the movie “Mars Attacks!” landed on my doorstep, I still had to be focused on the tube. Any distractions or interferences had no influence on my concentration.
The WWE Royal Rumble and the NBA Draft remain at the center of my television-viewing memories.
I absolutely adored the exhilaration of each of these events. I was always an enormous wrestling fan and, obviously, basketball has always been my utmost passion.
But I started asking myself recently: what was it about these two extraordinary occasions that entertained me so much?
And ultimately I realized that both the Royal Rumble and the NBA Draft have many intriguing similarities.
First and foremost, the most glaring commonality between the two is the constant suspense that both events deliver throughout each program.
For those of you who are not familiar with WWE and the Royal Rumble, let me quickly explain the rules of the match.
Thirty contestants are involved, but do not enter the ring at the same time. Each wrestler pulls a number between 1 and 30 and arrives to the match according to the number they drew. After all 30 superstars have entered, the last man who has not been tossed over the top rope is crowned the winner.
Therefore, just like the NBA Draft where nobody knows which prospect is going to be selected until it is announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern, spectators of the Royal Rumble have no clue which wrestler will be coming out next.
I find this incredibly fascinating and enthralling. I love the anticipation and the thrill of not knowing what is in store for me next. It’s constant amusement with essentially no pauses in between.
Then the next best part: Celebration and/or disappointment.
For instance, in the NBA Draft, when your favorite team selects a player you wanted them to pick, you get excited and relieved. Or, on the other hand, when your favorite team drafts a player you didn’t want, you get disenchanted.
It’s the same thing in the Royal Rumble. I remember, for example, during the early 1990’s getting so pumped up when Hulk Hogan arrived and so furious when Earthquake (WWE had awesome stage names back in the day) entered.
Another similarity is the hilarious pre-event interviews. Check out this footage from the 1992 Royal Rumble. Then prior to the NBA Draft, there are always some funny interviews with prospects. Watch this one with Brook Lopez prior to the 2008 Draft.
Third, the NBA Draft and Royal Rumble share a distinct relationship when it comes to looking ahead to the future. Much of the time, like it was for the Orlando Magic in 1992 and 2004 when they drafted Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard in each of those years with the first overall pick, the draft has a large influence in determining which NBA franchises will be championship contenders over the next decade.
In WWE, the winner of the Royal Rumble gets an automatic shot at the title at WrestleMania. As a result, each event allows us to familiarize ourselves with eventual contenders.
I love this concept. I adore the architecture of sports entertainment. It’s why everyone is so obsessed with this summer’s free agency. Everyone craves the thought of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or any of the other marquee free agents playing for their team.
It’s just like when we are kids playing with Legos. The most fun part is building the playground or farm or highway, not necessarily the usage of the final creation (although that can be somewhat amusing too).
The NBA Draft and Royal Rumble are still two events that capture my attention like no other programs on television. I will always cherish these events, and on June 24, all my attention and focus will be on the NBA Draft.
Just like it was shocking when Vince McMahon eliminated Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the 1999 Royal Rumble, will the Washington Wizards stun the basketball universe by taking Evan Turner over John Wall? Will any of the big name prospects slide down in the draft and be available for the Magic to take? What kinds of reactions will the crowd in New York City have after each unusual selection?
I can’t wait.
By Josh CohenJune 17, 2010
ORLANDO -- When I was a kid, there were two nights in the year that no matter what I had to be front of the television.
Even if someone told me Martians that resembled the creatures in the movie “Mars Attacks!” landed on my doorstep, I still had to be focused on the tube. Any distractions or interferences had no influence on my concentration.
The WWE Royal Rumble and the NBA Draft remain at the center of my television-viewing memories.
I absolutely adored the exhilaration of each of these events. I was always an enormous wrestling fan and, obviously, basketball has always been my utmost passion.
But I started asking myself recently: what was it about these two extraordinary occasions that entertained me so much?
And ultimately I realized that both the Royal Rumble and the NBA Draft have many intriguing similarities.
First and foremost, the most glaring commonality between the two is the constant suspense that both events deliver throughout each program.
For those of you who are not familiar with WWE and the Royal Rumble, let me quickly explain the rules of the match.
Thirty contestants are involved, but do not enter the ring at the same time. Each wrestler pulls a number between 1 and 30 and arrives to the match according to the number they drew. After all 30 superstars have entered, the last man who has not been tossed over the top rope is crowned the winner.
Therefore, just like the NBA Draft where nobody knows which prospect is going to be selected until it is announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern, spectators of the Royal Rumble have no clue which wrestler will be coming out next.
I find this incredibly fascinating and enthralling. I love the anticipation and the thrill of not knowing what is in store for me next. It’s constant amusement with essentially no pauses in between.
Then the next best part: Celebration and/or disappointment.
For instance, in the NBA Draft, when your favorite team selects a player you wanted them to pick, you get excited and relieved. Or, on the other hand, when your favorite team drafts a player you didn’t want, you get disenchanted.
It’s the same thing in the Royal Rumble. I remember, for example, during the early 1990’s getting so pumped up when Hulk Hogan arrived and so furious when Earthquake (WWE had awesome stage names back in the day) entered.
Another similarity is the hilarious pre-event interviews. Check out this footage from the 1992 Royal Rumble. Then prior to the NBA Draft, there are always some funny interviews with prospects. Watch this one with Brook Lopez prior to the 2008 Draft.
Third, the NBA Draft and Royal Rumble share a distinct relationship when it comes to looking ahead to the future. Much of the time, like it was for the Orlando Magic in 1992 and 2004 when they drafted Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard in each of those years with the first overall pick, the draft has a large influence in determining which NBA franchises will be championship contenders over the next decade.
In WWE, the winner of the Royal Rumble gets an automatic shot at the title at WrestleMania. As a result, each event allows us to familiarize ourselves with eventual contenders.
I love this concept. I adore the architecture of sports entertainment. It’s why everyone is so obsessed with this summer’s free agency. Everyone craves the thought of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or any of the other marquee free agents playing for their team.
It’s just like when we are kids playing with Legos. The most fun part is building the playground or farm or highway, not necessarily the usage of the final creation (although that can be somewhat amusing too).
The NBA Draft and Royal Rumble are still two events that capture my attention like no other programs on television. I will always cherish these events, and on June 24, all my attention and focus will be on the NBA Draft.
Just like it was shocking when Vince McMahon eliminated Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the 1999 Royal Rumble, will the Washington Wizards stun the basketball universe by taking Evan Turner over John Wall? Will any of the big name prospects slide down in the draft and be available for the Magic to take? What kinds of reactions will the crowd in New York City have after each unusual selection?
I can’t wait.
