by Brandon Carmichael

Created on: June 29, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

During the months of May and June, I have lived a sad and pathetic existence. My attentiveness has wavered tremendously, I haven't written a sentence in two months, my world has shrunken and my priorities changed dramatically. My life became centered around evenings when "Amazing Happens". I watched the NBA Playoffs religiously this year, and it was worth every unproductive three hours. I laughed, I yelled, I almost cried (there is no crying in basketball), Kanye West became my favorite artist, and it was an event of epic proportions. I understand that I may seem a little over the top, perhaps even fanatical, and to that: I am. I am a basketball junkie, and I'm not ashamed to say it. In my opinion, the NBA is the most entertaining sports league in the world.

NBA basketball players possess almost cartoonish athletic ability. These guys are gigantic in build with the ability run, jump, and change directions. A testament to these guys ability is my lack of ability. I was a decent high school player, and am a fairly competitive intramural player at Georgia Southern. To my dismay, I get dominated and embarrassed by guys I play pick-up and intramural basketball with on a fairly regular basis; guys who are not even a fourth as athletic as the guys in the League. The combination of size, strength, speed, quickness, jumping ability, and coordination makes the NBA player the best athlete in the sports world.

Another advantage that the NBA has when it comes to entertainment is its tendency for quick changes in momentum and high scoring. This allows for very compelling situations when a team gets down, because its easy to up differences and take the momentum right back.

A prime example of this aspect is the drama that unfolded in the first round series between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics. Widely considered one of the greatest playoff series of all-time, it contained unbelievable comebacks and runs by both teams. There was six overtimes periods played in the series, the most in NBA history. Watching every game of this series was exercise for me and I was sitting in my dorm room eating a bag Cheetos! I jumped off my bed with every ebb and flow of those intense games as all them went down to the wire. When a series like that occurs it is an event to behold.

My personal adoration for the game of basketball is not just an irrational feeling for a game; it has been proved out in the television ratings of the 2009 playoffs. ESPN and TNT saw its highest ratings since the Jordan Era. ESPN saw an average rating of 3.7 for the 19 playoff games it broadcasted. TNT received 3.6 average rating for its 43 games.

Not only did the Playoffs draw big numbers, but it has expanded its influence throughout the world. Behind soccer, basketball has become the most popular sport in the world. This was evidenced by the almost Michael Jackson-like fanfare that superstars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Yao Ming received during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The rock star status that these players have attained speaks to the tremendous and profound entertainment value that basketball holds. Now that the season is over and the Los Angles Lakers have been crowned the champs, maybe I can get back to being a productive member of society....at least before football season starts.

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