Lakers and Cowboys and the business of entertainment

[birdwells1]

Before the NBA season started the Lakers did something that will probably set their franchise back about 5 years or so, they inexplicably signed Kobe Bryant to a 2 years extension on the average of about 25 million a year. I have a friend that's a die hard Lakers and Cowboys fan, so I called him to rib him a bit and all he could say was "I don't know what the h*** they're thinking".

Here what Mitch Kupchak said “We’ve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that that happens. To play 20 years in the NBA, and to do so with the same team, is unprecedented, and quite an accomplishment. Most importantly however, it assures us that one of the best players in the world will remain a Laker, bringing us excellent play and excitement for years to come.”

None of the above statement has any thing to do with winning which is what this organization has been about ever since I've been alive. Here's my question, if you're the Lakers why don't you say "hey we've had a great run with Kobe, we've won 5 World Championships with him and we're going to let his contract play out and build our team for another run".

I think the reason they signed Kobe is the same reason we still have Romo, because the Lakers are more about entertaining than winning. They still want to be relavent and with a "done" Kobe they think that they will still draw national tv audiences and stars courtside. If this were the Spurs they wouldn't have signed Kobe because they are all about winning.

The Dallas Cowboys let their 2 best dlineman walk this offseason (and I agree) and should be in a rebuilding mode but they still have Romo who really doesn't fit what this organization should be trying to do. The Cowboys know that with Romo come relavance, this season he may be the difference in this team going 4-12 and 7-9, and more importantly keeping the games entertaining. This is not a knock on Romo but he will not be the qb the next time this team rises to prominence, with the draft being deep at that position it would've been great to have the guy in place taking his lumps and getting on the same page with Dez, Williams, and Escobar.

While other teams like the Spurs and Patriots just worry about winning, teams like the Lakers and Cowboys worry about winning and style points. I asked my friend this question, if the Spurs and the Lakers switched jerseys and the Lakers won the championship in a "boring" manner, would the team be embraced by LA? Not surprising he said no.

 

[Zordon]

Agree and disagree. No doubt both draw headlines but does Romo actually put butts in the seats? I know Kobe does, he's a legend in L.A. Does Romo get that same love and devotion from the locales that they'll buy tix just to go see him play? Nah, no way no how. The Lakers signed Kobe partially out of respect as well so he can retire with the team. The man brought them 5 championships. We signed Romo out of fear of the unknown and an owner who has convinced himself that we are one dagnabbit field goal or 3rd down stop from going on a Giants-like run. Plus Kobe is a top 5 player in the world, top 10 all-time. Romo is not that accomplished.

 

[birdwells1]

Agree and disagree. No doubt both draw headlines but does Romo actually put butts in the seats? I know Kobe does, he's a legend in L.A. Does Romo get that same love and devotion from the locales that they'll buy tix just to go see him play? Nah, no way no how. The Lakers signed Kobe partially out of respect as well so he can retire with the team. The man brought them 5 championships. We signed Romo out of fear of the unknown and an owner who has convinced himself that we are one dagnabbit field goal or 3rd down stop from going on a Giants-like run. Plus Kobe is a top 5 player in the world, top 10 all-time. Romo is not that accomplished.

At this point Romo is more productive than Kobe and that's why he keeps the Cowboys relevant. Kobe was a top 5 player before his injury and even that's questionable but you don't make signing out of respect when other teams are making signing to win. In the op I stated that Romo is probably the difference in a 4 win season and a 7 win season and will keep games entertaining, I didn't say that people come to the games to see him. P.s. Kobe is my second favorite basketball player of all time, Jordan being first and my third favorite athlete of all time Michael Irvin being first.

 

[ChooChoo73]

I agree that both franchises have relegated winning to their wish list and not priority list. However, Romo is a very good qb and debatably top 8. He may be on the verge of decline but it's not evident by his play. We merely predict it from his age and last injury.

I do think Romo puts some fans in seats but not nearly to the level of Kobe. There is no sentiment towards Romos career as a cowboy either. It's Just Jerry feeling like they are close as someone has already stated in this thread. Sadly, despite having a very good qb, I believe we are far away from competing for a ring not on the physical and roster talent of the players but on the deficient intellectual talent of our leadership.

 

[The Natural]

Agree and disagree. No doubt both draw headlines but does Romo actually put butts in the seats? I know Kobe does, he's a legend in L.A. Does Romo get that same love and devotion from the locales that they'll buy tix just to go see him play? Nah, no way no how. The Lakers signed Kobe partially out of respect as well so he can retire with the team. The man brought them 5 championships. We signed Romo out of fear of the unknown and an owner who has convinced himself that we are one dagnabbit field goal or 3rd down stop from going on a Giants-like run. Plus Kobe is a top 5 player in the world, top 10 all-time. Romo is not that accomplished.

True on all counts

I told some Laker fans earlier this year they were in for some dark years ahead with Kobe clearly on his way out and no contingency plan in place. It's like we saw here after aikman. Yea the Cowboys and Lakers are always going to be a popular brand, but that doesn't equal championships

 

[RS12]

Nobody wants Jerry out of football operations more than me but Jim Buss makes Jerry look like a football genius. Jim Buss couldnt find his rear end with both hands. Lakers in huge trouble.

 

[big dog cowboy]

With Romo we still have a chance to win in the playoffs especially if we can get the defense improved to only "average" or possibly better.

I'm not sure the same can be said about Kobe and the Lakers. They look done even with Kobe.

 

[birdwells1]

With Romo we still have a chance to win in the playoffs especially if we can get the defense improved to only "average" or possibly better.

I'm not sure the same can be said about Kobe and the Lakers. They look done even with Kobe.

Yeah they signed him for 50 mil, before he got on the floor and when he did his vertical leap was gone. smh

 

[Nav22]

There is no parity in the NBA and the NFL is all parity. Comparison doesn't work.

The difference between 8-8 and 10-6 in the NFL is MUCH closer than the difference between the current Lakers and current Spurs, for example.

 

[birdwells1]

There is no parity in the NBA and the NFL is all parity. Comparison doesn't work.

The difference between 8-8 and 10-6 in the NFL is MUCH closer than the difference between the current Lakers and current Spurs, for example.

The comparison wasn't in the on field product but in the way the front office goes about putting together a team.The Spurs and Patriots just want to win and don't care much about entertainment or tv ratings where as the Cowboys (per JJ) and the Lakers (by signing an over the hill Kobe) factor those variables into their personnel decisions.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

The comparison wasn't in the on field product but in the way the front office goes about putting together a team.The Spurs and Patriots just want to win and don't care much about entertainment or tv ratings where as the Cowboys (per JJ) and the Lakers (by signing an over the hill Kobe) factor those variables into their personnel decisions.

Lakers are waiting for the 2016/17 free agency when Love becomes available. Kobe will be off the books. There isn't any big time free agent in this years class other than Lebron/Carmelo, and they weren't coming to the Lakers anyways.

 

[CyberB0b]

 

[Nav22]

The comparison wasn't in the on field product but in the way the front office goes about putting together a team.The Spurs and Patriots just want to win and don't care much about entertainment or tv ratings where as the Cowboys (per JJ) and the Lakers (by signing an over the hill Kobe) factor those variables into their personnel decisions.

So if the Patriots' front office were running the Cowboys, they'd get rid of Tony Romo? You actually believe this? And you also believe that the Cowboys are holding onto one of the top QBs in football because of his "entertainment value"? Uh, I'd try again.

When's the last time a team shipped a top-10 QB outta town? Hard to think of many examples, isn't it? Probably because it's an inherently idiotic thing to do, huh?

 

[Bay10]

Lakers have had actual recent success.

 

[OhSnap]

Thats just a nice way to take something the Cowboys have done well at and use it against em. They've eat several million dollars from releasing Rob Ryan and getting a new defensive philosophy in place. Kiffen and Marrinelli weren't hired to put butt's in the seats and it's probably the most expensive coaching group in the NFL with Callahan in the mix too. Your living in a fantasy world if you really think the Patriots don't care about TV ratings and gettin rid of Romo would get this team going in the right direction.

Aint nothing theyve tried in the last 15 years paid off like anyone wants it too, it's just that simple.

 

[jobberone]

Jerry the owner, fan and GM wants to win so badly he gets in his own way. I see signs of him finally realizing his ways need to change and it appears they are adopting the best strategy available to build a winner. Now whether they do and Jerry can be a part of it rather than it remains to be seen. The pieces are there if Jerry allows them to do their job and he doesn't muck it up. That's not a guarantee of anything but it does give them the best chance to get to where everyone wants to be.