The Success of Basketball

Paper Summary:

Once basketball was considered the bastard child in the arena of competitive sports. Today, it is second behind only soccer as the most watched sport in the world. This paper shows that understanding basketball's growing hold on sports enthusiasts begins with an examination of the professionals of the National Basketball Association. The paper examines the popularity of NBA stars such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and how they have contributed to the popularity of basketball around the globe. The paper also discusses the African-American element of basketball.

From the Paper:

"In Kobe Bryant, the media created an icon out of a one-dimensional image. Although magazines and commercials made sure everyone was aware of Kobe's bright smile and exceptional basketball abilities, they ignored his flaws as a player and as a person. Fans saw Kobe's flashy drives to the basketball and thunderous dunks but ignored his selfish ball hogging and oftentimes unforgivable turnovers. Kobe's image heralded in a new era of basketball, one that demanded one on one skill and superior athleticism rather than teamwork."

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