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AS NBA ENTERS SECOND MONTH, CRITICS QUESTION FAN FOLLOWING

          With an average ticket price over $50, tickets to NBA
     games "cost too much.  Way too much," according to
     ESPN.com's David Aldridge.  NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
     Granik, on the sale of tickets throughout the league: "It's
     a curious issue.  The higher-priced tickets are not the
     problem.  People want those tickets.  Those tickets get sold
     out at just about every arena. ... I really think families
     can go to our games.  In some cases, it costs as much as, if
     not less, than going to the movies.  So people can go to our
     games.  But they're not the prime seats."  Aldridge: "Look,
     I'm not saying high ticket prices alone explain what even
     the most ardent NBA fan must acknowledge is a serious slump
     of fan interest.  The league has to find that compelling
     star, or stars, that appeals not only to the hip-hop
     generation, but to the larger community. ... But what
     people? And at what price?" (ESPN.com, 11/22).  In Detroit,
     Rob Parker writes that the NBA "has seen fans turn their
     backs on the game once dubbed 'Fantastic' by league
     marketers."  Parker: "It's deeper than money, though.  Many
     fans just don't seem to be able to connect with the young,
     tattooed Generation X instant millionaire players that make
     up a sizable percentage of the league's current stars"
     (DETROIT NEWS, 11/27).  On yesterday's edition of "The
     Sports Reporters," ESPN's Dick Schaap said, "You can't buy a
     season ticket for an NFL game in most cities, but the NBA,
     they say, 'Where do you want to sit?'"  John Feinstein: "In
     Washington, you can't give away a ticket for a Wizards game,
     ... even if Michael [Jordan] is in his skybox."  Feinstein,
     on the state of the NBA: "The game itself stinks.  It's
     stagnant, everybody stands around and it's even worse in the
     playoffs.  David Stern can spin and spin and spin but sooner
     or later he's got to look in the mirror and say this game
     needs to be changed and we really need to get to these young
     players."  Mike Lupica, on the NFL: "It's the model sport
     for all the other leagues. Everybody has the same television
     money, everybody has a real salary cap and believe me, there
     isn't another commissioner around who wouldn't take Paul
     Tagliabue's system right now" (ESPN, 11/26). 

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