What was better about pro and college sports, thirty years ago?

Coinstartled

Anything?

JoeBanzai

I am not a college sport guy, but for pro, announcers for one. Less garbage all over the screen too.

Coinstartled

I watch very little baseball but the WS caught my interest this year. The strike zone outline was a deal killer. WTF is wrong with the producers?

perkdog

The one thing I loved about College Football was the different offenses teams ran. Wishbone, Power I ect

keets

both games have really changed.
--- College used to be three yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust with occasional passing, now it's sort of like the Pro game from the 1980's and I actually enjoy it more than the NFL.
--- the NFL is now dominated by rules that are hard to interpret and on-field Official "judgement" calls that interrupt the flow of almost every game. add to that the ridiculous celebrations and me-ism that takes place and I'm pushed away. the NFL isn't a Pro-Sport anymore, it is marketed as big time entertainment which attracts everything that goes along with that. money has always driven the NFL but it's crazy big now and distorts the game.

coolstanley

I used to love all the Pro Sports. But now, I rarely watch any games at all. Maybe a baseball game every now and then. I love the college game in so many sports, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Women's volleyball. All very entertaining.

PatsGuy5000

Regular season is too long and less important in MLB, NHL, and NBA. Expanded playoffs allowing more teams in has contributed to a less meaningful regular season, plus players aren’t nearly as intense/competitive during the regular season. Now your seeing a “rest day” for NBA stars to prepare for playoffs. I would be mad as hell if I paid big bucks for a ticket and Giannis, LBJ, Kawhi, Harden, etc. rested. Can’t beat NFL (short season and all games crucial), good College football matchups (Iron Bowl), NBA playoffs, March Madness, MLB playoffs, NHL playoffs, Frozen Four.

WingedLiberty1957

NFL refs didn't "fix games" long ago. Now they all gamble on teams then skew the results so they win their bet. Have you been watching the officiating the past 5 years? OMG awful. i've never seen so many bogus calls, even when they are challenged.

Brick

Agree the officiating has been horrible. With legal gambling confidence in results will go lower and lower. Just within the last year we have had the wrong team in the Super Bowl and the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Both were the result of obviously horrible non calls.

doubledragon

I just miss the generation. I really loved that generation of athletes. I The years go by and you start to miss players like Michael Jordan, and Barry Sanders etc. Now, I must go tend to the birds that live in my beard. They're due to hatch any day now.

Coinstartled

Ticketing was simple. Lay your cash down at the window and you had your seats.

Seems much more complicated now.

hammer1

More memorable names back then.

Deacon, Lambert, Campbell, Theisman, Bradshaw, so many memorable players I'll never forget.

Not so much now.

thisistheshow

Great question.

I no longer watch much college basketball or football. But up until the mid 90s, when I hit my early 20s, I did - mostly basketball. I think it was better then because the star players stayed longer. You got to see a cohesive team develop. I was a huge fan of the Chris Mullen St John's Redmen and s little later the Marcus Camby UMass teams.

I remember in about 1995 talking to a college buddy about Glenn Robinson, then in his first or second year in the NBA. He was saying that he was surprised Robinson didn't look better because he felt like he was one of the best college scorers he had seen in terms of getting his own shot. Boring story I know, and that's pretty much the last time I thought much about college basketball until now.

Coinstartled

@hammer1 said:
More memorable names back then.

Deacon, Lambert, Campbell, Theisman, Bradshaw, so many memorable players I'll never forget.

Not so much now.

Probably not fair, but about all I'll remember from this era of NFL is dreadlocks and kneeling.

Oh..and Dimeman posting about the Cowboys.

electrode

Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler.

DIMEMAN

I was 42 not 72!

JoeBanzai

@DIMEMAN said:
I was 42 not 72!

I thought I was old, but you are OLD! ;-)

DIMEMAN

@JoeBanzai said:

@DIMEMAN said:
I was 42 not 72!

I thought I was old, but you are OLD! ;-)

But I still "think" I am 40!

artee

1. The fact that every space that's larger than a foot didn't have corporate logos all over it.

2. The toughness of athletes. Football is hard to say that knowing what we know now, but MLB pitchers are babied so much now, it's embarrassing.

3. The lack of so many unnecessary stats. Today we have stats for stats. And help leads to the issues with #2 up there.

BillJones

@Brick said:
Agree the officiating has been horrible. With legal gambling confidence in results will go lower and lower. Just within the last year we have had the wrong team in the Super Bowl and the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Both were the result of obviously horrible non calls.

What I can’t believe is that NFL is putting a team in Los Vegas. Talk about putting the henhouse in the middle of the fox’s den! The stadium will almost be within earshot of the biggest sports betting venues in the country.

bronco2078

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EB7-ook9aY

JoeBanzai

@DIMEMAN said:

@JoeBanzai said:

@DIMEMAN said:
I was 42 not 72!

I thought I was old, but you are OLD! ;-)

But I still "think" I am 40!

My wife says I often act like a child!

WHAT?

Coinstartled

@BillJones said:

@Brick said:
Agree the officiating has been horrible. With legal gambling confidence in results will go lower and lower. Just within the last year we have had the wrong team in the Super Bowl and the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Both were the result of obviously horrible non calls.

What I can’t believe is that NFL is putting a team in Los Vegas. Talk about putting the henhouse in the middle of the fox’s den! The stadium will almost be within earshot of the biggest sports betting venues in the country.

It will be an easy commute for the refs.

s4ny

If it was 40 years ago, I would say it was better with no baseball designated hitter. For 30 years ago, I am feeling that both college and pro sports were better without officiating replay. Pro sports were better without the huge player compensation.

bronco2078

@s4ny said:
If it was 40 years ago, I would say it was better with no baseball designated hitter. For 30 years ago, I am feeling that both college and pro sports were better without officiating replay. Pro sports were better without the huge player compensation.

you are ok with 15 dollar beers as long as the players don't get paid much?

Coinstartled

@bronco2078 said:

@s4ny said:
If it was 40 years ago, I would say it was better with no baseball designated hitter. For 30 years ago, I am feeling that both college and pro sports were better without officiating replay. Pro sports were better without the huge player compensation.

you are ok with 15 dollar beers as long as the players don't get paid much?

Maybe he is tired of subsidizing new stadiums with his tax dollars. Without the "free" money, the $40,000,000 paychecks might be only $25,000,000.

craig44

I think it is because the things we saw/experienced when we were younger always seem bigger/better/cooler the older we get. It's the whole, "they don't make em like they used to" scenario.

bronco2078

@Coinstartled said:

@bronco2078 said:

@s4ny said:
If it was 40 years ago, I would say it was better with no baseball designated hitter. For 30 years ago, I am feeling that both college and pro sports were better without officiating replay. Pro sports were better without the huge player compensation.

you are ok with 15 dollar beers as long as the players don't get paid much?

Maybe he is tired of subsidizing new stadiums with his tax dollars. Without the "free" money, the $40,000,000 paychecks might be only $25,000,000.

it wouldnt work that way tho , if players got paid peanuts , taxpayers would still pay for stadiums and beers would still be 15, they would just keep the extra

Coinstartled

@craig44 said:
I think it is because the things we saw/experienced when we were younger always seem bigger/better/cooler the older we get. It's the whole, "they don't make em like they used to" scenario.

You forgot about shorter. Baseball games were 2 and a half hours long, not 3 and a half.

Coinstartled

@bronco2078 said:

@Coinstartled said:

@bronco2078 said:

@s4ny said:
If it was 40 years ago, I would say it was better with no baseball designated hitter. For 30 years ago, I am feeling that both college and pro sports were better without officiating replay. Pro sports were better without the huge player compensation.

you are ok with 15 dollar beers as long as the players don't get paid much?

Maybe he is tired of subsidizing new stadiums with his tax dollars. Without the "free" money, the $40,000,000 paychecks might be only $25,000,000.

it wouldnt work that way tho , if players got paid peanuts , taxpayers would still pay for stadiums and beers would still be 15, they would just keep the extra

But major league talent is market competitive. Sure you have a couple drop out owners, but most bid freely attempting to win a championship. Bigger the pot, the more bucks available

*Is anyone really getting $15 for a beer? I have heard of $8 or $9.

bronco2078

I don't drink actually . Id like to believe no one would be stupid enough to even pay $8 but

MCMLVTopps

The crazy names of college football bowls we have today. Used to be a bonus for a well played season, now it's just about come one, come all. Giving clear proof that money talks.

Maker's Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Bowl
Celebration Bowl
New Mexico Bowl
FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
Camellia Bowl
Mitsubishi Motors Bowl
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
SoFi Hawai'i Bowl
Walk On's Independence Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Military Bowl
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
SDCCU Holiday Bowl
Cheez-it Bowl
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Chic-fil-A Peach Bowl
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Franklin Amer. Mort. Music City Bowl
Redbox Bowl
Capital One Orange Bowl
Belk Bowl
Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl...my favorite
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
Outback Bowl
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Rose Bowl game
Allstate Sugar Bowl
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Lending Tree Bowl

LarkinCollector

@Coinstartled said:
Anything?

Everything?

VikingDude

The commercialization. Everything is "sponsored by", "brought to you by", named for a company, product placement, etc. Just sit and watch how many products/companies are shown, mentioned, pushed at you and you really realize how ridiculous it has become. It is no longer about the game, the sport, the player, the fans, even the entertainment. It is about the almighty dollar.

Estil

We had far more home grown Kentucky talent and when kids in Kentucky playing basketball would dream not of playing for the NBA, but being a Wildcat. And further back, they dreamed of playing for Rupp.

I mean I know to be the finest college basketball team in the land we do need those big blue chip recruits from all over the nation/world but at the same time I wouldn't mind a few more old fashioned Kentucky boys.