El National Basketball Association

[houdinisangel]

Ok, Let me start out by saying I do not closely follow the NBA. However, this morning after watching the Flyers get raped by the Rangers I noticed that the CHI/MIA games was in its final minutes so I switched over to catch the game. The first thing I noticed is that it was a close game 3 point difference with 90 secs left to play. The second thing was that the jerseys were all fucked up. I wasn't watching the Bulls versus the Heat, apparently I was watching "Los Bulls" play "El Heat". I quickly played the "not everyone speaks engrish" guilt trip on myself and figured it must be a heritage day or some other shit sponsored by the NBA...after all, there were playing in Miami.

Still, something kept nagging me. I finished up the game, went to Jamba Juice for a smoothie and then it hit me.

The jerseys still said Bulls and Heat. I mean if it was Spanish day, wouldn't they have said Los Toros or El Calor? And why would it stop there...The court still had American Airlines Arena written in English. Everything else was in English as well. As it stands the NBA created jerseys (and only jerseys) that apparently are meant to honor some sort of Spanish language or heritage only they didn't even get that right.

Please someone explain this to me, what the fuck? Did I not see a memo that outlined 6 March as "Spanish Definite Article Day" in the NBA?

[Falling Man]

I would just like to say I like the avatar. Or maybe el avatar?

[houdinisangel]

I would just like to say I like the avatar. Or maybe el avatar?

Sigh, Thanks but you're of no help. I'm still wondering wtf was going through the NBA's mind.

[rabb]

it's simple marketing

Miami, Cubans, $$$

[houdinisangel]

it's simple marketing

Miami, Cubans, $$$

Marketing I get...but why the hell would they only use the definite article in another language? I'm cool, I'm hip, I'm connecting with my large market base in Miami by going around and changing the word "the" into their language.

[miketheknife]

I suspect it's because the NBA is trying BIGTIME to get latino fans, they're advertising in Mexico and having games down there. As for why the jerseys aren't completely in spanish, it's probably so us gringos can still figure out who's who.

[Aurress Dearing]

it's probably so us gringos can still figure out who's who.

I'd have to say its this reason too. Most Americans are still pretty dumb to other languages. Or maybe I should say "A good portion of Americans." ... Being a Spanish major I always thought it was pretty cool, but now I'm with you, I think it should be El Calor & Los Toros. Its 1 game, if you can't figure out what team is which, then there is something wrong with you. You need to follow the NBA more, recognize colors better, or just wait until the next game when the Americanized world will make sense to you again.

[lotus]

Technically speaking, Bulls and such are proper names for the teams and not just the non-proper "bulls". I think they're trying to preserve the brand identity of the teams. Plus there's no good way to translate things like "76ers" into other languages. Even more standard names like "Trailblazers" and "Bucks" wouldn't necessarily translate well into Spanish.

[JohnnyHustler]

Stern and company have always kinda been half assed on attempts to being different demographics into the game, so just taking on different spanish forms of "The" to the uniform doesn't surprise me in the least. We were joking at bowling on Sunday afternoon that it showed the NBA was at least 50% committed to the Latino community.

[rabb]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

[JohnnyHustler]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

Yeah, but at least the NFL doesn't half ass the alternate jersey by putting out the same jersey with the spanish word for "the" in front of the team name.

[lotus]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

Yeah, but at least the NFL doesn't half ass the alternate jersey by putting out the same jersey with the spanish word for "the" in front of the team name.

That's just Spanish grammar. Definite article in Spanish denotes noun gender and is required.

[JohnnyHustler]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

Yeah, but at least the NFL doesn't half ass the alternate jersey by putting out the same jersey with the spanish word for "the" in front of the team name.

That's just Spanish grammar. Definite article in Spanish denotes noun gender and is required.

I'm talking not going the whole way with the Spanish word for the team name (if available).

[lotus]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

Yeah, but at least the NFL doesn't half ass the alternate jersey by putting out the same jersey with the spanish word for "the" in front of the team name.

That's just Spanish grammar. Definite article in Spanish denotes noun gender and is required.

I'm talking not going the whole way with the Spanish word for the team name (if available).

If you visit Mexico, does your name change to Juan?

[houdinisangel]

again, this is about jersey sales as much as it is appealing to a new demographic

you think the NFL has the "alternate" jersey because they have to for some reason?

Yeah, but at least the NFL doesn't half ass the alternate jersey by putting out the same jersey with the spanish word for "the" in front of the team name.

That's just Spanish grammar. Definite article in Spanish denotes noun gender and is required.

I'm talking not going the whole way with the Spanish word for the team name (if available).

If you visit Mexico, does your name change to Juan?

No but I wouldn't go around referring to myself El Jonathan or my professional team as The Toros.

As for the NFL halfassing the alternate jerseys, don't give them any ideas of I will be buying Rabb a Los Broncos jersey.