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To my Page 2 compadre:
Let the record reflect that I am a huge R-Dub fan. Love the mag articles.
Love the books. Love the Page 2 stuff most. You obviously love the NBA, but
in dissing college hoops, you sound just a little defensive -- over the fact the college game owns this time of year, or perhaps because the NBA
regular season just happens to get a mite bit tedious right about now ... every @#$%&@! year.
Now let me say that some of your points are right on, but to fully appreciate
the differences between the sports, it's only fair to present the other side:
Why college hoops is better than the NBA
|  | | G-Wiz. 'Nuff said. |
College has the rumbling Stanford Tree; the NBA has fumbling Washington mascot G-Wiz.
College has a 3-point distance that allows any player on the floor to be a threat; the NBA has a 3-point distance that no player but Tim Legler actually likes.
College has a vibrant coaching pipeline; the NBA has recyclables.
College zone defenses are a thing of beauty; the NBA zone defenses are a knee-jerk reaction to plodding offenses.
College is scandalous; the NBA is sterile.
College players miss some easy shots early, but evolve over time; the NBA has vintage '93 Charles Smith for the Knicks. Ooh, what a savvy vet.
College refs can look at end-of-game replays for did-he-or-didn't-he-get-the-shot-off clock disputes; the NBA lets Lamond
Murray be a hero with the famous catch-set-square-up-jump-release-all-in-a-half-second time-defier.
College has extra-long shorts; the NBA has the fashion police.
Every college tourney game crackles with win-or-go-home; the NBA has the lumbering first six games of a seven-game playoff series (when it's not one of those oh-so-thrilling 4-1 or 4-0 series).
|  | | After four years of college ball, Shane Battier got a degree and an NBA starting job. |
College has the excitement of parity; the NBA has snoozer dynasties.
In college, thrilling 18-year-olds rule; in the NBA, thrilling 18-year-olds ride the pine.
College has four-year starters; the NBA has the journeymen-in-training NBDL.
College had Ralph Sampson; the NBA never did.
College had Chris Jackson; the NBA had Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
College had the unstoppable Wayman Tisdale; the NBA got a good bass player.
College had Loyola Marymount averaging 120 per game; the NBA has a 120-point over-under.
College had Phi Slamma Jamma; the NBA has the cliquish coaching fraternity.
All-World Tim Duncan loved his four years of college development; the NBA has Erick Barkley.
Collegian Shane Battier came out of four years at Duke ready to start in the NBA; the NBA has prep-to-pro "projects."
|  | | Pro hoops hasn't quite found what it takes to lure Rick Majerus. |
College has Rick Majerus; the NBA wishes it does.
College has chalkboard innovation; the NBA has the good ol' pick (yawn) and roll.
College is an actual winter sport; the NBA season lasts longer than baseball.
College has ultra-clever student sections like the Cameron Crazies; the NBA
has corporations buying blocks of good seats to give to rich people who sit on their hands.
College has the thrill of expectation at Signing Day; the NBA has contract disputes.
College has sneaker impresarios; the NBA has take-no-prisoner agents.
College players date NBA dancers; the NBA dancers are off-limits to NBA players.
College has Chris Wilcox and Caron Butler; the NBA's D-Miles and Q had better watch their backs ...
Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2.
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