During the week, it came to my attention that FIBA, the governing body for international basketball, will ask the International Olympic Committee to include 3-on-3 basketball as a medal event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
As far as ideas go, this ranks up there with fly screens on submarines, subprime mortgages and mid-strength beer.
You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger basketball fan than me, so if I think this idea is terrible, I can’t wait to hear what the average punter thinks about it.
I can understand the push for T20 cricket to be included as an Olympic sport.
Cricket is popular and played in numerous countries around the world now, and I think it has a legitimate case to have a presence in the Olympics like football, basketball, tennis, etc.
And if it is to be included, I believe the shortest form of the game is a feasible way to introduce the sport into the Olympics, because the truncated version of cricket fits better with the Games’ two-and-a-half week length than the 50 over and Test formats do.
However, I’m not so keen on the idea of 3-on-3 basketball also becoming an Olympic sport.
Firstly, there is the very obvious point that basketball is already represented at the Olympics. The sport has a long and proud history at the Games, in the form of the traditional 5-on-5 game.
So why should basketball be given two formats at the Olympics? Especially when there is the perception there are already too many sports at the Games.
Yes, it’s true that swimming, shooting, sprinting, etc. all have more than one ‘event’ at the Games. But at least they consist of different skills. The basketball on show in a 3-on-3 tournament would be exactly the same as what you witness in a normal game – just with fewer players on the court.
Actually, it would be worse.
Unlike T20 cricket, 3-on-3 basketball isn’t a great spectacle. It wouldn’t be more exciting than the traditional form of the game. In fact, it would be extremely boring.
Perhaps that’s my subjective point-of-view. I’m sure there are some people in the world that enjoy watching 3-on-3 basketball. But should we really include it in the Olympics to appease those seven individuals?
Tactically, you don’t need to be Phil Jackson to figure out how to win 3-on-3 basketball, for it isn’t rocket science. In a nutshell, the game-play is: beat your man, and if help rotates quickly enough, you pass it to the open man for the shot. If the defence doesn’t rotate, you shoot it yourself.
That style of play certainly won’t please the purists. Nor is it exciting enough to gain new fans. Sure, it sounds like fun to watch for a possession or two. After that, it would just become a great cure for insomnia.
There are also some logistics to consider. Do players compete in both the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 format? Wouldn’t that be too much basketball for said individuals, considering the already packed Olympic schedule for the traditional game?
And if they don’t compete in both formats, then suddenly we’re not even watching the best players. Surely that will erode the credibility of the tournament?
FIBA Secretary-General Patrick Baumann argues that 3-on-3 would allow more countries to experience the Olympics and therefore help FIBA expand basketball’s global popularity.
I personally have my doubts about the validity of that strategy. Surely injecting money into grassroots basketball in smaller nations would be more effective than handing out token Olympic spots?
To be fair, it’s arrogant and irresponsible of me to doubt FIBA’s strategy without being privy to all the facts, statistics and plans. But even if their strategy is sound, surely it’s not the IOC’s responsibility to grow the global popularity of basketball?
3-on-3 basketball does have its place: it’s a great way for perimeter players to work on their passing and cutting.
In other words, it’s a fantastic training drill. To put that in context, it’s the equivalent of a cricket net session being included as an Olympic sport.
I have no problem with T20 cricket earning a berth as an Olympic sport, but I’m far from sold on the idea of 3-on-3 basketball being added.
Ryan O'Connell
Guest
Do they interview the 'players' after the game?
JRVK
Guest
There is no way 3-on-3 can be included on the Rio program. It has been set now for 3 years. Furthermore, the IOC has now put a cap on new sports per international association. Hence, FIBA would have to drop 'basketball' to get '3-on-3' on to the agenda. Won't happen unless Baumann becomes next IOC President.
TC
Guest
Fortunately, it's a sport which does not lose too much appeal from being broadcast in the standard format. The beauty of table soccer is that you can fit the whole field of play on the TV screen, so it fits the bill of being made for TV (that is, if you are happy to view the plastic figures as the main protaganists). TC
Ben
Guest
This is brilliant! Never laughed so much in my life! Lol! Nuffy nuff nuff! Water polo!
Ben
Guest
OMG! He listed the water polo team! Lol!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
In High Definition, I hope?
TC
Guest
I was delighted to discover only this weekend that the table soccer world cup is either on right now or has been on the past week, and it may even have been broadcast on one of the Fox Sport channels. I find the thought of table soccer becoming an Olympic sport an enticing prospect, and would like to be the first on here to champion the cause. TC
Don Corleone
Guest
Ping Pong? Why would they? I thought we were talking about actual sports.
A1
Guest
Good reply
Internal Fixation
Guest
For what its worth I am also a massive basketball fan but think this is a stupid idea. It is being driven by the NBA who don't want "important" events every 2 years - ie. Olympics and basketball WCs alternating. They would like to see the Olympic event downgraded like Soccer.
Seriously, Who says Oi?
Guest
In the US, the government doesn't provide funding to the Olympic committee. I also know that Canada's government provides very little Olympic funding in comparison to other countries. In the countries you've listed(maybe aside from Ireland), how would the prospect of Cricket being in the Olympics make them suddenly want to fund programs for it? Also, how would this funding make the sport bigger when its current presence ranges from minimal at best to none?
A1
Guest
I still can't believe he listed the Spanish water polo team. Its the funniest thing ever.
Jason
Guest
Has anyone done the numbers on table tennis then?
Don Corleone
Guest
Yes, it might have something to do with a little country called 'India' with 1,210,193,422, 17% of the World's population and where cricket is a religion.
Don Corleone
Guest
I'd love to see T20 included in the Olympics, it's the perfect format for expanding and increasing the profile of the sport. Olympic prestige will motivate governments of countries like China, Russia and the USA to fund national cricket programs and fringe cricket nations like Canada, The Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland will get a boost on top of ICC dividends.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Heading into the London Games, in Olympic athletics, America had won 300 gold. The nearest nation to that tally was tye Soviet Union/Russia with 82. I guess you waned to cancel Track & Field as well?
A1
Guest
For the love of god please stop! this is not a fair fight! 7 and 9 points is not a large margin in basketball!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Mate, you're clearly not going to budge from your opinion. That's fine, and good. I respect it, and it's what this site is all about. Unfortunately your opinion is based on tremendous inaccuracies, mistakes and inconsistencies, of which your last comment is full of yet again. It's there for all to see, so I'll let others judge. It's a lovely day here in Sydney, and I refuse to spend my Saturday correcting your comments. Have a good weekend.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
I did not say there is one proffesional league. I said "Big". Let repeat me it. "There is one big professional league in the world that is in the USA" See. Lets not stand still on one place and over English unfortunately I am Spanish. Yes they were called the dream team made by the media to create that hype like they always do. Same thing happened with the Japanes Bob sled team. You gave me seven names. Dunno but Juan Carlos Navarro and Fernandez do not play in the NBA. They both play for Barcelona. Ibaka was not even born or learn his trade in Spain. He is from the Congo and became a Spain citizen through playing there. Sorry bout that posted that message twice as the network went down. 14 out 17 gold medals? That is handing out medals. I mean 63-0 before some official robbed them in 72 and they did not want to receive the silver. They refuced it it when they become 63-1 I think its the most one sided team sport in the Olympics ever! Unless you can give me any other sports where a medal is easily guaranteed for a country. You think putting a million dollar per head team against teams who got 1 or scattered all over fair and open competition to all? What is the difference between the World Cup and Olympics then? Yeah they won it 9 and 7 points. That is pretty big in basketball. Spanish were always chasing the game 99-91 then it was 102-93 and they saw out the end of the game. Spain were never ahead in that 4th quarter even though they had a massive size advantage. U.S. was averaging nearly 117 points and stomping on their competition with such ease that even the Olympics' own daily preview had a hard time envisioning intrigue, writing that it would "likely take a great game from Spain and an off-day from the USA to cause an upset." That is basketball. Like I said handing out medal for the americans since 1936. You can put that on a kellogs box if you want.
A1
Guest
I can't believe you listed Spains water polo team. Good research! Youve been owned twice now. There is a reason Oconnell is an expert and youre a rookie. Just give up cause you're embarrassing yourself.