I'm back for Round 2, nearly two hours after I started on my first post. In the words of Marcia Brady, "something suddenly came up."

I was meandering through the blogs and reading up on the NBA Playoffs. On FOX Sports' main page, the lead story was about the Heat-Nets. Apparently, the Heat won 103-92. Let me take this moment to stand up and applaud.

Alright, I'm done.

What is it about the NBA Playoffs? Why is it that watching one of the most exciting young players, Dwayne Wade, dribble, drive and score doesn't appeal to me? Why is it that I can't sit through 10 minutes of a legendary center throwing down dunks, or seeing Jason Kidd make lightning quick passes and lock down defenders? I can't even sit through nailbiters like LA-Phoenix. When the whole sports world was buzzing with the Lakers-Suns last weekend, I was more anxious to see how bad the Cardinals would pound on the Marlins in Miami. In fact, I watched a whole minute of that game before I laughed out loud at how big of a bust it was.

I haven't sat through an entire NBA Playoff game since 1998. I haven't sat through a regular season game since Michael Jordan came back for the first time 11 years ago. Oh, sure I'll watch the occasional LeBron James masterpiece, and I'll always set aside a few minutes for a 45-foot desperation 3-pointer by Gilbert Arenas, but it doesn't captivate me. Here's the flip side to that.

I just got done sitting through an agonizing episode of "Parental Control." If you don't know what that is, it's a "reality" dating show on MTV where two parents, frustrated by their son or daughter's mate, sift through contestants and look for two good ones to replace the one they don't like. The two guys go on dates while the boyfriend or girlfriend watches on, and they speak rudely and crass to the parents while cracking unfunny jokes. It's so put-on, but I can't turn away. It's just like the other crappy dating shows on MTV. I hate these people, I know it's scripted, it's not funny and if they are real, they are some of the most shallow and empty human beings on the planet, and MTV flaunts them off.

I can't watch the real drama of the NBA Playoffs. The commercials with the players getting riled up, LeBron throwing the powder up into the air and the catchy hip hop on a loop doesn't get me amped, but seeing an average looking blonde fake her way through a date does. And it's not that I don't like basketball, I love it. But for some reason, I'm not drawn to Steve Nash carving up defenses like I am to a guy dating a girl's mom. Is it the NBA's fault, or am I just becoming one of the 21st century sports fans that has become trained to enjoy the scripted "reality" shows that offers more drama and evokes more feelings. The numbers may be up slightly, but they aren't reaching the average fan like myself. 

It's up to the NBA to fix this. FOX has it figured out with "America Idol," MTV has it figured out with "The Real World," now it's up to YOU to figure it out with the playoffs. You have the star power, the money, the network and the drama, now make the average fan want to care again.