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Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Yeah, that's an excellent parallel.
Then again, a buddy of mine fits perfectly into Hamas case study. Born in the late 60s and his first real strong memory of the Chiefs is the Marty era. He bemoans the aerial nature of modern football all the time.
So I think there are folks who would argue football is in a 'rut'. I think they're in a minority in that regard.
Meanwhile baseball, who's fanbase seems to trend a little older, probably has a bunch of cranky old men like me who absolutely loathe the 'modern' game. I LOVED the analytics evolution in baseball because it dovetailed really well with my affinity for numbers and analysis. But man, it's become so data driven that the game has lost most all of its aesthetic appeal.
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I’m wondering if it becomes a true problem in the eyes of the league when it’s considered a problem by multiple generations of fans (I.E your future markets). I definitely have seen the take that football is not what is was because smash mouth football and blindside hits are done, but I really haven’t seen that take espoused in folks in their 50's or younger. Basketball is similar with the three point revolution. My middle schoolers are setting up ball screens and sinking 3’s at a level I could not have imagined when I played. But has the strategy of middle school ball worsened since I played? Honestly, I think their games are much more engaging and they are all thinking at a higher level than I ever was on the court (in their league final, they fouled an opposing player when up 3 to force him to the line).
The sentiment against baseball, OTOH, has united the generations of fandom. All of my buddies and even the young analytics writers I follow (I’m 30) are all talking about the problem. A close friend of mine graduated in data analytics and he goes on and on about the problem like he’s an oldhead. The proposed solutions, however, could not be more wildly different.