Quote Originally Posted by Rantcatrat View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Nameless View Post
I've read something a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, I do not find the source anymore but it was a discussion with Bob Arum (which I hate viscerally) but he said something that makes sense to me:

He says that the reason why HW division is faltering in the Us is mostly because now, the structures to professional sports are much more open than what they used to be before with very good supports for the athletes and such (which is true) and that it was draining a LOT of the top prospects who prefer to give a hit at the NFL or the NBA instead with a program of scholarship and special insurances instead of giving a try at boxing which is not as supported and much more risked. I think that it is effectively a source of the problem because then the pro leagues has to turn even more to what's going on in the olympian ranks. Such sportive structures aren't there in Eastern Countries, Hockey is well developed but that is almost it so their "big guys" potential is not drained by many high elite structures.
Isn't basketball increasingly becoming like Hockey in that regard?
Basketball, just like football drag the big dudes that could make the HW, Hockey not that much because size importance doesn't matter as much. I am not saying it doesn't matter at all but not as much, at least, for the moment, especially because overall, junior programs in the US are mostly focused on football and basketball. Sure, there is some stuff for hockey but it is meaningless compared to the programs established in american football or basketball. Perhaps it'll be the same for hockey someday but that day is not tomorrow neither after tomorrow, if you ask me.