NBA Crowds Too Soft.

[Andrew]

Exactly. I was referring simply to cultural difference when it came to sports fans and the lack of NBA related riots (post Finals rioting not withstanding), not violence in society in general. Crowds such as the one in the video Kite posted are certainly passionate but at the same time they seem to have a habit of taking things too far, in my view misplacing their passion. I'm not suggesting that Europeans are uncultured or violent people in general, just that there are cultural differences when it comes to sports fans and frenzied fans aren't always a good thing.

[Hoyasaxa]

NBA spectators tend to be much less into the game than other sports though...that's something that can't be denied.

[NovU]

into the game than other sports though...

I find it difficult to agree. Just because the fans don't get crazy everytime there is a scoring, it doesn't mean fans are not into the game. And it's hard to compare spectators that way because every sports have different cultures of cheering and rooting. You dont' compare MLB fans to the NHL fans, say MLB fans are less enthusiastic or even tennis to golf or whatever. Like Andrew says, it's the culture.

[Andrew]

NBA spectators tend to be much less into the game than other sports though...that's something that can't be denied.

I don't know about that, I think the silence when the home team is getting beaten badly or booing the home team (as well as the more standard practice of booing the opposition) shows a fair amount of emotional investment in the outcome.