Three Reasons Why College Basketball Is Better Than Pro and What That Has to Do with Theater

By Ken Davenport

Warning: Sports metaphor ahead. Proceed at your own risk.

If you’ve ever watched basketball, you know that at times, college ball can be a heck of a lot more fun to watch than the pros. What does that have to do with us and why is a Broadway Producer talking about basketball on a Monday morning?

Stay with me, non-sports fans.

Here are three reasons why watching college basketball is better than watching pro:

1. It’s more about teamwork.

Pro b-ball is about those big star players. With a shorter shot clock and only “man-to-man” defense allowed, the most popular play is, “Get the ball to INSERT NAME OF SUPERSTAR HERE and let him shoot.”

College hoops, on the other hand, is much more collaborative. That ball whips around the perimeter looking for the open man or woman, and no one cares who scores . . . as long as the team wins.

2. It’s where the next Superstars are.

When you watch college b-ball, you’re getting to see the next big stars before they become big stars. Can you imagine seeing Michael Jordan play in college? Or Stephen Curry? I mean, not only is it exciting while you’re watching, but later, when they’ve made it to the Hall of Fame, you can say that enviable phrase, “I saw INSERT NAME OF SUPERSTAR HERE before they were INSERT NAME OF SUPERSTAR HERE.” You can almost see the wonder on other folks’ faces, can’t you?

3. It’s about passion, not a paycheck.

College players aren’t paid for what they do. Sure, sure, there’s a lot on the three-point line for their future, but they’re on that court because they love basketball, not because they have a 5 year $10M contract and a sneaker deal. They play because of their passion of the game . . . and, of course, because they dream of playing on bigger courts and in front of bigger crowds. And that dream makes them run a bit faster and sweat a little more in the hopes that it will come true, and soon. They also know that pro coaches, scouts, and owners are watching their every dribble.

So what does that have to do with us?

Seeing a show in a theater festival is like watching college basketball.

🙂

Think about it . . .

Festivals aren’t about stars. It’s where the next big stars are cutting their teeth. And God knows, they aren’t there because they’re being paid a ton of $ to do it.

They just love it.

And just like college fans have their rabid fans, these hard-sweatin’ “players” need a lot of cheering and support.

So go see a show at a festival. Yes, we have one . . . it’s called Rave Theater Festival, there are over 20 shows in it, it’s on RIGHT NOW and it runs through August 25th. (See a list of shows you can see THIS WEEK below – and note TWO shows have already sold out – so get tix quick.)

But if you can’t make it to our festival, go check out a show at another festival. Or in any Off-Off-Broadway or Off-Broadway theater.

Because if you care about the future of the theater (and since you read this blog, I’d bet cash you do), I’ve seen it. And it’s in the small theaters with passionate people doing it for the purpose of making something that people like you can see.

Oh, and here’s a bonus reason why college basketball is better than the pros . . .

4. It’s cheaper.

No explanation needed. 🙂

This weeks’ schedule for Rave is: