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NBA-MLB viewership crash: Audience dwindles as Internet demands 'complete boycott', say 'keep politics out'

With reports of declining viewership after the opening games, the return of these leagues haven't made any difference it had expected to make

Right when we thought that the return of NBA and MLB tournaments will boost people’s morale and entertain them, things seem to be taking an unpleasant turn. According to Breitbart, even though these leagues have adopted a lot of ‘woke’ issues and symbols – namely the Black Lives Matter movement – after the opening games, there were very few takers for the next games of the week.

According to Outkick.com, neither leagues did well. The website reported that restart of NBA on TNT saw 3.4 million views tuning in for Lakers-Clippers game while the Pelicans-Jazz game saw only 2.1 million. Similarly, on ESPN, the Yankees-Nationals saw a 4 million viewership while the Dodgers-Giants game saw 2.8 million.

In a tweet, Outkick’s Ryan Glasspiegel added more ratings numbers. He wrote: “To be fair since I compared MLB vs NBA return night 1, here is night 2. MLB (last Friday, ESPN), Mets-Braves (4p) - 922K, Brewers-Cubs(7p) - 1.0M, Angels-As (10p) - 797K, NBA (last night ESPN), Celtics-Bucks (6:30p) - 1.3M, Mavs-Rockets (9p)- 1.7M.”

The Althletic’s Ethan Strauss observed: “MLB really fell off after opening day. In general, both leagues aren't getting the audience one might expect from a nation that's been deprived of entertainment for months.” He further tweeted, “You could chalk sagging interest up to pandemic conditions, but 5.8 million tuned in to watch Tom Brady hit golf shots into the woods.”

And quite naturally, Twitter joined in the discussion and gave their ‘expert’ take on the subject. One wrote: “Complete boycott till they get ALL new owners and players. Period.”

Another accused, “They don’t care. China is their biggest audience. They don’t need us that’s why this s**ts happening. Should move the NBA to Wuhan where they are loved.”

One even said, “A few million watching is still way too many.  Hope more don't watch. Those extremely rich players need to realize their disrespect of the very Nation they have managed to make millions off of, don't appreciate what they have to say.  Go to another country & see how they do.”

One questioned, “You don’t mix politics and sports. Religion would be another topic to exclude. Politics and religion can be divisive issues. The beauty of sports is that they are this inclusive pass time that unites us in many ways. Why in the world would these leagues want to alienate fans???”

Another wrote: “Finally some Good News.  Who want to watch oppressed millionaires who are paid to play a sport — whose salaries are paid mainly by White people — push Marxist talking points of systemic racism? Let’s keep it up Patriots.”

A fan expressed, “And when will the NBA condemn the horrific abuse to Chinese citizens. Slavery, organ harvesting, unjust imprisonment............NBA has lost me too until changes have occurred by players, coaches, owners, and advertisers.”

A user concluded, “The players won’t care about viewership until the teams can no longer pay their astronomical salaries because revenue is down. I hope they all take a huge payout soon. America is waking up and deciding they don’t care about basketball or baseball.”