Wright is Wrong: Country is a Step UP from Rock

I saw this and I had to weigh in. Wright , I think you're too clever by half. The idea that Darius Rucker's country crossover is like LeBron James playing Italian basketball, doesn't work. It's crazy wrong and, if not stupid, certainly bizarre.

(Get the original theory comparing Rucker to Italian basketball, here.)

Here is why it is the two are not equivalent.

1) The style - NBA players leaving to play in Europe must adapt to an entirely different game of basketball than used to in the United States. Frankly, with the recent trends in country music it is not that far off from pop music anyway.

2) Darius Rucker is the real deal. How many people actually care about washed up NBA players that switch to Europe for pro ball? And on top of that, no one watches a player except the 500 or so so fans who attend a live European game. The WNBA would be a better destination for washed up NBA stars.

Rucker, on the other hand, is on a tear. His first single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" was certified gold. The follow-up, "It Won't Be Like This for Long", spent three weeks at the top of the charts in early 2009. And ITS follow-up, "Alright", went straight to number one. That makes him the first country music singer to have his or her first three singles reach number one since Wynonna Judd did in 1992. Rucker also spent a big chunk of this past summer opening up for Rascal Flatts, another hot band. Were I to use your metaphor, that would mean the Italians are playing some pretty kick ass basketball.

3) There ain't no fans like country fans. Country music has one of the most loyal and embracing fan bases of any music genre. These "beer-drinking, hootin' and hollerin' rednecks" know what they like, and will crank up Darius Rucker's latest single "Alright" if they like it (it is one catchy tune). European basketball interest pales by comparison. Plus, it has to contend with soccer and F1 racing.

Your fundemental theory is wrong on several levels -- and shows me you don't know anything about country music or basketball.

Adrian Wojnarowski wrote onsports.yahoo.com that, "The prospects of an NBA superstar making a leap of
faith and fortune to the burgeoning European basketball market isn't close, but it no longer seems such an outrageous possibility."

He goes on to assure fans that stars LeBron James and Kbe Bryant are not going to Europe anytime soon for playing time. BUT, the days of second rate US players taking shelter in European leagues may be ending. Their game is getting better.

Finally, you misunderestimate the appeal of country music. People are getting on the bandwagon. Craig Shelburne wrote 9-8-08 on his blog.cmt.comthat, "This week Darius Rucker (of Hootie and the Blowfish) has the No.1 country album in Billboard Magazine. Last week, it was Jessica Simpson. Earlier this year, Jewel achieved the same feat."

He then goes on to predict Whitney Houston,Vanessa Carlton, and even Cher will eventually venture into country music.

Sell-out? Hardly. More like smart career move. You can't say the same thing about Italian basketball, Simon.