The Nets Air ball

The Nets are so desperate for fans to come to the Izod Center that they have launched one of the craziest marketing schemes I have seen in a while. Here's a little bit from the Nets press release:

"In the new Match-Up Plan basketball fans will get to see NBA stars visit the NETS at the IZOD CENTER such as Kobe Bryant and the 2009 NBA Champion Lakers, NBA MVP LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade and the Heat, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and the Eastern Conference Champion Magic, and the Celtics’ trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

For every two tickets purchased under the Match-Up Plan, fans will receive a dual-player reversible jersey – one side featuring a star opponent, the other featuring a Nets star, such as Devin Harris or Brook Lopez. The Match-Up Plan starts at $350 per ticket. The Match-Up jerseys will only be available with the purchase of the Match-Up Plan."

The Nets explain it this way: they are trying to attract the casual basketball fan in the New Jersey/ New York area. Okay I get it...you hear Lebron, you're like "heck ya, I'll go to the game" even if you don't necessarily follow the game. I kind of feel bad for Lopez, Harris, Courtney Lee, Jarvis Harris etc. They are the scraps on the side and not considered big enough names to get fans to the games. That's sad in and of itself! It used to be about the play on the court and not necessarily about the names on the court. However, with no biggies on the team and everyone shipped out (Kidd, Carter, Jefferson) even this purist has to admit, the Nets (and Knicks for that matter) are kind of dull.

Maybe, instead of an air ball, this plan might be like a jump shot to put the team up by 4 but still not out of the "I will lose the lead quick" danger zone. Hey you know what, if it gets people to go to games that may never have, then good for the Nets. Maybe someone will see how good Devin Harris is and want to come back. Bottom line though, the Nets have to prove they have game to keep them coming. See, always about the action on the court...