So, part of me wondered why of all the times in the world that David Stern chose not to intervene to get the dream NBA match up, it had to be this year. No one would have questioned anything had LeBron and the Cavaliers made it to The Finals, right?

Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. The NBA is littered with questionable calls to help “a certain team” advance. I don’t even have to assume you don’t know what I mean do I?

Look, I was one of the bigger commenters betting about the Stern-o Machine inventing a way for the Cavaliers to win to ensure the NBA, ESPN, ABC, and the advertisers got the match up they wanted which was Cavs-Lakers. I was as shocked as anyone when it didn’t happen. So shocked, in fact, that I had to invent a reason why David Stern didn’t come up with some tactical creative fouls, a few technical fouls, a new set of phantom calls against the clearly better Orlando Magic to make sure that the puppets played each other. Notice the theme there? Fouls? It is the NBA’s way of leveling the playing field…again, don’t pretend to not follow what I am saying.

Was it a need for a third superstar in Dwight Howard to make the league more compelling? Nope. We got the Celtics trio, we got Kobe, and we got LeBron. That seems to be enough for the most part. Who else on the Magic would compel Stern not to intervene? Stan Van Gundy? Because he got snubbed by Pat Riley and Riley “magically” won a ring with Shaq and D Wade? Was this a repayment for when there were dozens of clear hard fouls phantom calls on Wade during the Heat’s run to a Championship? Stan Van Gundy is getting repaid? Nah….Are there journeyman players on the Magic who got screwed out of a ring from back in the day? Hedo Turkoglu? Nah…Stern doesn’t care about guys from Turkey does he?

So what could it be?

It’s a conspiracy for sure…but let me float it anyways.

Mickey Mouse fouls were not called because it is Mickey Mouse who will benefit the most. Way off base? Follow me for a minute.

ABC – Owned by Disney. ESPN – Owned by Disney. NBA City / Restaurant? In Orlando. Disney World – Orlando. Disney Land – In Los Angeles. NBA televison partners? ESPN and ABC. How Much money is involved? 2.4 Billion.

What does Disney stand to gain? How many media credentials are issued each game…not nationally…but internationally? How many international families would die to go to Disney Land, Disney World? Did the Disney Machine call in a favor or a Return on Investment to makeup for lost revenue in this crappy economy? Some reports say that a municipal area gains as much as $15- $20 million from a postseason pro sports event. The one I found was from Philadelphia. If Philly could make $15 million…how much could Orlando (home of Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World…again, NBA City) pull in? Luxury hotels, luxury golf, a family vacation….or do you want Cleveland, Ohio?

Let’s put it into the local media perspective shall we…

During the playoffs, the 227-room Crowne Plaza Downtown Orlando has seen strong business, selling out twice on weekend nights when the Magic played. The May 24 game — which coincided with Memorial Day — increased hotel business by about 70 percent, said Jerry Barnes, the hotel’s general manager. Bookings were up about 20 percent for May 26, a Tuesday game.

Having the NBA playoffs in town is like “winning the Powerball,” said Mark Moravec, general manager of the Orlando Marriott Downtown. “This has truly been a blessing for this hotel, the success of the Magic.”

So if this is what the guys from downtown are saying, what do you think the guys from Disney are saying? Add an attraction like an NBA Finals to a world wide iconic attraction like Disney….it has to be exponential. I have been downtown Orlando, and outside of Church Street Station, I’ll take Disney World all day long. (Well…unless I spend an hour or two on the Orange Blossom Trail).

Let’s face it, Kobe is an international star, like him or not. Dwight Howard? Meh. LeBron James is an international star as well. But, no offense to Ohioans, but Cleveland is no Disney World. The World does not pine for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…but Disney World….hmmmm. Are you from the Far East and can’t afford to send your media team to Orlando….no problem. We have Disney World Jr. here in LA. Disney will be visitied on both coasts. How often do you get to go to Disney World and Disney Land in the same week? (I’ve been to both by the way…D-Land blows compared to D-World). Through it all, who wins? Disney, ABC, ESPN, oh…and the NBA, I guess.

The only other angle for no intervention? No bailout for LBJ in Cleveland. The King is only going to rule when he is in the castle. Fact - The Kingdom isn’t in Ohio….it is in New York. The quickest way to make LBJ leave Ohio is to not ensure success. LeBron didn’t talk to anyone on the night he lost…but when he did finally talk he was wearing a NY Yankee hat….hmmmm. The only thing to make his exit more of a sure thing would have been to film a ” I’m going to Disney World” commercial.

David Stern could have done what David Stern has seemingly always done in the past, which is to pull the strings. Am I onto something here? Probably not. But, can you tell me why the best team won instead of the most marketable one? The NBA rarely does not do what is in the best interest for the NBA. Refs seem to “manipulate” games all of the time to get a perceived outcome. *Miami* cough *Heat*. The fact that you have to think about trying to prove me wrong instead of just saying Orlando is better than Cleveland is all the validation I need.

New York has the Subway Series…if the Cubs and White Sox ever play, we will have the El Train Series. The Dodgers and Angels would be the Freeway Series.

Magic and Lakers? Call it the Disney Series.

Mikey is a Senior Editor here at Sparty and Friends…You can reach him to tell him he’s a moron and the Magic are the better team and that’s why they are in The Finals at mikey@spartyandfriends.com.

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