I got into a discussion yesterday with a very hipster-type person who insists the common person in France doesn't give a seconds thought about Tony Parker. Mainly because they are so haughty they don't care about American sports.
I always assumed he was near rock-star popular there, based on the news reports, videos, etc that are posted on this site.
What would be an accurate analogous popular person in USA culture?
Anyone?
Americans overrate quite a bit the popularity of foreing players playing in the USA. Just because you know who that person is it doesn't mean that that person is any more famous than other celebrities playing or doing their thing in other places, tbh.
I always laugh my ass off when I hear or read things like "Ginobili is like the most popular person in Argentina right?".
Last edited by DAF86; 08-07-2014 at 07:58 PM.
He's super popular, mostly thanks to his mariage with Eva and his Euro win last summer... People dont care all that much about bball but TP is bigger than bball. He's one of the top 10 stars in sports... But at the same time most people hardly ever watch him play (except the Euro Finals), the NBA is extremely hard to follow as it's in the middle of the night...
So extremely popular but people don't follow the NBA.
He is a complete rock star in France and beloved by his countrymen. Manu is also huge in Argentina.
Analogous to Parker in the US? Tony Parker.
Certainly not as popular as King Thierry Henry.
Hmm... right now he's certainly more popular. Most casual fans have conflicting views about Henry because he always seemed to perform so well in EPL, but not to make a real difference with French NT (which is what the casual fan really watches). There's nothing negative attached to Tony Parker.
Tony Parker was voted France's favorite sports person last January, ahead of soccer legend Zinedine Zidane who dominated the rankings for more than a decade IIRC. So I'd say he's quite huge in France right now. And for the record Thierry Henry doesn't appear in the top 25. Active sportsmen who come close to Tony's popularity: judo legend Teddy Riner and motorsports legend Sebastien Loeb.
http://www.programme-tv.net/news/spo...eres-francais/
So people are haughty because they don't care about sports played in the middle of the night on another continent? Are you aware that the USA is not the center of everything? Plus following you're logic, the Americans would be the most haughty people in the world
He's highly respected but people don't love/adore him. This is mainly because for 95% of the French never watched an NBA game
That being said, his 2013 Euro success gave him a nice and well-deserved popularity boost
Parker has some black in him and he was actually born in Belgium so the French hate him. They do not consider him a real French fry tbh.
Great analysis. You seem to be a very smart man
I guess they just hate all the French guys on the 1998 WC since over half the starting team was black and were from french provinces in Africa. France is one of the Euro countries that aren't so prejudice against blacks. And their best player was an Arab immigrant for crying out loud.
And half of Belgian's speak French just to let you know.
He is quite popular and respected right now but 1. it's quite recent and a lot of that is related to the Euro win, 2. bb player won't ever reach the popularity of most successful football players for instance and 3. the fact he is playing in the US is more an issue than a boost to his popularity.
Do you guys think it's also related to him being born in Belgium and son of an American dad?
I agree to an extent, but I think part of that is down to the fact that football (soccer) is a far more popular sport in France than basketball. Thus, if you don't perform that well for the French national football team, there's far more of a spotlight on you, because so many more people are watching and people there are so passionate about the football. I get the impression that they'd like France to win basketball tournaments too, but they won't lose any sleep if they don't. Thus, there's less pressure on Parker to perform.
He is very popular, but as has already been said, very few people actually follow his carrer in tne NBA. They know he is doing well but they have no idea what his actual value is (regular player, star, superstar, ...)
Nope, I really don't think so. I am pretty sure very few people in France know He si born in Belgium. He has played almost every summer with the NT, people have absolutely no problem with him being the son of an american dad.
Jeannie Longo, 58 times France Champion and a gold medalist probably is more popular and respected than Tony Parker.
Alain Prost, multiple times Formula 1 Champion probably is more popular than Parker in France
Stephane Peterhansel, multiple winner of the Paris Dakar probably is more popular than Parker in France
Sebastien Loeb, multiple times rally Champion is probably more popular than Parker in France.
Even Nicolas Vouilloz and Anne Caroline Chausson, both multiple times world champions, are more popular than Parker in France.
They are (were) dominant in their sports, all of tem more 'frenchy' than basketball.
Uh, don't forget about Zizou..
Last edited by PingPong; 08-08-2014 at 10:47 AM.
nope
Belgium is more a less an extension of FranceMore seriously, Jaques Brel (legendary singer) is belgium and were one of the most popular personality in france. I even doubt casual sports fans know that he is born in Belgium.
What we have to understand with TP is that is a pure product of French formation playing young at INSEP. He is French, invests his money in France, has a French passport and even more important play for FNT. So no there is 0 impact of belgium and/or american dad.
Dude learn to read
I neither said nor agreed with that. Someone I was talking to said that.
It may also be a reflection of the "very hipster-type" person's own interest in sports. I mean, basketball? That lower-phylum of entertainment? It's rather low-cultured and gauche..but if Tony played Bocce Ball, that might be different.
TP is popular in france with young people and older now thanks to the last european championship..and because he has won 4 nba chips !!
but its true i believe only 1% may have seen playing with spurs because nba games are broadcasted between 2 and 5 am !!! (thats why i come to san antonio asap ^^)
but really TP is liked here in france..
i consider him like the top 3 sportman of all time in france (he needs to get top 3 spot next Olympic games or other international championship like world cup) to pass Zidane..and be 1st!
No he was one of those know-it-alls that insisted he knew what the common French person would think about a subject because he's presumably traveled to France so often.
My bad then
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
