Superstar marketing

If you're looking to get people to come to a sporting event, they better know who it is they're paying to see.

As reported in today's Daily Pennsylvanian, an administrative snafu meant that there were no introductions to the Penn basketball teams at this year's Line.

Someone should have been there. If it's not the entire team, then at least two or three names that fans might recognize.

Drawing comparisons across sports is risky business, but look at the NHL. It's got a cult following, just like mid-major basketball does. But marginal fans will never develop a real knowledge of the sport, in large part because of the anonymity of the players. Five guys on the ice is five guys on the ice. Barely anyone can pick Jean-Sebastien Giguere out of a lineup.

And unless Penn basketball fans can see for themselves exactly who Harrison Gaines is -- and The Line was the perfect opportunity -- they won't know who it is they're cheering for the first time he swishes a three-pointer. That's a shame.