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The Story No One's Talking About

Ceetar Dec 23 2010 11:06 AM

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122205128.html?sid=ST2010122205514 I refer of course to the story that no one is talking about the UConn Women's basketball team's collegiate record-setting winning streak of 89+ games. Why don't I care? Well, it has nothing to do with it being a female sport,(I'd be just as disinterested if it was men) it has to do with it being college. There's already too much amateur sports talk around for a city with 9+ pro teams. Nobody talks WNBA, which I'd at least tolerate, so why does a step down expect attention? One of the draws of college sports is scouting the talent to go pro. But if you don't care about the pro level.. When sports leagues are completely unbalanced like that, created 89 win streaks (and from what I hear, a lot of them in extreme blowout fashion), it's just not fun to watch. If the SF Giants played the Buffalo Bisons 162 games a year, as much as we love baseball would we really be excited by it? It's like varsity versus junior varsity in high school, there's just such a differential in talent that it ceases to be a real competition. Two biggest sports are probably baseball and football, and their is no comparable Women's league. Basketball strikes me as a lot more of a 'star' league, where the draw is often a player over a team. If the news came over twitter that a player on one of the WNBA teams was challenging the record for most points in a game, I'd probably flip it on. Then again, there is probably a lot of chicken and egg there. If no one's talking about women's sports, would we flip it on? and if we don't flip it on, who's going to talk about it? Now, this isn't to say there isn't something wr ong with sports talk/coverage/media etc. For sure this story deserves a ton more coverage than Rex Ryan's Wife's feet. So there's that. Would people have changed the channel if yesterday Joe and Evan decided to talk UConn and had on a gueste and said "We don't care about Ryan's personal life". Well gee, this is interesting, but I want to hear about foot fetishes instead?

Benjamin Grimm Dec 23 2010 11:13 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

I only know about this because it's been mentioned on NPR a few times.

Ceetar Dec 23 2010 11:20 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I only know about this because it's been mentioned on NPR a few times. I have a friend that's a Liberty fan and mentioned it to me. I told her I didn't watch amateur sports. I actually did hear one talk show bring it up for a little, but with everyone on vacation and me flipping between WFAN and ESPN from 8-8:30, 12:30-1:30 and 5-6 I have no idea who it was.

Edgy DC Dec 23 2010 11:21 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Nobody's talking about it and you started a thread to express your uncaring? That there's too much attention being paid as it is?

Frayed Knot Dec 23 2010 11:24 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

The whole story is a bit bogus to begin with as news of the UCLA's winning streak being surpassed has been given plenty of time on sports radio, on ESPN, from major news broadcasts, etc. Sounds to me like the writer has a conclusion in search of a cause. He's right in that women's sports has gained little traction with female audiences but he's wrong in thinking that a collective yawn at UConn's streak is some sort of proof of that.

Ceetar Dec 23 2010 11:27 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Edgy DC wrote: Nobody's talking about it and you started a thread to express your uncaring? That there's too much attention being paid as it is? Well the internet is dead today. I'm interested in the coverage of women's sports, if not this particular one.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 23 2010 12:00 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

When I worked in Flint, four of the top Michigan State basketball players were from the city, all starred on the high school team. It was a big deal when they were playing together, and they called themselves "The Flintstones" and some had Flint tats. When MSU went to the Final Four, the paper went nuts, printing posters and so on. I found out that there were two women players on teams playing in the womens' Final Four. I was talking to the publisher about something else, mentioned this and suggested that we needed to have posters of the women Flintstones, too. "Nah, no one cares," he said. I thought this was horrible. I pitched a story to the editors, and they two blew it off. (They did relent later, after a week of me grumbling loudly about the unfairness and sexism.) I did get a little win. The mayor announced that the city would be hosting a parade for the Flintstones after the tournament. I asked him whether he thought it appropriate that the women Flintstones be invited, too. A good politician, he quickly invited them. The UConn record is a big deal, and should be treated as such. Heck, Mike and Mike on ESPN radio stopped talking about football for two minutes to mention the record.

Ceetar Dec 23 2010 12:19 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

It's the self-fulfilling cycle that bothers me. metsguyinmichigan wrote: "Nah, no one cares," he said. Are papers/talk show hosts/etc etc supposed to be selling papers, or reporting news?

G-Fafif Dec 23 2010 12:51 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

I've seen this story high up on the NBC Nightly News and get a great deal of play in other national media. President Obama called the coach afterwards to congratulate the team. May not be getting a lot of traction at the street level (WFAN, et al) but with little exception, college sports don't in this area. I thought this passage from the Washington Post story was bogus: The record-breaking game was relegated to ESPN2, clearing the flagship ESPN channel to carry something called the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. ESPN2 has substantial clearance on cable systems nationwide and is nearly interchangeable with ESPN, so the idea that it's been "relegated" is pushing it. Big events often show up there (the Todd Pratt game, to name one ancient example). As far as the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, that probably has something to do with contracts. That (like so many others) is a bowl game that exists for television. They signed for it to be on ESPN. So it's going to be on ESPN.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 23 2010 01:38 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Ceetar wrote: It's the self-fulfilling cycle that bothers me. metsguyinmichigan wrote: "Nah, no one cares," he said. Are papers/talk show hosts/etc etc supposed to be selling papers, or reporting news? I told him, somewhat boldly, I think, that people care about what we tell them to care about. Goodness knows I sit through a lot of school board meeting where I am the only person in the audience. But we write about them because we think people should know what's going on. If we made a big deal about the women players, then people might care.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 23 2010 07:13 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

I'm prolly ignint here, but I'll say it: What could be more depressing than an 89-game winning streak in any kind of competition? When does it cross the line and become about the death of competition itself?

Edgy DC Dec 23 2010 07:22 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

I actually thought this was going to be about a senator about to be outed.

Fman99 Dec 23 2010 07:52 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Beh. Call me when they start playing above the rim. Women's basketball is about as exciting as the home decorating shows that Fwife loves so much.

Ashie62 Dec 23 2010 08:10 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Fman99 wrote: Beh. Call me when they start playing above the rim. Women's basketball is about as exciting as the home decorating shows that Fwife loves so much. UCLA did not have the level iofcollegiate disparity UConn enjoys.

seawolf17 Dec 24 2010 09:37 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm prolly ignint here, but I'll say it: What could be more depressing than an 89-game winning streak in any kind of competition? When does it cross the line and become about the death of competition itself? That's an angle I've read about, actually, specifically due to the apparent enmity between UConn and Tennessee, which is the other dominant historical women's team. Professionally, UConn is my mortal enemy, so I'm okay with a lack of publicity.

Ashie62 Dec 24 2010 04:51 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

seawolf17 wrote: I'm prolly ignint here, but I'll say it: What could be more depressing than an 89-game winning streak in any kind of competition? When does it cross the line and become about the death of competition itself? That's an angle I've read about, actually, specifically due to the apparent enmity between UConn and Tennessee, which is the other dominant historical women's team. Professionally, UConn is my mortal enemy, so I'm okay with a lack of publicity. Congrats! Diane Tuarasi has been busted in Turkey for drugs..She had a DUI a year.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 27 2010 01:53 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Ceetar wrote: I have a friend that's a Liberty fan and mentioned it to me. I told her I didn't watch amateur sports. Not a big Olympics fan?

Ceetar Dec 27 2010 05:41 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ceetar wrote: I have a friend that's a Liberty fan and mentioned it to me. I told her I didn't watch amateur sports. Not a big Olympics fan? I enjoy the olympics, but thats a week a year, and the stuff I like doesn't usually have a pro-level, at least not in NY, or is in fact filled with pros. like hockey.

dgwphotography Dec 27 2010 08:22 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Fman99 wrote: Beh. Call me when they start playing above the rim. Women's basketball is about as exciting as the home decorating shows that Fwife loves so much. I guess Red Holtzman's Knicks weren't exciting, either...

TheOldMole Dec 27 2010 08:31 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

And the only team sport in which women have played in men's leagues at a high professional level is...?

Edgy DC Dec 27 2010 09:06 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Depends on hos we define "team sport." Curling? Crew? Cheering?

TheOldMole Dec 27 2010 11:53 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Was thinking of one that is widely regarded as a major team sport. The one Olympic sport in which men an women compete against each other is equestrian, and I guess in a sense every Olympic sport is a team sport in that there are national teams, but that's not what I was thinking of.

Centerfield Dec 27 2010 12:36 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

As to its popularity, I don't know why women's basketball hasn't taken off, but for me, it was what they looked like when they played. I know this is going to sound dumb, but I couldn't get over the fact that they played like girls. Or at least the stereotype that girls aren't athletic. They look a little awkward dribbling, they shoot funny, they don't glide when they're playing defense. (Yes, I realize they can all kick my ass, but I'm not the point of comparison here, it's their male counterparts.) I don't care that they can't dunk. They just don't look like great basketball players (even though I realize they are). On the other hand, in the women's sports I enjoy watching (tennis, golf, soccer) this isn't the case. The women that play these sports look like they were born to do this. Although she may not be generating as much power as the men, when I watch Serena Williams, it looks like she is serving 180 mph. When Steffi Graf used to jump and unload that forehand, I was convinced there was no one on earth, male, female or hermaphrodite, that could run that down. Watching Sorenstam, or Hamm or FloJo was like watching perfection. That being said, I don't think it's right that women's basketball gets so much negative feedback. People may not care about women's soccer, or softball, or the LPGA, but no one really goes out of their way to put them down. I feel like it has become commonplace (or even cool) for guys to come out and bash the WNBA or women's college basketball. To me, women's basketball is like the NHL. It's there, it doesn't interest me, so I don't watch it. But I see no reason to actively dislike it. In fact, I'm glad it's there. I wish there were more women's professional leagues. (Why don't we have a soccer league? What about softball? I would pay to watch Jennie Finch pitch)

Benjamin Grimm Dec 27 2010 12:44 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

I'd love to see MLB create an MLSB league. (Major League Softball). They could put a team in each of the 30 ballparks and they could play their home games when the big league team is on the road. (I understand that the different size of the basepaths might be a problem, but I imagine there would be a solution somehow.) And while I think it would be nicer if there could be a professional softball league that wasn't sanctioned by MLB, I don't think it would have as good a shot.

seawolf17 Dec 27 2010 01:13 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Centerfield wrote: (What about softball? I would pay to watch Jennie Finch pitch) Having seen her in person, I'd pay to watch Jennie Finch do just about anything.

Frayed Knot Dec 27 2010 02:39 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Centerfield wrote: That being said, I don't think it's right that women's basketball gets so much negative feedback. People may not care about women's soccer, or softball, or the LPGA, but no one really goes out of their way to put them down. I feel like it has become commonplace (or even cool) for guys to come out and bash the WNBA or women's college basketball. To me, women's basketball is like the NHL. It's there, it doesn't interest me, so I don't watch it. But I see no reason to actively dislike it. In fact, I'm glad it's there. While there are certainly some men who probably feel extra-macho when publicly putting down women's sports, I really think some of this is people taking the fact that the female version isn't nearly as popular to sell the idea that the reasons can only be drawn to prejudice and/or to propose whatever remedies they're hawking. In the case of the article that spawned this thread the problem is that even a great accomplishment like UConn's streak was ignored by the mainstream press (no it wasn't) and that women themselves don't care enough about women's sports (those ingrates!!). I wish there were more women's professional leagues. (Why don't we have a soccer league? What about softball? I would pay to watch Jennie Finch pitch) Some have been tried, most have failed. The only real survivor in a team sense is the WNBA and that's because it's a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NBA which loses money by the bucket-full despite not paying their athletes very well* yet is kept alive by the papa league in order to serve both as public relations function and as a way to double the perspective clients to whom they can sell team jerseys. Bottom line is, it's fine with me if someone or some group wants to create any league they want, but that doesn't mean they're owed a guarantee of success or that it's someone else's fault if and when they don't thrive. * Not only do European pro teams/leagues pay better, but the WNBA drove the earlier American women's hoops league (who both had the better talent and better pay scale) out of business when, unlike the NBA-backed league, they couldn't afford to operate at a long-term loss.

TheOldMole Dec 27 2010 06:11 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Basically I agree with Centerfield. Women do look a little awkward playing basketball, this is not true of sports like tennis, there's no reason to single out women's basketball for scorn. And CF also unwittingly answered my trivia question.

Ceetar Dec 27 2010 06:27 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

In a way it's a catch-22. No one cares about/watches WNBA because no one talks about the WNBA. No one talks about it, because no one cares. But many sports fans will watch anything competitive, it's the emotional connect that's lacking. Take a group of 4 guys, who already like basketball and are Knicks fans and go to the Garden. Given them Liberty tickets to 10 games, and make them go to the games. I bet they come back next year. They play in the 'offseason' too, so even more incentive. (I'd probably watch Woman's baseball, or softball, if they were playing right now.) Give away tickets to knicks plan holders, email them super offers. Or go the other way. offer discounts on Knicks tickets when you buy a Liberty ticket.

Centerfield Dec 28 2010 09:55 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

TheOldMole wrote: Basically I agree with Centerfield. Women do look a little awkward playing basketball, this is not true of sports like tennis, there's no reason to single out women's basketball for scorn. And CF also unwittingly answered my trivia question. Pretty much everything I do in life is done unwittingly.

Edgy DC Dec 31 2010 09:40 AM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

And it ends at 90. Talk about this, people!

Willets Point Dec 31 2010 11:45 PM Re: The Story No One's Talking About

Oy, ESPN compiles a top ten list of women in sports and includes a horse.