Re: WNBA in Boston

["Jeremy P. Ryan" <jeryan@mailbox.syr.edu>]

   You know, I just had to throw my $.02 in on this one. I'm really tired
of people jumping up on their soapboxes and proclaiming that the world is
prejudiced because some of us don't want to see a glorified game of HORSE
at the All-Star weekend. I don't think that it is right that women's
basketball (the WNBA in particular) should be crammed down my throat just
because the NBA owns the WNBA. If I wanted to see Rebecca Lobo or Cynthia
Cooper shoot a few J's, I would have watched over the summer. I would
rather have nothing at all than this blatant form of marketing schtick. In
fact, that's what I will have because I'll probably find some college
hoops (men's of course) to watch after the Rookie Game. Yeah, I did say
marketing. If you think the WNBA is anything but a tool to recruit more
females as NBA fans, then you're nuts. Why do you think they have such
similar nicknames and colors, play in the summer (when there's no NBA
competition), play the players much less on the average, and play fewer
games? To ensure that the WNBA and NBA gets that fan base and not the ABL
or even other sports. If the NBA REALLY cared about fostering the women's
game, they would have made an agreement with the ABL, which was the first
of the two leagues, played games in the winter where they belong, and
would have given the league an identity of its own. If I had to choose
between the two leagues, I would choose the ABL in a heartbeat, because
they care more about real basketball and less about the sideshow.

   Don't get me wrong, I believe that women deserve a forum to display
their talents and cater to their fans just as much as the men, but that
does not mean that I have to watch it, and I don't want to be forced to
watch it during a men's event. I know there are a lot of people who agree
with me, whether WNBA/ABL backers like it or not. In my opinion, the
women's game is slower, less athletic, sloppier, and generally less
exciting. It is similar to watching a high school JV basketball game, and 
no one is rushing to get them on All-Star weekend. I will probably get
ripped to shreds because of this, but I do not care. It is my opinion. 
If I have a daughter one day, I would encourage her and support her in
sports the same way I would a son. I would go to every one of her games,
but that doesn't mean I would have to like it.

   It's good to see this kind of debate on this list, even if it is
supposed to be a Celtics list. I hope readers of this can give me their
criticism without resorting to flamings or any other potty-mouth behavior.

Thanks.
  -Jeremy

P.S. -- I would not be against a WNBA team in Boston. I believe that
someday soon the two leagues will merge into an approximately 20 team
winter-based league. Lets call it the WNBL. Or WABA. That's better. Since
there is no city that is shared by the two leagues, every team and every
player could stay intact, 10 WNBA plus 9 ABL. That leaves one expansion
team, the Boston Shamrocks.


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   Jeremy P. Ryan
   jeryan@mailbox.syr.edu

   Boston Celtics -- 16 NBA World Championships
   Syracuse Orangemen -- 1996 NCAA Final Four
   New York Yankees -- 1996 World Series Champions  

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