WNBA/ Another womans view...

[jumpshot@iniaccess.net.au (Karen J Davies)]

As a woman, who is very proud of the advancement we appear to be making in
society etc, I feel that it should be said firstly that:  A mans dislike of
something which is female orientated i.e. WNBA does not neccessitate that he
is there for sexist/women hating...

Jeremy made some very good points in his post (going through the digests a
few days behind as per usual).   He basically summed up my thoughts on the
matter.  Women do need their forum to compete and as long as the games are
kept seperate, so that the choice of attending them is there, thats fine.
If you don't like it, you don't have to go/watch.  I don't know about the
format changes to the All Star weekend yet, but I am assuming from the posts
that WNBA players will be competeing in some contests.  This can indeed be
seen as "cramming it down throats", especially to the people that want to
see the NBA players showcase _their_ skills, but are not interested in the
WNBA.  If they, and most of the members of this list, are so into it, let
the WNBA have their own summer all star weekend (like the ABL).  This would
allow those of us who are uninterested in womens hoops the _choice_ to avoid
it.  We get precious little NBA coverage down under as it is without it
being taken up by WNBA.

>Forced to watch it?  See above.

see above

>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.

This is true no matter how people rale aganst it.  No woman will ever be
good enough to play in the NBA.  It's a simple matter of common sence.. Find
me a woman who can legitimently match it up with Karl Malone (enough men
find this more than a minor problem:).  Hey, it's not our fault, but that's
how it is...

<It does seem like a paradox of sorts, doesn't it?  Maybe you should rethink
>it then.  Answer:  WNBA or ABL is WORLDS above JV boys basketball.  I see a
>reasonable amount of high school basketball, as well as college women's
>basketball a few years ago when I was at Virginia.  It is a different game
>than men's basketball, but you can't even reasonably compare it with boy's
>high school ball.

OK this is maybe a matter of opinion.  I agree with Jeremy's post to an
extent.  The ABL is slightly higher than the WNBA, but lets be serious.  The
top women ballers are WAY below the men in playing the game.  I mean hows
about a little Cooper/Payton one on one, if the Glove took it seriously,
which would be unlikely, would she score a point?

>I will probably get
>ripped to shreds because of this, but I do not care. It is my opinion.

Yes, thats what happens.  I find it typical to see statements like "woman
bashing" bandied about from the original post.  The guy said that he didn't
want to see a Boston WNBA team (which I have no problem with, as long as its
kept seperate to the Celtics) and didn't like the idea of a fully
intergrated league (which will never happen because of the innate differing
abilites we are born with).  People then claimed that not "all us men are
dogs", I presume meaning that this guy is a dog for having this opinion.
Like I said at the top,  A mans dislike of something which is female
orientated i.e. WNBA does not neccessitate that he is therefore sexist/women
hating...

>Really, where are you getting this "have to like it", "forced to watch it"
>paranoia?  I'm sure your daughter will be pleased to see Daddy snoozing at
>the top of the stands ;-).

Almost _anything_ becomes interesting if your own child is involved in it
(beautiful thing too).  If I had a daughter, and she became a WNBA player, I
would become a great fan, but only because of her involvment.  

In closing I would like to add, full props to the ladies of the WNBA/ABL.  I
admire talent and hard work that got them where they are today.  But, for
me, the best in professional basketball will always come in a male package.


Karen J Davies