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At the restaurant/bar I was at tonight, the man next to me asked for the channel to be changed to something besides women's softball. Because watching the Reds lose is so much more interesting.
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Before Title IX there were almost no girls' sports in schools. It was widely believed that girls didn't really want to play sports (except for a few tomboy types) so there was no sense in wasting effort or resources on that.
At my high school of 2000 students there was no girls track team, no girls soccer, softball, or basketball, nothing. I believe there was a small girls gymnastics team who struggled to find equipment and coaches.
Even today the girls teams are almost universally given the worst equipment, practice times, fields, and so on. Even today the boys sports are the "real" teams and the girls are not considered as important, are allowed to play whenever the "real" teams don't need the facilities.
Why? Why did it take a law to make us realize sports are as important for girls as they are for boys? Why do we still not believe it?
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Wouldn't you admit that men's sports are more fun to watch? I mean, watch a WNBA game and then compare it to the NBA, and you'll see a huge difference (at least I do).
quote:At the restaurant/bar I was at tonight, the man next to me asked for the channel to be changed to something besides women's softball. Because watching the Reds lose is so much more interesting.
But still, wouldn't you agree the Reds team pitches harder, runs faster, and hits further than the softball team that was on before?
Im not saying women shouldn't play sports, or that the sports they do play are not interesting, it's just that since men's sports are more exciting then it shouldn't be a surprise that they are favored more both on and off the television.
Posts: 2756 | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:But still, wouldn't you agree the Reds team pitches harder, runs faster, and hits further than the softball team that was on before?
Im not saying women shouldn't play sports, or that the sports they do play are not interesting, it's just that since men's sports are more exciting then it shouldn't be a surprise that they are favored more both on and off the television.
I don't buy it. When I'm watching sports, I want to see a game WELL PLAYED. Just because a man might hit the ball farther, or throw it faster or whatever does NOT mean that the game will be better to watch. I'd argue that women's tennis has been more interesting than the men's game for years.
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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That's assuming that hitting it farther makes for a better baseball game. Give me a pitcher's duel, a runner thrown out at home, a wicked double play ball. Let's use the above Reds as an example. Right now they are one of the worst teams in MLB. 13 games below .500, 15.5 games out of first place in their division. Just because I might see Dunn or Junior hit a home run doesn't mean I'd rather watch them than a well played women's game.
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I guess I'm trying to say that if it's interesting and people watch it, then it'll probably be on TV more. You said earlier:
"I'd argue that women's tennis has been more interesting than the men's game for years."
I'd say that women's tennis gets a fair share of media time nowadays.
So the fact that most of the sports on televesion are mens doesn't mean that sports aren't as important to women, its just that they're more ... fun to watch. Or at least they get higher ratings.
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I'd say one of the best sports games ever was the 1999 Women's World Cup final. If you were American, I guess.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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I think that might be it. It's not really anything to do with the quality of the game, but with marketing and ratings. Especially when the prevailing media attitude for female athletes is 'let's get them into FHM/Stuff/Playboy'.
afr, awesome game. That was probably the last bit of soccer I've watched. Other than Bend it Like Beckham, of course.
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I like the WNBA. It remeinds me of old school basketball, where the game was one of finesse shooting and passing. I don't care as much for the street ball with slam dunks all night that the NBA showcases now.
Posts: 514 | Registered: May 2005
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I saw the fencing competition in the 1984 Olympics. AMAZING! I have always wanted to try myself, but I'm always teaching when it is offered.
Posts: 514 | Registered: May 2005
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quote:Originally posted by TheTick: afr, awesome game. That was probably the last bit of soccer I've watched. Other than Bend it Like Beckham, of course.
As much as I love the movie, it's not actually soccer. Posts: 2149 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Did you know how that women's soccer team (the world champions) were treated by the US Soccer authorities after that?
They got paid 1/10th as much as the men's team who came in last in the finals. Dead last. Instead of getting a raise they got undermined and destroyed by the authorities. It was sad.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote: Even today the girls teams are almost universally given the worst equipment, practice times, fields, and so on. Even today the boys sports are the "real" teams and the girls are not considered as important, are allowed to play whenever the "real" teams don't need the facilities
I would disagree with that, at our school, girls softball, soccer, and volleyball are very recognized. Hell, I wish we had a boys volleyball team....
Posts: 879 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote: I'd argue that women's tennis has been more interesting than the men's game for years.
I agree with that, mostly because in the mens game, the rallies are a LOT shorter than the womens rallies. Thats the more exciting part.
Posts: 879 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I just watched Laila Ali box...I can't even remember the other chick's name. It was amazing to watch and really cool to see her father in her boxing, too.
They need to air more of women's boxing, methinks.
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Give me a pitcher's duel, a runner thrown out at home, a wicked double play ball. Let's use the above Reds as an example. Right now they are one of the worst teams in MLB. 13 games below .500, 15.5 games out of first place in their division. Just because I might see Dunn or Junior hit a home run doesn't mean I'd rather watch them than a well played women's game.
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