When the WNBA is Slammed Diana Taurasi Rebounds

I understand that I am way late on commenting on this blog but I cannot ignore the article Rohlin wrote for the LA Times. Dee, I believe your remarks in the rebuttal hit the nail on the head as far as reasons for Rohlins’ attitude but I’d like to make a couple of simple points that discredit her argument entirely.

1.       The difference between a NBA & a WNBA game is simple: the NBA game is 70% individual talent and 30% team chemistry and execution while the WNBA game is exactly the opposite with the talent coming from the incredible teamwork of five players completed by individual skill and competence. As both a long time basketball player/coach and rugby player I can tell you if you want your team to learn how to play the game make them watch women—it is infinitely more tactical then a men’s game. Simply put, women do not have the overwhelming strength that allows them to ignore using their heads in the game. And really, what’s the better message: every man for himself or that teamwork is a necessity in life.

2.       In response to Rohlin’s comment, “But, why would basketball fans want to watch the WNBA where something generic is considered historic?”, a person must ask themselves why Obama’s election was historic, or the 1920 presidential election (in case clarification is needed, this was the first election in which all American women could vote), or the 1900 Olympic Games (also a first for women). If those examples are too momentous for comparison how about Florence Griffith Joyner crushing the world record in the 1988 Olympics or the Tennessee Vols basketball team going 39-0 in 1998? The only reason these could be considered ‘generic’ is the individual's shear ignorance.

3.       On the topic of ignorance, the lack of fan interest is reflective of a systemic problem in America—our education system has failed us.  If we are to understand that the popularity and greater talent of the NBA results in there dominant airtime we are in serious trouble. If the guys don’t like the WNBA we should just let it go? Makes me think I might have things all wrong—I should eat MC Donald’s, drive a Ford (apparently now I can even drive  truck!—wow, the progress…), join the military and buy about a million things that I do not and will never have any use for. The television wouldn’t lie and the guys are always smart enough to know better than the girls.

4.       On a final note, I think the greatest threat of NBA hero worshipping lies with reality of who they are as people. NBA players are not necessarily good role models. Jeff Benedict, author of Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence & Crime, reports that 40% of NBA player in the 200-2001 season have been detained for crimes ranging from rape to domestic violence to armed robbery.  Further, Michael McCann, Assistant Professor of Law, Mississippi College School of Law published a list in 2005 that reads like a D.A.R.E/Sex Offender/MADD/ATF/etc. scare tactic (http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2005/07/nba-players... ( http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2005/07/nba-players... )). These guys do not deserve the respect of the public—especially not that of young women in sports as Rohlin encourages! The fact that these guys are idolized goes back to that systemic American problem…

Thanks for this post; I began following Taurasi when she was still at UCONN, and have enjoyed her success in the pros and on the US Olympic team.  

Good for her for sticking up for her sport in a public forum.

Sheila Scarborough

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