Forum menu
I actually don't see it as amusing. Having two daughters, I find much of this depressing.
Well it doesn't depress me, I know with the requisite support from us that my daughter will have a greater opportunity to pursue sport than any previous generation. The likelihood is she won't have the talent for elite sport but that is a cross many of us have to bear. I would be far more concerned if she was into superheroes.
I know with the requisite support from us that my daughter will have a greater opportunity to pursue sport than any previous generation
Greater, yes.
But if my daughter is the greatest rugby player of her generation, no-one will know who she is and she'll have to juggle training with a job.
If she's the greatest distance cyclist of her generation, she'll be denied the chance to do a proper grand tour.
And so on.
I would be far more concerned if she was into superheroes.
Why?
Well said mefty and who want to be in/ have kids in elite sport given what you have to "put in" (?) to reach the top.
Mol, tbc, the amusing is ironic rather than "ha, has" due to the gargantuan leaps from the OP lack of enjoyment for ladies tennis to wha followed. If our kids gain for anything, it is/would be perspective....isnt that what experience isfor?
I'm not concerned if my daughter makes it to elite level or not - I just want her to have the chance to play sport at any level for enjoyment, without it being considered a joke, or men just watching for a glimpse of her knickers.
due to the gargantuan leaps from the OP lack of enjoyment for ladies tennis to wha followed
I brought it up because it's relevant.
But if my daughter is the greatest rugby player of her generation, no-one will know who she is and she'll have to juggle training with a job.
Maggie Alphonsi has a pretty high profile in Rugby and is used as an expert by TV for men's games as well - See also Ebony Rainford-Brent for cricket.
If she's the greatest distance cyclist of her generation, she'll be denied the chance to do a proper grand tour.
Marianne Vos is a superstar in the Netherlands and has won sportswomen of the year three times. Although the Female Giro is shortened to 8 days now, still plenty of good one day races.
Why?
Because I think they are banal, but that is my own opinion and probably unpopular on here.
[quote=jimjam ]Don't you think the opinions of a group of women are more likely to be an accurate representation of the opinions of women than the guesses of men?
The plural of anecdote isn't data. From what I remember of the podium girls thread, there was just one female poster who didn't see a problem with it - so just in case I'd missed something I've just been and checked and found there was another female poster on the thread - and her opinion seemed to be that it was a negative thing, so I reckon you're going to have to cite if you want to prove your point here...
Though more fundamentally your whole argument here appears to be an attempt to shut down the debate [b]because we don't agree with you[/b], when as I already mentioned whilst I might not be female I have a lot of secondhand experience of women in sport (I suspect I know more sporty women than most contributing here).
Not her words but I assumed most people would get the reference, especially considering the thread title.
Given what you suggested appears to be completely made up, and totally contrary to anything Serena has ever said (most recently when this was brought up she specifically refused to engage), you're going to have to explain yourself.
When Football Banned Woman, Channel 4, on now.
Might be of interest to some and might be beneficial for others to watch. Just a thought.
Full house at Lords for womens' cricket this weekend - might be of interest for some and might be beneficial for others to watch. Just a thought.
Not sure how that is relevant, teamhurtmore?
It's not too hard to see the relevance unless you are trying hard not to .
I must be trying really hard. Care to elaborate?
I must be trying really hard. Care to elaborate?
most people on this thread don't seem to have two brain cells to rub together
I see you're just trying to fit in...
Not at all. I'd be genuinely interested to hear your argument.
I just think it's so sad that despite the popularity of one cricket match, sexism is clearly as alive and kicking today as it ever was.
sexism is clearly as alive and kicking today as it ever was.
amongst the neanderthal supporters of that cr8p game named football.
Whereas amongst the, very probably better educated, supporters of cricket it seems it isn't alive.
where do tennis fans sit on your neanderthal <-----> educated scale?
(also pls help, I've got a degree and like football and cricket, both M&F versions.... and yesterday's game was infinitely better as entertainment than watch England men's semi final vs ****stan. I don't know where i fit in 😉 )
The implication is that I think football is a cr8p game, and that it has a number of neanderthal supporters, many of whom hold true the sexist attitudes we are talking about.
I think it a little more complicated than that, TurnerGuy
also pls help, I've got a degree and like football and cricket, both M&F versions.... and yesterday's game was infinitely better as entertainment than watch England men's semi final vs ****stan. I don't know where i fit in
But you described as a bit mleh?
Being a professional sportsperson means you are paid to play the sport. You are paid because other people want to watch you do that sport. The more people want to watch the more sponsors want to stick their logo on you and make the financial numbers work.
People want to watch professional sports people play sport because it is entertaining. Part of the entertainment comes from the 'celebrity' of the players and the significance of the competition. Part of it comes from the actual competitiveness of the match (the nip and tuck, is the outcome unknown, the drama etc). Most of the entertainment imo however comes from the quality of the competitors, the other worldliness and flamboyance and beauty of the way they execute their play. Watching someone doing something that appears almost impossible for a normal human to achieve. The perfect professional sport spectacle comes when all 3 of those factors are alive and kicking concurrently.
Sometimes female sport does not achieve the third of those three in my opinion. Or rather does not achieve it as frequently as the men's equivalent. For me women's cricket is one of those sports. Watching Joss Butler play a crazy ramp shot or Morgan flat bat the ball a quite frankly inconceivable distance does not have a female equivalent. Watching female cricket seems to be more for the purist - there are just not enough women playing with the physical power to create showcase moments at the same level to please the thrill seeking spectator. I'm glad they have a sell out for Lords but the match will have to be high on competitive drama for the crowd to come out buzzing at the end.
But you described as a bit mleh?
Sarcasm, intended to be directed straight at this thread hence the choice of words, apologies if that wasn't apparent.
I thought it was a great game. Sport is entertainment first and foremost, and it was that even if it needed watching from behind the sofa.
For me women's cricket is one of those sports. Watching Joss Butler play a crazy ramp shot or Morgan flat bat the ball a quite frankly inconceivable distance does not have a female equivalent.
Sarah Taylor's legside stumping stood up to a medium pacer was INFINITELY more pleasing on the eye than watching a gym developed muscleman with a 3+ lb bat flay the ball to all parts.
Totally agree , she is a superb wicketkeeper . Had she been wicketkeeping for South Africa then they would have won by 20 or more runs .
Sarah Taylor's legside stumping stood up to a medium pacer was INFINITELY more pleasing on the eye than watching a gym developed muscleman with a 3+ lb bat flay the ball to all parts.
You sir are therefore a purist 😉
Sarcasm, intended to be directed straight at this thread hence the choice of words, apologies if that wasn't apparent.
Fair enough, didn't pick it up.
Fran Wilson played a ramp and got out to one too.
You sir are therefore a purist
and an ex-wicketkeeper 😀
mefty, no bother.
[quote=convert ]For me women's cricket is one of those sports. Watching Joss Butler play a crazy ramp shot or Morgan flat bat the ball a quite frankly inconceivable distance does not have a female equivalent.
It sounds like you have been watching recently, which surprises me, as I've seen a few ramps played (not all successfully, but that doesn't really detract from the spectacle - a great piece of keeping to take the one yesterday) and also some quite impressive 6s. I'd certainly happily watch more. They're not even just copying the men - have you ever seen a man play a "natmeg"?
Sarah Taylor's legside stumping stood up to a medium pacer was INFINITELY more pleasing on the eye than watching a gym developed muscleman with a 3+ lb bat flay the ball to all parts.
Agreed. I watched the women play vs Australia a couple of years ago at Cardiff, and two things struck me. First, the pace of the quick bowling being a bit slower makes it easier to see from distance, and second, a boundary is much more likely to be from a good shot rather than a bludgeoned mishit with a railway sleeper.
Sarah Taylor's legside stumping stood up to a medium pacer was INFINITELY more pleasing on the eye than watching a gym developed muscleman with a 3+ lb bat flay the ball to all parts.
although.......
India vs Australia
Kaur not out 171 143 mins 115 balls 20 x 4 7 x 6
including 100 -> 150 in 17 balls
was also a decent effort 😯
Blackwell, 90 off 55 is pretty impressive as well considering the circumstances. Roll on Sunday.
Hope your are watching the women's footie. Absolutely spectacular goal from the Swedes!
I've just watched the England France game, I have to say it could rank as one of the worst games of footy I've ever watched. And I've watched many a Sunderland match...
I can appreciate womens golf, the skill and control kinda of contrasts the power game of the men, but I've never seen a footy match like that where its just swinging feet and missing/slicing the ball.
Men's football has evolved over a hundred years.
I am not a big football fan ( but I used to go to a few games)and have pretty much stopped watching the mens game because of all the diving and play acting. I saw a womens game recently and what a difference. No diving, no surrounding the ref, no play acting. a far better spectacle
Mens football is no longer a real sport - its am dram like WWF wrestling
I am a woman and I play a lot of sport, including tennis and squash to name a few. Womens tennis is generally less powerful and quick than mens BUT I certainly play to the best of my ability as do all professional athletes. If you can't appreciate/recognise that and enjoy their sporting achievements then the problem is YOURS not the athletes.
Anyone who gets out there and tries sport is worthy of encouragement and respect in my opinion regardless of their sex or ability.
I have been on the receiving end of some pretty unpleasant sexist attitudes playing tennis and squash-guys twice my size pushing me into squash court walls/smashing a racquet when I beat them and male tennis players who paste the ball at your head but who don't do it to your male partner to name a few. It just makes me more determined but it is really unpleasant.