BlueFanInWI

December 4th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^

But for the sake of the NBA, I hope that doesn't happen. Sorry, but I can't watch women's basketball. I'm supportive of women's sports, but just can't watch. Neg if you must.

jrt336

December 4th, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^

That will probably never happen. Who watches the NBA anymore though? The refs suck, and so do the Pistons. Besides, it's just boring.

TheLastHarbaugh

December 4th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^

I mean, in all seriousness, it won't happen. No offense to the female gender but I just can't can't see it happening in the NBA. In another sport? Maybe. The NBA? No.

This might be a poor example, but I'm sure everyone remembers when Annika Sorenstam attempted to play with the men, and all she wanted to do was make a cut in a men's tournament. She failed multiple times, and she was clearly the best female golfer on the planet.

Golf is the one sport where, I at least, would assume that there is a fairly equal playing ground for men and women. It's not totally equal, but relative to other major sports it is fairly equal, and yet the best female golfer on the planet failed to make a cut in a somewhat respectable tournament.

Now imagine the NBA in comparison to golf. There is just no way I can see it happening. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nunca. Can you imagine Candice Parker in the NBA? She would be destroyed. It would be embarrassing for all parties involved.

those.who.stay.

December 4th, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^

the difference between the top tier males and top tier females is enormous. Simply looking at the statistics available from the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, the men hit it miles longer, closer to the hole, and require fewer putts.

I can understand how someone who doesn't play or follow golf closely might think that a woman might be able to compete with the men, but I don't ever see that happening.

On the other hand, Tiger Woods' wife did beat him with a 3 iron, so maybe its possible...

Sgt. Wolverine

December 4th, 2009 at 4:00 PM ^

I've never thought much of Stern (or the NBA), but he seems to have gone overboard with this.

First: if a woman is going to play in the NBA, then the WNBA should feature a man. Equality, even misguided notions of equality like this, goes both ways.

Second: "'If you look at world records, let's say in track and field, you'll see how the women have moved up to what would have been records several decades ago for men,' said Stern."

Sure, but that's only half the story: men's records have also moved up. There's still a difference between men and women in the vast majority of athletic pursuits, and unless you start re-engineering female bodies, that difference is always going to exist.

Third: "'I wouldn't say it's implausible because I think people have been saying that about different groups of people forever and they've been proven wrong,' said New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh."

Race and gender are two very different factors in athletics, and the latter is a pretty strong factor.

willywill9

December 4th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^

Race and gender are two very different factors in athletics, and the latter is a pretty strong factor.

I like that you brought this up. I think there are too many people that credit race as to why someone is more "athletic."

There have been interesting studies involving sports performance when primed to think about racial stereotypes.

Tater

December 4th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^

If I were Stern, I would want a lot more discussion about this than about officials calling games based on their feelings toward teams and players.

jmblue

December 4th, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^

This story has little to do with Canada.

Seriously, is this basically an acknowledgement by Stern that the WNBA sucks? Why would a woman play against the men when she could play in the league where "They got next?"