2008 Woodie Awards
Giving credit where credit is due
Sports Opinion
John-Paul Panacea
Issue date: 10/16/06 Section: Sports
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Page 1 of 1
Last March, the UIC women's basketball team took on Wright State at the Pavilion in the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League tournament. The crowd was sub par. Actually, the crowd was less than sub par.
This was a playoff game! I remember sitting in section 111 with a few other students. We had a great time, but what was happening?
Our team was on the verge of moving on in the tournament, and other than 10 Fury members, the Dancing Flames, UIC Cheerleaders, and parents, no one knew what was about to happen. The Flames did win that game, by a score of 80-78 in overtime.
Why is there a stigma associated with women's athletic events? That first round match-up against Wright State was exciting and it was a Horizon League tournament game, yet student fans didn't feel compelled to attend.
Here's a scenario: I asked an acquaintance last year if he was going to the basketball game that night. I did not mention anything else, just that it was a basketball game.
He eagerly replied, "Yeah." I was glad, and let him know more details. Someone standing near us mentioned, "It's a women's game, isn't it?"
I hesitated to agree, but felt I had to. The guy, who just seconds earlier was geared to go, instantaneously replied with an, "Oh, never mind."
There is something wrong with that.
Now don't take me for a guy who is kissing up to women athletes, because I write this as a genuine sports fan. Perhaps the women's basketball players don't dunk, the softball players don't hit as many homeruns as the men, cross country times aren't always as fast, but a sport is a sport.
These Division I women are contending against athletes of the same caliber, so it's going to be great competition.
Give credit where credit is due. Go out to a women's athletic event and see for yourself. Let's not fall victim to a stigma that only exists just because we hear someone say, "Oh, it's a women's game."
Because I'll reply, "The women's basketball team made it to the Horizon League Championship game last season."
- Page 1 of 1
This was a playoff game! I remember sitting in section 111 with a few other students. We had a great time, but what was happening?
Our team was on the verge of moving on in the tournament, and other than 10 Fury members, the Dancing Flames, UIC Cheerleaders, and parents, no one knew what was about to happen. The Flames did win that game, by a score of 80-78 in overtime.
Why is there a stigma associated with women's athletic events? That first round match-up against Wright State was exciting and it was a Horizon League tournament game, yet student fans didn't feel compelled to attend.
Here's a scenario: I asked an acquaintance last year if he was going to the basketball game that night. I did not mention anything else, just that it was a basketball game.
He eagerly replied, "Yeah." I was glad, and let him know more details. Someone standing near us mentioned, "It's a women's game, isn't it?"
I hesitated to agree, but felt I had to. The guy, who just seconds earlier was geared to go, instantaneously replied with an, "Oh, never mind."
There is something wrong with that.
Now don't take me for a guy who is kissing up to women athletes, because I write this as a genuine sports fan. Perhaps the women's basketball players don't dunk, the softball players don't hit as many homeruns as the men, cross country times aren't always as fast, but a sport is a sport.
These Division I women are contending against athletes of the same caliber, so it's going to be great competition.
Give credit where credit is due. Go out to a women's athletic event and see for yourself. Let's not fall victim to a stigma that only exists just because we hear someone say, "Oh, it's a women's game."
Because I'll reply, "The women's basketball team made it to the Horizon League Championship game last season."
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