"Although more and more American schoolgirls grow up playing team games, those sports just don't attract commensurate attention at any level. With women's team sports, there is still a glass grandstand"
Could this be? Is it really possible that the only reason more fans aren't...well...fans is because they can't place a wager on these Huskies? I think the author of this article may be trying to put a unique spin on the situation, and may even be avoiding a more "delicate" dialogue. American culture has always subscribed to the "Great Man" perspective, the idea that success comes to those who work hardest and have the gusto for cutthroat action. In team sports success is achieved through teamwork, something Tiger and Serena don't have to worry about. All the while though, the world tunes in for the World Series and the Super Bowl, both of which are team sports. So it can't be JUST that you can't bet on women's sports, or that its a team sport.
We'll go banana's for Super Bowls, and we'll go bonkers for gold medals, so how is it that the most dominant team in history goes unnoticed? The Uconn women have won 65 consecutive games -by double digits- and have what many see as the TWO best players in college basketball. So why aren't the masses on the edge of their seats each time the Uconn women take the floor? The article linked above submits that it comes down to dollars and cents.
"While Las Vegas will take bets on almost any game men suit up for, only at NCAA tournament time can you bet the women's game. Then, ironically, almost no women bet -- just hard-core male gamblers."
Maybe, just maybe WE LIVE IN A PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY WHERE MEN HATE THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN AND WANT TO KEEP THEM UNDER THEIR THUMBS FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!
AHEM...ER, UM I MEAN.. there must be another reason why we aren't more excited about the incredible achievements of this all female squad, but I for one am still trying to figure it out. Your thoughts?
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