Stephen A. Smith makes sexist joke about Women's World Cup goal

Sporting News ^ | 6/12/15 | Jordan Greer

[Farmer Dean]

They need to change to smaller uniforms.The key to popularity of some woman’s sports has been and always will be skimpy uniforms.Tennis being the prime example.

[Eddie01]

Uh oh. Did someone speak the truth again?

[super7man]

I think you may be on to something.

Women’s Beach Vollyball has become popular too.

[Mr. Jeeves]

As one of the very few television personalities these days who seems to own and operate his own brain, I’ll give Stephen A. a pass on this one.

[sphinx]

I agree with the larger goal. I like defense, and a 0-0 tie doesn't bother me. The problem in soccer, however, is that the dearth of scoring makes bad calls and fluke goals far too important. Those happen in all sports, but the attitude in all other sports is "bad break; let's get it back," and unless you are in the closing seconds, teams (and fans) generally feel that they have a sporting chance to do so. In soccer, between two good teams, one goal is huge, and a two goal lead in the second half is almost insurmountable. The blown call is far more important than it ought to be.

The U.S. and Sweden last night played to a scoreless draw. There were a couple of no-calls on handballs in the box, and a couple of pretty rough takedowns of offensive players in the box, which were also not called. Last night, fortunately, these roughly balanced out, and the referees were at least consistent. But that's a classic soccer example of a situation where one whistle and a PK would have likely decided the game. A slightly larger goal would make this much less common.

Fans of U.S. football who object to soccer's low scoring need to remember that a 3-2 soccer score is the football equivalent of 21-14, which is a fine score. Of course, television has been deforming U.S. sports since the 1970's, and football, basketball, and baseball have all been goosed to generate cheap scoring to attract casual tv audiences. Part of the attraction of soccer is that it hasn't prostituted itself for television. But a slightly larger goal would be an improvement.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

I record women’s beach volleyball, and play it back in slow motion with the sound off.

[HonkyTonkMan]

Interesting you say that - last night with 20 minutes left in the match, the announcers stated the outcome would likely be decided by a "set piece." This is typically a penalty kick, or a direct or indirect restart based on a foul. It's like they anticipated it....and Abby Wambaugh took a dive in the box, attempting to get the PK call shortly after the comment.

Of course they also kept calling the soccer field/pitch the "court." Seems even the announcers don't really care about their game!

[Caipirabob]

Oh my...time for some people to pull up their

[MuttTheHoople]

Girls kick balls?

[sphinx]

Basketball provides a good comparison. The fiction in both soccer and basketball is that they are non-contact sports. The reality is that players are bumping, often pretty hard, all over the court/field. Some fouls are flagrant but many are fairly arbitrary, and all one can ask is that the officials be reasonably consistent, and try not to take over the game.

Players try to draw fouls in basketball, and we regard it as part of the game. It's the same in soccer, the difference being that PK's are a much bigger factor in soccer than foul shots are in basketball.

In the NCAA tournament, we dislike it when a foul is called with three seconds to go in an 82-82 game. Even if the call is clearly justified, it leaves a bad taste. If it happens in the finals, it is a black mark that will be recalled for years. If the score is 82-74, however, no problem.

Soccer has too many 1-0 and 2-1 games decided by a PK.

[Rodamala]

Seriously, the only interest there has been in Women's World Cup Soccer, since, like, FOREVER was when Mia Hamm took off her jersey and ran around celebrating victory in her sportsbra.

Seriously. That's it.

[Rodamala]

I record women’s beach volleyball, and play it back in slow motion with the sound off.

[Rebelbase]

MSNBC Host: Suspend Coverage of Men’s Sports to Be Fair to Women Athletes

- See more at: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2015/06/08/msnbc-host-suspend-coverage-mens-sports-be-fair-women-athletes#sthash.QhOjZz39.dpuf

[italianquaker]

Of course not they are actively investigating Rubios wife for using expired coupons at Publix

[rabidralph]

That’s Brandi Chastain, not Mia Hamm.

[SoFloFreeper]

Of course not they are actively investigating Rubios wife for using expired coupons at Publix

Yet.

[kearnyirish2]

Less players on each side would get better results as well; when a team wants to defend with 11 people it is a boring two hours...

[central_va]

I think we should introduce weapons too, like brass knuckles and stuff like that.

[2111USMC]

Great. Now you let THAT cat out of the bag!

[kearnyirish2]

At least lacrosse sticks (maybe bristling with nails)...