Women's basketball: NCAA rethinks battle of sexes

MPLS (Red) Star Tribune ^ | 1/.2/07 | Jerry Zgoda

[Valin]

For years, women's teams have been honing their game by practicing against men. A panel says the custom violates the spirit of gender equity.

Practicing against men has been a women's basketball tradition for more than a quarter century, designed to allow women to push themselves against bigger, stronger opponents. "It's good for us because it makes us better," Gophers freshman Ashley Ellis-Milan said. But last month, the NCAA's Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) called for a ban on male practice players. It concluded the custom violates the spirit of gender equity and Title IX, the 1972 federal law banning sex discrimination in sports.

On Monday, Division III administrators at the NCAA annual convention in Florida will consider two proposals to limit the use of male practice players, action that could influence both Division I and Division II athletics.

College coaches uniformly denounce the proposed ban. Michigan State coach Joanne McCallie called the committee recommendation -- which states "this approach implies an archaic notion of male preeminence that continues to impede progress toward gender equity and inclusion" -- political correctness gone awry.

[Howlin]

If men and women are absolutely equivalent, completely interchangeable, why should the NCAA care if they're practicing against one another?

ohhhh...........very well done!

[Carling]

The women play good fundamental basketall

Another false perception. Check out the turnover statistics of men v. women hoops. Try out espn.go.com, for example.

A few layups doesn't equal 'good fundamental' basketball. More turnovers, period. And I say this as the father of two daughters.

[vox humana]

I wonder how much money ESPN is losing by broadcasting all those Womens Basketball games that NOBODY WATCHES!

No amount of money can replace the thrill of political correctness!

[Still Thinking]

Thag you, thag you vurry much! < /Elvis voice >

[LibFreeOrDie]

"...the NCAA's Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) called for a ban on male practice players. It concluded the custom violates the spirit of gender equity and Title IX, the 1972 federal law banning sex discrimination in sports.

Oh, for pity's sake! Females tend to drop out of organized sports as they go through school anyway. This won't help keep them on college teams. Why can't those old hags let anyone have fun?

[Mr. Mojo]

You should check out the The Seattle Times sports page. Women's sports often gets more press than men's sports, and even high school women's sports gets front page press. Probably the worst sports section in any major city I've ever seen. (The L.A. Times has by far the best, imo .....although it was better when Jim Murray was alive and well).

[Jaysun]

These moth-eaten whores are absolutely batshit. Thank God that he made it so that everyone eventually dies. I've been sick of these militant feminist for decades, and their "legacy" will be one of destruction and idiocy.

[Valin]

These moth-eaten whores are absolutely batshit.

Yes, but how do you really feel? :-)

[Wally_Kalbacken]

"It's good for us because it makes us better," Gophers freshman Ashley Ellis-Milan said. "Also - you have to remember there are some male players who really enjoy bumping against muscular, tall lesbians."

[rwilson99]

" Male practice players have become a vital part of women's basketball, and taking them away from women's hoops would be like removing tackling dummies from the football field."

That's hilarious. Tony Romo should sue, he's no tackling dummy.

[Lancey Howard]

College coaches uniformly denounce the proposed ban. Michigan State coach Joanne McCallie called the committee recommendation -- which states "this approach implies an archaic notion of male preeminence that continues to impede progress toward gender equity and inclusion" -- political correctness gone awry.

Welcome to college.

[FoxInSocks]

Where women excel over men such as grace and beauty their "sport" trumps men. Gymnastics and ice skating are two examples.

Interestingly, the two examples you cite are both scored subjectively by panels of judges.

I noted your quotation marks, since some would argue whether ice skating and gymnastics should be included in, say, the Olympics. I'll add that I enjoy watching these women's events every couple years, but not so much the men's.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Where women excel over men such as grace and beauty their "sport" trumps men. Gymnastics and ice skating are two examples.

First of all, it's not a sport if the scoring is subjective. And secondly, men perform in those same events.

[PzLdr]

Nice, that she compared the males who helped her players to tackling dummies.

[packrat35]

Well there was the Lingerie Bowl!

[PzLdr]

Hot oil wrestling. The mud obscures the view.

[PzLdr]

If the males weren't preeminent, we wouldn't "need" Title IX, would we?

[M-cubed]

The women play good fundamental basketall <<<.....BINGO!....I watch it sometimes for just that reason...(I cant watch the NBA 'cause it aint basketball...)

[amchugh]

Huh, all women athletes are liberals? Cause they're the ones getting bit.

Also, I prefer watching women in flimsy outfits running around to watching men if flimsy outfits run around. But I'm not much for watching sports rather than competing.

[Howlin]

You know what I meant: this had to be a "politically corret" committee to come out with such a crappy ruling, worded like that.