wdyt, Women in the NBA

Wzz

Mark Cuban's comments about Brittney Griner came Tuesday, when he spoke to reporters before his team's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs owner said he was "leaning towards yes" when it came to letting Griner try out.

"If she is the best on the board, I will take her," he told reporters. "I've thought about it. … Right now I would lean towards yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance."

Griner was quick to respond, tweeting that she would "hold her own" against other NBA hopefuls and on the Mavs. "Let's do it!" she also posted. "So when do I show up for try-outs!!!"

However, various critics are urging both Griner and Cuban not to go forward with the tryouts, as they believe women- even exceptionally talented woman like the Baylor center- cannot compete with men in such a physical sport.

the rest of the article is here:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/mark-cubans-brittney-griner-comments-ignite-gender-debate-women-in-the-nba-93321/

DG1

This is so inane. What the hell are people so afraid of? He's letting her try out. If she performs well enough in try outs, he'd be an idiot to take a lesser-qualified man just because he has a dck. 

tawillers

I'd love to see her try out.  I don't know much about her beyond the recent hype, so I can't really say whether I believe she can hold her own against men, but how else are we going to know if she can?

Wzz

i would like to see her try out, just to see if she can.

loveshine1

I've never heard of her, but I say he should give her a shot.

That being said, basketball is a ROUGH sport, involving a lot of contact. The fact that even though she's a tall girl, if LeBron James swung his arm the right way at her, he'd probably knock her unconcious.

alikatt17

She should try out!  I would be terrified to against large men like that on the basketball court but she's a foot taller than me and could probably hold her own.  If she's awesome, it shouldn't matter if she's a woman.

dharmabunny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_wdyt-women-in-the-nba?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:60c9ef4d-0faf-4455-87d3-5a627747df20Post:68638e37-b10e-4a9f-8f4d-44b2bcc4b240">Re: wdyt, Women in the NBA</a>:
[QUOTE]I've never heard of her, but I say he should give her a shot. That being said, basketball is a ROUGH sport, involving a lot of contact. The fact that even though she's a tall girl, if LeBron James swung his arm the right way at her, he'd probably knock her unconcious.
Posted by loveshine1[/QUOTE]

On that similar thought, if she sunk low and swung an elbow in the crotch, LeBron could be seein' Jeebus. 

loveshine1

That is a very good point. Perhaps it will work to her advantage.

FLANYTATOOGURL

Basketball is the most feminine of the big American 3. Do you see the way they flop after the softest of fouls. She could probably play a few years. The locker room is a different story, do they build her a separate room to shower and change in every stadium they play?

DG1

So let HER decide if she wants to play the rough sport. Look at the dude with the compound leg fracture - it's not like being a man makes you immune to horrific injury on the court.

I'm sure she can't compete with the best men in the NBA, some of whom have several inches on her. But I'm pretty sure the best woman out there is better than the worst man in the NBA. If it's not her, it'll be someone else, and pretty soon, I think. 

I hate that it all rests on one person's shoulders - like if she fails she'll be failing for all women everywhere or something, but that's the way big change works. So many women ahead of her paved the way for this - the ones who weren't allowed to play at all for so many years, then relegated to their own, lesser leagues, or not having varsity status. 

Insert plug for awesome indie film Granny's Got Game: http://grannysgotgame.com.

ETA: Dharma, I love you, as usual.

And I was wondering when someone would bring up the locker room question that's been used to keep women out of men's clubs for eternity. (see: women in the military, also gays in the military). This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem.

TheMrsC23

I agree with everything you've posted DG.  

I just hate that this stuff always becomes a 'thing'. 

tawillers

Eh, I doubt at 6'8 she swings very low.  She's the same height as Lebron and he's got 50lbs on her.

I admit, I have doubts about women in the NBA, but I know that this girl isn't in this for the 15 min of fame.  She's a great player and people have been talking about her for a long time.  I hope she gets to try out.

6fsn

I agree with everything DG said.  Let her try out.  If she can hold her own let her.  I'm glad there is an owner wiling to give her a fair shot.  It reminds me of the woman in the PGA.

I'm pretty sure the locker room will work itself out.

FLANYTATOOGURL

In Response to Re:wdyt, Women in the NBA:[QUOTE]So let HER decide if she wants to play the rough sport. Look at the dude with the compound leg fracture it's not like being a man makes you immune to horrific injury on the court.I'm sure she can't compete with the best men in the NBA, some of whom have several inches on her. But I'm pretty sure the best woman out there is better than the worst man in the NBA. If it's not her, it'll be someone else, and pretty soon, I think.nbsp;I hate that it all rests on one person's shoulders like if she fails she'll be failing for all women everywhere or something, but that's the way big change works. So many women ahead of her paved the way for this the ones who weren't allowed to play at all for so many years, then relegated to their own, lesser leagues, or not having varsity status.nbsp;Insert plug for awesome indie film Granny's Got Game: <a href="http://grannysgotgame.com.ETA:" rel="nofollow">http://grannysgotgame.com.ETA:</a> Dharma, I love you, as usual.And I was wondering when someone would bring up the locker room question that's been used to keep women out of men's clubs for eternity. see: women in the military, also gays in the military. This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem. Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]
She would be a target in every game she were to play in. Not one male player would want her to get the best of him. You are talking about a culture that still uses homophobic slurs on the court. I doubt many big free agents would even want to sign on a team with a girl on it. Also what about the WNBA? Would this mean that men can now try out for that league?

FLANYTATOOGURL

In Response to Re:wdyt, Women in the NBA:[QUOTE]I agree with everything DG said.nbsp; Let her try out.nbsp; If she can hold her own let her.nbsp; I'm glad there is an owner wiling to give her a fair shot.nbsp; It reminds me of the woman in the PGA.I'm pretty sure the locker room will work itself out. Posted by 6fsn[/QUOTE]
Golf and Basketball are two totally different things.

Wzz

i don't really care if she tries out or not, only because i actually don't think it's an equal competition between men and women in general. but hey, if she does get to try out, then we'll know for sure if any woman has a shot or not. i don't think she'd represent ALL women, though - it would just leave the door open for future tryouts. but i do think there is a physical difference between men and women, which is probably why so many people are complaining. i don't see a big deal in having her at least try out.

i can't imagine homophobic slurs are what should prevent a woman from trying out, though.

FLANYTATOOGURL

My point is that NBA players are not forward thinkers. The players themselves will not be okay with this.

DG1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_wdyt-women-in-the-nba?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:60c9ef4d-0faf-4455-87d3-5a627747df20Post:acfe8ad3-3f6a-4a41-9c92-167ace14fd93">Re:wdyt, Women in the NBA</a>:
[QUOTE]My point is that NBA players are not forward thinkers. The players themselves will not be okay with this.
Posted by FLANYTATOOGURL[/QUOTE]

<div>That's what everyone said about soldiers, too. "They can't handle the <blacks/women/gays>!!!"</div>

FLANYTATOOGURL

In Response to Re:wdyt, Women in the NBA:[QUOTE]In Response to Re:wdyt, Women in the NBA:My point is that NBA players are not forward thinkers. The players themselves will not be okay with this.Posted by FLANYTATOOGURLThat's what everyone said about soldiers, too. "They can't handle the lt;blacks/women/gaysgt;!!!" Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]
Do you know any soldiers? Ask them how they feel about women on the front lines with them.

hmonkey

i think this is a slippery slope.  next thing you know there will be dogs in the nba and it will be air bud all over again.  won't someone think of the poor team owners?

PMeg819

Am I the only one who thinks this is just going to be like Danica Patrick and every other woman who plays in a "male" sport? They all end up sucking and it's pointless. Let her do it, but the reality is she probably won't be that good.

dharmabunny

Danica Patrick sucks?  She does just about as well (if not slightly better) as any other up and coming racer, man or woman, with the equivalent amount of experience.  It's not exactly one of those sports where being young and cocky works to your advantage.

Wzz

IMO, racing is not the same as basketball or another similar competitive team sport. being a man or a woman has no physical advantage or disadvantage.

and if she sucks in the NBA, but can surpass other women in the league, maybe that shows that she'll need to stay in the WNBA.

TheMrsC23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_wdyt-women-in-the-nba?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:60c9ef4d-0faf-4455-87d3-5a627747df20Post:4a43400d-43a6-4c6c-b522-1f2c372f6d1b">Re: wdyt, Women in the NBA</a>:
[QUOTE]Danica Patrick sucks?  She does just about as well (if not slightly better) as any other up and coming racer, man or woman, with the equivalent amount of experience.  It's not exactly one of those sports where being young and cocky works to your advantage.
Posted by dharmabunny[/QUOTE]

<div>This. </div><div>
</div><div>She did claim the pole at Daytona this year and finished in the top 10 of that race.  </div><div>
</div><div>DH watches Nascar pre-race stuff all the time and they're *always* talking about how long it's been since big names in the sport have had a win.  It's been years for some of them. </div><div>
</div><div>I can't say that I find her all that charming or personable.  But she does have to have a hard shell in racing. </div>

PMeg819

Crap lost my response. Danica was a bad one. Think ANnika Sorenstam (excellent LPGA player).