Trivializing Women's Sports

This morning I was listening to WFAN Sports Radio 660. I frequently listen to the station and usually enjoy the commentators and broadcasts. During this morning's Boomer & Carlton broadcast, they featured a short segment called "Girls Sports Report" by Al Dukes as part of his "Songs & Boring Podcasts". I was so angry at the way in which the segment trivialized both the women playing in tonight's NCAA Tournament game and women's sports in general that I was yelling at the radio as I drove. Typically I can vent about whatever I hear on the radio - sports, politics, etc. -- and move on but I felt compelled to respond in some way. So, here is the letter that I wrote to WFAN when I got home from work. I am a regular listener of WFAN 660 and although I don't always agree with the views and opinions of the commentators, I usually enjoy the programs and live broadcasts on the station. During the Boomer & Carlton broadcast this morning, I listened to Al Dukes in disgust and felt compelled to write to the station. The athletes playing in tonight's NCAA Tournament game from Stanford and Tennessee work just as hard and play just as passionately as the athletes that played during last night's game between Kansas and Memphis. The NCAA calls it "Women's Basketball" and the "Women's" National Basketball Association showcases the best and brightest of today's players. To refer to them as "girls" and use trite sayings like "you go girl" trivializes the work these women do as student athletes and minimizes the increasing popularity of women's sports. Even worse, it makes it appear that the work these women do on the court, in the classroom and in the community is somehow lesser than the work of their male counterparts -- Al Dukes did not call the Kansas athletes "boys". What type of message does this send to young girls who look up to players like Candice Wiggins, Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore and the hundreds of other talented women across the country playing NCAA sports? WFAN is a leader in sports broadcasting and in community activism and should take their role seriously. Part of doing so would be to treat women's sports - both collegiate and professional - and female athletes with the respect they deserve. I have chosen to share this letter because it illustrates the importance of speaking up, of finding our voices and using them to combat ignorance. Hopefully it inspires you to do the same when an issue upsets or inspires you as well.