WNBA 365 Roundtable: Gilbert Arenas
- By WNBA 365
- Dec 19, 2015
- 4 min read
*In our first ever WNBA 365 Roundtable, the WNBA 365 crew will give their thoughts and opinions on the disparaging comments about the WNBA made by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas*
From Shorty:
After reading his entire post, my immediate reaction was is he really serious? (to answer my own question) yes this guy is serious. His bright idea on how the WNBA can gain more viewership is for the players to show their "goods" to everybody. Oh and to be specific, he only meant the cutie pies and not the bean pies. My problem with the ignorant and sexist comments like those coming from Gilbert is not only Gilbert himself, but the neanderthals just like him. Not to my surprise, there were many to co-sign with his foolery.
It was aggravating to read the stupidity from the legion of idiots in agreement with him out of pure hatred for the WNBA. Attitudes like these are the main reason why the league struggles to gain viewership. Hopefully in the future, society will be more willing to accept the fact that women CAN PLAY without the need to show some "skin". Regardless of what kind of pie or flavor of pie they are to the public eye.
From Callan:
I'm sure you've been waiting for my take on this as a broadcaster and fan of the sport of Women's Basketball...While I have friends (on social media and in real life) that may not be the biggest fans of the sport, they have NEVER taken it to this level of ignorance...I can tolerate all the "Nobody Cares" or "I don't watch it because it isn't interesting" and the other things said or sent to me about my coverage of the sport, but this was a total cheap shot from an NBA Has Been who's been out of the league since 2011-12...
Did we forget that this was also the same player that brought loaded handguns into the Wizards locker room? Arenas is nothing but a baby wanting his bottle and attention for him being a Mr. Irrelevant in the NBA. Like I said, I can tolerate all the "Nobody Cares" or "I don't watch it because it isn't interesting" and the other things said or sent to me about my coverage of the sport...but this is an instance of ignorance that as a fan and working Women's Basketball media member that is completely inexcusable and a total cheap shot to all female athletes.
From Kristul: (@puptent10)
Well, Well, Well here we are again with the ignorance and foolery of the sterotypical, egomanic of a man that likes to bash women's athletics. Being an athlete myself, I have heard similiar things about the sport that I have chose to invest all my hard work and time in. I have heard all the sexist, derogatory, and yes even homophobic jokes regarding my gender and love for the sport. In reality, I feel some men like " I ain't played a single minute in years" Gilbert, hate on the hard work of the WNBA because they do not realize how much more work we have to put in just to be considered a great athlete these days.
I challenge any of those men who "Think" that with their junior high level basketball talent they can beat any of these all stars and high level pros to a game to step up. Shoot, they can meet me at the gym. No excuses. Since our game is not "sexy enough", let me see you throw on your best chippendales outfit and give it a go. While your at it, let me whistle and say sexist things about your outfit and see how much you like it. No? doesn't sound fun? Ah, well I didn't think so. Don't do it to us, if you don't want it done to you.
From Reagan:
If you follow me on Twitter (@ _rap24) then you already know how I feel about what Gilbert said. I was hot, not only because I played basketball and love the game, but because Arenas used to be one of my favorite players and I wasn't expecting this from him. The fact that men still disrespect and belittle this league amazes me. I actually find it funny how Gilbert's masculinity is so fragile that he had to down beautiful women who play and love the sport that he "used' to love. These women put so much hard work and dedication into this league and their game and it's ashame that men like Arenas disrepect them like they do.
Maybe one day when their daughters grow to play sports like basketball, hockey, soccer etc.. and men talk about wanting to see them showing their "goods" then they'll understand how disrepectful comments like the ones that were made actually were. Until then I hope women basketball players know how beautiful they are on and off the court. Maybe 2016 will knock some sense into these idiots.
From Eric:
Beneath the rambling, incoherent mess that was Arenas' Instagram feed lies a larger issue: the widespread insecurity of men when it comes to female athletics. We found out long ago that Arenas isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and it's clear he was just doing this for attention after essentially ruining his own NBA career, but among his 15 minutes of fame we saw that the misogynistic attitude that women only exist for men's viewing pleasure is still alive...and well. The number of men who agreed with Arenas' idiotic comments that WNBA players are "beanpies" and that "he's not paying to see the ugly ones" was straight-up shameful and shows that a ton of people are still ignorant of the hard work these ladies put in and their important not only to the community, but to young athletes everywhere...and of course, the fight against misogyny. The WNBA's existence in itself is putting these men to shame; just look at how scared they are!
WNBA players are athletes. Just like NBA players. Just like tennis players. Just like football players and soccer players and rugby players. So why is it that they have to fight so hard to earn the same respect of their peers? Guys, if you want to see skin, feel free to pass on the WNBA and head to your local strip club, because basketball clearly isn't for you.
Commentaires