This Just In – It’s not a taunt anymore to tell someone that they “play like a girl.” It hasn’t been for a while, but at this point, it’s a data thing.
We all knew this wave was coming and there have been many splashes on the beach of sports-watching and how it’s shifting. My husband and I were in a favorite Myrtle Beach restaurant for our anniversary dinner in January and I looked up and saw that things were getting lively in the bar area.
The TV told the story. On ESPN was the pre-game coverage of the upcoming LSU-South Carolina women’s basketball game. They were showing Caitlin Clark highlight reels and South Carolina-LSU highlight reels.
Caitlin Clark wasn’t in this game, of course, because she plays for Iowa, but when you have video of a basketball player regularly charging up the court and stopping just past the center court logo to throw down a three-point shot over and over again, you’re going to show that wherever possible.
As the coverage began talking about the game that was upcoming, the crowd got engaged when they showed highlights of the SC Gamecocks scoring and stealing and blocking and dominating their opponents. They looked like UCLA in the 60’s. Watching that excitement for a South Carolina team while in South Carolina … that was special, and the game wasn’t even ON yet.
The NBA certainly existed before Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, but it’s undeniable that the league reached new heights when their college rivalry turned pro. What LeBron James has done for basketball and his fellow humans since turning pro is just breathtaking.
Professional golf is something I followed from early childhood and continue to have great interest in as an adult. When Tiger Woods appeared on the scene in the late 90’s, that game was transformed by his spectacular talent.
A single person or a rivalry between two players (like Woods and Phil Mickelson) gives sports writers a point of focus and a framework for their storytelling in covering an event. Many sports writers quickly developed a Tiger crutch, framing everything around him and reaction to him. It was sometimes just laughable. “So, Phil, you got seven birdies, an eagle and an ace double eagle today. What did YOU think about how Tiger played?”
Similarly, the focus last weekend in covering the Iowa-LSU matchup was on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two players with standout personalities and plenty of trash talk for each other in last year’s championship game.
Before the game, the officials told all the players they would be calling technical fouls on the trash talk. They didn’t want players talking to their opponents. This does beg the question – would Larry or Magic have gotten that warning? Filipowski or Bacot?
Of course, the officials were trying to ensure that nothing got out of control. In a game with record high TV ratings and a trip to the Final Four on the line, it’s important to appreciate that the officials get that scrutiny, too.
Just for the record, maybe some of the reporters looking for spicy controversy might have taken the time to notice that screwup on painting the three-point lines on the court. Just saying.
The women’s championship this weekend is going to be epic. It’s most likely that South Carolina will remain undefeated this year, but hey … they play the games for a reason.
Bravo to the NCSU women AND men’s teams for getting to the Final Four. On the men’s side, there’s no reason to believe that UConn won’t roll over everyone in their path and glide to their repeat coronation. My fingers are crossed for an NCSU-UConn championship game, just because I think it would be great for NC State.
Now, about my Tar Heels … please allow me to jump on the bandwagon of so many who have expressed affection, respect and yes — love for this year’s team and for Coach Davis. I’m proud to be associated with this team and call myself an unconditional fan. I’m a lifelong Red Sox fan. I know how to do this — through thick and thin.
What a great season Carolina basketball has given us. Thank you, Carolina. Enjoy the break, pass the popcorn and marinate in the glory of two Final Fours that are going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before.
(featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati)
Jean Bolduc is a freelance writer and the host of the Weekend Watercooler on 97.9 The Hill. She is the author of “African Americans of Durham & Orange Counties: An Oral History” (History Press, 2016) and has served on Orange County’s Human Relations Commission, The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, the Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and the Orange County Schools’ Equity Task Force. She was a featured columnist and reporter for the Chapel Hill Herald and the News & Observer.
Readers can reach Jean via email – jean@penandinc.com and via Twitter @JeanBolduc
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