Women playing "men's sport"

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Prince of Risborough, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    I will say straight off that I am not a fan of the idea of women playing football, cricket, rugby etc. I don't care what that sounds like, but it's not meant to be sexist (honest :)). I just have no interest in watching an inferior product because, let's face it, that's what it is in comparison to men playing those games at equivalent levels.

    Last night was a good case in point. I must admit I had no idea that women played Six Nations Rugby alongside the other competition which finished this weekend. However, having just finished watching another programme I flicked onto the channel that was showing the highlights of the England v Scotland women's match and thought, ok, I'll give it five minutes.

    The BBC report below says it was entertaining for a "record crowd" (Twickenham looked empty around three sides of the ground) and I watched the brief highlights purely out of curiosity. I couldn't imagine women barging into each other or mauling a ball over the line like the men do. The prospect of a woman hard-tackling another in full flight just seemed unlikely. The result was a ludicrous 80-0 to England so you can see how one-sided it was. It was interesting from a novelty point of view only but you can't call it a proper competitive game when England players grab the ball and invariably run unchallenged through a non-existent defence for try after try.

    Apologies to anyone offended by these views. I feel the same way about cricket and football being played by women, and I'm not keen on hearing female commentators either (unless it's Gaby Logan hosting Match of the Day - she's good). The BBC report below includes a few minutes of highlghts. Enjoy!

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47603586
     
  2. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    It's all right. don't fret about it.
    I don't like hoovering or washing up so that evens things up !
     
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  3. sel

    selby Well-Known Member

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    I find the women's cricket and football entertaining.... Not sure about many other sports as I don't really pay a lot of attention regardless of gender.
     
  4. hav

    havana red1 Well-Known Member

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    I've watched an england women's rugby world cup game before (v NZ) and it was actually quite entertaining. I regularly watch women's international cricket too and enjoy it. Give it another 100 years and perhaps both sports will be viewed differently: i hope so.
     
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  5. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Nobody likes doing housework of any kind, but that doesn't stop me doing it. You are missing the point completely, or just making a weak joke :)
     
  6. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    You may be right and it's probably a generational thing. I just can't take to seeing women playing these sports. Boxing is an even worse example - just appalling. Mind you, I hate watching men boxing as well.
     
  7. Red

    RedMonk Well-Known Member

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    Women have every right to compete in any sport they desire. They will still train as hard and feel the same pride on pulling on the shirt for club or country that any man would do and the fans and family of the participants will still feel the same pride for them.

    I agree though, it's not entertaining for the majority of people.
     
  8. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Of course they have a right to play any sport they want to - I'm certainly not suggesting otherwise. It's just not for me though and that non-event at Twickenham yesterday was a prime example of how international sport can go so wrong. No team should ever lose 80 points to nil at that level. Either England are world-beaters at the game or Scotland are rank amateurs.

    Might give an England v All Blacks ladies' game a look should one come up in the future. A female Jonah Lomu would DEFINITELY be worth watching :D
     
  9. churtonred

    churtonred Well-Known Member

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    I first watched women's football on tv about 20 years ago and, to be honest, thought it was excruciatingly poor.
    I went to watch Manchester United Women a few weeks ago and have to say that there was some quality football on display. The game has improved considerably. It's a slightly different game to men's football but it can be equally entertaining.
    Women's sport is still in its infancy really as seen in the rugby where some nations or clubs are fielding teams that are completely mismatched. The United footy game was against a team one place below them in the league and it was like shots in for 90 minutes. Once there is a better balance of teams it will help.
    The huge problem is that, at the moment, there is no history or tradition involved so, for me at least, the rivalries and the relevance are nowhere near as strong.
    You would imagine that will change over time.
     
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  10. Bak

    Baka Well-Known Member

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    People have the right to do whatever they want.

    I have the right not to be interested in it. And I'm not interested in: men's golf, women's golf, men's sport involving motors, women's sport involving motors, men's rugby of either code, women's rugby of either code. I'd (literally) sooner stare at a wall than watch any of it. Same for boxing. MMA. Whatever.

    I totally get why the BBC and The Guardian are pushing women's elite sport, though. Why would they not? I support Barnsley - it's hardly like watching Messi v Ronaldo every week. Yet I love it. More than just about anything.

    Women's football is a decent standard: I went to some Olympics matches and it has only got better since then. I got talking to a woman at an away game this season. Her daughter plays for Barnsley's youth team. While her mates are doing nothing with their lives, she is playing competitive sport, being healthy and behaving like any high-level athlete would.

    Both men and women can do anything. It's so important that girls/women understand this.

    If the price of women seeing that they can do/be anything is that (currently) poorly-supported sports are given disproportionately-high coverage, it's got to be a price worth paying.

    As for me, when the (wo)men's Six Nations comes on, I'll ignore it. It's as straightforward as that.
     
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  11. Trickster Two Six

    Trickster Two Six Well-Known Member

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    Not interested in any bat and ball games (including golf) irrespective of gender but I have watched a bit of female football and enjoyed it. Dont mind female presenters either, I’d rather watch Alex Scott than Lineker any day of the week. Lets be honest men play netball and rounders in America so why shouldnt winen play football and rugby here
     
  12. Merde Tete

    Merde Tete Well-Known Member

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    The standard of women's footy has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Apart from the goalies, who are still generally completely gash. Strange, considering netball is predominantly a women's sport, and demands similar skills to goalkeeping.
     
  13. Durkar Red

    Durkar Red Well-Known Member

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    I like women’s golf and tennis and international football , there are some good women’s sports analysts and commentators now , not over keen on Gabby Logan though
     
  14. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Women's cricket can be extremely entertaining and is growing massively in Australia in particular. I must say I can't do with women's football though, I just don't find it entertaining.
     
  15. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    The latter. Definitely ! (or as some might say on here.... "defiantly")
     
  16. shed131

    shed131 Well-Known Member

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    Guessing you are of the older years whereby growing up you were taught to treat all woman as ladies.... So seeing woman playing what's considered men's games doesn't sit well and is a polar opposite to what you have been taught... Woman boxing now that's one sport I struggle with..
     
  17. Skryptic

    Skryptic Well-Known Member

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    Not been watching Barnsley in league one then?

    Your opinion is worthless, and probably best kept to yourself. I can't imagine why you'd get so upset by women's sport that you'd feel the need to share this. I've been critical of women suggesting they should be paid the same as male athletes, but they have every right to participate.
     
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  18. portsmouth tyke

    portsmouth tyke Well-Known Member

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    They have a right to play sport but as far as women's football, rugby, cricket go I just find it utterly gash
     
  19. fir

    fired Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    I don't have an issue with people who don't want to watch it on TV. Just don't watch it. There's loads of stuff I don't want to watch, which includes any kind of darts, boxing, horse racing, etc. I'd agree that the standard of Womens Football is inferior. It can't be helped. Women just are slower, weaker etc. That said, I think there are games that are still of interest, and there is a wider picture to consider as to why these games are on TV - and that's to encourage the involvement of women at all levels to play these sports. This is of huge importance in developing sport and physical activity for girls/ women. It still needs this impetus.

    When I was in my teens there were no football teams for girls, and so I missed out on playing the one sport I was actually any good at, until I got to University. That was sexism right there. Absolutely no good reason why girls should be playing hockey/ netball instead of football/ cricket, but that's how it was.To call cricket and football a "mens sport" was, and is just wrong. They are the fastest growing women's sports and there is absolutely no reason why they should be exclusively the preserve of men. I'm glad there is a shift, even if it has possibly tilted the balance the other way. At least now my daughters can play the sport if they want to. One does, to a reasonable level.

    I think the producers have gone overboard trying to include female commentators. Fair enough if they're good enough, but it does look as though someone has pressed a panic button and got in as many women as possible. I can't stand listening to Jacqui Oatley, but think some are decent. Then again, I can't stand listening to Jamie Carragher, and as for Clinton Morrison, he's neither a football knowledge nor a good pundit.
    The issue is we've just had a production line of male football has beens, and now the BBC in particular is trying to redress the balance. It would be good to see someone employed because they are knowledgeable, and sound good, rather than a "jobs for the boys" process.

    As for rugby, again, I think this will take time to develop. I suspect if we're around in 30 years time, we might be looking at a totally different picture again.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2019
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  20. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    I like women's volleyball. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I like it.
     

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