Tribes & the WNBA

I recommend reading this over at EjectEjectEject.

I know that my blog is starting to take on the form of a daily links page, but I can't help it. All this stuff is way cooler than anything I write.

First- read this article on the WNBA by Bill Simmons, and then these emails from his readers... I'll quote some of my favorites.

Wow, reading your article on the WNBA was like watching your friend tell an overweight girl that she looks hideous in that short, mid-drift-baring tank top. You know the backlash will be bitter and possibly lead to a swift kick in the gonads, but the truth remains -- it needed to be said. I commend you -- Bill Simmons -- for taking that risk.
-- Alan B, Lawrence, Kansas

A surefire way to pique interest with the WNBA ... change the rules! Stop pretending that it's an NBA game and start realizing that it's a totally different sport. This should all start with lowering the rim. Think about it, what does the NBA offer that the WNBA doesn't? "Above the rim action." Why should women play with the same size rim as men do when they already play with a smaller ball and can't possibly jump as high or be as strong. This not only would solve the issue of not being able to dunk, but would provide a surprising amount of "unintentional comedy." Think about it, who wouldn't want to have that element added to the game? It's like women's boxing, the pure comedy of watching a woman try and throw a left hook with oversized gloves is hilarious... the same goes for the WNBA. I guarantee this would spark some interest in the WNBA. Not only would it be beneficial to scoring, but instantly supply the dying sport with some excitement, and perhaps a little unintentional comedy!
-- Kevin, Columbus, Ohio

During the offseason, Katie Smith plays pick-up at the same gym as I. Don't get me wrong, she's not bad. If you leave her open, she's usually knocking it down. But any decent athlete locks her down, and she's the ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER IN LEAGUE HISTORY. A handful of the regulars play or played college hoops, none higher than Div. III, but these are not the guys guarding her or being guarded by her. The guys who guard her are the "average" players. Again, just wanted to give you some ammo for the inevitable "some of those players could start for some Div. I teams" e-mails that you receive.
-- Anonymous

The fact that Katie Smith is the all-time leading scorer in league history and you've never heard of her just emphasized the point more. And my all-time favorite email...

The WNBA could be successful if they force each team to add one fairly talented athletic male with limited basketball skills to each team. This would add a lot of excitement to the league as the male would date tons of players on his own team, thus forcing the ownership to trade away ex-girlfriends he no longer gets along with. It would start cat fights in the league. The league would follow this format until the playoffs, when one team was drawn at random and only that team was allowed to keep their male player. I would tune into watch this male dominate the women.
-- Steve, South Porcupine, Ontario