2024 NCAA Tournament Thread

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Every WNBA player should be profusely thanking Caitlin Clark. She moves the needle, nobody else has in that sport.  I hope her presence improves the ratings and revenue generated in the WNBA for years to come.

Instead, we've heard a lot of bcrap from these WNBA players.  All of them, no matter how accomplished or good they are, should be kissing her buttocks on a daily basis.  Here's the news:  No one gives a flying f about Brianna Stewart, Taurasi, and these other current or past players.  If Caitlin Clark averages zero points a game, they should still thank her.  What would be fair is for Caitlin to sign a contract 50 times more than the highest current contract. 

She undoubtedly moves the needle. But the popularity of the woman's game has been growing so it's not really accurate that no one cared before.

And of course the WNBA vets talk trash about the incoming prospect. The men do the same. It's just basketball.

[Pakuni]

And of course the WNBA vets talk trash about the incoming prospect. The men do the same. It's just basketball.

Yep.
NBA veterans didn't exactly embrace Michael Jordan when he came into the league, despite all the added attention he brought.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[MuggsyB]

Yep.
NBA veterans didn't exactly embrace Michael Jordan when he came into the league, despite all the added attention he brought.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

That's fine and dandy but the fact is people knew who Magic, Bird, and others were before Jordan arrived.   He took the NBA to a another level but Clark is immediately the face of her league.  5 times as many people watched the WNBA draft because of her.  The vast majority of people could not name 5 WNBA players .  They should respect this woman tremendously and understand her impact.  At a much smaller level It's comparable to Sheryl Crow being bitter about Taylor Swift. 

[wadesworld]

That's fine and dandy but the fact is people knew who Magic, Bird, and others were before Jordan arrived.   He took the NBA to a another level but Clark is immediately the face of her league.  5 times as many people watched the WNBA draft because of her.  The vast majority of people could not name 5 WNBA players .  They should respect this woman tremendously and understand her impact.  At a much smaller level It's comparable to Sheryl Crow being bitter about Taylor Swift.

Yes. No musicians are bitter about Taylor Swift at all. They all bow to her, like all women athletes should do to Caitlin Clark.

[Tyler COLEk]

WNBA players are elite competitors, it's natural they'd contest the idea that a rookie is on another level. That competitive spirit is good for the league. MJ had a host of rivals throughout his career --  I hope Clark has a similar path.

[MuggsyB]

Yes. No musicians are bitter about Taylor Swift at all. They all bow to her, like all women athletes should do to Caitlin Clark.

That's not what I'm saying.  Everyone should understand my crystal clear point. 

[Pakuni]

That's not what I'm saying.  Everyone should understand my crystal clear point.

We need a 5-point plan for getting WNBA veterans to show Caitlin Clark the proper deference.

[MuggsyB]

We need a 5-point plan for getting WNBA veterans to show Caitlin Clark the proper deference.

Don't knock my 5 pt plan.  Notice the s-show we're presently dealing with Pakumi. 

[Pakuni]

Don't knock my 5 pt plan.  Notice the s-show we're presently dealing with Pakumi.

Step 1 ... introduce Breanna Stewart to darkness.

[MuggsyB]

Step 1 ... introduce Breanna Stewart to darkness.

Your words, not mine. 

[lawdog77]

Don't knock my 5 pt plan.  Notice the s-show we're presently dealing with Pakumi.

Pakumi is Pakuni's evil twin?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

That's fine and dandy but the fact is people knew who Magic, Bird, and others were before Jordan arrived.   He took the NBA to a another level but Clark is immediately the face of her league.  5 times as many people watched the WNBA draft because of her.  The vast majority of people could not name 5 WNBA players .  They should respect this woman tremendously and understand her impact.  At a much smaller level It's comparable to Sheryl Crow being bitter about Taylor Swift. 

They can both understand her impact and want to crush her on the court.

[Pakuni]

Pakumi is Pakuni's evil twin?

Actually, he's my good twin.

[cheebs09]

Turasi's comments were taken out of context. Basically she said there will be an adjustment period for her due to the level of competition increasing. That doesn't make for a catchy headline or topics on debate shows though.

[Pakuni]

Turasi's comments were taken out of context. Basically she said there will be an adjustment period for her due to the level of competition increasing. That doesn't make for a catchy headline or topics on debate shows though.

She also said Paige Bueckers is a better player. I get being true to your alma mater and all, but it's a really bad take.

[WhiteTrash]

Turasi's comments were taken out of context. Basically she said there will be an adjustment period for her due to the level of competition increasing. That doesn't make for a catchy headline or topics on debate shows though.

I couldn't get though your entire post but it sounds like Turasi is a mean spirited b!tch. 

[MU82]

Here's something else for her peers to get jealous about:

According to The Athletic, Clark soon will get an 8-figure endorsement contract from Nike, likely to include her own signature shoe.

[lawdog77]

Here's something else for her peers to get jealous about:

According to The Athletic, Clark soon will get an 8-figure endorsement contract from Nike, likely to include her own signature shoe.

over $20 million

[MU82]

over $20 million

So much for the "she'll make more money if she stays in college" argument, which was always dopey.

[rocket surgeon]

They can both understand her impact and want to crush her on the court.

  if this is true or accurate, these women don't understand they too could flourish with the addition of caitlyn to their league, but chit happens(or doesn't) when ya don't go to class.  if they mean competitively...then never mind.  hey it works for all star wrestling and the MMA...cool

   

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

  if this is true or accurate, these women don't understand they too could flourish with the addition of caitlyn to their league, but chit happens(or doesn't) when ya don't go to class.  if they mean competitively...then never mind.  hey it works for all star wrestling and the MMA...cool 

They completely understand that they can flourish with her on the court. But they still want to beat her.

Just like the men understand what Lebron brings to the NBA - but they of course want to beat him. They're competitors.

Why do we have so much trouble placing attributes on women athletes that we have no problem placing on male athletes?

[Herman Cain]

Every WNBA player should be profusely thanking Caitlin Clark. She moves the needle, nobody else has in that sport.  I hope her presence improves the ratings and revenue generated in the WNBA for years to come.

Instead, we've heard a lot of bcrap from these WNBA players.  All of them, no matter how accomplished or good they are, should be kissing her buttocks on a daily basis.  Here's the news:  No one gives a flying f about Brianna Stewart, Taurasi, and these other current or past players.  If Caitlin Clark averages zero points a game, they should still thank her.  What would be fair is for Caitlin to sign a contract 50 times more than the highest current contract.

Muggsy:
Caitlin Clark = Modern Day Pistol Pete. Back in the day when Pete came in the league there was a lot of grumbling  from NBA Vets. It is all part of the process. It is actually a good thing.

[Skatastrophy]

Muggsy:
Caitlin Clark = Modern Day Pistol Pete. Back in the day when Pete came in the league there was a lot of grumbling  from NBA Vets. It is all part of the process. It is actually a good thing.

Yep, people react in unexpected ways when they feel threatened. Caitlin is a threat to the status quo. She's probably dealt with that for years, it's truly lonely at the top (I wouldn't know).

[warriorchick]

I am disappointed with all the people who are attributing the lack of financial success for the WNBA and its players to misogyny and/or racism.

At a minimum it is revealing the shocking lack of understanding of basic economics.

[WhiteTrash]

They completely understand that they can flourish with her on the court. But they still want to beat her.

Just like the men understand what Lebron brings to the NBA - but they of course want to beat him. They're competitors.

Why do we have so much trouble placing attributes on women athletes that we have no problem placing on male athletes?

You make valid points, but I think you are diminishing the significance of similar reactions in the men's game. Living through the emergence of Jordan specifically, the media coverage and talk radio chatter about older NBA players dissing MJ and freezing him out of all-star touches was 100x more than this current Clark issue. Fans and media did not hold back on criticizing those men for their words and actions. I'd say it is probably equally proportional between the two based upon the overall interest in each sport.