An ugly situation: Female athletes sell sex appeal first

Hey Andrea, Ever hear of Jenny Finch? The beautiful and athletic pitcher for the Womens U.S Olympic Softball Team. You might want to check her out...

DADGAD wrote:

Hey Andrea, Ever hear of Jenny Finch? The beautiful and athletic pitcher for the Womens U.S Olympic Softball Team. You might want to check her out...

Did you even read the article?

(Andrea mentioned Jenny Finch in the article.)

She mentions Jenny Finch in the article.

The problem she fails to mention is that female athletics will never be on par with male athletics in the fans eyes, as females are not as big, fast and strong as men. The well known female athlete is the exception, and they have used their beauty to help draw attention to the sport they play, as well as rake i the endorsement dollars.

They are playing the hand that the good Lord gave them, and Andrea thinks we should be paying attention to them due to their athletic prowess instead. Not going to happen - sorry to disappoint you Andrea. The sports world is dominated by men, both on the field and in the stands, so female athletics will most likely remain exactly what it is - the minor leagues in all cases.

why are these stories always written but people who are not as pretty...as the girls they seem bitter with...lol

So the ladies are hot and have skills. They may not be the tops in there sport. They are getting recognition for the sport league. A true sports enthusiast will ultimately be able to distinguish who can play and who can't. Why bother even making the article. We all know sex sells. For those who find it offensive, don't by the product. Supply and demand. It is that simple. Sports just like entertainment and yes medicine is a business. The quicker one realizes that, the quicker they can take a self appropriate action.

The WNBA? What's that? Is that a women's basketball league? Wow, sounds.........boring.

The real problem is we have this huge emphasis on whether some dumb ass finishes a golf round in 70 stokes or 72. BFD. I watch basketball or other crap sports and its just a big marketing coup. Keep the people watching, make these people out to be superhuman with words and descriptions. Writing about sports. Lets raise a whole next generation of couchy sports consumers.

Sorry, I missed the photos where Paula Radcliffe stripped. Anyone got a link? ;)

Professional athletics is showmanship. Athletes are paid by their ability to sell tickets (or shoes, or sports drinks, etc.). People are more inclined to spend their money to watch someone who looks good than to watch someone who merely plays well. I am as guilty of that as anyone. I guess it makes me human.

First Andrea, you mention Mia Hamm receiving endorsements without the aid of her good looks. Are you nuts?

Secondly, why do you pick on sports? Why are the most popular actresses in Hollywood also the sexiest? Do you believe that they are the best actors in their profession? Again, are you nuts?

By the way, Danica Patrick has measurably increased interest in her male dominated sport.

If you're going to compete for the MALE dollar, you're going to have to resign yourself to accepting that we pay for what we like. I agree with reader Mundello that there is little male interest in the WNBA and LPGA. Feminists can whine all they want, but men will always be men, and we'll always be in charge.

Forcing the issue with Title 9 was the worst thing the NCAA ever did, but I digress.

Sexiness is for sale in men's sports too, however it doesn't always apply to the athletes themselves. The "ESPN-ification" of sports is evident everywhere. Why show a perfectly executed hit and run or bunt when you can show a homerun instead. Why talk about a KC Royals vs. FL Marlins game when you can talk about a Red Sox/Yanks series three weeks from now? Why show a great defensive stop when you can show a break away reverse dunk. So while this isn't directly related to sexuality, it is still the same idea. Why watch the whole when you can watch an exciting five seconds instead?

There is huge money in the marketability of a beautiful female athlete and that's the bottom line. The article mentions Michelle Wie as not being know for her looks, but I remember a Mike Biachi column in which he drooled in print over the then-15-year-old Wie. Don't send him to cover women's golf is all I can say.

Just because most of society's men are pigs doesn't mean women have to bow to them and take off their clothes. There is such a thing as keeping your own self-dignity.

As a female, I have no respect for the Amanda Beard's or the Danica Patrick's. Thing is, any number of women could replace them on a cover of Playboy or SI. Sadly, I know nothing of their athletic abilities and don't care == that's just a side job. They'd be better off just being porn stars and dropping the "athletics".

okw wrote:

She mentions Jenny Finch in the article.
The problem she fails to mention is that female athletics will never be on par with male athletics in the fans eyes, as females are not as big, fast and strong as men. The well known female athlete is the exception, and they have used their beauty to help draw attention to the sport they play, as well as rake i the endorsement dollars.
They are playing the hand that the good Lord gave them, and Andrea thinks we should be paying attention to them due to their athletic prowess instead. Not going to happen - sorry to disappoint you Andrea. The sports world is dominated by men, both on the field and in the stands, so female athletics will most likely remain exactly what it is - the minor leagues in all cases.

Men THINK they are in charge. Just ask househoulds who controls and spends most of the money... wives do.

PeeWee Herman wrote:

By the way, Danica Patrick has measurably increased interest in her male dominated sport.
If you're going to compete for the MALE dollar, you're going to have to resign yourself to accepting that we pay for what we like. I agree with reader Mundello that there is little male interest in the WNBA and LPGA. Feminists can whine all they want, but men will always be men, and we'll always be in charge.
Forcing the issue with Title 9 was the worst thing the NCAA ever did, but I digress.

Ridiculous wrote:

Men THINK they are in charge. Just ask househoulds who controls and spends most of the money... wives do.
<quoted text>

where does the money come from? exactly.

Very well written article Andrea! I personally think since sports fans in general are males, this is the reason that marketers seek to promote sports to them. What appeals to males? Sex of course.

However, this does not mean that women should lower their standards to sell their sport. I myself continue to be amazed at the garbage that MTV puts out every day. From bi-sexual dating shows to "girls gone wild" type of influences in the real world and "the bad girl club".

I think parents nowadays have to bear more responsibility for teaching their girls morals and honorable principles instead of letting the TV dictate their child's standards.

Disney "Pimp", your nickname alone should disqualify you from this type of educated discussion.

However, she is not saying that sexy athletes do not exist. She is just saying that there are other athletes that are just as good or better that go unnoticed because they dont have the sex appeal to go with it.

I bet that you are the kind of guy that only finds out which females athletes are good by looking through Maxim, Playboy, and FHM magazines...

Female athletics have their place. Placing females into mens realms is stupid and only emasculates the males. The female will never lose in that scenario. As a pro sports fan, I must subsidize the WNBA to go to an NBA game. The costs are high. I use the beer formula. If it costs me less for a 12 pack of beer then for a beer at a stadium, then going to a sports event is a rip off. I rant this to you all because I use to go to many games a year in all major pro sports. At some point there will be an economic collapse of major proportions in the sports world. That is not now obviously. But when I can go to the beach for two nights with my family and spend less then I would at an Arena Football League game, then a turning point is coming at some point. I believe all of this will end. When...unknown..

Andrea is WAY off base. Beautiful people sell products, regardless of gender. Which is more appealing- Michael Jordan marketing underwear or Patrick Ewing? Tiger Woods or John Daly? The author has a problem, but it has noting to do with the article... Her problem is that she is too superficial to offer any opinion on this matter.