Re: Research Project

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Robin Bauer) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...

> this is an easy point to dismiss.  Adults may enjoy watching someone
> outwit their opponent but that is not why they sat down inthe first
> place to watch the game.  If athleticism was not one of the major
> attraction of fans to a sport and strategy was the main attraction
> then leagues such as the WNBA would be far more popular.  Women often
> have far better skills and strategy than men, however, due to nature
> they are not as strong and thus they can not show off the same
> athletic moves as an Kobe or Iverson can.  Since the men's leagues are
> more popular I would have to say that it is primarily due to their
> athleticism - wouldn't you agree?

The WNBA has existed for less than a decade...men's pro-basketball has
been around for how long, 50 years?  Women's b-ball hasn't had a lot
of time to evolve.  That would be one reason.  If you compared the
early years of whitey pro basketball with the WNBA of today, you may
not be asking this question.  Another difference with basketball is
that one of the more exciting moves, the slam-dunk, has only been done
by one woman.  The ten foot goals give men's bodies the advantage when
it comes to height and dunking.  Women are much shorter on average,
and if you want to include height with athleticism, then you may have
a point.  Otherwise, I diagree that men are more "athletic".  Their
muscles on average are bigger, thereby they can produce more energy,
but athleticism goes beyond the body.  Is Kobe Bryant more athletic
than Venus Williams?  Is Brett Favre more athletic than a Sumo
wrestler?  There are many different degrees and standards of
athleticism, even within the same sport.  Also athleticism depends
greatly on your opponent, not on another league or the other sex's
version of your sport.  I may be way off, but isn't women's tennis
just as popular with men's of late?  The Williams sisters, having
raised the bar of athleticism in their sport, get a lot of the credit.

Anyway, back to the zone d.... have you ever played in the cup or as a
popper?  There is a lot of athleticism involved with the Zone, my
friend!  Besides, if you dislike strategy above athleticsm, you are
taking away a tactical advantage a coach has at his disposal.  Why? 
To make it a "horse race" of a sport?  When you "market" Flatball by
making it entertainment first, and sport second, you are doing
Flatball a disservice.  Nevertheless, it takes some awfully athletic
players to beat the best zones, and at a high level, you should see
some terrific cutting, passing, and strategies with a zone.  My 2,000
cents.