Colin Cowherd’s Not Interested In The WNBA

I listen to “the herd” on ESPN Radio on a regular basis. Though Colin Cowherd can come off as chauvinistic and incredibly brazen, I find him amusing. Maybe that’s why I tend to overlook his comments about the WNBA and women’s basketball in general.

It’s no secret that Cowherd isn’t a fan of women’s sports. While he’s never come out and said that women are not as good of athletes as men are, he’s all but implied it on several occasions.

Yet, I still tune in to listen to his radio program.

I think that what I appreciate about Cowherd is his honesty. He doesn’t patronize or beat around the bush. He offers no apologies for who he is or the comments he makes. He’s not “acting” on the radio. He’s just being himself. He’s real — and that is what is so refreshing. In today’s society, that’s a hard thing to come by. Everyone is too busy trying to be someone they’re not for the sake of somebody else. Maybe that’s why, when Cowherd takes a shot at women’s basketball, I don’t get angry. He’s earned my respect. And I respect his opinion. Even if he’s overbearing sometimes when he’s giving it.

Though I respect him, I have to disagree with him about the WNBA. Being a basketball player myself, I can appreciate the difference of the women’s game. It’s a game based on the fundamentals — the passing, the offense, the defense, and the shooting touch. And I think that anyone who has ever played the game can understand why fundamentals are so important. Sure, there aren’t high-flying dunks or wild aggressive plays to get excited about, but there are just as many hustle plays, incredible no-look passes, amazing shots and close games to incite plenty of excitement. In fact, I’d even say that the players in the WNBA play with more heart and fervor during the regular season than NBA players. It’s only during the playoffs and the finals when the NBA comes alive.

I hope I haven’t turned you off from listening to Cowherd. I’ve heard women call in to his show on a regular basis and he’s more respectful of their opinions than he is of most male callers. I think what it comes down to is that he understands his audience, which is probably 90 percent male oriented. So talking about the WNBA wouldn’t be a smart thing to do, as it wouldn’t appeal to his core audience.

I don’t think Cowherd dislikes women’s sports or the WNBA as much as he says he does. But I don’t think he’s sitting at home watching games in private either. What I really believe is that he’s a smart radio host who knows his audience and that’s basically it. He doesn’t have time to be interested in the WNBA. And I guess that’s his loss.