WNBA Brawl
July 22, 2008 by Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
Filed under Sports Rumors
I was so excited to watch this game because it’s the first time Candace Parker has played live on ESPN. I wanted to see her in action. I wanted to see how well she and Lisa Leslie played off of one another. I couldn’t wait to watch.
I tuned in as soon as I got home, expecting to see a competitive game unfold before my very eyes. I had no idea that I was going to see a fight break out.
Apparently it had been a pretty physical game between the LA Sparks and the Detroit Shock. I hadn’t known that when I flipped on ESPN 2. All I know is that Candace and Plenette Pierson started going at it. Next thing you know, both team benches are on the court pushing and shoving one another, including the coaches. Lisa Leslie got pushed to the ground in the scuffle and three players were ejected. It was a mess.
This is something I expect to see in the NBA. Sorry fellas, but all that testosterone makes you act foolish sometimes in the heat of the moment. I thought that we women had more self control than that. Parker has been faulted before for letting her emotions get the best of her. And this time she went too far. There are going to be suspensions and fines handed out for sure. And with the WNBA regular season coming to a close, this doesn’t bold well for the Sparks.
I know many people expected Parker to shape a new image for the WNBA. But I don’t think this is what they had in mind …
Video provided by YouTube
um actually candace parker didnt start the fight Pierson actually did. Candace was trying to catch her balance after Pierson bumped her and they both went down, but this is still crazy that women who are looked up to as role models would actually behave so badly.
BODE well.
Well first off this just proves your little sexist theory of “your testosterone makes you do foolish things” theory is flat out wrong. Women have no more restraint to violence than men, period!
Competition as a means to making a living is what causes these heated brawls in sports, it happens in every sport. Heck most of the time it happens when none of the players are getting paid. I don’t see why everyone makes such a big deal out of these things. Brawls will just happen from time to time in any sport, it is a highly combative place to be.
And that goes for men AND women.
KJ - I never said Candace started the fight. Even so, she’s got to learn how to walk away from the situation better. She’s more of a face than Pierson is. Not that Pierson isn’t at fault either. Everyone involved needs to take responsibility for their actions. And where were the refs in all of this? They let this game get out of hand.
Brian -
Sorry buddy, I have to disagree with you. I’m not being sexist as much as I am being honest. How many fights do you see in male-related sports compared to female-related sports? It’s just a fact. It’s not about violence, it’s about losing your cool. And men are more likely to get up in each other’s face.
i agree that competition does cause some conflicts between players, but there’s also the ide that “being hard” has to be proven through throwing fists. And that’s a learned behavior, not a result of competition.
I don’t agree with brawls happening in any sport, men or women. Ever hear of “healthy” competition. Using the competition excuse is just a cop out. You can be emotional and competitive without having to throw some “bows.”
Lyndsey
you are being a little biased. I have to agree with Brian. It also seems to me that most people who don’t understand the intense emotion involved in playing a sporrt never played a sport. Also, most women sport are not contact sports sweety so of course you will see less violence in womnes sports adding to the many reasons nobody likes to watch them.
Ms. Lovely -
Most women sports aren’t contact sports? I’d watch how you phrase that statement. Actually, most women sports are more physical than men’s sports. Ask any soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, football (yes, football), or hockey player. Contact is part of the game, whether it’s men’s or women’s. I understand the intense emotion. I’ve played (And still play) competitively. The difference is knowing where the boundaries are.
Wait Lyndsey you just contradicted yourself. You say most womens sports are more physical than men’s sports? So you are saying that Women can be just as aggressive and physical as men? I thought it was men’s testosterone that causes them to be more physical, aggressive and do “silly things”.
All your posts and responses have done is prove that you came into this whole argument with a sexist bias. It would be like if I said “This whole WNBA brawl does not surprise because of how much estrogen makes women too emotional, and catty.”
Hey Brian -
There’s a difference between being physical in play and losing your cool so that it escalates to a fight. Yes, women’s sports are really physical. But it seems to me that more fights break out in male-only competition. It’s not about the physicality, it’s about losing your cool. I’ll give you the second part of your comment though and say “touche.” Doesn’t feel good to be discriminated against based on sex, does it?
I never did say it felt good to be discriminated against based on your sex, thus why I have been challenging you on your blog entry pointing out the contradiction.
It’s hard to cry discrimination, when you are no less guilty of it yourself.
Brian -
I know you didn’t say that. I was more or less making a general comment regarding discrimination against women in sports based on sex, which has been prevalent for a very long time. Let’s just call it even. Thanks for challenging my comments. It makes for an interesting discussion.
CANDACE PARKER IZ DA BEST IN DA WNBA I DONT CARE WAT NOBODY SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON TOP OF DAT SHE GOT DEM THUMPERS LOL IM ONLY 13 AND IMMA BEAST IN B-BALL IM DA NEXT CANDACE PARKER CP3