PhilYouIn.com

When I was growing up in the Sixties, it was generally assumed that boys were smarter, and better, than girls. That girls were inherently inferior beings.

Having been raised by a bad-ass single Mom, I was always somewhat skeptical of the notion.

More than a half century later, not much has changed, even when it comes to professional sports. ESPECIALLY when it comes to professional sports. I saw a response to a YouTube video concerning what was listed as an important WNBA (women’s basketball) game: “There has NEVER been an important WNBA game!”

So clever!

That is what many men want (and need) to believe to maintain their feeling of superiority. Truth is, the opposite is true.

Take boxing as an example. Tyson Fury, the Heavyweight champ, came into the ring for his latest fight looking as if he had recently given birth. Many other heavyweights are so out of shape that a bra would be in order; it seems they take the name of their weight class a bit too literally. Invariably they get winded after a few rounds.

Women boxers take pride in their appearance. They enter the ring hungry and in shape, and put on quite a show. Women fight toe to toe every minute of each round; no holding, no illegal punches, no whining to the referee. Just furious action. Often, after the judges’ decision, they smile, hug and congratulate one another in a display of heartfelt sportsmanship. No standing on the ropes by a corner ring post, beating their chests like over-juiced idiots. The only things on display are competitiveness, action and the will to win.

There is also a stark difference in professional basketball: women are more fun to watch.

At a Liberty playoff game in November, it felt as if the roof was going to fly off of Barclays Center. The place was packed with fans (like me, who purchased affordable tickets) and sports icons and movie stars (Billie Jean King, Hilary Swank), as well as NBA stars (Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant), everyone erupting with each other Liberty basket.

And unlike what I experienced at a Mets game this summer, the fans were not ignored by their heroes. When a Met hit a homerun, he invariably did a dumb dance for his teammates in the dugout as he trotted towards first base, then hi-fived the first base coach, clapped hands in the direction of the bullpen, hi-fived the third base coach, blew a kiss toward the heavens as he approached home plate, then did a ridiculous dance down the length of the dugout. Never so much as glancing at his cheering fans.

When a player for the Liberty hit a three pointer, she would run back to her defensive position while waving her fist in the air, exhorting the crowd to get louder, acknowledging the love raining down on her. And prior to the game several players made themselves available to their fans for ‘selfies.’

This is what sports should be about.

Apparently this is what only women’s sports is about.