I happened to see, for show in more ways than one, the WNBA draft on sports bar basic TV — wouldn’t normally tune into this league’s picking of players — and star guard Kaitlyn Clark was shown bare midriff with a fully unbuttoned and flared out, long sleeve shirt, oddly being a baring look that decades ago was championed by a friend of mine. All the taller, long-torso centers sported not trophies — although they could have been trophy wives — but decidedly cleavage-showing, plunging neckline “jerseys” at this gaudy affair.
To me, it is a killer to society that players at the level of Clark would be expected to dress up, or down, in such a way to get the same respect, and viewership, as their male colleagues.
— See you at the Lodge, and we can do some upped-tempo lounging. Moody Blues bassist John Lodge — not to be confused with Deep Purple keyboardist John Lord — may not be a household name to most, but even my friend Tom, and who doesn’t exactly listen to his music choices across many genres, made mention of the musician’s recent death as the first thing from his lips when I met up with him at a sports bar over the weekend. The number of prominent people with demise in such a realm sure is not dwindling, unfortunately.
No need to wait for Halloween for a chili-like, holy-noodle-chomp at church, however.
While many have post-pandemic quit having free or for usually-small donation regularly slated meals, such as on a certain time each month, at a small Burkhardt church it is still cooking.
A key is to keep things open, even if in any small way, as far as various charitable events go, and value this tradition, to allow the events to stay being held.
There was surprise at this news of such events often going away, according to both a man and woman who were encountered when volunteers at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, but are originally from Redeemer Lutheran on Scott Road.
The annual chili supper at hand, noodles or nary, with pie for dessert, is on Thursday on Oct. 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Also on tap, in much the same way and early in October announced, is a Trunk or Treat event along with spaghetti supper on Oct. 29 from 6-8 p.m. at Faith Community Church on Paperjack Drive in nearby New Richmond. Games too, and pillows gathered for Grace Place. —
The latest shit hitting the fan, as far as fans, since the WNBA finals are upon us — bringing with them controversy about their sports being what I’ll say is undervalued by the quality of the leadership and officiating — is the scores of sex toys taken out of the attic and men’s garages, and thrown out on the floor of the mid-court. This was done during the regular season, but the senseless and inappropriate action sticks with me.
Much similar, is in the Islamic world where women are required to wear veils. I have seen some even here in Hudson who looked quite beautiful in their burkas, but it should be their choice whether to follow this tradition, not have it be dictated to them by men.
In modern music, the stereotypical roles are even more pronounced. Dance music and rap, sometimes become somewhat vacuous, sorry to say, take the cake for babes to be expected to strut with their booty out. (Eating that cake might expand your booty, but on the other hand it does not quite keep up with the Joneses, hello lusciously Liz by that name, as far as the antithesis, but a thin middle too with the brains.) The main trend, much like at a metal concert, where all the young women have on vague dresses with their tight but short leather mini-skirts up to their crotch. As a man when at such concerts, I both love it and hate for its sexism this such dress-not-to-dress “tradition.” But at least the intelligent lyrics offered a counterpoint.
But some women turn it on its ear and use it to rock. Think Amy Lee of Evanescence, who I think that despite the criticism of bringing her into the male-oriented band is really the one we really to hear — and see as she is stunning in videos. Then bring on Floor Jansen of Nightwish. These women just exude sexuality and they are in control, and they rule, so good for them. It is when seeing both of them extend a grip over the audience like a Viking warrior princess — OK that has been said before by others like me — that I felt better about a previous journalistic stance.
I had written a review of OzzFest, and had been told, and put it in print, a claim by a male fan (before he passed out?) that he had after the concert been part of an orgy of six people in the same bed — including Amy Lee. This passage was left on the cutting room floor literally, when struck by my editor. He that myself and The Man were joking with the claim.
After in a more current time, when seeing both of these women individually take total command of the stage, and the men in the audience, I felt better about my original idea about the struck phrase that such a comment was almost a compliment, adding to their credentials as rockers.
OK, music put aside, here is women’s sports vs. men’s sports summarized. Women’s soccer is, let’s be honest, interesting but somewhat less so, and it shows in ratings and, sadly, pay equity. The goalies don’t seemingly fly as quickly or as far. The strikers are not as fast or powerful when getting their kicks. So unless you’re Brandy Chastaine, and shouldn’t she be able to whip off her shirt in a time of triumph, just like a man? Doesn’t that sell? And has been widely and accurately said, how is a sports bra so much different in its acceptability, in showing off in public besides at a beach, than a bikini top. If anything another inch or two of fabric, anyway. Just watch out for a foot.
And hey, invoke A League Of Their Own. Can’t (soccer) match Madonna. And can’t we be just as satisfied with an 83 mph fastball, if it is well placed right on the corner? Pitch-worthy in general, it’s less about speed, and more about movement of the ball, so there! Does this too speak more to our culture, of excess? And just total admiration, but only for the ultimate? Jordan or Lebron get perks few others would even barely appromixate. A fastball has to race at 100 mph, then reach 101 and then 102. Wasn’t Nolan Ryan just as fascinating, give or take a degree or three? And he was doing it, less a mph or two, in his late 30s. But hey, my God, Wheelchair Olympics would even have to fight to get airtime on local cable access.
There is more of two other womans’ sports shown on TV, even at national cable and its ilk level. I find it stunning as far as stamina shown, when softball pitcher can chuck even when underhand both the ends of a doubleheader, as the way they are physically built, the arms of the “fairer sex” can make that movement much better than men. But as far as the WNBA, a lot of layups — before the league started evolving to jump over and past knuckle-dragging men — that should be easy could just as easily become a rolling-around-the-rim adventure. Why, aside from the fact that men jump higher? They also can often be seven feet tall, many inches above the average woman even if she is a center. The less the distance between you and the backboard the better. And you don’t see many guys plunking even a bit when doing a dunk.
But yes, sometimes women athletes have it over men, relatively. In sports where flexibility trumps power. Aren’t too many guys — and not to diss them in a reverse discrimination as they flip their own thing quite well as well — doing what the gals can do in the floor exercise, and other forms of gymnastics. The fascination goes well beyond their skinny butts; they are great athletes. And if you are Olivia Dunn and her somewhat sexually saucy social media pix, fine.
But now yesterday’s news? Still, the intrigue of competition is finally goes both those directions. So guys, double your viewing pleasure? Hey if it works for her, WNBA goddesses, with both their looks and their shots, and it obviously does, great. Beyond what words can speak, if it is their free choice. (And Clark maybe even over Curry rules from far beyond-three-point land.)
So, here are even more words. Unlike some men, who are I’m assuming insecure and thus threatened, I absolutely love it when women take control of their (own) sexuality. I never wanted to be with just that pretty little thing who sits in the corner and smiles. Although I have that too. (Minus the sits in a corner. Instead leans back and thus forward, with her gaze, and takes control of the room like the stage). I know intensely such beautiful brainiacs, and my life is so much the richer for it. And I have never felt any anxiety over the assertive-woman messages on the cover of Cosmo. And I think the main most flamboyantly brilliant and highlight amongst killer lyrics — though understated and it didn’t have to be more — line in Alanis Morrissette’s song You Oughta Know, was that famous phrase with the F word. Great I say, to see that in our culture, finally, a woman can get away with saying such. (And Alanis looks great in that video’s dress. Show him what he can’t have.) The difference: Great lyrics, not just shake your booty.
And yes, the rub, this was written decades ago, when there still was quality songwriting across genres.