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Bryant Gumbel on U.S. women’s soccer team loss: ‘Can we stop coddling women in sports?’

Jul 20, 2011, 2:22 PM EDT

5 Comments
Bryant Gumbel AP

I’m not saying that Bryant Gumbel stole my idea. No. Let’s just say that we’re on the same team. On Monday I wrote this, about how the media seems to be giving the U.S. women a free pass for blowing the World Cup championship game against Japan. This caused many of you to gather outside of the sheriff’s office to discuss a hangin’. Then, this appeared in the Dallas Observer. Then on Tuesday night’s final segment on HBO’s Real Sports, Gumbel said this about the U.S. Women’s World Cup effort (excerpts):

“Can we stop coddling women in sports? Are we now so fearful of being labeled sexist that we can’t objectively assess the efforts of female athletes?

“Had a men’s team turned in a similar performance, papers and pundits nationwide would have had a field day assailing the players, criticizing the coach, and demanding widespread changes to a men’s national team that flat out choked. Yet the common reaction to this ladies’ loss were simply expressions of empathy for the defeat of the unfortunate darlings and pride in their oh-so-heroic effort.”

Look, many of you just didn’t get the point. I don’t dislike the U.S. team. On the contrary: I think that all of this apologist attitude over their loss to Japan is condescending. It’s like everyone is going out of their way to protect their feelings because they’re girls. It’s demeaning. They should be treated like athletes, not cheerleaders. I want to see women’s sports on an equal footing with men’s. And by treating the national women’s soccer team like delicate porcelain collectibles, you’re guaranteeing that will never happen.

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Gumbel: Stop coddling losing female athletes [USA Today]
Is media giving U.S. women’s soccer team a free pass for its World Cup Fail? [Off the Bench]

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  1. trbowman - Jul 20, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    Straight up.

    The media tries to shove women sports down our throats, and yet they won’t treat them as equals. They coddle them, definitely.

  2. fouldwimmerlaik - Jul 20, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    OK, I’ll say it: Hey, Bryant Gumbel stole your idea!

  3. cerowb - Jul 21, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    aww…do you always delete perfectly valid comments you don’t like??

    • Rick Chandler - Jul 21, 2011 at 12:13 PM

      I’m innocent! If I didn’t delete any of these comments http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/07/18/is-media-giving-u-s-womens-soccer-team-a-free-pass-for-its-world-cup-fail/ … why would I delete yours?

      • cerowb - Jul 21, 2011 at 2:40 PM

        hahahaha fair enough – that’s some pretty inflammatory stuff! My apologies.

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