The ManCave06!

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. We’ve heard this before, and as simple as it may seem, it is profound beyond measure. This idea, for some reason or another, seems to escape the minds of those who sit in the front offices of pro basketball teams.

*sigh another lockout story*….no, wrong pro basketball franchise. Im referring to the other basketball franchise currently getting lockout-style TV ratings. Ladies and gentleman, the definition of insanity is the WNBA. I dont want this to come off as a woman bashing article because it isn’t. The athletes in the WNBA are some of the best in the world, and the carnage the US Women’s basketball team dispenses in merciless form in international competition is proof of that. I see women’s basketball as a sport, one which is needed on God’s green earth. That being said, professional women’s basketball as it exists in the USA is on the verge of becoming laughingly irrelevant. Nobody is watching, because nobody cares. Watch a WNBA game, then drink a Nyquil-based roofie-laced cocktail and put your money on which one puts you to sleep faster. I’m siding with the game. There are more Casey Anthony supporters than WNBA fans. This isn’t just my opinion, it’s the truth.

The league is cash poor. They have foreign sponsors on the front of their jerseys (oh yeah, now the casual fan would REALLY want to wear that -_-). What is this, soccer? My hometown WNBA team, the Washington Mystics, are giving away tickets and they still arent reaching full capacity. From a business standpoint, this league doesn’t deserve to be invested in. Hell, even the people who are voicing their displeasure with this article dont even watch the WNBA. I recently shot hoops with a friend of mine, and she’s a former collegiate basketball player and coach. I asked her if she watched the WNBA All-Star game, and she didnt. even. know. it. happened. I dont even think she would watch if she did know. Dont believe me? Take the quick quiz directly below.

WOULD YOU RATHER WATCH…

1.) NFL Preseason game OR Washington Mystics vs Detroit Shock

2.) Preliminary Round of 100m dash in 2012 Olympics OR Game 2 of WNBA  1st round playoff game

3.) Reruns of Law and Order SVU OR the WNBA Draft

4.) Your homeboy play a really, really good game of Madden OR the WNBA finals

This is what im talking about. Unless some serious changes are made, the WNBA needs to be completely eliminated. Its a waste of money, and the few women who are ‘superstars’ are incapable of carrying the league like their NBA counterparts do. I mean, whos really watching? Maybe its just me, but the WNBA is dying because their inability (or refusal) to cater to the demographic who dominate the sports industry: men ages 18-49.

How do you a multitude of men to pay attention to a woman? Well, since we all cant converse with WNBA players on a regular basis, I guess we’ll have to settle with the old adage of sex sells.

Im not talking Hustler/hardcore porn/super risque sex. Im not even talking about tasteful nude shots, a la Diana Taurasi.

Maybe sexier uniforms. Maybe take a page from the NBA and develop a dress code for the players. It may be true with your significant other, but Sweatpants and head wrap, chilling with no make up on is NOT when youre the prettiest. Especially when we have options a remote click away.

If you want to tell me that this is a women’s league for women, then tell me why women aint watching. Because if they were, WNBA would be getting Oprah type numbers.I understand that sex being the selling point could lessen the credibility of the league. I know these professional athletes want to be seen as professional athletes and not sexy models who can dribble and shoot. You have to, however, understand that the business model currently in place will fail. The European leagues will be flooded with our players, leaving young girls of the next generation wishing they had a league of their own once again.