Is Woman's Football an actual real sport ?

[dholliday]

Obviously it's a real sport. And clearly it makes sense to separate men & women competition. I enjoy athletics and tennis where I regularly watch both sexes and judge them separately, rather than compare them. I believe in celebrating differences rather than ranking them (now give me my medal, ffs).


But in this thread we must compare...so here goes:

Then why did Billie Jean King compete in the battle of the sexes?

She 'competed' against a 55-year old man who 15 years earlier retired from pro tennis. Was a farce from the beginning.


Some more attempts at such Battle of the Sexes here:

1992: Navratilova v Connors

A third "Battle of the Sexes" match, entitled Battle of Champions, was played at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada, in September 25, 1992, between Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova, aged 40 and 35 respectively. Navratilova had previously turned down invitations to take on John McEnroe and Ilie Năstase, as she considered them undignified. The promoters initially tried to match Connors with the then top ranked female player, Monica Seles. Connors called the match 'war'. Navratilova, on the other hand, called it a battle of egos.

The match was played under hybrid rules to make it more competitive; Connors was allowed only one serve per point, and Navratilova was allowed to hit into half the doubles court. Each player received a $650,000 guarantee, with a further $500,000 for the winner. Connors won 7–5, 6–2. Navratilova made 8 double faults and 36 unforced errors. Connors, too, was nervous and there was a rumor that he had placed a bet on himself to win at 4:1. According to the Connors book "The Outsider" he placed a million dollar bet on himself, saying that he would lose no more than 8 games.
1998: Karsten Braasch vs. the Williams sisters

A fourth event dubbed a "Battle of the Sexes" took place during the 1998 Australian Open between Karsten Braasch and the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena Williams, aged 17 and 16 respectively, had claimed that they could beat any male player ranked below 200, so Braasch, then ranked 203rd, challenged them both. The matches took place on court number 12 in Melbourne Park. Braasch first took on Serena and beat her 6–1. He then played Venus and won 6–2. Braasch said afterwards, "500 and above, no chance." He added that he had played like someone ranked 600th in order to keep the game "fun."
Other matches

In December 2003, Yannick Noah and Justine Henin played a friendly at the Forest National in Brussels. Noah donned a dress for much of the match. He played predominantly trick shots and slices, but still ended up winning 4–6, 6–4, 7–6.

In October 2013 Novak Djokovic and Li Na played a light-hearted exhibition mini set in Beijing, China to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the China Open. Djokovic clowned to the amusement of the crowd, and at one point swapped places with a ballboy. Li was given a 30–0 advantage at the start of each service game, and she went on to win 3–2.

In 2013, Andy Murray responded to a Twitter user who asked whether he would consider challenging Serena Williams, saying "I’d be up for it. Why not?" Williams also reacted positively to the suggestion, remarking "That would be fun. I doubt I’d win a point, but that would be fun."

Because of the irrational differential in pay.

Why should the best of one gender be paid more or less than the best of the other gender?

Hi Mrs Esk, it's not irrational, tho'. For 2 main (justified) reasons:

1) in tennis, for example, men play longer matches: best of 5 sets in slams as opposed to best of 3.
2) the paying public, and thus advertisors, are more willing to watch men's sports. Not because of sexism, but because people generally want to watch the absolute peak. Men generally offer us this peak performance because of superior physical attributes (see the disparity in athletics records between the sexes).

Around about 1997-2003 you were spot on. You only got rallies in the women's game.

But not it's exact opposite. Too many female serve volliers. Ace, ace, ace, ace, tie break. Sod that.

Agree. Hingis was a gorgeous player to watch (in both senses of the word), but the advent of power tennis from the Williams sisters did put paid to her finesse play.

I do like the serve & volley game, to be fair...used to play that way myself. I've got tons of admiration for the Williams girls, their power tennis can be enthralling too, and both are no strangers to finesse (tho' Venus is retired now, I think), and also outside the sport they're doing a lot of interesting work.

And who can't but love Sabine Lisicki? The women's game is worthy still, but surely it's not under debate that anyone wanting to watch the peak of a sport watches the men.

Physically men and women cannot compete, that's a given. Skill levels there can be competition.

Which sports where skill is a far more influential factor than brute physicality do you think can be competitive between men and women, say in an example where they play each other?

Snooker?

 

[tommye]

Mate, I know one thing, at the Maratona next Sunday there will be women competing that will whip my sorry behind. I think the best woman last year knocked a good hour off my time. Sure, the best man beat that, but that doesn't make the women any less respectable as athletes by any stretch of the imagination, and I don't see why anyone should want to denigrate them for not competing with the best men.

up you drug intake.


Obvs what they're doing.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

As a side note, the only reason women attract the same interest as men in tennis is because they wear short skirts and plenty of makeup, Serena couldn't beat a player in the top 100, again, not a view I condone but that's society.

Dunno mate. My other half is a Navratilova, and I'm sure Martina has attracted all of the usual derogatory comments you can imagine down the years, but that doesn't detract either from her skill levels or her popularity among the general public.

 

[Elong]

Dunno mate. My other half is a Navratilova, and I'm sure Martina has attracted all of the usual derogatory comments you can imagine down the years, but that doesn't detract either from her skill levels or her popularity among the general public.

You just have to look at the advertising for the women's game, cleavage shots, closeup of sweating, the sexist questions they get asked on court after the match such as at the Aus Open when Beauchard was asked to twirl, it's disgusting but they're paid more and have more interest because of sex appeal than skill, otherwise why wouldn't TV networks be pushing women's athletics and weightlifting on us?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

up you drug intake.


Obvs what they're doing.

must be something. Like they're on a motorbike ffs.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You just have to look at the advertising for the women's game, cleavage shots, closeup of sweating, the sexist questions they get asked on court after the match such as at the Aus Open when Beauchard was asked to twirl, it's disgusting but they're paid more and have more interest because of sex appeal than skill, otherwise why wouldn't TV networks be pushing women's athletics and weightlifting on us?

I don't doubt there is a good chunk of misogyny behind the advertising industry, nor even that tennis is 'acceptable' for women to partake in because they can be athletic in a feminine way. Doesn't stop that attitude being outdated though, does it?

 

[Elong]

I don't doubt there is a good chunk of misogyny behind the advertising industry, nor even that tennis is 'acceptable' for women to partake in because they can be athletic in a feminine way. Doesn't stop that attitude being outdated though, does it?

Totally, this isn't my point of view Bruce, this is the world we live in, sex still sells.

 

[tommye]

Dunno mate. My other half is a Navratilova, and I'm sure Martina has attracted all of the usual derogatory comments you can imagine down the years, but that doesn't detract either from her skill levels or her popularity among the general public.

Your Mrs is a butch lesbian?


wow.



Just fkin wow.

 

[Elong]

I'll give an example, when you think of female tennis, for 99% of the population Kournakova would spring to mind before Mauresmo.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Your Mrs is a butch lesbian?


wow.



Just fkin wow.

She kicks my arse on a regular basis, it's true

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Totally, this isn't my point of view Bruce, this is the world we live in, sex still sells.

For sure. To bastardise a quote from another context

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their looks but by the content of their character. "

 

[Bungle]

Discuss...... and show your workings out.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Seems very off topic lads, I mean come on..
Is womens football an actual real sport?
Just saying!

 

[flibbyflob]

If we win the thing it will clearly become one. If we don't it isn't one. Same as Murray is a Brit if he wins Wimbledon and a useless Sweaty Sock if he doesn't.

 

[Phenom]

Women's Tennis

PHWOAR