#TBT: Forget Pleasing The gods*

*This article was originally posted on March 13, 2021. It’s being reposted due to the Twitter/X post by Ryan Whitney on April 28, 2024. It appears some people don’t change and the same issues keep reappearing. Thankfully, wise people keep standing up to them.

It’s 2021. We have women who play football, hockey, tennis, basketball and curling on the professional level. But we know that, right? They can deke, tackle, dunk and hold their own on the field, court or ice. These ladies are gaining traction finally on the guys for their abilities in the media, television and sponsorship deals. And yet, there still exists companies like Barstool Sports.

There are media outlets, sponsors, leagues and teams that believe their great power entitles them to be gods. Those companies feel its their duty to tell us we are not smart, pretty, or strong enough to handle their view on life. We cannot understand or appreciate their insulting or offensive jokes or views because we are inferior. It is their opinion that matters and only their opinion. They fail to realize we are not inferior because we do not share their world view. More importantly, they fail to realize how blatantly arrogant their world view is and how little it is worth in the grand scheme of things.

Just take a look at this:

Anger is understandable when one is attacked. But El Presidente, aka Dave Portnoy, isn’t just angry in this episode. He is threatening. He reminds me of the tirades former, impeached President Donald Trump and his allies like Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Hawley, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Send. Lindsay Graham, Sen. Ted Cruz, and the like go on when they don’t get their way in Congress. The same intimidating banter that left more than 400,000 Americans dead is being demonstrated by Portnoy. It’s as though he could care less who gets hurt as long as he reigns supreme.

But Barstool Sports is not the only company within the sports industry that has taken that stance. Take a look at the NCAA and its stance on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) or paying student-athletes in general. Or, look at the NFL stance on Colin Kaepernick even after apologizing to him. Kaepernick still doesn’t have a job. And yes, Kaepernick can re-sue the NFL as he’s still being blackballed. Let’s not forget about the Premier League or Governor Bill Lee.

But over a month ago, Barstool attacked women who inform us about and actually play in the NWHL. Their defense being they were actually trying to help grow the NWHL. There are three issues with this: (1) you should ask someone if they want or need your first; (2) if you are honestly try to help someone they should know first; and (3) you shouldn’t attack them when they say they don’t want your help.

 

For years, Barstool has pointed to their female fans to excuse their misogyny and their Black and POC fans to excuse their racism. This is welcome and I hope many more athletes follow suit. https://t.co/T9aKjTrUqQ— Julie DiCaro wrote a book (@JulieDiCaro) January 26, 2021

The last Tweet is an example we need the most. It represents independence and integrity. Instead of pleasing the gods of the sports industry we need to hold them accountable. Instead of caving to the dollar bills of big business we need to seek more opportunities for smaller businesses. When we start with those two things, we can truly begin to help ourselves as women in the industry. It’s not about conforming to the status quo the gods have set for us to follow. It’s about honoring ourselves–especially as women–and our unique ability to enlighten and strengthen the industry. It a way to remind the gods of their actual place in the grand scheme of things. It is the way for women to be free as fans, employees and athletes within the sports industry.

“I often warn people: ‘Somewhere along the way, someone is going to tell you, ‘There is no ‘I’ in team.’ What you should tell them is, ‘Maybe not. But there is an ‘I’ in independence, individuality, and integrity.” – George Carlin