Cry of the Week: UConn's Indefatigable Women And The World They Made

[JavaMan]

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The University of Connecticut women's basketball team won its 100th consecutive game on Monday night, a record-setting achievement that is many things. The mark is utterly astounding, almost unfathomable and thoroughly impressive.

Cry-worthy, though? For most people, probably not. But memorable moments don't occur in vacuums. That's why UConn's big achievement does make the room a little dusty when considered in the context of another story involving basketball and young women this week.

There's a reactionary, sexist line of thinking among many sports fans that has followed the UConn women's team for years. It gets trotted out after every national title and every milestone win: Who cares? Everyone knows the real action is on the men's side.

UConn's achievements do matter, though. They're impressive in their own right, but they're also more than that, for the example they set and the message they send.

With that in mind, let's look at another story that was shared across the web this week but didn't have nearly the high profile of a college basketball team winning 100 straight games. This story features St. John's, a fifth-grade Catholic Youth Organization basketball team from New Jersey.

St. John's had been playing its season with a roster of nine boys and two girls. But then a league director told the team that having girls on the roster was forbidden, according to NJ.com. The team was given a choice: Play its remaining two games without the girls or don't play anymore at all.

So the dilemma was put to a player vote. What happened next, via NJ.com, reads like a movie script.

[CONTINUE]

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[j66kicker]

Wednesday the Archdiocese reversed the decision in response to public outcry. The 2 games they missed will be rescheduled and the girls will play in them and the playoffs.

Let the girls play: Cardinal reverses CYO hoops ban

 

[JavaMan]

Wednesday the Archdiocese reversed the decision in response to public outcry. The 2 games they missed will be rescheduled and the girls will play in them and the playoffs.

Let the girls play: Cardinal reverses CYO hoops ban

Thanks kicker. That's some pretty cool news.

​

 

[Scud49]

Love it- by the time I was at the end of the story, there were tears in my eyes, and apparently some of the parents too.

 

[drweo]

Love it!

 

[augustaTC]

Adults made a stupid ruling. Kids were presented with options, stood together & made a call. Adults realized their error & corrected it. Like it...no lawsuits, apparently no demonstrations. Nice going, maybe there is hope.

 

[CL82]

It is a happy ending but the linkage to UConn is pretty tenuous.

 

[Longtime fan]

View attachment 19857 ​

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team won its 100th consecutive game on Monday night, a record-setting achievement that is many things. The mark is utterly astounding, almost unfathomable and thoroughly impressive.

Cry-worthy, though? For most people, probably not. But memorable moments don't occur in vacuums. That's why UConn's big achievement does make the room a little dusty when considered in the context of another story involving basketball and young women this week.

There's a reactionary, sexist line of thinking among many sports fans that has followed the UConn women's team for years. It gets trotted out after every national title and every milestone win: Who cares? Everyone knows the real action is on the men's side.

UConn's achievements do matter, though. They're impressive in their own right, but they're also more than that, for the example they set and the message they send.

With that in mind, let's look at another story that was shared across the web this week but didn't have nearly the high profile of a college basketball team winning 100 straight games. This story features St. John's, a fifth-grade Catholic Youth Organization basketball team from New Jersey.

St. John's had been playing its season with a roster of nine boys and two girls. But then a league director told the team that having girls on the roster was forbidden, according to NJ.com. The team was given a choice: Play its remaining two games without the girls or don't play anymore at all.

So the dilemma was put to a player vote. What happened next, via NJ.com, reads like a movie script.

[CONTINUE]

​

I think the point goes well beyond, " these girls can play." I think it extends to the concepts of selflessness, and team.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Wednesday the Archdiocese reversed the decision in response to public outcry. The 2 games they missed will be rescheduled and the girls will play in them and the playoffs.

Let the girls play: Cardinal reverses CYO hoops ban

The sports world still has a long way to go when it comes to truly respecting women. But the St. John's fifth-graders haven't known a world where the UConn women aren't exalted — and yes, criticized — for their excellence. And those fifth-graders just voted unanimously to stand by their female teammates by sitting out.

To me the greatest things to come out of the article are two fold:
the kids stayed together as a TEAM--win lose or forfeit--
The second was comparing the negativisms heaped upon Uconn winning streak--to the negativism of GIRLs--yes can you really believe Girls--think they can actually do anything along side of BOYS??? (don't ask my wife if you treasure your head). Both teams : These boys and Girls --and Uconn WBB have done each other proud.
They don't give out those RED hats to people who can't see the hand writing on the wall!!