An even playing field… Equal opportunities… A fair shot…

All of the above would be fair expectations of how people should be treated. There are so many examples of how sports are great at transcending the gap between competition and life. One place sports has failed to transcend that gap is in how it still in 2015, sport “protects” the female sex and changes rules, judges them differently and restricts them from being equals on the sporting landscape.

Tennis is a prime example of one of those sports… In grand slam events (the 4 events with the most money, prestige and rankings points available on the calendar year) women play best out of 3 sets, men play best out of 5 sets. In 2007, Wimbledon and the French Open joined the other Grand Slam tournaments in offering equal prize money for both sexes. It has raised quite a debate in whether this is fair, and whether the women should join their men’s counterparts in playing 5 sets at grand slams. It would change women’s tennis competition forever, and it could make the physical aspect of tennis become a huge influence on who wins the big tournaments.

Interestingly there were lots of calls for tennis to make the equality move in 2007, but since then we have not heard the same calls to make the matches of equal length. By nature the fact that the governing bodies have women play less is sexist, arguably more sexist than the prize money being different for less work. My question to you as you read this is why was there so much outcry for equal pay, without equal exertion? Do we think that the focus of that change was wrong? The issue divides the players, many of the men have voiced their issue that the women do not have to exert themselves as much, and are paid equal money. Others chose to stay out of the issue. The fact is that in tennis we corrected the money issue without addressing the real equality issue, women are happy to earn the same amount, but they are also happy to play less in the big tournaments. Why doesn’t women’s grand slam tennis run to five sets?  It can’t be a question of stamina, surely? Women run in marathons and they do triathlons (iron mans too), and the quality of the women’s game is rising all the time. The best argument I can find is that women length of match does not necessarily mean quality of match, I 100% agree with this idea, but down the stretch in the grand slams it would be nice to see the matches be about all aspects of tennis, fitness included.

With tennis being put aside, I do believe there are examples in most sports where we instinctively are sexist. Here is one to get you thinking…

March Madness brackets… ever filled out one for the women’s NCAA champs?

My dad once counseled me while I was in college, I was worried about a friend that was having some issues. The main point of the conversation was “a majority of the time in our lives, we create our own problems”. Not to say that we intend to create problems for ourselves but actions can create unwanted results. A decision to drink and drive may come with a host of outcomes that are not favorable for us, but many still continue to do so.

I think this same principle applies to the world of sports as we look at sexism. Anyone that goes to a sporting event or takes a look at the landscape of college sports right now would have to agree with the statement that there is sexism in sports. If you think about it, there is a league for football called the lingerie league. They changed there name in 2013 but initially that was the name of it. The only way you could get people to watch women playing football was to have them wear lingerie?

When I say that we created the problem ourselves I think that one of the elements that has moved us into a more sexist sports landscape is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. This is an annual magazine issue that they produce every year that has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with what has become socially acceptable mainstream pornography packaged as “safe” for your coffee table.

Sports Illustrated has 23 million followers that get their latest sports news from their magazine and online from SI, the self-proclaimed “foremost authority” and “most respected voice” in sports news. When it comes to the Swimsuit Issue each year those 23 million followers soar to more than 70 million and are joined by 250 million more online views.

No small scale numbers for a magazine or website. I know why Sports Illustrated is doing it, they are making big bucks. Two years ago the swimsuit issue of the magazine had generated $1 billion dollars. They are going to continue to do so because they are making so much money. Just as my dad said we create our own problems. SI has been creating this issue since 1964 and it has played a part in the way sports have been consumed over the years. If you go to a football or basketball game you are sure to find cheerleaders or dancers that are wearing as little clothing as possible dancing or cheering for the team. Some of the most popular female athletes have also been famous for their looks, here is a short list; Danica Patrick, Hope Solo, Maria Sharipova and Alex Morgan. (I got those from a short list of most popular Female Athletes in 2014.)

We have created a culture where in sports for females to be famous you have to be attractive. Female’s athletic ability isn’t appreciated as much unless they are also attractive. For 50 years a Sports magazine has been selling sex and incorporating it into sports. Of course that is going to bring other unwanted consequences.

I don’t know what the solution would be. It can start with each of us, if it bothers you to see the sexism in sports. Don’t buy the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated and encourage others to not buy it as well. The old adage is sell sells, that is only true as long as we keep buying it.

BUCS, or the british universities and college sport are the governing body of british university sports. Ever heard of them? Didn’t think so… In my time in Britain I attended one university run athletic event. Whilst trying to be professional, the 70 fans in the stand and lack of any real branding made fan identification and caring about the brand. The BUCS offer 52 sports, varying from American Football to Ju Jitsu.

Have a navigation of the BUCS website here…

http://www.bucs.org.uk/athlete.asp?section=17183&sectionTitle=BUCS+Sports

The point I am trying to make above is to give the perspective of university sports in America. It is like nothing anywhere else in the world. The research out there says that over $1 Billion in television revenue in 2013. When we talk that kind of money it really is madness. The model has evolved into something that is unparalleled in university sports but also just in general sports. I think something to note is that even if another university governing body like the BUCS tried to adopt any kind of event, it would not come close to the level of success.

March Madness works so well because..

1) The fan identification has been built over years – because in some states and cities the only show in town is the university program there is such a love for that team that people are happy to spend money (and lots of it) to be involved.

2) The marketing – I would argue that march madness has some of the best marketing around, using brackets for fan interest and creating interest even if the team that you identify with is not in the tournament means that people carry interest throughout the tournament.

3) The product – the product is amazing! The furor that is created around these games, the use of the best commentators, it truly does feel like a massive production.

4) The cinderella story – what better story in America than an underdog story. The American public love a cinderella run, a true david vs goliath. March Madness provides this like no other event.

If you are confused why March Madness is so polarizing… Watch the video below, enough said!

For the last three years my ringtone has been the March Madness theme song from CBS. Yes you read that right three years with the same ring tone. Not a new song or cool tone, CBS March Madness! Now I must admit for about ten months I typically have my phone on silent most of the day.

My wife must begin to dread the first weekend of March Madness and for me the anticipation is like a kid waiting for Christmas. 48 games over a four day time span, if you ask me it is absolute bliss.

Just two days ago I watched the final five minutes of two games that encapsulate some of the magic of March. Baylor loses to lowly Georgia St on a deep three pointer in the final seconds and UAB takes down the mighty Iowa St who just days earlier had captured the Big 12 tournament title.

That same day I watched my childhood favorite team win their game with flying colors.

Three games that for me are just a small reason why I love the month of March. There is something about our human nature that loves to see the underdog succeed. It goes as far back as Daniel v Goliath. It seems like there is a piece of us that sympathizes with the team and the daunting task of taking down the mighty Trojan. As I think back on the last couple of years these upsets and stories are what make the tournament so exciting. Last year the run that Wichita St had the year before that we saw a VCU team that many had never heard of make it from the First Four to a Final Four. A Northern Iowa team taking down the mighty Kansas Jayhawks.

Unless the team being defeated is your Alma Mater or fan favorite then you love to see the upset.

On the other end watching my favorite team win and even lose is what makes the tournament so sweet. I have been a fan of the Arizona Wildcats since birth. My parents are both from Tucson AZ and I have been watching the Wildcats since I can remember. There is not many people that would say a loss is fun to watch and if you ask me that after they loss in March I will probably disagree but as I look back the upsets and disappointments only make winning that much sweeter. I could rattle off a dozen references to games that I watched as the season came to a crushing end for my Wildcats. To be honest I can remember the losses more vividly than all of the wins.

It’s a combination of these elements as well as the overall passion throughout the tournament and college basketball that makes it such a magical time.

Some of the things I love are strictly nostalgic but others are about human experiences.

My short list of reasons to Love March Madness along with those abov.

The announcers at the closing moments of a tight game
The sound of the sneakers on the floor
The swish from a three point bucket that hits nothing but net
The Cinderella team
16 games where it is win or go home in a 24 hour period
The elation of fans and players after a tight win
The disappointment of fans and players after a tight loss
In short emotion on display

The NFL combine rolls around each year, with some athletes deciding to join in the commotion and others holding things back for their school pro days. This years winner – JJ Nelson ran the 40 yard dash in 4.28 seconds, with that he will open up opportunities at teams that want a flyer on punt return and kick off return.

On the flip side is the agents worst nightmare, which is a horrendous 40 that could create a big drop down draft boards and leading to less guaranteed money. It shows who has trained hard, who is preparing for the next level and who took the post-football graduation to relax and rest on their laurels.

The question I want to ask is, how many of these 40 yard beasts go on to make a significant impact at the next level?

– Chris Johnson who was just released by the NYJ has the fastest every combine 40. While he has blistering speed, his football sense and lack of healthy seasons hurt him.

– Adrien Peterson did not have blistering straight line speed, but runs great being blockers. His 4.4 40 yard dash is modest at best, but his speed and running behind blockers second to very few that have ever played the game.

– Finally, arguably one of the most effective backs in the past seasons Marshawn Lynch was relatively slow at 4.46, but his brute power and willingness to put it all on the line makes him stand out.

SO… The reality is at the next level a 40 yard dash has little to no correlation to success – so why all the hype around it? THATS IT, its exactly what it is, HYPE. The NFL are trying to stay relevant in a time where the NBA is trying to get into full swing and the MLB and NHL are starting. Its probably an indicator of how desperate we are for news that ESPN headlines can be based around how fast a guy runs in a straight line for 40 yards in February, weeks after the Super Bowl game.

THE BIG WINNER THIS YEAR: 

The top players in football are at the NFL combine trying to prove why they are worth all the money they will get paid in the NFL. Jostling for ratings, most of them come from football big boys like Alabama, USC and Ohio State. The big winner this year however; Ali Marpet of D3 William Smith College. With all the hype around Winston vs Mariota and the big hitters, Ali Marpets story could get lost. Marpet was named a D3 All-American, and he is now projected to be a 3rd or 4th round pick on some teams and experts big boards. At 6 foot 3, and 300+ lbs his time is quite phenomenal and sets him up to cash in. Who would of thought when the big schools overlooked him because his 250 lb frame was too small he would now be here? Marpet went to a school of just 2200 students, whose budget was considerably smaller than the D1 powerhouses, to see the beneficiary of this years combine be Marpet leaves a good taste in my mouth.

I hope he proves the naysayers wrong at the next level!