There is a young lady much of America became captivated with several years ago as a NCAA college women’s basketball player in Iowa as a Hawkeye. Now normally The Thinking Conservative is mostly for and about reporting on issues of politics and how conservatives view affect the politics of our time. But the story of basketball player Caitlin Clark is so very interesting from a look at the political side of what has gone on in her life after her first year of play in the professional Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
All of us can think back in our lives and name some of the greatest athletes of our time. Some that readily come to mind are:
- Lance Armstrong, cycling
- Hank Aaron, baseball
- Simone Biles, gymnastics
- Tom Brady, football
- Roger Federer, tennis
- Michael Jordan, basketball
- Katie Ledecky, swimming
- Mickey Mantle, baseball
- Arnold Palmer, golf
- Walter Payton, football
- Michael Phelps, swimming
- Sheryl Swoopes, basketball
- Serena Williams, tennis
- Tiger Woods, golf
And now, of course, we have to add Caitlin Clark to that list of most memorable players in her sport of basketball. Notice how about half of these star athletes are black while the other half are white. Americans do not consider race an issue when it comes to greatness in sports.
You may ponder why a writer would bring up race.
When Clark transitioned from college ball as a Hawkeye to professional ball with the Indiana Fever many of us did not see what was coming to her in the WNBA. To be honest, and blunt, she became a punching bag for many of the black women players of other teams and at times the basketball referees did not call fouls and make ejections infuriating fans. Clark would have been well within her right to call in local law enforcement and have the black players, who so obviously hated her, charged with assault.
The black girls assaulting Caitlin Clark are not necessarily racist just because they are black and Clark is white though. Some sports commentators tried to make this case noting that the WNBA is 60% black and 40% lesbian while Clark is white and straight. In my opinion the players assaulting Clark most probably are just jealous.
Earlier this year Clark was in a multimillion dollar deal with Nike sporting goods. That deal seems to still be in negotiation. Her first year as a professional she broke all kinds of records in the sport of women’s professional basketball but, most importantly, attendance records to see her play the game as well. At the young age of 22, Clark is rumored to already be worth several million dollars.
This brings up the most crucial part of this story relative to Caitlin Clark and politics. There are widespread rumors she is thinking of leaving the WNBA for the European Women’s Basketball League (EWBL) both for more money and less physical assaults while playing the sport she loves.
Her American fans are now really pissed, and not with Clark either! When Clark was in the WNBA she had attendance up 142% from past attendance stats.
CONCLUSION:
As the resident old fart professor in social media platforms I tried to warn some of these young girls attacking Clark earlier this year telling them, “Remember the old adage girls, a rising tide raises all boats. You girls are the boats and your audience is that rising tide. Clark is making that tide rise.”
With Clark the WNBA viewership per game was 1.18 million and without her that number goes down to 300,000 per game.
After my social media post the attacks actually seemed to get worse against Clark including an eye gouging incident by a girl with long fake nails and fake eyelashes to match.
What the hell are girls wearing fake nails for in a WNBA game if they want to be good at their sport?! Are they looking for cosmetic contracts on the side or are they looking to compete with Caitlin Clark?! The WNBA should prohibit such nails next season.
From what I understand, on the positive side for American Clark fans, nothing is set in concrete yet between Clark and the WNBA verses the EWBL or Nike verses Adidas. There is even a rumor that the Indian Fever may offer her part ownership in the team to stay in America and if this transpires, she will become the youngest part-owner of a professional sports team.
I hope Clark stays in America. I became a new viewer and fan of the WNBA.
And I hope those girls who openly attacked Clark on the court are given a warning by the WNBA that any subsequent attacks of Clark on the court will result in an immediate ejection from the game.
These girls may feel like they have paid their dues and Clark has not but they need to know that money talks and bullsh*t walks.
Professional sports are no place for the Biden and Harris’ administration Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) program, it is about put up or shut up!
Copyright © 2024 by Mark S. Schwendau
