My friend Modern Kate, who shares my love of sports had this posted as her Facebook status a little while ago. I thought it was worth sharing and debating:
"Yesterday, Chris Berman explained how the NFL was participating in "Breast Awareness Sunday." That night, Al Michaels told a national audience "it'd be easy for [Mike Tomlin] to tell his wife to take care of it," re: parent-teacher conferences. Might be time to get some lady advisers in on the pre-game meeting, fellas."
The 'Breast Awareness Sunday' Berman was speaking of was actually Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday. Teams had breast cancer awareness promotions and players donned pink shoes and goal posts were wrapped with pink padding.
I have no idea what Al Michaels was referring to, but I can't think of a context where it really matters.
So, what do you think? Do Berman and Michaels need a little smack for talking like chauvinists on national television? Or do we give them both a pass because they're idiots anyway? Modern guys, I'd love your opinion too.
For the record, I think MK is right in that those broadcasts need some smart, modern gals who can set these guys straight.
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Monday, October 5, 2009
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5 comments:
The Breast Awareness Sunday thing was just a mistake. Kind of funny actually. As a woman, I wasn't offended.
They mentioned how Mike Tomlin wasn't at something or other because he was at parent-teacher conferences. They were commending him for going, saying he could have just let his wife deal with that. That's a tough one. The comment did make me stop and wonder whether they should have said that. It should be the responsibility of both parents to be there for their kids. On the other hand, it IS great that Mike Tomlin went. But, yeah, it's definitely a crappy double standard.
Berman had a slip of the tongue.
Michaels was pointing out that Tomlin had his priorities straighter than most coaches (which is likely true). To criticize Berman and Michaels here is narrow-minded, ignorant and nonsensical.
These guys don't need to be set straight. You need to wake up.
Maura: Thanks for adding the context.
Anonymous: You need to stop being anonymous if you're going to lob an insult. I offered no opinion here other than it would be great to see more women involved in these programs. Why don't you go back to bed.
MK here. Listen I think it's fair to assume Boomer's slip was not malicious, but when it comes to Al, anonymous, you need to get real. He said it would be easy to "tell his wife to do it" in regards to parent-teacher conferences. The belief someone can easily shove their parental duties off on their partner, in this case their female partner, is in my belief, narrow-minded. You don't have to put one spouse down to laud the other, and that is my point. Al Michaels should have stopped at commending Tomlin before insulting his wife.
Get a life, Anonymous. You know what else is "narrow-minded, ignorant and nonsensical?" Hiding behind an anonymous moniker while posting insults on someone's blog. Buzz off; grown-ups are talking here.
I'm inclined to think Berman just misspoke; surely even a football announcer isn't dumb enough to make a sexual pun out of cancer awareness. But I would love to see some women doing football commentary. It's been stereotyped for far too long that football is just for guys; modern gals like us prove them wrong. Plenty of women like football; give us a voice in the commentary too.
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