She is amazing to be sure. I have to admit however that I find the salaries of professional male athletes to be obscene. No one needs $55 million dollars for being good at a sport. Instead of increasing pay for women, let’s lower what their male counterparts earn and balance the playing field.
In our society, for every person who lets it be known that they don't really need this much money, there are thousands of millionaires yelling "but I need more money!" It is a sick world we live in. And having seen lots of real poverty up close around the world, I'd say we communally have "spoiled brat syndrome."
True, but not the whole truth. The bulk of the money available for player pay in both the NBA and the WNBA comes from TV revenue, and _for now_, the NBA makes a lot more TV money than the WNBA does. I think this will be the year that the women start to close the gap, though.
I was lucky enough to work for the DOD where there actually is equal pay for women. Most civil service employees get equal pay for doing the same job as men. That being said many jobs that used to be held by federal employees have been replaced by contractors who may or may not abide by the same practice. The private sector makes their own rules. One example is the banking industry. Women in administrative positions still receive less pay men doing the same jobs. The Equal Pay Act should be introduced again to give women the right to equal pay. The same old gray haired men in Congress trying to control reproductive rights for women are the same bunch that want to keep women at home barefoot and pregnant! I for one do not think my purpose in life is to be a “housewife” & keep a pipe & slippers waiting on my husband when he returns from work.
All I heard from Hillary, the better qualified candidate, was that she wanted to be "the first woman president". I would have rather that she emphasize what she intended to do for the American people. That said, she would have been a better president.
I just dig you so much, Dan!!! Right On to every thing you said. And thanks for highlighting not just this exceptional young woman but also all of the remarkable women who came before in the fight (Billy Jean King comes screaming into my mind) and those will reap the rewards. Thanks thanks thanks. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well spoken and all true. From a woman that spent her career in sports television, it is a pleasure to finally see women inching closer to the male counterpart leagues. It’s about time.
And let’s not forget the LPGA. Some of these ladies are getting recognized as well.
Sports was always a male dominated business and it certainly doesn’t have exclusive rights to that claim. Many businesses are run by men, for men and with men. From my days at CBS Sports and at Fox Sports, I can only say there were few of us and the standards for us were definitely higher. My motto was “we had to do everything twice as well to prove that we’re half as good”. I hope that is changing. I salute Caitlin Clark, the US Women”s Soccer team and all other sports that women participate in. I hope you are right….this may be an “aha moment”. And I genuinely hope that their success grows and grows and grows.
Caitlin Clark gave due credit to one of her fiercest critics: Cheryl Miller. That level of integrity, in and of itself, deserves respect. May the incredible Class of 2024, in Women's Basketball, continue to loom large, both in the WNBA and in any other profession the ladies may choose.
Well said. I hope these ladies will continue to lead by example and deed in whatever professions they choose. They may serve the nation better by being in the Board room rather than on the basketball court. Or becoming civil servants!
I thoroughly agree that Cheryl Miller is the greatest female basketball player of all time. Not sure that Caitlin Clark is as horrible as you paint her; she has referred to Cheryl as the G.O.A.T. of women's basketball. Any sense of entitlement will be washed out of her hair, in short order, in the WNBA. Those ladies don't play that game.
Way past time for Women's Basketball and Women's Sports to get on par with the men. Sadly, it is ridiculously biased. University of Tennessee Coach Pat Summit brought up the disparity in her books. She died in 2016 of early onset dementia. It has been 10 years plus with no change from her words.
Coach Pat Summit recalled early days with her and assistant coaches having to drive the team in their station wagons to games 4 hours away, while the men had busses. The inequity was visible to all. Kudos to Mama Pat for making sure all of her players graduated with a degree, so they had something else to fall back on in case basketball did not work out in their future. Men's basketball does not do this nor care about it.
I love Caitlin Clark and Women's Basketball, but the inequity in sports for decades is infuriating. Things have to change. This cannot stand.
A pleasure when a prominent woman receives justified recognition without resorting to wearing as little as possible or behaving in a manner designed to garner stares and oogles!!! ay to go Caitlin!!!
Been watching the Hawkeyes this season. Caitlin, Kate & Gabbie were so great. Look forward to driving over to Indy to see Caitlin play. I watched all the Women’s tournament. Caught pieces of 2 men’s games. I do not watch the NBA. Women’s games is so much better.
No, not true ! All the people who watched the Women's final were fans, not racial or gender partisans! Let us not make this a racial matter ! South Carolina won far and square but there was a true phenomena playing for Iowa. Caitlin Clark, who is paid a fraction of what rookies in the all male NBA will be paid , is a glaring example of gender disparity.
I was playing girls basketball when guards were not allowed to shoot - back in the dark ages !
Angel Reese is a true star and she receives a lot of attention, positive attention. You can attempt to provoke a bitter competition with those two stars on racial grounds but you would be wrong to do so. Take a better look at Caitlin’s contract. If she is really going to make money it will be through sponsorships. And remember that all players are one injury away from oblivion.
Unless we all get a more positive attitude with all issues today we are in for a very stressful future. Millions of us watched South Carolina and Iowa for the pure joy of it. It was not a racist contest - it was a phenomenal basket ball game - played by young women !! The ugliness came later with snarks about salaries and GOATs and the draft. Not from the players but from people who view everything through one lens, racist, caste, envy etc.
The media will cover the story of the greatest scorer (male or female) in college basketball history. Dawn Staley rightfully noted the amazing story of Caitlin and Iowa. South Carolina and their magnificent undefeated season also rightfully got major coverage. Iowa was a major underdog. I cheered for Iowa but knew going in they would lose to a superior team, especially the bigs.
She is amazing to be sure. I have to admit however that I find the salaries of professional male athletes to be obscene. No one needs $55 million dollars for being good at a sport. Instead of increasing pay for women, let’s lower what their male counterparts earn and balance the playing field.
Taking the money from male athletes will not give the money to female athletes, it will only give more to the team owners.
Very well said, Barbara. Wide income disparities in the USA, and then we complain why is there so much unrest.
In our society, for every person who lets it be known that they don't really need this much money, there are thousands of millionaires yelling "but I need more money!" It is a sick world we live in. And having seen lots of real poverty up close around the world, I'd say we communally have "spoiled brat syndrome."
Great point Barbara!! 👉
I agree 100%!
Great idea, but the men will never go for it.
Sad but true.
True, but not the whole truth. The bulk of the money available for player pay in both the NBA and the WNBA comes from TV revenue, and _for now_, the NBA makes a lot more TV money than the WNBA does. I think this will be the year that the women start to close the gap, though.
I was lucky enough to work for the DOD where there actually is equal pay for women. Most civil service employees get equal pay for doing the same job as men. That being said many jobs that used to be held by federal employees have been replaced by contractors who may or may not abide by the same practice. The private sector makes their own rules. One example is the banking industry. Women in administrative positions still receive less pay men doing the same jobs. The Equal Pay Act should be introduced again to give women the right to equal pay. The same old gray haired men in Congress trying to control reproductive rights for women are the same bunch that want to keep women at home barefoot and pregnant! I for one do not think my purpose in life is to be a “housewife” & keep a pipe & slippers waiting on my husband when he returns from work.
No, no, no women have good brains and can do whatever is required of them.
Put a good and wise woman forth and she will become president.
"Put a good and wise woman forth and she will be president"
A wise woman once said half of the supporters of her opponent, Donald Trump are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic.
If every word someone says is true, isn't that wise?
Instead those basket of deplorables choose a bad liar, rapist and conman criminal.
No, you don't have to be good and wise for Republicans to vote for you in America.
😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣😭
All I heard from Hillary, the better qualified candidate, was that she wanted to be "the first woman president". I would have rather that she emphasize what she intended to do for the American people. That said, she would have been a better president.
It takes women like Megan Rapinoe and her team to speed things up... It's about time women basketball players receive a better salary...
I just dig you so much, Dan!!! Right On to every thing you said. And thanks for highlighting not just this exceptional young woman but also all of the remarkable women who came before in the fight (Billy Jean King comes screaming into my mind) and those will reap the rewards. Thanks thanks thanks. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well spoken and all true. From a woman that spent her career in sports television, it is a pleasure to finally see women inching closer to the male counterpart leagues. It’s about time.
And let’s not forget the LPGA. Some of these ladies are getting recognized as well.
Sports was always a male dominated business and it certainly doesn’t have exclusive rights to that claim. Many businesses are run by men, for men and with men. From my days at CBS Sports and at Fox Sports, I can only say there were few of us and the standards for us were definitely higher. My motto was “we had to do everything twice as well to prove that we’re half as good”. I hope that is changing. I salute Caitlin Clark, the US Women”s Soccer team and all other sports that women participate in. I hope you are right….this may be an “aha moment”. And I genuinely hope that their success grows and grows and grows.
I heard Caitlin Clark on SNL - she will be a tremendous asset to the league both on and off the court.
Long overdue. I hope the rest of the world discovers all the incredible talent that is already in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark gave due credit to one of her fiercest critics: Cheryl Miller. That level of integrity, in and of itself, deserves respect. May the incredible Class of 2024, in Women's Basketball, continue to loom large, both in the WNBA and in any other profession the ladies may choose.
Well said. I hope these ladies will continue to lead by example and deed in whatever professions they choose. They may serve the nation better by being in the Board room rather than on the basketball court. Or becoming civil servants!
I thoroughly agree that Cheryl Miller is the greatest female basketball player of all time. Not sure that Caitlin Clark is as horrible as you paint her; she has referred to Cheryl as the G.O.A.T. of women's basketball. Any sense of entitlement will be washed out of her hair, in short order, in the WNBA. Those ladies don't play that game.
It's not the fault of the players that one gets more kudos than another, it's the media bias, not the players.
Thank you, Dan Rather, thank you.
Your writing keeps us steady — those of us who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Very good take.
Way past time for Women's Basketball and Women's Sports to get on par with the men. Sadly, it is ridiculously biased. University of Tennessee Coach Pat Summit brought up the disparity in her books. She died in 2016 of early onset dementia. It has been 10 years plus with no change from her words.
Coach Pat Summit recalled early days with her and assistant coaches having to drive the team in their station wagons to games 4 hours away, while the men had busses. The inequity was visible to all. Kudos to Mama Pat for making sure all of her players graduated with a degree, so they had something else to fall back on in case basketball did not work out in their future. Men's basketball does not do this nor care about it.
I love Caitlin Clark and Women's Basketball, but the inequity in sports for decades is infuriating. Things have to change. This cannot stand.
What an awesome commentary! Thank you Dan Rather!
Once again, and the people said, "Amen!!!"
A pleasure when a prominent woman receives justified recognition without resorting to wearing as little as possible or behaving in a manner designed to garner stares and oogles!!! ay to go Caitlin!!!
You go girls!
She’ll make us all proud.
Women are always treated unfairly, but wait til November!
Yes!!!
Cannot wait!!!
Been watching the Hawkeyes this season. Caitlin, Kate & Gabbie were so great. Look forward to driving over to Indy to see Caitlin play. I watched all the Women’s tournament. Caught pieces of 2 men’s games. I do not watch the NBA. Women’s games is so much better.
No, not true ! All the people who watched the Women's final were fans, not racial or gender partisans! Let us not make this a racial matter ! South Carolina won far and square but there was a true phenomena playing for Iowa. Caitlin Clark, who is paid a fraction of what rookies in the all male NBA will be paid , is a glaring example of gender disparity.
Dear Blueberry or Muffin,
I was playing girls basketball when guards were not allowed to shoot - back in the dark ages !
Angel Reese is a true star and she receives a lot of attention, positive attention. You can attempt to provoke a bitter competition with those two stars on racial grounds but you would be wrong to do so. Take a better look at Caitlin’s contract. If she is really going to make money it will be through sponsorships. And remember that all players are one injury away from oblivion.
Unless we all get a more positive attitude with all issues today we are in for a very stressful future. Millions of us watched South Carolina and Iowa for the pure joy of it. It was not a racist contest - it was a phenomenal basket ball game - played by young women !! The ugliness came later with snarks about salaries and GOATs and the draft. Not from the players but from people who view everything through one lens, racist, caste, envy etc.
The media will cover the story of the greatest scorer (male or female) in college basketball history. Dawn Staley rightfully noted the amazing story of Caitlin and Iowa. South Carolina and their magnificent undefeated season also rightfully got major coverage. Iowa was a major underdog. I cheered for Iowa but knew going in they would lose to a superior team, especially the bigs.