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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Women in MLS?

With Candace Parker the star of the WNBA and Anthony Parker, her brother, in the NBA, it raises a question. Are women good enough to play in men's professional sports? The quick answer is no. But it's a million-dollar question. Maybe someone should pay Anthony a million to tell us? Here is a breakdown of women and their disadvantages when it comes to sports. There have been as many facts as possible gathered to give someone an idea of whether women can compete professionally against men.

Many women have the same amount of body volume and size when it comes to physical attributes. The main factor though regarding women is that they lack the physical strength of a man. This eliminates women playing football and most of the women from playing basketball. Football is an extremely physical sport and it would be extremely tough to match the physical level of play. Basketball is also a very physical sport. That said, there are a few WNBA players who would have NBA GM's salivating for their athletic services.

Now baseball might be a different story, if only because there are a number of successful major league players that do not have large amounts of strength. And there is less involved as far as trying to match athleticism face to face as in the other sports. A few skills that are involved in being a professional baseball player are timing, and coordination. Women, though lacking strength, have no problem matching timing and coordination.

This represents another question. Are professional softball players good enough to play in MLB? The general consensus would be no. But after further looking into it, some of the pitches in softball are equivilant to a fastball in the major leagues. Many of the softball athletes in women's softball also have equal strength to some of the major league players.
So this leaves the question, can women hit a smaller ball? There really is no way to know but coordination tests prove that they do not lack when it comes to coordination compared to men and therefore it would be extremely interesting if women were to get a chance to play against men in professional baseball. The chance of women competing in basketball and football may be impossible judging by the facts we know, but baseball is up in the air. Also, women have proven that they can compete with men in soccer, as there are co-ed semi professional leagues already and the women do more than hold there own. But, I digress, you have been given the facts and you have been given questions.

Maybe someday a league will be created to answer these questions. It would bring alot of attention and would have a huge fan base due to the fact that people always ask the question. Can women compete with men in professional sports? For now we will have to wait and see, chances are that will never happen but if it does, you've solved the million dollar question.

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame

When Charlie Weis arrived at Notre Dame, we knew he was going to do an amazing job. He was the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots dynasty and looked like he was the genius behind Patriots coach Bill Bellicheck. A year after he arrived we still thought he was great, but unfortunately he was just the recipient of a fine recruiting job done by previous coach Ty Willingham. Three years later, after Weis recruiting has kicked in, he is telling everyone to "be patient."

This has not only angered Notre Dame fans but has landed him on the hot seat. Sure, the Notre Dame athletic director says "Weis' job is not at risk," but all athletic directors say that. Then at the end of the year the coach is let go. Weis has done a great job bringing in the top recruits in the nation, but has failed to bring them together to win. t

Currently, all Weis is doing is recruiting a high number of future NFL prospects. He has all the best recruits and has for the last couple years but that has resulted in an 8-13 record over the last two years. Not exactly a great record considering his recruiting classes are ranked top five in the nation the last two years. Weis is putting stars on the field but not guys that win.

Weis is coaching in college like he did in the NFL, and he's learning that in college there is more to winning than just playing all the great athletes. In college sports we watch some of the top talent sit the bench every year due to attitude problems. Weis has felt a connection to all his top recruits and has let those relationships affect the way he coaches.

Weis could be one upset away from securing his job as Notre Dame's head coach for at least a couple more years and keep the fans quiet. On the other hand if Weis gets upset, yet again, the loyal Notre Dame fans are going to call for his head. Weis is the face of the team, and needs to stand up and take responsibility and do a better job explaining what is going on. He's being paid millions to try and salvage a .500 record year after year.
His top recruits can't perform as a group and he is starting to melt under the media pressure. He has recently shown that the media is getting to him and that is the number one no-no when it comes to trying to keep your job as a head coach. Weis has been backed into a corner and doesn't know what to do, it's all up to the athletic director now, but it definately shouldn't come as a surprise when he gets the axe.

Maybe the top recruits he signed will be able to help him, someday, when he's forced out of college and back in the NFL.