Women's basketball... not competitive?

So I'm sitting here watching the U.S. women's basketball team play New Zealand during the Olympics, nice relaxing Sunday morning right? NO. It was, until while i was partially watching the game and reading a book, I heard one of the commentators say that up until 10 years ago women's basketball wasn't that competitive, that it was more of a social sport. Is he fucking kidding?

This statement completely blows my mind, because if he had ever followed women's basketball, or did any research on the sport at all, he would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's. The reason that no one knows this is because no one has taken the time until recently to actually watch the game and follow it. I've been following women's basketball since I was in middle school, especially the Tennessee Lady Vols, and if anyone has ever turned on a game, or read anything on them or Pat Summit, they would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's, sometimes even more so. The Lady Vols have won 8 NCAA national championships, have been to the NCAA tournament almost every year since Pat Summit started coaching them (and since it's inception). They have been to the final four 18 times. How can someone say that a team like this isn't competitive? They have produced two of the greatest female players in history, along with more all stars and all Americans that can be counted. AND Candace Parker is the first woman who can dunk on a regular basis. Seriously?

OK... that was my Lady Vols tangent-- I am a fan. Can't help it. But in general, how can someone say it isn't competitive? Up until 10 years ago, women played because they loved the game, they were good at it, and for many it was a way to get an education at a top notch college. And then nothing. Most women, if they were good enough, would play in the Olympics every four years, maybe go overseas to play on European teams, and a very select few would continue to play on the National Team. The majority of female players, post college, didn't play competitively again. Does that make it a non-competitive aspect of the sport? No. It's just the way things were. With the WNBA, things are a little different, but it still isn't as respected as the men's side, but that's OK. It is a way for women to keep playing after college, just as the NBA is a way for men to keep playing.

Another example: My junior year of high school, church league rec basketball. CHURCH LEAGUE. it was the tournament, and we were playing the team that we all hated... and i mean hated. On our home court. And somehow, between my team, our parents, the other advent girls team in our age group, their parents, and all of our friends (advent or otherwise) we filled up the gym so much that there was no where for anyone to actually go. NO WHERE. that was the loudest and the most people that have ever seen me play basketball, or any advent team. And even though we lost, it mean a lot to us, and our friends and families. So, uncompetitive? Try asking anyone that played that night if we weren't competitive players, even at the rec level.

I guess, what I'm saying is don't knock the women's side, because more than likely, they are going to beat you anyway. And if you really want to see how the game is supposed to be played, watch the 2008 NCAA women's final. Watch TN's all star, Candace Parker, have a hurt shoulder, and score the least number of points in the season, if not her career. And then watch the rest of the team step it up on defense, literally watch them do it, and beat Stanford 64-48, It wasn't a flashy win, but it was the most decisive example of what basketball and a team should be.

I mean-- I'm just saying.