over on bobcat nation they're debating the name of their women's team--"lady bobcats" v. "bobcats." apparently their ex-coach potera dropped "lady" in favor of straight "bobcats," and in defending that position, old friend bac properly points out that women are athletes just as are the men, whom we would never refer to as "gentlemen," so why refer to the women as "ladies?"
good point, further re-inforced by the fact the women have more than vanquished the old "throws like a girl" barb. they can shoot threes and free throws with the best of the men, throw look-away passes and even have begun to dunk with much more frequency. anybody who still doesn't think these women are superb athletes has probably never confronted one on the basketball court.
but i would make the opposite case, that unlike montana state our "lady griz" have built an incredible reputation and tradition on that name, and there'd be howls aplenty if some authority said we had to drop it a la "redskins." after all, the women have earned the right to be called whatever they choose.
good point, further re-inforced by the fact the women have more than vanquished the old "throws like a girl" barb. they can shoot threes and free throws with the best of the men, throw look-away passes and even have begun to dunk with much more frequency. anybody who still doesn't think these women are superb athletes has probably never confronted one on the basketball court.
but i would make the opposite case, that unlike montana state our "lady griz" have built an incredible reputation and tradition on that name, and there'd be howls aplenty if some authority said we had to drop it a la "redskins." after all, the women have earned the right to be called whatever they choose.