There was a story in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday that discussed the pros and cons, wishes and truths of the fact the WNBA is now giving its new players makeup and fashion advice.
It was not Lisa Leslie or another veteran teaching basketball fundamentals but a cosmetic artist brought in by the league last month to teach the rookies how to arc their eyebrows, apply strokes of blush across their cheekbones and put on no-smudge eyeliner to receive the right attention off the court.
If you have recovered from throwing up in your mouth, let me explain why this means the WNBA is doomed.
After all this time selling the game, the WNBA is selling out. This is all they can come up with after 11 seasons? Sex? Really?
I'm not going to get into the issues that the article this is where I would link to the story if it wasn't a Tribune article presented: image, homophobia, the economics of sexuality vs. athletic ability, etc. I'm more interested in pointing out that this blatant approach won't work for the WNBA.
Selling the prettiness of women's basketball players is not the answer. It will not make those not presently inclined to watch the WNBA change their minds about the game. There's all sorts of pretty girls on TV, in magazines, on the internet, heck, even in real life.
It will probably work as far as getting more cash into the pockets of stars such as Naperville's Candace Parker, who already has collected endorsement deals, I would say mostly for her basketball skills. And that's cool. But it won't sell tickets and it won't increase television numbers.
It's not the mustard that sells the hot dog.
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