I should have added this as a footnote but a Rebecca Lobotomy is where Rebecca Lobo throws a basketball at your head and hits you so hard it severs the connection between your frontal lobe and the rest of your brain.
Even if Geno didn't recruit you either, you're already my favorite member of the Iowa diaspora in the Nutmeg State. Thanks for a terrific dingus bracket!
Good morning Lyz-as a fellow work traveler, I empathize with the exhaustion. Take the time you need to rest and recover. Don't let the trolls get you down. You do great work!
IMO, Clark & Reese (and Audi Crooks!) are doing for women's basketball what Mia Hamm & co. did for soccer a generation ago. Their rivalry is awesome. Who doesn't like watching two titans of a sport go head to head?
As for Reese specifically, her candor is refreshing--and something desperately lacking in sports these days.
P.S. Airport bars have to be one of the rings of hell. And I say that as someone who's spent their entire adult life working in airports.
"IMO, Clark & Reese (and Audi Crooks!) are doing for women's basketball what Mia Hamm & co. did for soccer a generation ago."
I made this exact point to the exclusively cis-het-basketball obsessed dudes that I work with, and they all looked at me like I'd just run over their dog (bad example - all of these guys hate dogs).
Hi Lyz--I'm listening to your OUTSTANDING book and it's like re-living my abusive marriage--and my holy roller childhood. Thank you for writing this. (((HUGS)))
Another great read , but I’m shattered that your kids have been weaponized in the book backlash. ( I plan to use your book for my Early Bird Book Club ‘share’ next month.) A little taste of Tay-Tay is just what I needed this morning. While I’m excited to learn who will be the eventual Dingus Champ, I am still unable to choose - they’re both worthy, just like all of the NCAA women’s teams have been and still are worthy of respect and downright awe!!!
I am pretty removed from sports yet I loved the hell out of this piece.
Re: your haters.
After reading a recent newsletter I thought “well I don’t want to get divorced“ which led me to getting off my ass and putting another load of clothes in the washer. Those small moments - of which there have been more than one - breed momentum and change. Thank you for your work.
I find it is fun to push back on dudes like that. Years ago, after Serena Williams had her epic meltdown at the U.S. Open (I think?) that made all the dudes clutch their pearls, one of my coworkers stopped me in the kitchen while I was making my morning tea. "What do you think of Serena's outburst?" I told him the truth - that I don't follow tennis, but that I had seen people talking about it and it seemed like she was justified in losing her temper and it was simply a situation where a highly competitive athlete lost their cool, no big deal. "Well, I just think it was untoward for her to act like that you have to show respect towards officials....blah blah blah." I looked at him and asked "Did you feel the same way when John McEnroe was regularly breaking tennis rackets and cussing out the refs? Because wasn't that like a hallmark of his game, his whole schtick?" He just stared at me with Bambi eyes, blinked and walked away. Yeah. That's what I thought.
I loved this read, and I'm so sorry you're feeling weary from all of the toxic male fragility being slung your way. Glad you're being good to yourself. Snuggle into the darkness and rest, and enjoy its wonder (especially Monday!).
Just this morning, I had to deal with the gay Republican man at my coffee shop telling me that women's sports were boring because the players 1) aren't attractive and 2) aren't physiologically as athletic as men. I took joy in asking him which Final Four tickets were more expensive (indicating demand and skill) and surprising him that people (including men) are watching women's sports more right now. Maybe I'll just text him a compilation of Caitlin Clark's logo threes...
For the record, coaching legend John Wooden famously supported women’s basketball. Here’s an article written some years ago in the aftermath of his death that highlights this:
I should have added this as a footnote but a Rebecca Lobotomy is where Rebecca Lobo throws a basketball at your head and hits you so hard it severs the connection between your frontal lobe and the rest of your brain.
If I didn't have to listen to Ms Lobo's college coach as a result of this Lobotomy, I would welcome it.
I was tempted to nominate Geno for Dingus after learning that Caitlin Clark wanted to go to UConn and he just didn't even try to recruit her. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/02/1242334968/caitlin-clark-iowa-uconn-final-four
It's actually a good thing because now I get to be MYAM's favorite Iowan who moved to Connecticut.
Even if Geno didn't recruit you either, you're already my favorite member of the Iowa diaspora in the Nutmeg State. Thanks for a terrific dingus bracket!
You're very welcome. I'm glad that you and others are enjoying the fun!
Honestly I’m not mad at Geno for this one. We all come out winners (except UConn tonight hopefully 🤞)
Love this!
Good morning Lyz-as a fellow work traveler, I empathize with the exhaustion. Take the time you need to rest and recover. Don't let the trolls get you down. You do great work!
IMO, Clark & Reese (and Audi Crooks!) are doing for women's basketball what Mia Hamm & co. did for soccer a generation ago. Their rivalry is awesome. Who doesn't like watching two titans of a sport go head to head?
As for Reese specifically, her candor is refreshing--and something desperately lacking in sports these days.
P.S. Airport bars have to be one of the rings of hell. And I say that as someone who's spent their entire adult life working in airports.
We don't deserve Angel Reese. Thank basketball geezus she's here, despite our lack of merit.
Amen.
"IMO, Clark & Reese (and Audi Crooks!) are doing for women's basketball what Mia Hamm & co. did for soccer a generation ago."
I made this exact point to the exclusively cis-het-basketball obsessed dudes that I work with, and they all looked at me like I'd just run over their dog (bad example - all of these guys hate dogs).
Hi Lyz--I'm listening to your OUTSTANDING book and it's like re-living my abusive marriage--and my holy roller childhood. Thank you for writing this. (((HUGS)))
* "I told him that women’s basketball was great before he paid attention. It didn’t just become great because he decided to watch it."
Spot on. No notes.
Also, more Angel Reese and Juju Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo for the rest of us.
My mom played college basketball in Canada in the forties. Fuck that guy.
I’m new to this Dingus of the Week column and it is balm for a weary soul. Also, Angel Reese is awesome.
Another great read , but I’m shattered that your kids have been weaponized in the book backlash. ( I plan to use your book for my Early Bird Book Club ‘share’ next month.) A little taste of Tay-Tay is just what I needed this morning. While I’m excited to learn who will be the eventual Dingus Champ, I am still unable to choose - they’re both worthy, just like all of the NCAA women’s teams have been and still are worthy of respect and downright awe!!!
I am pretty removed from sports yet I loved the hell out of this piece.
Re: your haters.
After reading a recent newsletter I thought “well I don’t want to get divorced“ which led me to getting off my ass and putting another load of clothes in the washer. Those small moments - of which there have been more than one - breed momentum and change. Thank you for your work.
It is the famous Barbie movie speech, just in sports.
so true!
I find it is fun to push back on dudes like that. Years ago, after Serena Williams had her epic meltdown at the U.S. Open (I think?) that made all the dudes clutch their pearls, one of my coworkers stopped me in the kitchen while I was making my morning tea. "What do you think of Serena's outburst?" I told him the truth - that I don't follow tennis, but that I had seen people talking about it and it seemed like she was justified in losing her temper and it was simply a situation where a highly competitive athlete lost their cool, no big deal. "Well, I just think it was untoward for her to act like that you have to show respect towards officials....blah blah blah." I looked at him and asked "Did you feel the same way when John McEnroe was regularly breaking tennis rackets and cussing out the refs? Because wasn't that like a hallmark of his game, his whole schtick?" He just stared at me with Bambi eyes, blinked and walked away. Yeah. That's what I thought.
I loved this read, and I'm so sorry you're feeling weary from all of the toxic male fragility being slung your way. Glad you're being good to yourself. Snuggle into the darkness and rest, and enjoy its wonder (especially Monday!).
Congratulations to Becky G!!!
I finished reading your book and it was amazing, I am so sorry you have to deal with truckloads of assholes.
Just this morning, I had to deal with the gay Republican man at my coffee shop telling me that women's sports were boring because the players 1) aren't attractive and 2) aren't physiologically as athletic as men. I took joy in asking him which Final Four tickets were more expensive (indicating demand and skill) and surprising him that people (including men) are watching women's sports more right now. Maybe I'll just text him a compilation of Caitlin Clark's logo threes...
Love me that special brand of cis white gay man misogyny. (I'm assuming cis and white here...seems like a safe bet, lol.)
100% you nailed it.
aren't attractive ... to whom? Seems like he's fishing in the wrong pond.
For the record, coaching legend John Wooden famously supported women’s basketball. Here’s an article written some years ago in the aftermath of his death that highlights this:
https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=5262861