Mr. Negativity strikes again

[VF21]

Attendance is low compared to what though? Is the WNBA's attendance low compared to the NBA in it's 9th season? No, the WNBA is doing better in fact. Or are people stuck on the fact that the WNBA's attendance is lower than today's NBA attendance? Duh. How long did the NBA struggle? It wasn't an overnight success. How many of their teams folded and relocated? How many teams played to empty arenas?

To say that people don't care about the WNBA is simply not true. To say that the WNBA does not draw as much interest as the NBA does right now is obvious.

The point is that the comparison is not necessary, nor is it fair. I think that those of us that are fans of the W are just sick of the columnists that continue to bring up this same point over and over. The only reason that people make that point is to take a dig at the league.

A lot of people don't care about the W, a lot of people don't want to give it a chance. But many fans of the NBA and many sports columnists want to preach that NOBODY cares just because THEY don't care.

Every fan of the WNBA knows that attendance is low. The players for the Monarchs know that if they were men playing for the championship things would be a lot different. But instead of celebrating their accomplishments and encouraging people to give the league a chance, Breton comes in and tries to taint their championship run by saying that nobody cares.

It's endlessly annoying to those of us who have supported this team for years, through all the seasons of disappointment. We have listened to all the bashers and their same old insults. It's like when the Kings were in the basement year after year. As a fan we were pretty much guaranteed a losing/disappointing season. Then when we finally have a breakthrough, that great year with JWill, CWebb, Vlade, Peja, Adelman, Barry, Corliss, etc. The Kings finally getting noticed nationally, finally the team is winning, the fans are finally being rewarded for the years of misery....and then these jerks come out of the woodwork and try to put a bad spin on it.

It's like, we get it, you don't care...but can't you just shut up about it and let us enjoy the ride? The only point in writing that article is to be negative. No new insights were offered, just the same old dig. It's as old as Phil Jackson calling us a cowtown.

BRAVO!

::VF21 gives a standing ovation to MamaBristow::

Ryle, Coach and ONEZERO - At this point, the negativity (real or perceived) is unneeded, unwanted and a downer to the fans of the Monarchs. So, unless someone strongly objects, from now on let's just knock off debating the league and let them enjoy their ride.

Thanks for understanding.

VF

 

[BigSong]

uh.....go Monarchs!

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

... To say that people don't care about the WNBA is simply not true. To say that the WNBA does not draw as much interest as the NBA does right now is obvious...

And is largely irrelevant; it takes a very determined brand of ignorance to insist that a women's pro league, in any sport, should be compared to their male "counterpart." The success of the NBA is relative to men's college basketball, and other male professional basketball leagues, not women's leagues... and the same should hold true for the women. Whether or not the WNBA is viable and/or successful should be assessed relative to other women's pro leagues; comparing them to the men, and thinking that it's a fair comparison, is just ****ing asinine.

 

[slugking50]

: applauds Slim, MBF, and Mama's posts :

 

[Coach]

I'm sorry if my post was perceived to be negative. I just was asking for clarifications about attendance -- and MamaBristow answered my question when she said every fan of the WBNA knows attendance is low.

In any event, good luck to the Monarchs!!

 

[RoyalDiva]

Amen Mama Bristow and VF21!!

 

[KingsFan54]

I myself will be glued to the TV, wish I could go, rooting on the Monarchs on to their WORLD title. And I'm sure someone will come out with a demeaning article about it not really a world title because it is the WNBA. But for me, its the biggest thing to happen to Sacramento. GO MONARCHS!!!!

 

[NothinButHoops]

Here is Mr.M Breton's response to my e-mail regarding his recent article...Interesting!


Good morning Mr. Breton...I will start off with kindness because that's how civil folks act. I was not pleased with your negetive article concerning the WNBA & the Monarchs. The WNBA is entering it's 10th season & although not everyone watches, or cares as you put it....thousands do care. I for one have never missed a Monarchs home game. Since 97, I & many others have been season ticket holders since 97. Many of us travel each year to the Wnba All-Star game every year.. I have met hundreds of fans from all Wnba cities. This season has been the most exciting year yet. The Monarchs posted a 15-2 home record. Many young children & players of all ages look up to the Monarchs. Fathers, mothers , brothers & sisters come and find the game fun & exciting. These athletes are very giving to the fans & community. They don't charge fans for autographs. After college the players have a chance to play in the Wnba, or go overseas & play. I'm sure you know all these facts? Or do you just like to shed such a negetive light on the Wnba & the Monarchs, on the eve. of such a criticle game 3? This Championship means more than you can even imagine to the fans & city.
So enjoy your day and your paper and maybe you may want to leave the Wnba stories to those who cover the Womens game. Voisen & Arrington. We woudln't want to bore you or have you write about something you dislike.
Sincerely Mary Barker...fan of all sports.
GO MONARCHS!!!!

Dear Mary - Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to write. I really appreciate it. As to your comments, I would say this: We've been covering the heck out of the Monarchs. It's been all over the cover, we've devoted as much staffing to the Monarchs as we would the Raiders, 49ers, A's and Giants if they were in the playoffs. I don't really think its fair to say that we haven't had positive coverage when we really have, far more than you'll find in any other newspaper in America.
My column was just one piece in an large puzzle of very complimentary coverage. My piece represents another side to the story - nothing more, nothing less. It was just one persons opinion. We've been all over this story, giving it huge ink, and yet despite that coverage, our in-house readership numbers for the Monarchs are not that high. They're just not. It's not like we're burying this stuff inside the paper or being stingy about the amount of staffers we deploy, its about a product that still hasn't caught on as a big league sport yet - but wants to be treated as if it had. That was my point. Julie, no one told you not to be excited, not follow the team and not to be a fan. No one wrote the league should go away, be taken out of the paper or not be on television. No one disparaged the players or their fans. The point of the column - and it should be the point of all columns - is to focus on the issues and people beyond the games. And in the WNBA, you have a league at the ten-year mark that is losing attendance despite a national TV contract and, at least in this market, big league coverage in the paper. Part of the reason for the column was that the WNBA is a league that wants big league coverage but not big league scrutiny. Go back and read the column - the worst thing I said was, the league is of no interest to me right now. That the attendance numbers and viewership is slipping - facts that no one disputes. The NBA at one point was in bad shape but they happened on the players and the formula to reach a broader audience and did. The WNBA needs to do the same but hasn't - but they and many of their fans want people to act as if they had. And if you don't, you get hammered for saying it - or writing it. I'm sorry, but you can't force people to like something when you are charging money and trying to compete in business. What do business people do in that case? You find a way for people to like what you're selling. OK. So sell me. Grab me. Convince me. But don't call me a pig if I'm not sold - that's called being PC. And I'm telling you, you can't sell that. Anyway, its just my opinion. Thanks a lot.
Marcos Breton

 

[KP]

I love how some people say they don't care about the Monarchs yet took the time to come to the monarchs board and throw their 2 cents in. IMO They must care at least a little more than they are letting on. Anyways, I've never been a huge WNBA fan even after attending a couple games it wasn't something I followed night in and out, but as I heard about this team and started to watch them play it was obvious that they were something special. The played as a TEAM, facing a lot of adversity... and as a complete TEAM, I would rank them up there with any I've ever seen... men or women. They won me over with their collection of unique personalities and individiual games on the court, and the way it all fit together so perfectly. Great coach too, I was amazed to see their coach ask them if they should foul at the end there and then listening to what they thought they should do. They really were like a family yesterday. I'm really glad I watched them at the end there, it was a close, hard fought series and I will continue to watch them next year because of it. I guess what I'm trying to say is congrats to the Monarchs, it was a big deal what you did, and I know there have gotta be a few more guys than just me that they converted to WNBA fans this year. My GF may have had a few laughs at my expense too, but it was worth it, and I'm really not ashamed anymore to say, Go Monarchs!

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

::big sigh:: I may get around to actually writing Breton because his reply now is as lame as it was 2 years ago.

I got that he was pointing things out about the league and its coverage.
I questioned why that article wasn't written at the beginning of the season or even in the middle of the season. Why was it written when the national media was descending on Sacramento for the Finals. But the biggest issue I took with where he came from with that ARCO is that it spoke to his hypocrisy. He was fan enough 2 years ago to rip the fans and players, but when the team actually is handling its business and on a national stage - he acts as though it is just too much to ask that the paper treat it as such. No different than the coverage the Olympic Trials got. No different than the local interest story about some cross country runner on the front page of the sports section. That's why I still don't get why he questions what was going on or how adequately (or not) the M's or the league earned it. We're in a different media era now so the bigger networks can pick and choose what they want, and the little regionals owned by sports team want programming - so there is space for everybody.

I don't care if he's critical. He's a columnist. I get that.

I do agree that we as W fans need to get up and make some noise and be heard. We can't continue to sit back and take things as they are or for granted. We are the ONLY WNBA city to have a weekly call-in talk show that's two hours long. Fans around the league would kill for that sort of thing, they also would kill for the coverage that the Bee has given this team under Arrington's beat. Monarchs Talk NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDS callers folks. They need to demonstrate to the station and the sponsors that people are tuning in during that time. You want to shut Napier and Breton up? Call Monarchs Talk when its on. Its our show and our time to show why we think the Monarchs are every bit as worthy as any other sports team to have some radio time dedicated to it. I hope the afterglow from this week carries over to next year and people continue to flood the phone lines next season. You've got two of the most welcoming hosts on that show to talk to, give them a call to talk about what's going on with the team or the league.

Like the coverage you got from Arrington? - write her and tell her. Stand up and be vocal about this team. We gotta stop putting up with the "nobody cares" or the "it's the readership, stupid" crap. Its nice that these electronic forums exist and all, but we've got to stop just relying on this, we've got media time and space, let's demadn it and let's use it when we get it!!

::climbing off rant box::

 

[6th]

KP, good for you. I am happy for you that you found some good entertaining team ball. Welcome to the WNBA, my friend. We are glad you have joined the ranks of men who are not afraid to say, "hey, I watch it and I like it."


MBF, that was a great rant.

::6th goes off to find Arrington's email address::

 

[VF21]

Marcos Breton is a cretin.

He hides behind "But don't call me a pig if I'm not sold - that's called being PC. And I'm telling you, you can't sell that. Anyway, its just my opinion"

Oh, please. Breton doesn't have a humble bone in his body. Based on a long time readership of his material, I truly believe he's convinced HIS opinion is the only opinion - and I think he's a pompous windbag.

People like Breton LOVE to write stuff like this because they live for the controversy they can stir up. Some, like Jim Rome, have parlayed their "style" to the national stage.

I agree very strongly with MBF about one thing... people need to call in and they need to stand up and make themselves be heard. Just posting on a message board doesn't do it.

Next season, let's get more involved. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a new fan, or a borderline fan doesn't matter. What matters is OUR Sacramento Monarchs are now the reigning champions of the WNBA. Let's all show some Monarch pride!!!!

 

[RoyalDiva]

Breton has the attitude that a lot of the anti-WNBA crowd has. All of his comments are really back-handed compliments.

 

[NothinButHoops]

I've been thinking of my reply to him or should I just say ''Leave us alone'' We just won a WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP! Maybe if I have time next year I'll write you back.

Right now I don't give a damn...Monarchs are CHAMPS!!!!
MBF...I promise to call Monarchs talk more often next season...I always look forward to your calls.

 

[Luv13fan]

Why is this much attention being devoted to this guy?

We are the Champs.

He is a Hater.
He must be tickled pink to know that he has generated this much attention. I cannot believe we have devoted 49 posts to this guy and his negative vibe.

Ignore him...

Best way to send him and people like him a message.

WE ARE THE CHAMPS.

If he don't care So what.

Screw him and end this thread.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

naw, don't ignore him. He needs to be called out or at least the fans need to step up and stop sitting in the shadows only to rise up when someone calls them out. Gotta let the Bee know there are people who buy their paper who also want their Monarchs covered fairly. If their motto is "Life Captured Daily", then Breton writing as if they had not earned the media coverage they received deserved to be called out. This needs to be a fan call to arms. There should have been as many letters if not more to the Bee praising them for their Finals coverage (and please give props to Debbie Arrington). There weren't many in their sports department who didn't write something during the finals - did y'all see that Marty McNeal wrote a piece re: Taj McWilliams-Franklin after game 4? We're not a fringe sport here in Sacramento and don't deserve to continue to be slapped around by doughheads like Breton.

 

[Luv13fan]

Not all male writer's are pigs

Well this should make you guys feel better....

A male writer who really appreciates the Womens game.


http://www.mgwnews.com/4.news.local.mgw.story.asp?news_id=123

And MBF you are right. We definately need to call people out when they talk shots at our League.