Ailene Voisin: We're missing the real point
by Ailene Voisin
Last Updated 12:09 am PST Saturday, February 16, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
So some of the Kings' dancers were caught on film sipping champagne and cavorting in skimpy outfits, posing for a provocative photo or two and mildly misbehaving on their own time.
So what?
Let's not overreact here. The fact that photos were distributed on the wild, wild Web, generating enough chatter to cause sensory and technical overload, virtually assured that there would be repercussions within the Kings' organization. But people do dumb things in their 20s...
...There is a much larger issue to be examined here, one pertaining to what the women wear and how they behave when they're performing before 17,000 fans, not in the privacy of a back room...
...Now, this would be fine in Las Vegas, a city that caters to adults and sells its soul to prurient interests. But how has it become so acceptable for dancers and cheerleaders to routinely project images that so clearly objectify women?...
...This is not to suggest that dancers and cheerleaders should sprint onto the court clothed in smocks or burqas, that their musical offerings should be limited to marching tunes or that they should be fined for their frozen smiles. But, frankly, all of these organizations could learn something from watching the kids: Members of the Hip Hop Crew captivate the audience and elicit the loudest applause by far of any of the Kings' entertainment acts...
The whole article
by Ailene Voisin
Last Updated 12:09 am PST Saturday, February 16, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
So some of the Kings' dancers were caught on film sipping champagne and cavorting in skimpy outfits, posing for a provocative photo or two and mildly misbehaving on their own time.
So what?
Let's not overreact here. The fact that photos were distributed on the wild, wild Web, generating enough chatter to cause sensory and technical overload, virtually assured that there would be repercussions within the Kings' organization. But people do dumb things in their 20s...
...There is a much larger issue to be examined here, one pertaining to what the women wear and how they behave when they're performing before 17,000 fans, not in the privacy of a back room...
...Now, this would be fine in Las Vegas, a city that caters to adults and sells its soul to prurient interests. But how has it become so acceptable for dancers and cheerleaders to routinely project images that so clearly objectify women?...
...This is not to suggest that dancers and cheerleaders should sprint onto the court clothed in smocks or burqas, that their musical offerings should be limited to marching tunes or that they should be fined for their frozen smiles. But, frankly, all of these organizations could learn something from watching the kids: Members of the Hip Hop Crew captivate the audience and elicit the loudest applause by far of any of the Kings' entertainment acts...
The whole article