Life Imitates Juwanna Mann
October 26th, 2005 at 9:43 pm by SmantixThanks in no small part to the myriad stirring tributes to the St. Rosa of the Parks, a world stood in general indifference as WNBA superstar (or as much of a star as the WNBA can have) Sheryl Swoopes announced that there are lesbians in the WNBA and that she is a big one of them. Her statement is as big a shock to some people as the fact that the WNBA is still around. Take it to the hole Sheryl:
“The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true,” Swoopes says. “There are as many straight women in the league as there are gay.
As comforting as that shattering of the stereotype may be to the legions of Lilith Fair fans clamoring for season tickets, or the marketing reps who now have to hoist this product on an already suspecting public, it’s doubtful that this transparent playing of the lesbian card will swell the arenas.
While the general public may be receptive to a a few WNBA rule changes – for instance, a 30 second bra and panty tickle fight at half court between the players and the cheerleaders after a personal foul; it is a drawback that in the event the tickle fight got out of hand that half of the huggy-licky melee’s participants would be 6′ 5″ pituitary cases who can palm a basketball in one hand.
It’s moments like these when we must pause and reflect on how far we’ve come in this country. In 1955, a determined NAACP activist contrived a publicity stunt on a bus with nothing but the backing of an established organization cherrypicking the right person for the right opportunity for maximum political effect. Regardless of the motivations and training behind Parks’ actions, it was still a courageous act in spite of the revisionist history that has glommed onto a fable about an unwitting seamstress who wanted nothing more than a seat on a bus.
Now, just 50 years later, a multimillionaire black woman sports icon can announce to the world that she likes to mack on the snappy nappy as much as the next dude. And everybody’s cool with it.
You’ve come a long way, girlfriend.
October 27th, 2005 at 12:38 am
Um, when you take off the white hood to come up for air, you may want to check the link to dawn.com, it leads to a story about Indian nukes.
And where did you get that picture of Preston in the dress? I know I didn’t send it out, well, to a lot of people. Just a couple. Or 10
October 27th, 2005 at 3:40 am
In yesterday’s Guardian, Ms Parks’ biographer lamented the fact that her early activism was overlooked by many. He said it made her act look like one of casual frustration rather than part of concerted effort for people to be treated equally under the law.
October 27th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Damn Dawn. That link went to a Guardian wire story last night.
What was racist in that post V-Diddy?
October 27th, 2005 at 7:18 am
what the hell did dawn.com have to do with anything? were you drinking and lost control of your keyboard Vinnie?
October 27th, 2005 at 7:53 am
Nothing Smantix, just fuckin wit ya.
That’s where the link went, Preston.
here
October 27th, 2005 at 8:35 am
I get it now. That’s what I get for not paying close enough attention.
October 28th, 2005 at 12:18 am
I’ve heard tell about ways a woman can urinate standing up(like a man), but…well…hmmmm…Whoooo…Ick! I’ll just hover or line the seat, thank you.
October 28th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
How does one get splattered beer off their monitor?
October 31st, 2005 at 11:01 am
At 58 years I can still remember how controversial the incidents at Birmingham were at that time. Now everyone seems to be a cheerleader for what the NAACP accomplished in that city. She wasn’t often called “a great American” way back then.