WARNING: Coarse language
THE 2015 WNBA season ended back in October, when the Minnesota Lynx won their third title in the past five years.
So it’s a little odd that former NBA player Gilbert Arenas would be offering advice to the professional basketball league more than two months into its offseason.
“Odd,” however, is not the best word to describe Arenas’ take on the WNBA.
Instead, a better word is “sexist”. Or “disgusting”. Or any other awful word that you might prefer, really.
Earlier this week, Arenas posted a not-safe-for-work Instagram video of scantily clad women playing basketball (NSFW).
In the accompanying (also NSFW) caption, Arenas wrote:
“NOW this is what america was hoping for when they announced the #WNBA back in 1996... not a bunch of chicks running around looking like,cast members from #orangeisthenewblack.
“Dont get me wrong,they have few #cutiepies but theres a whole alotta #beanpies running around hahahahahaha.”
The comment only got worse from there.
League spokesman Mike Bass released a statement on behalf of the NBA and WNBA.
“Gilbert Arenas’s comments are repugnant, utterly disrespectful and flat-out wrong,” Bass said.
“WNBA players are strong, talented and determined individuals who give it their all on the court and serve as inspiring role models to millions around the world. They should be celebrated for their accomplishments, not disparaged with ignorant insults.”
New York Liberty star Swin Cash shared her thoughts on Arenas’ comments.
To all my smart, beautiful young female ballers... No one ever asked NBA guys to hoop in a speedo so laugh at haters& Dab on dem folk💪🏾
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) December 16, 2015
Sorry loves but we are at war trying to save our young girls from a lot of social media shaming & I am not here for it! Gotta run be great💋
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) December 16, 2015
I'll just leave this here... We've got too many impressionable young girls ready to run the…https://t.co/wxYygVKQrx— Swin Cash (@SwinCash)
December 16, 2015
To top it all off, Arenas pre-emptively lashed out at his would-be detractors, saying that people who would call his comments sexist are the ugly one “9 times out of 10.”
But that’s ridiculous. Arenas, who’s still somewhat of a visible public figure, offered his megaphone to the idea of seeing WNBA players specifically -- and women in general -- as cattle there for the amusement of others.
Arenas, of course, has every right to share his thoughts. And, in turn, we have an obligation to point out how wrong-headed he is.
NBA player Nate Robinson also chimed in.
“I usually stay in my own lane but this was so uncalled for in so many ways...,” Robinson wrote on Instagram.
“One cause I have a daughter who loves hoop, & one day she might want to make it to the WNBA one day, hoop is hoop no matter what a woman looks like ... #LORD4giveusall.”
Gilbert Arenas went on a sexist Instagram rant.Source:Supplied
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