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In Sports Commentary
The good, the bad, the boring and the unwatchable
Football, basketball and baseball are among Begel's "yays."  
By Dave Begel RSS Feed
Special to OnMilwaukee.com

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Dave Begel

Published April 8, 2008 at 5:20 a.m.
Tags: begel, nba, wnba, soccer, hockey, john jagler, gene mueller

Last week, I was listening to John Jagler and Gene Mueller on WTMJ when Jagler took another of his shots at soccer. He followed it with shots at hockey and a couple of other sports that he didn't like. He's a real snob.

But it got me to thinking about sports snobbery and the sports I like and the ones I don't -- and why I feel the way I do.

Herewith, my list of Yeas and Nays.

Yea -- NBA basketball. I know that people complain about it. But these are the best athletes in the world, by far. They've got size, speed, endurance, hand-eye coordination. Everything. It is a beautiful thing to watch.

Nay -- WNBA basketball. The NBA game is about speed; the WNBA game is about slow. No matter how hard I try, and I really have tried because I like women in shorts, I can't stand the WNBA. It's too slow and patterned, with not nearly enough grace.

Yea -- Football. Pro and college. Power and speed. What's not to like? Hitting. Graceful receivers making acrobatic catches. Nose tackles stuffing a center, a guard and then a running back. Plus, they have those great cheerleaders.

Nay -- Men's soccer. I don't know what it is, but there's something about it that bores me. "Good God! Mexico against Portugal. Get Ready!" Yeah. Right.

Yea -- Women's soccer. Maybe it's residue from the Olympics or the fact that I have daughters who played soccer. But the women's game seems much more passionate and inspiring. Plus, again, women in shorts.

Nay -- Auto racing. I don't care if it's NASCAR, IRL, Open Wheel, Closed Casket or whatever. When they say go fast and turn left, and then left again and again and again, it leaves me cold.

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