Nancy Armour's article about Caitlin Clark - what say you?
Steven59
Posts: 11,086 ✭✭✭✭✭
How do so called "journalists" get away with this?
"USA Today columnist Nancy Armour sparked massive backlash and issued an apology over a controversial article arguing that Caitlin Clark’s reactions to referees and on-court contact put Black and queer WNBA players in danger."
The Claim: The piece, titled "Caitlin Clark's flopping isn't just annoying — it's becoming dangerous," claimed Clark's disputes with officials and dramatic reactions fed into a toxic fan dynamic that allegedly threatened other players.
The Emmett Till Reference: The column drew widespread condemnation for invoking the lynching of Emmett Till while discussing the WNBA All-Star Game location in Chicago.
Critics across the media landscape labeled it extreme "ragebait" and "the dumbest paragraph in the history of sports".
The Apology: Nancy Armour posted a statement on social media acknowledging that she made an "inartful comparison with the murder of Emmett Till", though the apology itself drew further criticism for failing to quell the outrage.
The Reaction: USA Today quietly added an editor's note stating the column was updated for "context and clarity", as public figures and sports commentators heavily blasted the editorial decision to publish the piece.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Comments
I believe in my answers to this entire controversy surrounding CC but as much as it's a sports related topic I can't explain here because in today's day and age Sports can directly be related to politics
There is a simple solution to everyone stop being so concerned with the outside noise surrounding this stupid league and it's to have the refs call a fair game and treat everyone the same
If you would have told me that there is a large faction of White Nationalist fans who are supporting Caitlin Clark to the disadvantge of predominantly Black and queer players I would have said... send me the script... this movie makes itself!
I actually just read some of that woman's article and I was 100% disgusted with her as soon as she referenced that poor kid Emmett Till and that disgusting tragic event to anything CC
That's all I can say about that
Clark and Sophie fans arent white nationalists for pointing out whats factually going on.
The article had everything backwards. Theres a reason why traditional media is dying and most people dont trust it anymore.
As far as Clark and Cunningham they account for over 70 percent of jersey sales and attendance, ratings and revenue sky rocket when theyre in a game. They both have been targeted by the as the author put it black lesbians. The league has done nothing, the refs side against her almost always. The league even defended the girl that shoved her fist in Clarks throat and said nothing about Clark.
If those two walked away their revenue would plummet and the league would fold if they stopped being subsidized. They have a golden opportunity with more eyes then ever and are too stupid to protect their cash cows
Fire AJ Preller
I have a serious question raised by the article: does Caitlin Clark “flop” and argue with Officials during games??
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I haven't watched a single minute of a WNBA game outside of random YouTube click bait videos popping up and from those I've seen her straight up get assaulted by opposing players ( White and Black ) and refs basically ignoring it, she argues no calls for sure in that regard but it's happened so much it's reached CU Sports Talk lol
As far as the other stuff Idk
@perkdog, I watched any games or parts of games, either. I have seen a fair share of video clips.
Understanding that they have been uploaded to show her in a bad way it’s crystal clear that she flops and argues any call against her. I have seen clips where she is clearly acting, feigning abuse more than a few seconds after a play is over. I have seen clips where she instigates contact by intentionally bumping into an opponent and then the flop. Most of them are highly exaggerated.
It’s odd that people don’t connect that with the treatment she’s gotten from other players. She’s a very talented player but strikes me as an extreme example of a classic prima donna.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I would probably leave it up to the WNBA and their fans. I would love to know why you guys care so much.
Every basketball player male or female just like soccer players flops to some extent. Theres no denying shes been essentially assaulted on the court, body checked long after the whistle, poked in the eye multiple times, fouls called on her for not touching someone, technical called on her for clapping etc
Her treatment has absolutely nothing to do with the times shes flopped which again is standard for the sport and when NBA stars do it they get the call basically every time. Shes very well liked by teammates and her and Sophie are legitimately very good friends. Both are the furthest thing from a prima donna
Fire AJ Preller
Well CC ain't LBJ!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
If you are 6 Feet - 155 and someone 6'4" 190 "Bumps" you - which one is going to the floor??
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I think you’re right. Two different people.
If you choose to believe that the rest of the WNBA players are roughing up Caitlin Clark and the Referees and League Officials ignore what’s happening on the court that is OK. But there is more than ample evidence to show that she is not an innocent victim.
The search is simple, YouTube Caitlin Clark flopping if you really are open-minded.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
If you want to bury your head in the sand because of her stances that is your right. Media, coaches, players, former players, players from other sports etc. Every player flops. college, pro, men, women. NBA calls it basically every time for their stars.
No one is talking about the flop instances. Theyre talking about the muggings/assaults/hard fouls what ever you want to call it, the 3 intentional eye pokes, the videos showing the other player saying Ii did that on purpose, the body checks 5 seconds after the play was dead etc.
She had a fist shoved into her throat and the league spoke up for the player that did it and not her.
But sure. I have a suspicion if it was the other way around your opinion would be different
Fire AJ Preller
About the response I expected from the base bal gu. A quote by Herbert Spencer you might consider: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Proof that she flops doesn't defend the targeting. It changes the debate. The guilty victim argument is often used with Clark to refocus on her flopping or other on-court antics to distract from the aggressive, and often malicious, hits she takes. It doesn't require open-mindedness... call her a flop-artist... a prima donna... whatever... none of that exaggeration or whining for the "superstar whistle" she thinks she deserves is a defense of some of the targeting that escalates into malice.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4zdxpijeyBA
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I watched around ten seconds of the first video. It was obvious Caitlin got the wind knocked out of her. You can plainly see the hard elbow to her groin area. Playing football, I've had that happen to me a few times, a helmet to the groin area, and it's a rotten feeling. The commentator should have known that.
To call that a "flop" is ridiculous. That was enough is enough for that video. LOL
One thing is clear to me, most everyone has made there mind up about this issue which is why I posted the Spencer quote. The post above reinforces my notion of a closed mind.
Quite often in my life I’m presented with inconvenient truth but I force myself to consider what I don’t like to hear. Caitlin Clark is a fabulous shooter, it seems she is better the farther she is from the basket. Other than that aspect of her game she is an average player. Because of her media hyped star-power she entered the WNBA with high expectations. As happens in every sport with every rookie she was tested and roughed up a bit. We used to call it “paying your dues” and she clearly didn’t like it.
In her second season it has snowballed. She’s now saddled with a growing reputation as a flopper, a whiner and an over-dramatic prima donna, a drama queen. Her actions have forced her Coach and teammates to defend her while the WNBA itself is watching her more closely. On court officials now see what’s happening as it happens. It looks like the league cover she’s been enjoying is leaving.
As always, JMHO.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I just saw a video of Caitlin Clark stealing candy from babies. Oh the horror, it was awful watching the poor babies crying, as Caitlin grabbed the candy and ran.
Caitlin's home was raided yesterday, and police found many boxes filled with stolen candy. She was arrested and arraigned. Caitlin haters are eagerly awaiting the trial.
"On court officials now see what's happening as it happens."
as opposed to?
Most of this "drama" seems to be drummed up by the WNBA itself so... I kind of think the fact that people who don't even watch the WNBA are talking about it is kind of the point... Then again we can't always see what's happening as it happens.
That is an interesting point. Perhaps the old saying from media types of negative attention is better than no attention at all.
Without question, Caitlin has drawn attention to the league. Which before her was sorely in need of it.
She drew attention to the WNBA primarily due to her outstanding skill at shooting. Now she is drawing attention to herself by her actions which means media and ordinary people are watching her every move on the court. The result is an influx of video showing her flopping and throwing tantrums when calls go against her.
The most blatant one shows her frustrated and kicking the ball. When the technical is called we get the arms out tantrum. Every player has to know or should know not to kick the ball like that. To make things worse, her coach defends her with the media.
Those are the kind of things that don’t help her and turn fans and players against her.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I love the guy who cant even address someone like an adult trying to tear someone else down ignoring all facts
Fire AJ Preller
And as soon as her and Sophie are done it will likely be back to the way before. Theyre literally carrying the league.
Fire AJ Preller
In fairness there is more and more talent arriving every draft now... The idea that they are Atlas holding up the WNBA isn't really the case.
If you look at social media:
Angel Reese with ~5.2M followers
Clark with ~3.9M
Bueckers with ~3M
Cunningham with ~2.6M
so on and so forth down to #10 Kelsey Plum / Jewell Loyd (Tie) ~1.2M
The WNBA treats their sales figures as proprietary. There was a rumor that Clark and Cunningham accounted for 71% of sales, but that has no substantiation and it's been recursively used to promote it as more top-heavy than it is in reality. People trust numbers they want to trust.
Digging a bit deeper you can't really use the social media numbers alone, at least for Reese, which has a smaller core than that total in basketball fans. Endorsement income is a good measuring stick.
Clark with $12M+
Reese with $9M+
Ionescu at $9.25M
Bueckers at $9M
Wilson around $3M
The argument that this is a Clark and Cunningham league isn't well-supported by evidence that I can find. Clark is certainly unprecedented and deserves a lot of credit for helping the league to take the next step, but I think the cat is out of the oven as they say.
Around a year ago, I started a Trading Cards thread on a nose-bleed Caitlin Clark card. Along with future possibilities as to why that card could increase or decrease in value. No sense regurgitating that info here. Suffice to say I think that card values could also be considered an indicator of WNBA popularity.
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I watch Clark, she's good, and I will defend her accomplishments when somebody tries to tell me she is a "Bum" - BUT - I'm TOTALLY a SOPHIE fan!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q-8NarzqGjM
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
And I actually watched this game - How Caitlin was treated beforehand was a mugging - and the refs swallowed their whistles? ANYBODY who condoned that then tries to turn it around and claim Caitlin had it coming needs glasses (I can't say what they actually need
) But this was the moment that kinda changed some crap that was going on in the league!
Kinda like when Jordan had enough of players knocking around Pippen!
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"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
The idea that Clark and Shopie arent holding up the league according to some is crazy. Over 70 percent of jersey sales, 300% ratings increase in their games, ticket sales sky rocket etc.
A WNBA owner cursed out two 16 year old girls for having a Sophie sign the other night. Reese and Beuckers also just got caught gambling on their own games. The WNBA is so stupid they posted the video of them gambling with each other and they arent even going to punish them when that would be a lifetime ban if it came out publicly in major leagues. But sure everyones getting treated equal gimme a break
I love the two of them too. Both are elite and Sophie is a complete goofball when its not during a game and theyre legit friends and the two of them together just ,mess with each other all the time in funny ways
Fire AJ Preller
You do love the two of them. It's weird. But it's OK to be weird... for you.
regarding the betting thing. I had to look it up because no one is talking about it...
apparently they were going back and forth on Twitter about the game (which they were playing each-other in) about betting $400 to win. to say that would warrant a lifetime ban in any league is probably not something a reasonable person would think.
why are you even trying to make things... things... when they're not anythings.