Women in men's professional sport leagues
 

Do you think women should play in professional sports leagues like the PGA and NHL? Or should they remain in the professional leagues made for women?

I'm not talking about lowering standards or anything... I'm talking about women who can make it in the league on their merits.

There are many sides of this debate... I'll present a view here.

Con: Women should stay in their own leagues so that women's league will grow in caliber.

Pro: Women should be allowed move to the typically men's league because there is more money, fame, and potential for development there. Some women are unable to develop in typically women's leagues because the level of playing is too far below them.

Some links:

Sorenstam (golf) http://www.nbc6.net/golf/2641206/detail.html
Wickenheiser (hockey) http://www.wickenheiser22.com/index.php

Good Question...

As I see it (and correct me if I'm wrong), the NHL isn't expressly a men's league, it's just that most women cannot begin to compete on the level that men play in the sport. That being said, if a woman can hang, then so be it.

I do have mixed views on this, to tell you the truth. For example, the LPGA is probably one of the larger and more famed women's sport leagues. If a woman can win most tournaments she participates in, then there is no reason not to try for the PGA.

When it comes down to it, maybe some of these sports leagues should be expressly co-ed. If women can't make the cut, so be it. If they can, good for them. This way women can't complain that they aren't getting a fair chance. On the flip side, men may complain about having to compete against women. You can never make everyone happy at the same time!

I think if they can make it in the men's leagues sure. Not many people male or female watch women sports with the exception of tennis. So they can make the big buck and gain more fame in the men's leagues if they can hang.

If women are allowed to play in men's leagues, men should be allowed to play in women's leagues. :D

Nah, I know that's not fair moneywise.

If a woman can beat out a man, more power to her. I just think she should get no special consideration. This would rule women out from most contact/athletic type sports (basketball, football, baseball, etc.)

Sure why not?

In the case of Wickenheiser, she could hold her own in the men's games, and she can throw a mean check (at least according to my younger brother who played against her this year). However it was the off-ice pressure that finally did her in.... everyone focusing on that fact that she was a women playing in a men's league, instead of her actual playing level.

I know at the intramural level here at UofT most of the contact/athletic sports as ktsnake put are intergrated men and women (except hockey so far); but not a the inter-collegiate level yet (for the most part). So all the teams I've played on intramurally included women (waterpolo, rugby, ultimate frisbee, and basketball), and as long as they came out to play, I have no problem with it.

Oh definately... note that I explicitly said that I'm talking about women who can get in on their own merits.

I wouldn't speak too fast when ruling out women in any sport. Hockey is one of the most contact/athletic sport out there... and there are increasingly more women can play with 'the guys'. For football/baseball/basketball it's just a matter of time. We'll never see equal representation just due to size... but there is the possibility for women in all of the sports you listed.

anyone remember her?
 

I thought it was so cool when Manon Rheaume played in goal for
Tampa Bay...


http://members.tripod.com/~Thunder49/manonr4.gif

I think if women can compete at the level the men are (professionally speaking) then why not. However, hockey is an extremely difficult sport. Women cannot compete with the men. Wickenheiser is a phenomenal player, but I don't think she would survive in the NHL. Those men are bigger, faster and stronger than her. Playing in the European leagues is a lot different than the NHL. I think she'd have her a$$ kicked in the NHL.
The same with Manon Rheaume. She's a great goalie, but she was not good enough to play in the NHL.