The problem With the WNBA

 

I want to address a few things going on in the WNBA. It seems they have created quite a quagmire trying to make true things that aren’t. Not wanting to admit what a women is has led them down a path where they have a bunch of men signing up for the draft. This will literally make the WNBA irrelevant. It will be the NBA II. This can easily be corrected by simply embracing the truth of Male and Female, and that they are different by design.

It also seems their good players are white, and that pisses them off, and violence has ensued. Plain ole bad behavior. This can easily be corrected by removing poor sportsmanship from the game. Throw them out.

But it seems, the over arching complaint is, they have no audience. Without an audience, the is no money. It’s the audience that provides the income. Without an audience, they can’t really exist.

So the real problem is, they don’t have an audience. Nobody wants to watch them play basketball. This is a much bigger problem, and one which I don’t think can be resolved.

The men can fill up a football stadium, they can fill up a baseball stadium, they can even fill up a golf course where everyone is standing. Why?

Let’s take a look at the audience, and who they are. To fill a stadium, you have to appeal to middle, that’s were most people are. Therefore they are among the norm. So you have to appeal to the norm. The norm being, they have a job, they are most likely good at it, and enjoy doing it, and consider themselves experts in what they do. They enjoy beauty and excellence, most likely have a wife or husband, girlfriend or boyfriend, and consider them a ‘girl or ‘boy.’

They have money in their pocket, and they are seeking to be entertained. What do these discriminating people enjoy, ‘Excellence.’ They want to watch someone who is good at what they do. Football is rough and tumble, but there is a strategy to it, there are talents involved, honed to perfection. You are going to see these games played, and play right. Every play, every move, every mistake is recorded. Win or lose, the game is exciting and played well.

So, the audience is from the norm, with money in their pocket, seeking entertainment through excellence.

A many a rock & roll band, country band, single performers and comedians has pulled this off, why? Because they are good at what they do. They are ‘Excellence.’ One I can point to is Jeff Dunham and his dummies. Jeff Dunham has raise being a Ventriloquist to a level of excellence that fills the stadium.

If one can maintain excellence over time, a certain amount of loyalty will be generated, and this will go a long way to maintaining an audience. But the loyalty only carry’s as for as your last performance.

Okay, we are in search of excellence. Where are we going to fine it?

Let’s look at men, for they do draw an audience. What do men want, who are they? The norm?

“Little boys are made of,

of Snipe & Snails

and puppy dawg tails.

That’s what little boys are made of.”

Okay, this has been known a long time, boys are rough and tumble. They are warriors, they are builders, they are strategist. They want to conquer (compete,) they want to be part of something bigger than themselves, they want to be seen as strong and unafraid. They want to be the best at what they do, and to be admired for what they do. The want the glory of winning.

The NBA, MLB, NFL & the PGA offer all of this in a game. It allows men, to be men, and to hone their skills to a level of Excellence. Making the game interesting as well as exciting. It also offers up the agony of defeat, which men handle well, for men tend to look forward, ‘we’ll get them next time.’

I most cases, win or lose, the audience had a pretty good time. For they saw, what they came to see… Excellence.

I don’t want to gloss over what goes on in the background, for this also is important because it takes a hell of a lot of cooperation to put one of these games on. There is the training of the players, the uniforms, the lighting, the scoreboard, bla bla bla… a lot goes into bringing this to the level of excellence that doesn’t even involve the players.

Now you pull the men out of these games and put in women, you’re not going to get the same level of excellence, you’re going to get a lot of cringe, and missed opportunity. You’re going to get fights and sore losers, because women are not warriors, they are vicious. There is a difference.

So….. Can a team of women do anything that will fill a stadium..? Humm…. Let’s not forget who the audience is, the middle, the norm in search of excellence.

“What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice

and everything nice.

That’s what little girls are made of.”

Hummm…. Seems girls are different. Girls are not warriors, they don’t really like to compete, they don’t like to lose.

Women live two different lives. There is the life before marriage, and life after marriage. And the things they want change. So we are trying to draw an audience, so let us focus on the young, single, vile girl. What do they want..?

They want to be seen, they want to be heard, they want to dress up like a flower, the want to be admired. They are filled with joy and want to jump around and sing and dance. Hummm…. What do you do with that.?

Well, let’s see. What worked for the men was creating a game where men could be men, and be at their best.

So what if we did the same with girls. Create a situation where a girl can be a girl, at her best.

Now just like baseball or football, we are going to have to spend a lot of money. Ya don’t make money if you don’t spend money. You don’t achieve excellence without an investment.

So we get us a gaggle of girls, and we pour money into pose training, into dance classes and singing classes. You teach these girls how to refine their skills of presentation, public speaking, flirting. You dress them up like a field of flowers, and yet make each one a little different, because they are.

Okay, now let us get a band, and some music, some songs, teach it to them with a little choreography until they have it down… and then stick them out there and see what happens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQtz0BY3rbg is what happens. Did you see the audience? Seems the place was full and they were having a good time.

Just take a look at the audience you can draw with excellence… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unau6nthttg There is nothing more beautiful than a field of flower waving in the breeze, with the sound of joy rising to the heavens.

Are you seeing the stadium? Notice it’s full, many in the audience are on their feet. The flashlights? Each girl is assigned a color, everybody has their favorite girl (just like a favorite player in football,) and knows her color, and carry’s a flashlight with her color.

Notice there are no stars… They are all idols (their title), but there are no stars. They are part of something bigger than themselves, and yet are humble, because they are one of many. Bonus→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JELg3Ljmv0g There are about sixty girls on that stage. It’s kind of mind blowing when you thing about everything that went into this. Are you seeing the crowd.? The girls are known as AKB48 if you want to look them up.

So my verdict is…. Yes, girls can fill up a stadium, but you can’t buck the truth. If you want to fill up a stadium, be girls and be good at it.

August 2026

George Henry Nichols

PS-> The world loves a girl.... Don't throw that away. 

Pig in a Poke

I think one of our basic problems is we quit telling our kids the fairy tales, as they were written, - no we had to fix them up and make them better. I remember back in 1980, I bought into the Jupiter Effect, it was a scare which stated that in 1982 there would be a planetary alignment of all nine planets, (before Pluto was demoted) and that the combined gravitational pull was going to disrupt life on earth.

Well it didn’t happen, and I realized, it was no more than a “Chicken Little” story. Global Warming is the same story, “Chicken Little!” Simply a matter of making myself important, by scaring you.

If you want to sell something, first you scare your customer, then you sell him a cure.

I knew early on that Bill Clinton was no more than “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and is the case with Obama, he’s running around naked as a jaybird, and everybody refuses to see.

I think we need to get back to the basic stories & philosophies so the people learn to recognize bullshit when it is presented it to them. Ronald Reagan was very good at using basic stories, like the “Evil Empire” speech, I know he was referring to Star Wars, but Star Wars is a basic story of good and evil that was popular at the time, and the people understood, and responded. No matter how well you dress up a pig, it’s still a pig! Hahahha!!!! It’s true.

George Henry Nichols

Sleigh Ride: from the collection, "Letter to Jeannie."

What a beautiful Christmas Eve here in Vermont, as the last rays of twilight disappear over the horizon, there is a fresh blanket of snow covering the landscape, but the front has moved though, the skies are clear and the moon full.

I prepare the horses, Frank and Sport, with their finest Christmas harnesses, the ones with the bells. Frank is a fine animal, though stubborn to his core, he stands nineteen hands high, a red beast, with a black mane, tail, boots and eyes. He puts up a bit of a fight as I dress him out and ready him for the sleigh, and the steam from his breath rises up around me as I back him into position, and he lurches his head a bit and neighs in protest.

But Sport, she gives me no fuss, she’s not as big Frank, but smart, and Frank loves her, and will follow her anywhere she goes. Sport’s a palomino, bay with a golden mane and tail, with clear, soft brown eyes. She rests her head on my shoulder as I affix her harness to the draw-bar. Together they make a fine team, Frank to pull the load, and Sport to lead him where he needs to go.

The sleigh is small, green with gold and red trim, and I have polished the runners, so she glides through the snow, like a skater on ice. It has room for only two in the seat, which suits me fine, for I intend to take my best girl, the most beautiful creature in all of Vermont, for a sleigh ride.

Yes, the girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl, of all the girls I know, the gold of her hair, and the blue of her eyes, are a blend of the western skies, and the cream of her skin, and the rouge of her lips are known to have set my soul a fire. Yes, I am dressed in my best, with my beaver coat and felt hat, for tonight, I intend to steal a kiss, from this most lovely lass.

When I knock on her door, she opens it and I ask, “Miss Jeannie, would like to go for a sleigh ride?”

She looks at me sternly, and closing one eye, says, “I think not! You’re a bit old for me,” half kidding, and half wondering.

“Yes ma’am, I know, but I cherish your company so, and it is enough… Please.”

Then turning her head away, she blushes a bit, and coyly holds out her hand, and I take this tiny hand in mine, kiss it, and squeeze it gently, and she turns back, looking me square in the eyes and smiling says, “I’d love too.”

Donning her finest rabbit coat and Russian beaver hat, we walk out to the sleigh where Frank and Sport await.

Still holding her hand, I help her into the sleigh, giving her bottom a little pop, looking back; she gives me a glare, and then a mischievous smile, and settles onto the seat.

As I climb up, she looks at me with her soft blue eyes and then looks down and says, “You are going to behave,” then again looking me in the eyes, continues,” are you not?”

Smiling with a wide grin, I reply, “Yes ma’am. I’ll behave.”

I pick up the reins, giving them a snap, and with a jing, jing jingle, and a yank, we are off into the beautiful Vermont countryside. It doesn’t take long and the horses settle into an even stride giving the sleigh a steady rock and the bells take up a rhythm.

As we glide down the lane in the cold, still, night air, the aroma of pine, mixed with the burning of oak and walnut linger in the air, as the smoke from the chimneys rise slowly into the sky. Each of the houses has the twinkling of a Christmas tree in the window, celebrating the birth of our Lord.

The hardwoods stand stark and bare against the snowy landscape, while the evergreens bravely stand against the winter, decked out in all their finery. The dark rocky hillsides contrast the white of the snow, and the river, frozen, runs like a ribbon of satin through the rolling countryside.

I bravely take the reins into my left hand and put my arm around this most lovely creature, and pull her to me, and she in turn snuggles close. A feeling of calm and completeness comes over me, and I have to marvel over the power of this simple girl and the joy and peace she brings to my soul. Surly a creature made by the hand of God, and my soul fills to overflowing, and I begin to laugh, and she looks strangely at me, smiling and giggles, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight with her golden hair bouncing to the rhythm of the bells.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDRFmn_KqfA

Gliding along the lane, the joy of children’s voices rise over the sound of the bells, for they are gathered outside one of the houses singing carols.

So slowing the pace a bit, we listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phL9rYto7wk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1hyp_uQ4Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAH0qm6OWKk&NR=1

And their voices fad as we continue down the snow covered lane, we approach Sonora creek, Jeannie shivers a bit and looks at me and as we enter the darkness of the covered bridge, her arms slide in around my waist and she hugs me as the blackness envelops us and sighs with relief, as we exit the other side.

Then with the moonlight bathing us again, she relaxes a bit and looks up at me and for a moment, I see the moon in her eyes and then she says, “I got a bit of a chill.”

Startled, because I was lost in her soft glowing eyes, I reply, “Yes ma’am,” and then winking, “a chill.” I smile.

She smiles softly, putting her head against my shoulder, and on down the lane we go. After a brief while, she begins to elbow me in side and says, “I want to hear those bells rattle!” and giving me a wide grin, “can’t this crate go any faster!”

With that, I give the reins a snap and holler, “Getty up Frank - Sport! Heeeuaaa!!” And with that we are off as the horses pick up their pace and come into a full trot, Jeannie is thrown back in her seat a bit, squealing with glee, her hair flies in the wind as the bells begin to sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFrO8c_kVQ&feature=related

After a good sprint down the ribbon of snow we come into town, which is a buzz with the sights and sounds of Christmas. All the gas lamps are lit, and many of the homes have candles burning in the windows for their guest. In the town square, there is a huge spruce, decorated for the season. The sidewalks are filled with people in their holiday finery looking in the shop windows and collecting what they need for the big day.

https://youtu.be/zlbSk82UJ6w 

Bringing Frank and Sport to the curb the sleigh comes to a stop. I help Jeannie from her perch, and taking her arm, we walk about the square among the twinkling lights, looking in the windows of the various shops.

As we walk along, I become aware of some children playing in the park, the boys are throwing snowballs at each other, and there are three young girls trying to roll up some snow. Then I see Jeannie taking notice, and I see the glow in her eyes, her hands come together before her and she rises on her toes, and her eyes twinkle, “Those girls are trying to build a snowman.” She says, as though they need help. (In my selfish thoughts, I had brought Jeannie here to walk the square with her, to be seen with her, for she is a beautiful girl, and though I love her, I long to be seen with her as well, but…. Alas, she is young, with much girl still stirring in her soul, and she knows not, she is being displayed, nor does she care…She longs to build a snowman…)

“Then let’s give them some help.” I reply.

“Yesss…!!!” she says sounding pleased, and like a shot, she is off to the park, with me in close pursuit….

Running up to the girls struggling with the big snowball, “What’re you girls doing?”

“We’re making a snowman.” The girls answer.

“Can I help?” she continues.

“Yea… But he can’t…” they chime in pointing at me, “the boys are mean, tell him to go play with the boys.” The girls agree, with their rules.

Spinning around to me, “Go play with the boys Georgie.” Jeannie says with folded hands, “Pleassseee.”

“Well Rats!” I reply a little disappointed, “Okay.” I say giving her a wink, what the hell, so I wonder off towards a bench there in the park. Brushing away the snow, I have a seat, and watch this wondrous creature of mine as she and her new found friends make a snowman. I notice, that Jeannie, being the oldest, gently took charge and in no time, they were rolling up their second ball of snow, and they were laughing and giggling, brief moments of throwing snow at one another, but otherwise working on their common goal.

Smack!!!! (?) I get nailed by a snowball??? I Look around and see a group of boys, grinning at me, each one with a snowball in their hand. I mumble….with increasing volume, ”You realize, this means war…!” and I hop over the back of the bench, as they pelt me with their ammo, but I’m fast and they miss. I quickly set to the task of making snowballs and defending myself. So the battle is on, I’d stand and set one to flying, and then duck the incoming. I was out numbered, but stood my ground, hitting my target far more often than they hitting me, thinking I was ahead bit, I started laughing… but laughing ain’t fighting, and they begin to close in on me, trying to cover my flanks, I’m steadying throwing, nailing one boy after the other, but laughing just the same… Soon they close in, nailing me with one snowball after the other, so ducking down, the incoming increasing numbers and soon I am sitting in a pile of snow, covered in snow, surrounded by my adversaries, being pummeled with snow … The boys are laughing and piling the snow on, as I sit quiet, letting the white drift pile up on me, letting them think they have won.

Soon, they have encircled me, just standing there, wondering what has become of me, who was laughing and fighting so nobility just moments ago and now quiet, and appearing to be no more than a drift. As I peek out thru the crystals, I can see the puzzle on their faces, as they ponder what has happened, and then beyond them, I see Jeannie and the girls have taken notice, and are closing in on the boys, now with their backs turned, each one armed with a big fat snowball.

“Grrrrrrrrrrr………!!!!!!!!!” I call out in a loud angry tone as I rise up in a turning motion, like a great phoenix, setting snow flying in every direction, the boys in their surprize, turn to run and are pelted by balls of snow flying in from the rear, as the girls squeal in glee. When the commotion is over… The boys are gone, having fled in every direction, Jeannie and her friends were on their backs in the snow laughing, and I just stood there like a monolith.

But then beyond the girls I see a Snowman. Between the four of them, a fine snowman had been brought to life, to live briefly, but to live…just the same.

“So…what’s his name?” I ask as I walk over to have a look. He was really quite handsome, made of three good size snowballs, neatly piled one on the other, his arms were made of sticks, and his coat buttons, eyes and mouth were made of coal, with a carrot for his nose. One of the girls, Veronica, had taken her orange stocking hat and scarf and put it on the man.

“I don’t know? We haven’t named him yet.” They seem to chime in together… “What shall be his name?”

“How do you know it’s a man?” Veronica speaks up.

“We are four girls? Why would we build another girl? It’s a man.” Jeannie says…

“Boys build snowmen?” Veronica agues, “So girls build..?? Snow-girls!”

“Boys build armies, girls build families.” Jeannie replies…

“Hummmm…..” Veronica is thinking, and she scratches her head, Jeannie notices that her hat is gone, on the snowman, and Veronica folds her arms with the cold.

Then Jeannie speaks up, “It’s Veronica hat and scarf on the snowman, it can be whatever she wants.”

“He’s a man, and his name is ‘Lucky.’” Veronica announces, and they all smile and hug, I just have to smile…

“Come on Jeannie, we got to get going.” Realizing how late it is getting to be. Jeannie turns and looks at Veronica, smiles, and takes the beaver skinned hat off her head, and puts it on Veronica, and then comes to me. “What about your hat, Jeannie?”

“What hat?”

“Yes ma’am, well let’s go.” And we climb into the sleigh behind Frank and Sport, and with a whistle, we are gliding on through town.

Then as we come to Farmers Gray’s home, there seems to be a bit of a commotion, and we pull in to see what’s up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw

We pull up to the little country Church, and secure the horses and go in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDPwNPAV6tA&feature=fvw

https://youtu.be/ldbvaX6VINo 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql0CnTY49mc

With services over we return to the sleigh, giving the reins a snap and shouting to the horses we head home at a brisk pace. Jeannie is laughing and squealing with glee as the bells once again sing out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTpwv-LPtng

We arrive, and Jeannie invites me in to have a bit of hot coca and sit by the fire, she snuggles close and puts her head on my shoulder, and I am just lost there in her company, gazing into the fire, with thoughts of only her.

She turns to me and says, “Tell me a story, Georgie, you know the one.”

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-uNQ2oQACk&t=30s 

Your eyes grow wide and you mouth drops open as you exclaim!!! “Georgie!!! What the Hell!! That’s not it!!!”

“Well, I thought you were old enough to hear the real version.” I reply, with my famous mischievous smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifK-k8Ii8Xw

Your eyes narrow and I can see daggers in them, “You are so mean…you are…!!! I’m going to real version your ass!!!” and you pounce on me, tickling me, and we wiggle and squirm about a bit, just enjoying one another's presents.

“Now tell it right!!!”

My lower lip comes out, and I wink at you… “Okay.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzIF4eYRkg

Again, we snuggle by the fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqH-Cp5tDY

I lightly grab the back of her hair, and turn her head to steal that kiss, and she struggles, stands, and says firmly, “I think you should be going, Mr. Nichols, it’s getting late,” and she walks me to the door, and there in the threshold hangs a prig of mistletoe.

Standing under it, I say, “Miss Jeannie, I had a wonderful evening, and…. Well…Ahhh… I love you.”

She looks me square in the eyes, and in the most discerning manner, declares, "Watch out, Mr. Nichols, the perv in you is beginning to show."  Then looking down a moment, and blushing, looks back at me, and her eyes soften in the moonlight, and studying my fallen face carefully, she continues, “Why…..? I do believe you do.” And then with a sigh, says, “Now kiss me, and go home.” And she reaches up to me, closing her eyes, offering her lips, as she slowly rises on her toes….I pick her up into my arms, and for a few moments, my life seems to be…where it is going… as I kissed her, and then… the moment gone.

She then closed the door on me, what a strange wondrous creature she is? I sprang to the sleigh, and to my team gave a whistle, and away we all flew, like the down of a thistle, my heart soaring high feeling much like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVN1Apz45AE&feature=related

Merry Christmas 

Sleep well.

Love

Wolfie