WNBA closing locker rooms

I'm sure the teams/league feel established and secure enough, now, to do this.

This wouldn't be happening if the WNBA didn't believe it has grown bigger than/beyond the media.

It's probably true, too, because the changes in media coverage in recent years have all been in ways that favor the subjects: There is more coverage, maybe, but it is more minimal, surface, quickie stuff that is inherently more light-weight than investigative or extensive, and the output of coverage (in terms of what is broached/addressed) is more controlled by the subjects than by the media outlets than it used to be, too.

This move is just an extension of that.

 

If you are negotiating with a player’s union, this is way easier to give in on than, y’know, more money.

 

Yep. But I'm not sure the soccer stars mind it too much.

 

Maybe this is cynical of me but, not only do I think pro athletes couldn't care less what the media thinks, they'd just as soon never see or talk to a reporter - ever.

 

Jay Mariotti disapproves.

 

How about the coaches? Probably some of them would be the same way, similar to a lot of politicians and other officials.

 

JMO...coaches kind of like it. They can send a message to the team through the media, defend players, etc.

 

This is true. It's not 1993, when the only voices were in a paper and players or coaches were more likely to want and be able to put a face to the criticism. Now, it's all one giant wall of noise and 99% of them aren't bright enough/don't care enough to differentiate Slapdick69 with 14 followers on Twitter telling Joe Schmoe to jump in traffic and Charlie Columnist saying Joe Schmoe tends to struggle with runners in scoring position.

 

I have a new fantasy team name

 

One particular trend with the Twitter thing is, if one jackass says a stupid thing on Twitter, that counts for the overarching media narrative.

And athletes are no different from the rest of us, who daily imbibe the "I am surrounded by enemies" suffering trope favored in our culture. Athletes love to have haters. It completes them.

 

I remember when it was just sports radio that the rest of us had to worry about. "No, listen, just because some dickhead in car called in to say you suck doesn't mean WE are writing/saying you suck." Simpler times. But players still couldn't differentiate, sometimes b/c they just weren't bright enough to do it but usually b/c as you say, they love finding motivation. It's funny when players who were difficult as active players retire and are much kinder and easier to deal with.