How do you feel about Candace Parker's C-cup being referenced in this lede?

Because once my mentor at a larger paper took me to task for a lede I wrote. It was about a guy, about 6-4, jumper in track and field. Had that long, angular build. Drove a trans am. I called him long and lean like the car. She told me a woman shouldn't write something like that about a male athlete.
I'm happy that you apparently have never had to live with crap like that in your professional life. It says times really are a changin'. But don't accuse me of hooting and hollering about something I feel strongly about. THAT's offensive. I don't care how much marketing is about being attractive, and really, how often is Tiger painted as a sex object? Uh, never?... Most adults understand marketing is about appeal. But Candace Parker is appealing regardless of whether some writer blathers on about her cup size.

 

I'd be happy if she just became the full-time writer for the WTA. Especially the eastern Europeans. And nothing after the lede paragraph, just pictures.

 

The WNBA markets a new player like this every year or so. None of them ever change the world, let alone raise the profile of the WNBA from what it is... A third-rate league propped up by its parent.

 

The lede made me stop reading as well. I don't want to read that kind of story.

 

In general, I don't know why anyone would want to read these stories of how players get marketed (translation: shoved down the throats of the general public).

Regardless of the athlete, the bottom line is always the same, and should absolutely offend the reader: Because this athlete can hit golf ball or throw passes or play decent basketball, we would now like you to buy a car or fries or shoes, and thank you for your inability to see that we're playing you for shallow fools.

 

You mean Chamique Holdsclaw, Sue Bird etc... didn't save the WNBA? ;D

 

There is no way in hell Candace Parker, or anyone in women's hoops will ever be bigger than Mia Hamm or Danica Patrick.

It should be noted that Hamm never had to be marketed that way.

 

Third-rate league? When did the WNBA improve its standing?

 

I guess the WNBA will have to hold all their games in football stadiums now so all the fans can come out and see Candace Parker's never-ending legs etc...

 

Add me to the list of people who didn't keep reading. It was an awful, awful lead. Overwritten is the only word to describe it. It screamed "Hey, look at me! The writer! See what a great writer I am! Candace Parker is being written about here... BY ME!!"

 

Yeah, well neither of them are C cups!

 

Well, Danica has stooped that low for marketing purposes and that's unfortunate. Mia Hamm, who for my money, has had better staying power from a marketing standpoint than any female athlete of my lifetime, never had to go there...

And it's not like Mia isn't easy on the eyes.