Granted, last week’s Roundtable was about the nature of man. This week, let’s pivot a touch and go with this:
Why is the Caitlin Clark story so captivating for American viewing audiences?
Have at it.
Tuesday Refugee Roundtable: The Case for Women’s Basketball
Because she didn’t have all the physical tools. She busted her butt and put everything she had in her game.
Gurls rule…!!
She was a top 5 recruit in the country coming out of high school. She had plenty of physical tools.
I have no idea.
In college she was the best 3-point shooter I have ever seen.
Men or Women. She would cross midcourt and let it fly, making a majority of them. It was ungodly.
Caitlin Clark is interesting because she’s doing things nobody else in the women’s game can do, or has ever done. Almost nobody in the men’s game has ever shown that kind of range or ability to successfully launch contested shots, either. If you ever played, you know what she’s doing is special. Plus, while she’s fiery on court, off the court she us humble and polite. I respect that approach. Plus, her detractors all seem like petty, awful people. Pretty easy to pull for her.
81Dawg, I know you remember Pete Maravich! He made contested shots from all over the half court. Every opponent double teamed him because he took damage near every shot.
Clark was interesting because she did something no man did in 54 years.
I do remember Pistol Pete! His flair remains unmatched, although parts of his game were copied and incorporated by various players over the years. I don’t think CC has his kind of flash, though she is a capable ball handler. The 3 point line is a big difference between the game in Pete’s era and now. The bonus for long shots now has led to a focus on long shots. Sure, Pete could shoot from all over, and surely would have thrived from the 3 line, but the game then was much more take the ball to the hole and 1. Score, 2. Get fouled shooting 3. Dish to an open cutter 4. kick to an open midrange guy
Shorter shots were higher percentage, so more valuable. Now? The 3 pays off even at a lower percentage. Teams play inside out, and defenses that would sit back to protect the basket now have to pick people up 35 feet out Spacing makes lanes for drives and cutters to get to the hoop.
I loved the Pistol, still do. CC plays different kind of game, to me. Much more Steph Curry than PP to me. She does things no woman, and few (one?) male players do. That’s impressive,and interesting. There are other good women’s players, but she’s one of one
White People like Cait Clark because she makes Cooper Flagg look like Al Iverson…
I had that initial thought – that it was a great white hope. But Paige Beckers is also white, has a redemption story, and is the primary offense for her team. Yet, she did not captivate the nation the way Caitlyn did.
I think the difference is Caitlyn had a “villain” in the form of Angel Reese. There did not seem to be any villains in the womens game this year.
I think that’s a fair point, and another would be that Caitlin Clark came out of nowhere Iowa, while Beckers was with the UConn juggernaut as well. Having the same teams at the top (UConn, SCar and LSU) every year gets old….
+1 for the Chappelle’s Show reference….
She can shoot.
Caitlyn has a unique skill set as a shooter that is just amazing to watch. Steph Curry has a similar vibe and is still captivating to watch play basketball. Both are physically “normal” looking players who take something that is extremely difficult and make it look effortless.
Caitlyn is a determined competitor…confident..doesn’t back down to bullying, etc..She is the female version of Larry Bird and Pistol Pete combined..Also…as someone noted above, she has class and poise even when others are intentionally trying to injure her. But mostly, Caitlyn is just one hell of a round ball player!