Would THIS make you watch women's soccer? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Halx · 01-16-2004, 12:11 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Quote:

FIFA president calls for sexier uniforms for women

By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer
January 16, 2004
LONDON (AP) -- The president of world soccer suggested that female players wear more revealing uniforms to bring more attention to their sport.

One English player called the suggestion by FIFA president Sepp Blatter ``ridiculous'' and ``irresponsible.''

Blatter said women's soccer needed different sponsors from the men's game and should try to attract fashion and cosmetics companies by featuring ``more feminine uniforms.''

``Tighter shorts, for example,'' Blatter told the Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick. ``In volleyball the women also wear other uniforms than the men. Pretty women are playing football today. Excuse me for saying that.''

Brandi Chastain caused a stir at the Women's World Cup in the United States in 1999 when she removed her shirt in celebration of a title-winning victory over China to reveal a sports bra.

England goalkeeper Pauline Cope called Blatter's suggestion ``typical of a bloke.''

``To say we should play football in hot pants is plain ridiculous,'' she said. ``It's completely irresponsible for a man in a powerful position to make comments like this.''

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said Friday that Blatter never mentioned the word ``hot pants.''

``The remarks were by no means meant to be offensive -- not at all,'' Herren said. ``Whatever he said, it was more a general remark, 'Let's take a look at that.' But it's not the ultimate recipe to salvage the women's game because he went on to say women's football has established itself and it has a future.''

Swiss captain Evelyn Zimmermann and Norwegian players Lise Klaveness and Solveig Gulbrandsen also rejected Blatter's fashion advice.

``You can't compare us with volleyball players and, apart from everything else, those shorts are uncomfortable,'' Zimmermann said.

Klaveness said soccer is about sport, not sex.

``If the crowd only wants to come and watch models then they should go and buy a copy of Playboy,'' she said.

Added Gulbrandsen: ``If I wanted to wear a bikini, I would have chosen to play beach volleyball.''

Marianne Spacey, manager of the London club Fulham Ladies, said Blatter's comments should be taken seriously because of his position, but some of her players reacted with laughter.

``It does surprise me because people might actually listen because he's such a powerful person in the game of football,'' Spacey said. ``For people in the women's game it's caused uproar and it provided a few chuckles in training, that's for sure.''

Prophecy · 01-16-2004, 12:20 PM

I'd guess I might watch more often but I'd feel damn sorry for the players. You want a sports uniform to provide some measure of comfort and protection. Besides the women are out their to play soccer and not be sex icons in shorts. Personally, I'm just suprised that Blatter would have said something like this publicly. It makes him sound like a dumbass in my book.

stickyrice · 01-16-2004, 01:56 PM

read that this morning and I thought that 'idea' needed a little more thought put into it. I certainly don't think that using feminine features to sell the sport would work at all.

Vince McMahon tried using provacative cheerleaders in order to promote the XFL. Look where it is now.

crewsor · 01-16-2004, 02:21 PM

Hell yeah, It's the only reason I watch womens volleyball. Hardbodied, sweaty girls in bikinis, jumping up and down. Now thats entertainment. If they played soccer in bikinis and I flipped by that channel, I would definately linger a while.

Redlemon · 01-16-2004, 02:28 PM

I keep thinking of Mia Hamm and the sportsbra...

Mojo_PeiPei · 01-16-2004, 02:34 PM

Screw beach volley, high school/college volleyball is probably one of the most sexxxy/ and awesome sports, god bless spandex.

~springrain · 01-16-2004, 02:40 PM

that's just pathetic and insulting.

Spartak · 01-16-2004, 04:16 PM

Honestly, anybody who is into soccer knows that the FIFA chief Sepp Blatter is the biggest idiot in the world. Half of the shit he says makes me think that he was either drunk or hallucinogens when he said it.

This is hardly surprsing, but I think he should stick to running FIFA and not make idiotic off the cuff comments.

Or better yet, FIFA should get their brain into gear and sack the blithering idiot.

The_Dude · 01-16-2004, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ~springrain
that's just pathetic and insulting.

i agree, but they have to do something to get an audience.

sixate · 01-16-2004, 04:35 PM

I may watch it for a minute, but the simple fact is soccer is boring, and women sports are boring.

Boring squared is not a good thing

degrawj · 01-16-2004, 04:47 PM

no. i think that's disgusting. sometimes i forget how shallow and ignorant people can be.

rockzilla · 01-16-2004, 05:42 PM

Hey! And how about instead of playing soccer, they wrestle in hot oil? That would make for great TV!

These women are professional athletes and deserve to be treated as such. If you want something sexy, watch porn.

gov135 · 01-16-2004, 06:21 PM

I suppose every professional league - men's leagues included - use sex appeal to their advantage.

I'm not sure that sexing-up Mia Hamm's uniform would make the sport more appealing, though. Hamm and her leaguemates derive their sex appeal from being powerful, independent, and talented individuals. Shortening uniforms doesn't directly affect their appeal.

To answer the question directly: No, this wouldn't make me watch women's soccer. But it might make alot of people NOT watch women's soccer - remember, one of their largest audiences is teen/preteen girls who play youth soccer. I'm not sure how sex appeal reconciles with this audience.

Hrothgar · 01-16-2004, 08:09 PM

Nah. The chicks aren't feminine looking enough to hold my interest.

BigBlueWrecking · 01-17-2004, 06:15 PM

why the hell do they ever wear uniforms is my question?

The_Dude · 01-17-2004, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigBlueWrecking
why the hell do they ever wear uniforms is my question?

cuz playboy doesnt run their payroll

milkyp · 01-17-2004, 07:13 PM

It would take a lot more than that to get me to watch soccer. (Although it's a good start =P)

Jeff · 01-17-2004, 10:22 PM

It's a start, but like Sixate said, womens sports just aren't interesting, sex appeal or not.

jbuffett · 01-18-2004, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gov135

To answer the question directly: No, this wouldn't make me watch women's soccer. But it might make alot of people NOT watch women's soccer - remember, one of their largest audiences is teen/preteen girls who play youth soccer. I'm not sure how sex appeal reconciles with this audience.

Yeah, teen/preteen girls didn't follow along with Titney Spears or anything :-)

neddy65 · 01-18-2004, 08:55 AM

I read this article earlier today and all I could think was " what an asshole". The girls are serious athletes and should be treated with all due respect and not degraded by sugesting short shorts and tighter tops. I cannot believe that this guy even said this shit.
I think he should be removed from any position of authority involving this association.
I really liked the suggestion of one player that she would start wearing skimpier outfits when asshat started giving press conferences in a speedo.

gov135 · 01-18-2004, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbuffett
Yeah, teen/preteen girls didn't follow along with Titney Spears or anything :-)

I don't think the same girls who worship top female athletes have much to do with Britney Spears...

Jephree · 01-18-2004, 11:27 AM

Just being honest

muckluck · 01-18-2004, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by redlemon
I keep thinking of Mia Hamm and the sportsbra...

That wasn't Mia Hamm

01-16-2004, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Prophecy Oracle & Apollyon Location: Limbus Patrum	I'd guess I might watch more often but I'd feel damn sorry for the players. You want a sports uniform to provide some measure of comfort and protection. Besides the women are out their to play soccer and not be sex icons in shorts. Personally, I'm just suprised that Blatter would have said something like this publicly. It makes him sound like a dumbass in my book. __________________ La Disciplina È La Mia Spada, La Fede È Il Mio Schermo, Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza, E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

01-16-2004, 01:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
stickyrice Crazy	read that this morning and I thought that 'idea' needed a little more thought put into it. I certainly don't think that using feminine features to sell the sport would work at all. Vince McMahon tried using provacative cheerleaders in order to promote the XFL. Look where it is now. __________________ Can't think of anything to say....

01-16-2004, 02:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	Hell yeah, It's the only reason I watch womens volleyball. Hardbodied, sweaty girls in bikinis, jumping up and down. Now thats entertainment. If they played soccer in bikinis and I flipped by that channel, I would definately linger a while. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

01-16-2004, 02:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	I keep thinking of Mia Hamm and the sportsbra... __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

01-16-2004, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mojo_PeiPei Kiss of Death Location: Perpetual wind and sorrow	Screw beach volley, high school/college volleyball is probably one of the most sexxxy/ and awesome sports, god bless spandex. __________________ To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

01-16-2004, 02:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
~springrain Banned Location: central USA	that's just pathetic and insulting.

01-16-2004, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	Honestly, anybody who is into soccer knows that the FIFA chief Sepp Blatter is the biggest idiot in the world. Half of the shit he says makes me think that he was either drunk or hallucinogens when he said it. This is hardly surprsing, but I think he should stick to running FIFA and not make idiotic off the cuff comments. Or better yet, FIFA should get their brain into gear and sack the blithering idiot. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...

01-16-2004, 04:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
sixate Registered User Location: Somewhere in Ohio	I may watch it for a minute, but the simple fact is soccer is boring, and women sports are boring. Boring squared is not a good thing

01-16-2004, 04:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
degrawj I'm still waiting... Location: West Linn, OR	no. i think that's disgusting. sometimes i forget how shallow and ignorant people can be.

01-16-2004, 05:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
rockzilla Junkie Location: The Kitchen	Hey! And how about instead of playing soccer, they wrestle in hot oil? That would make for great TV! These women are professional athletes and deserve to be treated as such. If you want something sexy, watch porn.

01-16-2004, 06:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	I suppose every professional league - men's leagues included - use sex appeal to their advantage. I'm not sure that sexing-up Mia Hamm's uniform would make the sport more appealing, though. Hamm and her leaguemates derive their sex appeal from being powerful, independent, and talented individuals. Shortening uniforms doesn't directly affect their appeal. To answer the question directly: No, this wouldn't make me watch women's soccer. But it might make alot of people NOT watch women's soccer - remember, one of their largest audiences is teen/preteen girls who play youth soccer. I'm not sure how sex appeal reconciles with this audience.

01-16-2004, 08:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Hrothgar He's My Girl Location: The Champagne Douche	Nah. The chicks aren't feminine looking enough to hold my interest. __________________ The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar.

01-17-2004, 06:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
BigBlueWrecking Psycho	why the hell do they ever wear uniforms is my question?

01-17-2004, 07:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
milkyp Tilted Location: Orlando, FL	It would take a lot more than that to get me to watch soccer. (Although it's a good start =P)

01-17-2004, 10:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
Jeff And we'll all float on ok... Location: Iowa City	It's a start, but like Sixate said, womens sports just aren't interesting, sex appeal or not. __________________ For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. --Charles Bukowski

01-18-2004, 11:27 AM	#22 (permalink)
Jephree AKA: Boner Stabone Location: The one and only, SoCaLi	Just being honest

01-18-2004, 08:55 AM	#20 (permalink)
neddy65 Loves green eggs and ham Location: I'm just sittin' here watching the world go round and round	I read this article earlier today and all I could think was " what an asshole". The girls are serious athletes and should be treated with all due respect and not degraded by sugesting short shorts and tighter tops. I cannot believe that this guy even said this shit. I think he should be removed from any position of authority involving this association. I really liked the suggestion of one player that she would start wearing skimpier outfits when asshat started giving press conferences in a speedo. __________________ If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die! Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!