We’re always told to respect women, give them a seat at the table, treat them fairly, etc etc. And that’s all obvious and good. So when I hear about a Jazz fan podcast by the ladies I go check it out — not because of body parts or skin color, but because I’m always interested in Jazz content. And what do these ladies provide? Well, for years our culture has blamed men for objectifying women. And that’s true in so many ways. Yet these ladies swung hard and completely missed. They had a potential new listener ready to consume their content and take them seriously. And I can’t believe that, even against every logical thought in my brain, I actually made it through the entire Valentine’s Day episode. Unfortunately for me — but far more for them — it was filled with unending innuendos and basic disregard for the players (c’mon, these are fellow humans) but even more disregard for themselves. The ladies may complain that “this is what guys do.” Yeah, the gross ones. Or maybe that’s your plan — trick the horny guys into coming to listen to your “Jazz” podcast because who doesn’t like to listen to chicks talk sports, right? Then you rope them in because, hey, who doesn’t wanna hear ladies talk dirty, huh? But if that’s the audience you want, and if that’s the market segment you’re gonna target, well, that’s what you’re gonna get. There are plenty of bad Jazz podcast out there. You ladies had an absolutely wonderful chance to bring in large numbers, but if you’re just going to sit around a hope that some pathetic Jazz fans are going to enjoy listening to you have fantasy sex with Jazz players...well, I guess that’s the podcast audience you’ll bring in. For the sake of common decency and professional courtesy, maybe highlight more clearly what kind of podcast you’re promoting.
Or, if you decide you want to be taken seriously, maybe reevaluate what it is that Jazz fans want to hear. Or if you simply decide that you’re doing this for your own sexual gratification, I’m positive a few of you (specifically) should know better. I’ll continue treating women and men equally, evaluating their content on its own merits. But if you really think you’re doing anything noble or helpful for women in sports, in podcasting, or just in general, please know you are all capable of so, so much more.
