Sunday, May 25, 2003

My Mom, The Fan

Last night was the season opener for the Silver Stars -- San Antonio's hottest ticket.

I happen to have four -- second tier, center court.

I know that's a big departure from norm as I've never been into spectator sports -- excepting boxing, ultimate, and wrestling -- but in this instance, I'm putting my money where my mouth is...

Gotta support women. Gotta vote for 'em, gotta hire 'em, gotta go to their games.

The male professional sports monopoly is so tiresome. Football is a constant source of irritation. Especially here in Texas. I'll spare you the rant, but its about damn time for pro women's basketball.

The pathetic salaries piss me off, but at least they're playing -- and as Mom put it -- the game was a surprisingly good time.

Yup... the parents were in town, so they went with me and my next door neighbor.

After waiting for the meaningless security search, snagging the commemorative lapel pins at the gate, and getting 'em signed up for SBC rewards cards -- Mom got the grande margarita, Dad the grande sack of peanuts, we found our seats and the party began.

Our team is good -- with many solid players and several stand out personalities who will probably generate local followings.

For example, Marie Ferdinand has a new biggest ever fan -- Mom. Early on Mom bestowed the coveted "she's a prancy pony" on her -- and determined she was fast, aggressive, in shape and her favorite. Ferdinand also ended up being the game's top scorer.

With over 15,000 in attendance, it looks like the fans came out for the Stars -- many young girls with hoop dreams of their own. And since that is the point -- I hope they keep it up.

Aside from all that feel good stuff -- the game brought into relief a "no place like home" detail. I snagged some nachos and a Shiner during half time and loaded up on the jalapeños.

Let me tell you -- those hot bites were the best thing. I'm not sure if it is a regional characteristic of the Soria area of Spain or if its country wide, but the food at Valdelavilla had a distinct lack of heat. No zip to be found.

There were these slender, long, yellow peppers pickled in vinegar that made an occasional appearance with bean soups, but although they looked promising initially -- no real kick. The Spanish said one out of ten peppers would light you up, but I usually ate the entire table's serving of them and never got lucky.

So there I was shoveling jalapeños to the point I bemoaned not having added a third scoop... My version of a slightly fiery, cheesey heaven. Yes, its those little differences.

Also grabbed during the half were Stars window clings which are now installed on the back windows of Mom's caddie and my Del Sol.

Gotta support 'em!

I mean -- at ABC during a George Stephanopolous roundtable on the Annika Sorenstam phenomena with Billy Jean King, Janet Guthrie, and Laila Ali -- HBO's disturbing discrimination against televising women's boxing came up

Evidently, HBO refuses to televise the women's bout and since Laila is fighting -- she is understandably pissed.

Its hard to understand why HBO would discriminate against chick fights. They aren't any more or less violent than men beating on each other.

Get real!

This sexism is outdated and pathetic.

After all -- this is the station that brings us the incomparable Tony Soprano and his wonderful brand of gratuitous violence. Not to mention the in your face rapes and murders of OZ.

Laila Ali pounding down another women can't be any worse... if I had a subscription -- I'd cancel it.

posted by Bohica at 6:23 PM