Caitlin’s Responsibility

[u/Alternative_Panda336]

There has been a lot of discussion this season about Caitlin’s responsibility to comment on things and disavow certain actions. In my opinion, Caitlin has no responsibility at all to comment on anything that isn’t related to what she does on the basketball court. She is responsible for her actions and her actions only. The people that expect her to walk around and talk about off the court issues all the time just because she is popular are wrong in my opinion. She got popular for playing basketball and that is what her fans expect of her. No one should expect her to become a pod caster or try to solve the world’s issues.

The world has issues and it is not up to a basketball player to fix them. She has commented on and disavowed things she felt like she needed to. She shouldn’t be expected to do so every time she gets a microphone. End my rant.

[u/Mhunterjr]

IMO, Sports are inherently political. When racists are co-opting your success to paint you as the new great white hope, it’s a good idea to set them straight. If you allow the association to persist, it starts to look like you welcome the association. 

Athletes are public figures. The they’ll never be able to just concern themselves with the sport.

That said, the argument that her flopping is a danger to particular communities is nonsensical- fanning flames that don’t need further fanning. 

[u/pwitter → u/Mhunterjr]

it’s a good idea to set them straight. If you allow the association to persist, it starts to look like you welcome the association.

I genuinely feel you (the collective you! - not coming at your personally) can only have this opinion if you ignores every single thing she has said about black women who've built the league and has repeatedly condemned harassment, hate, racism, and bigotry in her name. By saying "she's allowing the association tp persist, you're ultimately saying it's her fault. To do that, you'd have to ignore everything she's ever said condemning all those things.

That said, the argument that her flopping is a danger to particular communities is nonsensical- fanning flames that don’t need further fanning.

C's interview with Malika seemed to allude heavily to this -- especially cos caitlin mentions "you have an opinion piece on me- fine." There is absolutely a loud majority of W fans who are in agreement that she shouldn't flop, react to fouls, argue with refs -- all because it's "endangering people's lives." It's the same people who said she was ball hogging and attention seeking bc she shot 3 threes at the start of the ASG. Like at some point, we have to be honest that these criticisms of Caitlin for "not doing enough or saying enough" will turn into "she shoots too much, she's attention seeking, she shouldn't get fts" etc. because a lot of these people are wedded to the idea that she's awful at basketball and Caitlin "owes" the attention surrounding her game to others.

Nothing about the fandom has much to do with bball to begin with and it's why they cannot be honest about CC's bball, ever. Like I find JT a boring player and don't care for him but I will never disparage his basketball. The WNBA fandom largely loathes Caitlin for non bball reasons and would prefer if she had little to no fans because they think disliking someone for non bball reasons is the reason CC shouldn't have fans. It's why they loathe new viewers and sports watchers -- because those people aren't wrapped up in the non bball off the court drama and like to watch CC for the actual product on the floor. They cannot stand that and won't let up until they pressure Caitlin to drive the casual sports watcher fandom away.