Week
of
03/02/98:		 The UConn and Villanova women's basketball teams permitted an injured player, Nykesha Sales, to score 2 uncontested points so she could break a school record. Was this a great gesture for a deserving player or has the competition in women's college basketball been compromised?



Name: GINA C. WILLIAMS
Email: Oiwill@earthlink.com
Response: I wouldn't say compromised, but I think that the entire purpose of the most points, is the most points during competitive play, so I think her record should be discounted.


Name:
Email:
Response: I believe Women's Basketball has not been compromised. I look at it as being supportive.


Name: vdoll
Email:
Response: YES!!! I do not believe that it was right. That record was not broken legitamately. Could she have broken the record during the game while being guarded as most players are? If not, then why was she given the opportunity to do it uncontested? Was she even fit enough to be back on the court or was she just allowed back for the express purpose to break this record uncontested? If this was a male player, would that he be allowed to go up uncontested to break a school record? Would it have the same thrill?


Name: Nathaniel Johnson
Email: bsnj@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
Response: I think it wasn't deserving.


Name: Monte Pratt
Email: sanderdl@co.forsyth.nc.us
Response: I think it was an extremely nice gesture on the behalf of the coach and the teams involved. On the other hand for the game of womens basketball I think it was a half-baked idea. This time the points (and seconds) exchanged happened at the beginning of the game. What if they occur at an "important" time in the game? Why not? What if the coach was willing to spot the other team 4 points if the other team was willing to let his injured player score two and break the record? Is that okay? What if UConn's coach works out a deal with Villanova's coach, and then UConn's coach violates the agreement after his team gets its "free" points? Does UConn get a technical foul called against the bench for "unsportsmanlike conduct." Nice gesture. Bad idea.


Name: khne3mu
Email: khne3mu@aol
Response: As far as I'm concerned, I don't think that women basketball has been compromised. My reason is this: I looked at the athleticism, the teamwork, the competiveness, and the resolution of defeat and victory as the desirable aspect of a contest.


Name: Karie
Email: maurerka@hotmail.com
Response: No, women's college basketball has not been compromised. In fact, it is accentuating the spirit of competition, of respect for hard work, dedication, and determination. It was only a display of a show of respect for such an accomplished player, that should be what it's all about.


Email: PITTBUL@webtv.net
Response: What's the big deal about women's basketball? It's just another demand that women made because they felt left out. Any time men do something that makes women jealous, they feel that they just have to do the same thing. Women have this insane notion that they must do everything men do to be a man's equal and that they have to prove it. (who is Nykesha?) Men weightlift, so women got in the gym, strained their little-hearts out producing mass muscle, and destroyed that beautiful, lovely torso that GOD gave them. When I hold a woman in my arms, I don't want to feel like I'm holding another man!!!... So she hurt her "widdle-foots," just goes to prove women shouldn't play basketball; They're too fragile. They have been pampered entirely too much, for too long. They are never satisfied; It's a constant Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie! Where does it stop?? Are they "WORTH" the Misery They cause Men?... HELL YES THEY ARE. .....WHAT WAS THAT QUESTION AGAIN???.....


Name: Atiba
Email: Lloydampoet@webtv.net
Response: I wonder how those who feel this compromised women's basketball feel about the golfer who was allowed to use a cart in a tournament, because he could'nt walk? Now THIS, I feel was truely a travesty. But lets not forget, the woman whos record Nykesha broke, Karry Bascom, agreed with the whole thing before the game. ALL of the golfers, and the PGA was against the cart thing. In fact, they even went to court. We all know, are should be aware of the fact that most records that are broken, especially in pro sports, have some type of "gimme". There were games when Cal Ripkin came in for one pitch to keep his streak alive. Yet, the entire baseball world had no porblem with it. Nykesha Sales in an All American, her team is number 2 in the country, and, her leadership had a lot to do with it. If she could have played, she would. Shes not the type to sit out due to some small injury. Everyone in the conference loves, and respects her, teammates and opponents. This sister is a "gamer", and I say more power to her.


Name: Atiba
Email: lloydampoet@webtv.net
Response: Those of us who are real sports buffs will remember some thirty years ago, when Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain served up a "gopher ball" right down the pipe for Mickey Mantle, who hit it out for his 535th. home run, moving him past Jimmy Fox into third place. Four years ago, the NBA Clippers stood by and allowed David Robinson to score 71 almost uncontested points, givig him te scoring title over Shaquille O'Neal. And guess what? Baseball and basketball survived. I think the entire Villanova team and its coaches should b commended for allowing Ms. Sales to reach this milestone. She has to be a hell of player, and super nice person. To even things up, the Connecticut team stood by and allowed Villanova to score a basket to even things up. The game actually started at 2-2. No harm. If you want to talk about poor sportsmanship, a girls high school team here in St. Louis defeated another 127-7 in the district playoffs two days ago. This coach should be fired and never allowed inside a gym again. Can you imagine how bad those girls must have felt?


Name:
Email: Dragonface@webtv.net
Response: In my mind--those points should not count beause they were not earned in competition. Gratuitous points are a gift. You can't just give someone points to capture a record. It may seem ridiculous but that part of the basketball game was a farce! 'Protocol-ritual' is what it was, and that makes it phony. Little Ms. (sore-foot) was there to retire from basketball because of her injury, and not to play a full game of basketball!!! Let's bring Kerry Bascom back, and extend to her the same courtesy given to Nykesha Sales....under these circumstances this could go on forever. I must admit--I am not familiar with the rules of basketball, still, it smells fishy to me... Can I get an AMEN Up-In-Here??????


Name: Ulysses Vawters
Email: uvawters@gte.net
Response: I believe it was a generous gesture by UCONN and particuarly so by Villanova..........it showed respect for tremendous athlete. However, I have to question Ms. Sales decision to take the offer...2 points or no 2 points..school scoring records or no..I firmly believe that Ms. Sales acceptance will haunt her for awhile. She will be viewed as just another selfish athlete that has put her own self interest ahead of the team....and this is a shame, all of the information I have heard about Nykesha indicates that she is not deserving of that tag.


Name: Peter A. Stewart III, Esq.
Email: pstewart@mail.house.state.us
Response: I personally think that it has been compromised. It isn't fair to the other players who may have had a headache, back strain or any other type of minor injury that they may have played with anyway. It also actually cheapens the record she broke. Letting her score the points uncontested meant the level of difficulty was nil. I wonder does she feel like her new record is cheapened?


Name: Larry J. Smith
Email: alent@gte.net
Response: Yes, It was compromised, and it could have been done better than an all out give-it-to-her. Why not keep in under a gag order and don't let the world know what's going to happen. As a Black Man, I see we talk to much at the wrong time and not enough when we should. Deep in our heart we know when to speak up and when not. I'm proude of this young lady for what she has already accomplished, to set a record is only a mark of history set for those who follow to out do, be better, set their mark higher for those who follow. I believe a true athlete wants to demostrate that ability at that point in time to be the best. It was a good jester. However look at the others who will follow her, will they be given the same op- portunity to break her set record? Larry


Name: Linda May
Email: Diaspora@aol.com
Response: We are talking about college basketball. The women are at least 18 years of age. They are able to vote, and sign for their medical care etc. Nykesha was the best person to judge if she was experiencing too much discomfort/pain to remain in the game. As it turned out, I believe that she is doing just fine. I do not want to compare this situation to football, but those folks stay in there all the time. The other thing is that atheletes generally have better muscle tone and heal fastser because they are in such excellent shape with diet and exercise. By the way I am new to Everythingblack and it is the Bomb. My solid response to the question. No women's basketball has not been compromised