CNN/SI's Nick Charles examined the possibility of an
"overcrowded" sports marketplace with the growth of women's
sports. Women's Sports Foundation board member Donna de
Varona, on gaining exposure for women's sports: "The real
issue is: Can we get the air time? And that's extremely
important in this crowded marketplace because many
television programmers go to what they think is dependable,
and it's very hard to carve out the television niche."
Sports radio talk show host Joe Chevalier said he and his
listeners are "not at all" excited about the start of the
WUSA next year. Chevalier said soccer has had "great
trouble marketing itself in this country," and he cited a
decrease in MLS attendance. Chevalier added women athletes
"are up against" men in attempts to gain exposure and,
"simply, the women aren't as good as athletes as the men,"
so when "trying to sell a second-rate product" it becomes a
"tough job." Brandi Chastain, who celebrated her World Cup-
winning goal by removing her jersey to expose her sports
bra, when asked about the selling of women's sports through
sex appeal: "I haven't had too many corporations that have
been interested in doing something along those lines. I
think they're more interested what we gave to the fans."
More Chevalier, on sex appeal in women's sports: "You've got
a good-looking gal [Anna Kournikova] and they're marketing
the heck out of that. ... Tennis is where the women have
made some strides, ... but it's not as good as the men ...
and that's the biggest problem they have" (CNN/SI, 8/12).
