Being a female sports-lover, I always feel I have to clarify a few things immediately after telling this fact to another person. For example: I was interviewing for a room in a house with the three guys that lived there and, naturally, I freely admitted that I love sports, like, really. The words had barely left my lips when I blurted out, "But not like how girls say they like sports and then don't know what 'tagging up' is, or how many players make up a soccer team."
My reaction in my own mind to my comment was that the last line was rather harsh. How do I expect to garner respect as a knowledgeable and informed person on a subject if I point out that my gender is less than well-known for athletics smarts? I just knew that somewhere in the cosmic universe Gloria Steinem heard me say that and was disappointed. So was I.
Then I really began to think about why I genuinely don't know any other woman who knows as much, or are as interested in sports on the whole as I am. I am clearly not that special, so what's the deal? I have met some amazing ladies who can talk with me about basketball, or maybe soccer, and some knowledgeable football chicks as well, but it's when I want to talk about the Blazers' offseason moves, the race for the American League wild card, and predictions for the U.S. Open (tennis) that I always end up turning and looking for the nearest dude who doesn't dress well to speak with on the subjects. Perhaps I am just as bad as the men. Not expecting women to know, so I don't bother to ask. To that end, the times I have inquired further when a girl makes a sports reference, I am mostly disappointed. It never really pans out.
The sporting world is, of course, a boy's club. So how did I get into this club without a disguise? Then I realized that I was in disguise after all, just as myslef. I am myself masquerading as a woman who is completely A-sexual and has no desire to see your peepee. How did I leap to this rather silly conclusion you ask? Well, let's look at the facts of my relationships with men as an O.K. looking 23 year old woman. (we will say for the purpose of compacting the point in what could be a long discussion of insecurities and curiosities that I am not sexually un-attractive) First off, the vast majority of my good friends are dudes and I am not involved with any of them. I just seem to have more of a manly demeanor with firendships, thus giving me tons of practice when interacting with a male with whom I am not well acquainted. Basically, this means I am unable to flirt with males. I tend to disarm with discussion, not subtle looks, sly arm-touching, or hair-twirling.
Not all of this has to do with me either. A lot of this attitude was cultivated because men who like sports are literally not attracted to females who like sports an equal amount. Lots of guys are suprised to learn that I have never had a real relationship in my life, but when you give it just a little bit more thought, it becomes clear that my sports knowledge hinders any potential love life I might cultivate.
It's like this: Sports is a "man thing", so getting upstaged by a female doesn't exactly make you more attracted to that girl. Guys like to compartmentalize, sports is a refuge from girls. Watching the game with your buddies gives you a fool-proof excuse to ditch the lady for the day. Guys don't want a girl to watch the game with, they want a girl to cook them food during the game and then leave (I don't blame them on that one, sounds nice).
Basically, it seems I have blurred some gender roles, that is never good for the dating game, but it works fime for me. I just love sports so much that I don't think I could give them up for one man. Even with just a basketball team I get 5-times as many.
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