Peter Sagan....it was just a pinch (Page 2)

No, I love womens sports.  Socccer, swimming, tennis and plenty more I enjoy as much, if not more, as the men - usually depending on the personalities at the time.  I would love more coverage of womens cycling.  In fact, I probably paid closer attention to the women's Olympic sports than the men.  Nobody that watches the coverage of the Olympics, for example, will leave with the impression that women are less competitive than men.

However, in many sports, the disparity in the quality of play is just too pronounced.  Womens basketball, for example.  No doubt they are exceptional athletes, but the entertainment value is low - for me.

Agree, but advertising is exactly that be it a man or woman. 

No fools here just a discussion.

IMO It "is" as it has always been only changing...

Danica may not be making as much $$$ on the Track but she is crushing the boys in the $$$ department off the track.

If asked I would guarantee she would opt for the opposite. But I would also say she would take both!

I didn't see many thoughts.  If you are concerned about inequality of pay based on gender in one industry, why not another?

I would need to be convinced of that. I'm doubtful that such is the case. But I could be wrong.

Has she released a statement yet?  Maybe Sagan and her know each other and have a "joking" type relationship.  Yes he was wrong for doing it in such a manor while in the eyes of the press and public.  We really don't know the whole side of the story.  If they know each other maybe they have an understanding, I don't know this and it's just an opinion.  I personally would love to hear her side of the story so we can make an educated decision.  I'm just pointing out there could be a lot more to the story than any of us know.

Now that said, I in no way condone what he did nor am I making any excuses for his poor judgement.  I simply would like to know both sides of the story.  He took the first step by apologizing to the media.  Let's see where it goes from here and his (or the teams) next step.

Just my two cents.

Talk about jumping to conclusions! 

This list has her #8 in 2011, and much of that was just based on Indy earnings.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/02/22/nascars-highest-paid-drivers/

No matter what she says, she would be attacked.  No statement is probably the best thing for her career.

Never really was insulted by podium girls before.  They always seemed to be a little weird to me, although the women do appear to enjoy their job (but I have been told that some women are good at faking it). 

I wonder what the riders think of it.  Do you always get a kiss.  Certainly wouldn't be something that I would look forward to.

I have no desire to see them, or for professional cheerleaders (an exception for those that are clearly skilled and provide a spectacle of their own).

I am not necessarily offended by paying someone just to look good.   After all, everyone has their own collection of skills.

Bernard, I said they like their jobs....I said I'm quite sure she didn't like the pinch...so don't put words in my mouth.

As for your other point....no way am I defined by the least of my peers....no way in hell.  I understand what you are trying to do here,  but you're painting with an awful big brush.  And maybe you're right, I don't  "give men enough credit for recognizing what's in it for the to begin this sort of interruption"....but I'll tell you this, I sure as hell know what's in it for them if they pinch one of my daughter's arses in that situation, and it won't take any intervention from me or you.

Again, I don't think you give women enough credit.

There will be some that agree with you. I'm really not doing this "for" women. Not as my primary motivation, anyway. It really is a men's issue.
 

I don't disagree with that, but it's not an issue for ALL men, anymore than it's an issue for ALL women.  I'm for looking at incidents as they are.....not deciding that all incidents are the same or that everyone involved in any incident feels the same....because that is surely not the case.

If you want to really help the situation, as a man.......raise strong women!!

You know, I agree with you fundamentally, and I bet many of the people seemingly disagreeing with you here do as well.  However, you lose listeners when you overreact.  Removing podium girls from professional cycling isn't going to fix the problem.  It's a distraction.  We need to address the real problem.  It's like trying to outlaw soft drinks to help solve the obesity crisis.

In the spirit of capitalizing on the learning moment presented, check your local statutes for what constitutes assault. 

You know that really would help.....right?

Bernard is correct.  In fact, in my state it constitutes a sexual assault.  The law is very clear that touching of certain areas, even through the clothing, is sexual assault. 

BUT....you have to have a victim willing to prosecute, and there DOES have to be criminal intent, which would be very closely looked at in this case.  Again, alot would rest with the victim, or lack thereof.

You're still listening. Respectfully, I don't think it's an over-reaction. 

In my original post to this thread, I called his actions shameful (they are). The real problem, as I define it, is that we've been conditioned to value women as eye candy (more than athletes, in this case). That's the problem perpetuated by having them serve as eye candy (there for the grabbing) on the podium of bike races.

So, to restate, I think if we were to primarily value the role of women in competitive cycling, as athletes instead, there wouldn't be a call for podium girls. To that end, I think identifying the role of podium girls as "part of the problem" is appropriate. 

You're right, though ... it distracts from the main issue in this case. That this guy felt entitled enough to get grabby. I'm not excusing why he felt entitled, just pointing out the process of conditioning that led to it. I think that's important to do and not an over-reaction.

You're free to dismiss me if you wish. 

So what is your threshold that would require interruption?