Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 6

On the Mystics' home page is a photo of their big win Tuesday night over the New York Liberty, 79-46.  You go, girls!

I thought this saga had ended, at least for the year, with Part 5, but no.

Where are the Washington Mystics in the Washington Post?

They ain't pictured, that's where they're not.

Sure, there is a nice story by Gene Wang on Page D3 in yesterday's paper and the picture with it?

Get real. 

Instead of a photo about the Mystics vying for the playoffs in its "most lopsided win of the season" to accompany the article, the editor, asleep at the switch, chose a photo of competitors, teams playing 300 miles away from Washington, which would be Chicago at Connecticut.

Forgetabut the Mystics!  (Don't be fooled by the online story with an old picture of the coach.  The print edition had no Mystics pictured.)

This is just what the newspaper did June 30, 2014 when it ran another photo of competitiors, but not of the Mystics.  What's up, editor?

The Washington Post can't allocate time to locate a wire service photo of the local team who conquered the New York Liberty, 79-46, at Verizon. Coach Mike Thibault said he was able to relax in the fourth quarter because the Mystics were doing so well, like the WAPO photo editor who relaxes in all the quarters.

In the same paper are four photos (color!) about the size of a football, of the Redskins at practice (including the visiting Tom Brady.  Well, la dee-dah.  We don't know what Tom Brady looks like?  We've got to see more of him? (Editor's note:  Not such a bad thing.)  It's a Redskins' story, duh.)

And, three photos of the Nats! 

This omission on the day after the San Antonio Spurs (a men's basketball team) named a woman (!), a woman, Becky Hammon, to become a full-time assistant coach, making her the first woman to become an assistant coach in any of the four men's major professional sports (page A1).

Ladies, when the Washington Post goes cryin' for a federal bailout, I am going to seek an injunction and demand equal space for equal play, favorites be flummoxed. 

Read earlier "Missing Mystics" chapters here:

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 1

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 2

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 3

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 4

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 5

 

And check out the schedule for the last Mystics' regular season games before the playoffs begin:

 

Friday, August 8, at Indiana

 

Sunday, August 10, at Connecticut

 

Wednesday, August 13, v. Chicago at Verizon Center, 11:30 a.m.

 

Friday, August 15 at Connecticut

 

Saturday, August 16, v. New York at Verizon Center, 7 p.m.

 

Show your support for our hometown ladies' team!  Like the Washington Post doesn't.

patricialesli@gmail.com

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 5

These Washington Mystics fans threw their hands in the air when they learned the Mystics had scored in the Washington Post/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It is almost a miracle.

Found in the sports section of Thursday's Washington Post on page D3 was an article which spanned three columns with a picture about the Washington Mystics beating the Chicago Sky, 72-65, in Illinois Tuesday night ("Washington holds on to end its slide").

That the Post even carried an article (Associated Press), let alone a photo of a Mystic (!) (Bria Hartley) and not a picture of the competition as in pages past, are reasons to celebrate and bring out the cake and champagne with the hope that from now on, the Post will give the Mystics the coverage they need, warrant, and their fans demand. 

After all, Washington Post, this town is made up of more than strictly men.

For more on the matter:

Read: Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 1

Read: Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 2

Read: Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 3 

Read: Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 4

 

Next up for the Mystics:

July 12 at Tulsa Shock, 7 p.m.

July 15 at Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.

July 23 v. Connecticut Sun at Verizon Center, 11:30 a.m.

July 25 v. Tulsa Shock at Verizon Center, 7 p.m.

July 27 v. Atlanta Dream at Verizon Center, 4 p.m.

July 29 at New York Liberty, 7 p.m.

 patricialesli@gmail.com

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 4

This fellow was jumping for joy when he heard the Washington Mystics got a story in the Washington Post/Photo by Patricia Leslie

All right, already. 

So the Washington Post ran a story June 30, 2014 with the headline at the top of the page (D3), "Misfiring Mystics lose eighth in past 11."  

You think the Mystics would get that much coverage if they won a game?

No, sista.  You've got to be kidding.  They lost to the San Antonio Stars, 73-65.

But it was a story.

A story. 

A miracle on page D3.

Hold on.

Whatsis?

You think the editors used a picture of the Washington Mystics in a story about the Washington Mystics? 

This bears repeating:  
You think the editors used a picture of the Washington Mystics in a story about the Washington Mystics?

That makes sense, no?

Yes.

You think? 

You think.

 God forbid, WAPO would send a photographer to a Mystics' game. I don't suppose the wire services shot any photos of the Mystics' game and that is why WAPO used a picture of, instead and hold on, the "Liberty." Who's that?  Dunno.  Never identified.  New York or Connecticut?

Oh, come on.  Not really.

Really.
Now, just imagine this: 

A newspaper story of the Whatevertheskins' game and no picture of the Skins!  But juxtaposed (rhymes with "panty hose") with the story is a picture of the Dallas Cowboys playing another team! 

No Whatsisskins! 

No hometown team pictured anywhere!

You've got to be kidding.

Or, a story (one of four on the same day) about the Nationals and all you see are tomahawks and Atlanta Braves! 

Or, how about 16 stories (the same day) about Bryce Harper and nothing but pictures of Justin Upton?

Come on! No way!

I tell you, it's the truth.

You think?

I am going to write my favorite legislator and propose Title IX for the newspaper once the newspaper almost goes defunct and has to accept a federal bail-out. 

Hey!  GM got one.  Why not WAPO?  A newspaper run by the government.  Richard Nixon was right, all along.

Next up for the Mystics:

July 2, 7 p.m. v. Indiana Fever at Verizon

Read:  Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 1

Read:  Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 2

 

Read:  Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 3

 

patricialesli@gmail.com

 

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 3

Washington Mystics coach Mike Thibault seems to cry "Help!" for media coverage/Photo by Patricia Leslie

If you thought you might get some pre-game coverage in the Washington Post about today's Mystics game v. the San Antonio Stars at Verizon, you found out you were wrong.

Nothing.

Well, excuuuuusssse me, a single line of 8 point type in the right corner on page D10 is not coverage? 

"San Antonio at Washington, 4"

"4" as in 4 p.m. 

As on the bottom of the last sports page.

The only female in today's sports section was Serena Williams and her defeat at Wimbledon.

Why bother subscribing to WAPO? 

News about local women in sports? 

Local female teams?  

Getoutahere.

If the Washington Mystics had any friends at the Washington Post, the stands might be a little fuller/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know, I need someone
Help

When I was coachin', so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find, I've changed my mind, we don't want to be ignored

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate your comin' round
Help me get our team back on the ground
Won't you, please, please help me?

And now our lives have changed in, oh, so many ways
Our winning team never makes it to the page
But every day and some we feel so ignored

I know that you can help us like you've never done before

 

Help us if you can, we're feeling down

And we do appreciate your bein' round

Help us bring the fans back on down town

Won't you please, please help us

Help us

Help us

Whoooooooo.....

 

 

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 1

 

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 2

 

Next up for the Mystics:

 

Wednesday, July 2, 7 p.m. v. Indiana Fever at Verizon

Patricialesli@gmail.com

 

Where are the Washington Mystics? Part 2

With a little help from their friends at the Washington Post, the Mystics might be able to fill more seats at home games at Verizon Center/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Mystics are not to be found in a prominent position among the sports pages of the Washington Post,* that's for sure. 

The day after the team won its first game in five starts, when players beat the Stars 81-70 in San Antonio, all the team could muster in WAPO's sports pages was a lowly left corner of 179 words (including the title) alongside a hockey capsule (June 25, 2014, p. D2).

On the front sports page were color photos of Tiger Woods and Lebron James, the latter which took up almost half the page.  I thought the NBA season had ended.  Does James play for the Wizards?  Is he joining the team?  On page D3 was another picture of Woods. I guess when it comes to sports, all that counts are men.

Those editors think only men read sports? 

What kind of message does this send to budding female athletes?

The only photo of a female in the section was a young girl holding a sign, "Welcome back, Tiger."  Whew.  Looks like the sports sex discrimination at WAPO will continue long past my lifetime, alas.

* This version is not what appeared in the print edition.

Next up for the Mystics:

June 27, 7 p.m. v. Connecticut Sun, Verizon Center

June 29, 4 p.m. v. San Antonio Stars, Verizon Center

Part 1 of "Where are the Washington Mystics?" is right here.

Last September at Verizon when the Mystics played the Connecticut Sun/Photo by Patricia Leslie

patricialesli@gmail.com

Where are the Washington Mystics?

 

Not pictured in today's Washington Post.

 

Coach Mike Thibault and the Washington Mystics get no help from the Washington Post/photo by Patricia Leslie

Under a surprisingly large headline (for women's sports: "Washington tops shorthanded Chicago"), what picture do you think WAPO used for the story?

You might expect a picture of the Mystics scoring.  A battle under the net.  (The final score: 79-68.)  A picture of the night's heroine, Emma Meesseman?

No, m'am, strike damn.  Get real.  That makes too much sense.  That would be logical, no?  To expect  a picture of the Mystics?  Or Coach Thibault or something... Mystics?  On top of that big story about a game the Mystics won.

Please.

Why, of course, WAPO used a photo of, of (sic and hold on) competitors (Connecticut and New York) playing in a game  at Madison Square Garden. 

That would be New York, right? 

Yes. 

That picture covered almost a third of the page. And the article about that game?  Give me two paragraphs and two paragraphs only. 

Oh, but that picture has a former Georgetown player in it. 

Big deal.  That was so last year.

I had to take several looks.  Whatsis?  It made no sense.  No picture of the Mystics?  What is going on?  They did play at Verizon, didn't they? 

Well, yes.

I suppose WAPO:

1.  Deems the Mystics too unimportant to show on the sports pages.  So it relies on the wire services for photos of...competitors?  Or...

2. Left the page in the hands of an 16-year-old intern (no pay).  Or...

3. Is so broke it has no money for wire service photos of the Mystics.  Or...

4. Was so captivated by the NHL and the World Cup it forgot about the rest of sports. 

5.  All of the above?

Hey, WAPO editors, it is 2014, not 1914. 

Next up for the Mystics:  Atlanta, Verizon, 4 p.m., Father's Day, June 15.   Take your camera.

patricialesli@gmail.com

Washington Post excludes women in sports

 

President Obama and his daughter, Sasha, sit on the first row two and three people to the left of the fellow in yellow at the Mystics' game August 1, 2010. The Mystics wore pink uniforms for the game in recognition of Breast Health Awareness Day/Patricia Leslie

Sigh.

The Mystics are a Washington team, right?

Don't women count?

In today's Sports section, WAPO has overlooked us, dare I say, again?  The Mystics aren't a "local team"?

President Obama is seated, center, under the woman in the pink hat and shirt at the Mystics' game, August 1, 2010/Patricia Leslie

Alex Prewitt's today's article, "Terps get executive sweep," describes the history and excitement of President Obama's attendance at various area games. Tonight the president and his family attended the University of Maryland's game v. Oregon State where Michelle's brother, Craig Robinson, coaches.

In the far right column is a list of the "local sporting events" the president has attended since coming to office. Dates, teams, scores, and venues are included. Yep, the teams play better when the #1 Fan is in attendance.

And yep, excluded is the president's and Sasha's attendance at the August 1, 2010 Mystics game which the Post covered and so did I.  Here are the links:
http://www.examiner.com/article/president-obama-and-sasha-rock-with-the-mystics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/01/AR2010080102908.html

Dare I think, would it be   p o s s i b l e   that the writer/editor only thought male when they looked up the president's attendance at "local sporting events"?  Banish those sexist ways.

Ain't I a woman?

If the Post can carry a tab for all the men's teams in this town and "AllMetSports," why can't it carry a tab for the women's team? 

Calling Tracee Hamilton, Sallie Jenkins, and Katie Carrera:  The Washington Post needs you to step up to the plate, please.

President Obama shakes hands as he exits the Mystics' game at Verizon Center on August 1, 2010/Patricia Leslie

patricialesli@gmail.com
 

Washington: Be ashamed

In the fourth quarter of the Mystics and the Sun game. Does it look like 7,779 to you?/Patricia Leslie

 

WAPO says the official attendance last night was 7,779 (out of 10,100), but folks, come on:  Look at these pictures from the Mystics' game. Does it look like about 80 percent of the stadium is filled?  I don't think so.  How about less than half 7,779?  Just my rough estimate.

Across the court/Patricia Leslie

The Mystics are having their best season in years, and they're going to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.  If they beat New York Sunday in their last regular season game, they'll be at .500 with a 17-17 record, compared to last year's tally of five wins. 

 

You read it right, sister:  They won five games last year. And six games the year before that. 

In the end zone/Patricia Leslie

Washington cannot turn out to cheer them on?  Where are you people?  Where are you, women's groups?  The sisterhood is calling. Friday night they blew out the Connecticut Sun, 82-56.

Oh, that's right.  Down the street at the same time were the Nats.  Yay, Nats!  They are coming on strong.  Well who in the world scheduled both games for the same night and at the same time?  Well, duh. 

It's in for another Mystics' three/Patricia Leslie

 

Sunday you can see the Nats at 1:35 p.m. and the Redskins at 1 p.m. and come on over to Verizon and show your support for the Mystics at 4 p.m.

Going, going...three!/Patricia Leslie

Some of the Wizards, including John Wall, came last night, but where has President Obama been all season?  His last appearance at the Mystics, as far as I know, was three years ago.  Come on, Mr. President!  I know you've got a few things on your agenda (please don't strike Syria), but after all, you are just down the street from Verizon and can't those Secret Service boys whip you on over for a few minutes?  It would mean so much to the team and to us women.  (Especially if you appoint Larry Summers to head the Federal Reserve.  Baa, humbug.)  BTW, where's Michelle?

The Mystics' new head coach, Mike Thibault, has really made a difference this year.  Here it looks like he's leading the team in the Hallelujah chorus/Patricia Leslie

Attention, Mystics season ticket holders:  If you're going to miss the game, why in tarnation can't you give your tickets away to folks who might not have a chance to see them play?  There are a ton of places in this town to distribute tickets.  Think of all the children who would love to see a professional game.

She sang a stunning version of the "Star Spangled Banner," a prelude to the Mystics' victory, and her name is ...?/Patricia Leslie

 

The ball went thataway/Patricia Leslie

 

Washington, you've still got a chance to cheer on the team.  Half of life is showing up, so, please, for the women, show up Sunday, and don't forget about the playoffs, too. Thank you. 

It was here a while ago/Patricia Leslie

 

You see what you're missing between quarters at the Mystics' games. They don't do this at the Nats' games.  By George, it's the Hop Squad/Patricia Leslie

 

BTW:  If the Washington Post can have a tab for all the men's professional  teams in this city (5), where's the Mystics' tab? 

 

Thank you for always supporting our military who protect us/Patricia Leslie

Who:  The Mystics

 

What:  Their last regular season game (v. New York)

 

When:  4 p.m., September 15, 2013

Where:  Verizon , 601 F Street, Washington, D.C. 20004

How much:  Tickets start at $12 at the box office

Metro stations:  Gallery Place-Chinatown, Metro Center

For more information at Verizon:  202-628-3200 and for tickets: 800-745-3000


patricialesli@gmail.com