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I agree with King about the attention to dunking in women's basketball. For a long time, I've been mystified at how women's ball is marketed by comparing it to men's ball (and the subsequent implication of misogyny toward those who don't care for the women's game) rather than simply marketing it for what it is: a different type of basketball played by people who could in no way compete against another group of people. Men's college sports such as football and basketball do just fine marketing the product on its own terms without apologizing for the less than professional skills of the athletes, often overtly celebrating those less than professional skills (e.g., numerous Heisman and Naismith winners with limited prospects for professional success).
Furthermore, as King notes, a focus on a woman's dunking, as we saw over and over again on Sportscenter this morning, only highlights the unathletic nature of women's basketball players as compared to men. I remain unimpressed by anyone who can barely slide a smaller ball over the rim, especially if that person is 6'3" with long arms. King clearly likes women's basketball more than I, who have chosen a different athletic threshold for what I appreciate as a spectator sport, and reminding me that I can walk down to the gym and see better basketball players any afternoon of the week isn't a way to win me over.
As a poster above notes, hating Billy Packer may be played out a bit, but I still can't stand the guy. He's a nostalgic blowhard and a hypercritical jerk towards both coaches and players. And, though King notes that he is an ACC homer, listening to him all season in ACC country can grate on a fan, too. Since his obvious allegiance to the ACC becomes moot during regular season games in the conference, the one thing that he does like disappears, leaving only his distaste for everything else that happens. Overly negative hyperbole here? Sure. I've been listening to Billy Packer too much. Give me Len Elmore or Jay Bilas any day, even if Bilas is a dookie.
I disagree with King about CBS's broadcasting of the games. Though CBS is certainly not FOX-esque in its productions, I've still missed way too much on court action, including stuff after a play, because of close-ups, premeditated segments, graphics, or replays, that odd long shot form one corner, and the truly horrible under-the-goal shot on fast breaks, which end in something besides a dunk so often that I'm surprised that shot is still used, and, even when play finishes with a dunk, that shot makes the action seem less impressive than the normal midcourt angle.
