Another national basketball championship

Although it would be impossible to tell based on media coverage, competitive college basketball didn't finish with the highly publicized games last week for Duke and Butler (men's), and UConn and Stanford (women's).
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association national championships -- including women's college championship games -- wrapped up yesterday in Colorado. The Alabama Crimson Tide handily beat the University of Illinois, coached by former Tide player (and Paralympian) Stephanie Wheeler.

The other basketball championships

While most sports fans are tuned into "stand-up" basketball in the form of the NCAA tournament, it's likely they don't know anything about another championship-- the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships this week in Denver. Major universities from all over the U.S. field teams that include top-ranked Paralympic athletes competing at elite levels. It's too bad it doesn't get more mainstream media coverage-- these athletes deserve it. Watch this video to learn more.

Widening the boundaries?

The New York Times sports section today ran a story on competing figure skaters Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek, contrasting their images and skating styles against the backdrop of normative masculinity. Weir, whom sportswriters routinely describe as "flamboyant" in thinly veiled speculation about his sexuality, is described as antithesis to Lysacek, who is described in ways that match mainstream ideas about men in sports (complete with the declaration that he is dating "ESPN's Hottest Female Athlete"). The article, which ultimately frames Weir negatively, does suggest that acceptable masculinities in sports could -- perhaps -- become more accommodating.

Seeking the 'supercrip'

Beth Haller's new blog, Media-dis-&-dat, includes entries about media coverage of adapted sports and athletes. Her latest entry discusses how wheeelchair athletes are often molded by reporters to the "supercrip" stereotype. She cites a story by tennis player Ruth Harrigan, who was interviewed many times by reporters seeking this type of angle. Haller adds, "I wish more people with disabilities would write about their experiences being interviewed by the news media. Reporters will only start getting it right when enough people tell them what they do wrong."

Disability and sports: Defining 'normal'

A colleague pointed out a Poynter.org column posted before Christmas that I had missed, but it is worth noting. Susan LoTempio, AME for Readership at The Buffalo News, wrote about "better-off-dead" framing that is common in stories about injured athletes. The recent example she used is the story of NFL player Kevin Everett, whose spine was seriously injured. She writes:

"In our athlete-as-hero worshipping culture, there seems no greater tragedy for an athlete than to be "normal" one day and "not normal" the next. That's why, when an athlete gets hurt, you get dramatic language in stories and headlines like, "fallen hero suffering the ultimate tragedy" or "waging an inspirational fight for his life."

In other words, we in the media perpetuate the definition of what is normal. And while it makes great copy, it assumes that the athlete's life may as well be over because he will never walk again, never play again, never be "whole" again."

LoTempio provides excellent recommendations for writing about athletes with injuries. She points out that wheelchair-users do lead "normal" lives -- many of them involving sports participation.

Must-see TV: This Nike commercial

Finally! A Nike ad that really says something fresh and important. Watch UW wheelchair basketball player Matt Scott in a commercial that I hope will direct attention toward the U.S. athletes who will compete in the Paralympics this September. The ad airs nationally tomorrow.