Nobody Likes Sports Commissioners, But Why Is Cathy Englebert On The Hot Seat?
WNBA Commish Feeling the Wrath From All Angles These Days
Listen to me when I tell you that there’s a LOT going on these days. No, I’m not even talking about international superstar Bad Bunny being announced as next year’s Super Bowl headliner. (My opinion: He’s the biggest male artist on the planet, why not?). No, I’m not even talking about Peru releasing a congressional mascot named, ahem, ‘Congresito’ last month and seeing that go viral. From Global News:
I’m talking about current Commissioner of the WNBA Cathy Engelbert, and the fact that she’s been in the hot seat over the past couple of days. The days of WNBA being a small-supported league are over, and with higher exposure (and viewers and dollars), comes the need to trickle some of that wealth down to the players and coaches. Wages are a part of the equation but facility upkeep, improved officiating, and youth opportunities are in the mix, as well. Anyway, this all came to a head during the course of Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations this week when player Napheesa Collier had a few words about “WNBA leadership.”
If you don’t have time for the video, here’s the gist (h/t BET):
“We have the best players in the world,” Collier explained. “We have the best fans in the world. But right now we have the worst leadership in the world.”
And to her credit, Englebert did respond:
With calls to have Engelbert step down, I got to thinking. Is there an American Sports Commissioner that people actually like? I ask this not to defend Ms. Englebert but rather to underscore how everyone’s got an opinion of your job more than the President.
Major League Baseball’s commissioner Rob Manfred has been seen as “ruining the game.” He did call the World Series Championship trophy a “piece of metal,” though.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was seen as exceptionally soft in his response to “Deflategate,” the scandal that suggested Tom Brady and the New England Patriots played around with the air pressure of the balls for a competitive advantage.
He looks so guilty of SOMETHING.
Gary Bettman (NHL) and Don Garber (MLS) have both been accused for not respecting the history of their respective sports. Adam Silver? Well, he’s captaining the ship of the NBA during a period of decline. Don’t believe me? This guy on YouTube did a whole TWO-HOUR video about it.
If someone did a two-hour video about I sucked at my job, I’d just stop showing up. Hell, I get a request to talk about an e-mail I sent at my job, and I’m already clearing my desk. Which is wild because I work from home.
But with all of that said, Englebert may be getting the worst of it. A lot of times if coaches or players have league grievances, they usually make thinly veiled responses. Did you see what Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said about the officiating of the playoff series that the Lynx eventually lost? (Cover your ears).
There are a lot more eyes on the WNBA these days. And while most of the press can be considered a net positive, those who have invested in the league for the long term are waiting for it to be the world-class organization it was promised to be. Even if Englebert isn’t at fault (and you could argue that, being the commissioner, the buck stops with her), this could potentially mark the decline of her tenure. (Pure speculation on my part).
The Collective Bargaining Agreement for WNBA is due October 31st.