Second Thoughts

Dance squad not popular with the fans

FILE - In this April 3, 2014 file photo, San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart (7) skates in front of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif. The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the San Jose Sharks for a second-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-rounder in 2017.  (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE - In this April 3, 2014 file photo, San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart (7) skates in front of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif. The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the San Jose Sharks for a second-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-rounder in 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Since blowing a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven first-round series against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings earlier this year, the San Jose Sharks haven't made their fans proud.

In addition with the decision not to bring back longtime TV color commentator Drew Remenda, the Sharks have decided to add an ice crew/dance squad called the "Sharks Ice Girls" to their gameday activities.

Several fans have called the gimmick "institutional sexism" and have protested the move by the NHL franchise, but the Sharks believe the protests are unfounded because there will be men mixed with the ice girls team as well as the team's outfits will be "more tasteful" than other teams.

"We are not modeling our ice team in the same manner as other teams do in the NHL or other professional sports teams with cheerleaders," Sharks chief operating officer John Tortora told the San Jose Mercury News. "We're doing it in a way that works for us within our game experience and that is tasteful for San Jose.

"We're getting a good reaction."

However, the decision to add an ice team is not a popular one among Sharks fans.

"Having women being exploited in general in any sport is wrong," Maclain Utterback, a 25-year-old Sharks fan from Sacramento, Calif., wrote in an e-mail exchange. "Trying to sexualize women and saying it's to enhance the fan experience, who are you enhancing it for? Men 18-40, but what about women? Not enhancing their experience."

"If this isn't exploitation of women, then shouldn't the men on the squad (a) be in great enough numbers to seem more than token hires and (b) not appear to be dressed as high-school gym teachers when the women on the squad are dressed as cheerleaders?" wrote Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports.

"Because hey, if The Price is Right can acknowledge gender equity in eye candy, can't the NHL?"

He said it

From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times:

m "The Toledo Mud Hens plan to turn their ballpark into a miniature golf course after the season ends. The toughest hole, analysts predict, will be the one at short."

m "Q: What's the last thing an FC Barcelona player wants to hear from new teammate Luis Suarez?" A: I've got your back."

m "Dr. James Andrews, surgeon to the sports stars, is getting his own Topps baseball card. Plus a stick of bubble gum in the shape of a knee ligament."

m "Mets minor leaguers Wuilmer Becerra and Vicente Lupo were arrested and charged with drag racing at speeds of 107 and 104 mph in Kingsport, Tenn. In keeping with the theme, police clocked them with a Jugs gun."

They said it

m From ESPN Radio host Jay Reynolds, via Twitter: "Huey Lewis plays 'I Want A New Drug' at [a] Mets concert series. Go figure."

m From Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, via Twitter: "Kid pitching in Futures game now can't drink or even vote. Julio Urias of Dodgers is 17."

m From David Barron of the Houston Chronicle, via Twitter: "So after 'A New Era' and 'This is H-Town', how would you like the job of coming up with the Rockets' 2014-15 marketing slogan?"

SPORTS QUIZ

What season did the San Jose Sharks make their first NHL playoff appearance?

ANSWER

1993-1994. The Sharks beat the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the Western Conference first round before losing in seven games to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the semifinals.

Sports on 07/14/2014

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