The TrackBack specification was created by Six Apart, who first implemented it in their Movable Type blogging software in August…

Men are necesary for the women’s game to grow because it’s a male dominated society. Male owners, coaches, trainers, scouts and the like are and should be apart of the game. It’s not feasible to say that since it’s a women’s game to turn every aspect of the game over to women. That’s unrealistic and spiteful. Sexual integration is a must but not to the detriment of women. If there is a platform for true equality in sports then let it be in the women’s game. Interview male and female candidates, a sort of Rooney Rule for women. Let qualified women have the opportunity to succeed.

I watched the game, from start to finish, and the million replays of the so-called scuffle. So here we go:

The refs need to be publicly reprimanded for letting this game get out of hand.

Parker and Pierson (sp?) should be suspended. The most stringent of punishments for Pierson. One for going at the Franchise’s legs with a pointless and uncalled for super block out and then for instigating the fight after Parker hip tossed her. Sure Parker defended herself but on principle you suspend both parties.

To my knowledge there’s no “leaving the bench” rule in the WNBA. As such, Mahorn should face no punishment. He didn’t shove, knock down, aggresively touch LL. He extended his arms in her direction but also in the direction of his players. He was trying to break up a bad situation. LL commented that she was trying to get to the Parker to help her so in that she did try to move Mahorns arms and she fell cause she’s light in the ass. She didn’t try to hit him but she made an aggressive move to remove his arms and fell.

By far the saddest thing about this has to be the injury to Cheryl Ford. Again, trying to play peacemaker went wrong.

Leslie did not “swing on” big ass Mahorn. He tried to grab her, she swung her arms in an upward motion in order to break free, which she did, then he pushed her. Plain and simple. Check the tape.

Leslie “swung on” nobody that night – or any night (including the pathetic reference to Lauren Jackson so many years ago) – but rather, like Mahorn, she too was trying to make peace.

So why would Mahorn attempt to restrain her? Why not attempt to restrain his own players, as many have argued, including Leslie herself? If a fight breaks out between the Pistons and Lakers, and Michael Curry, who was an assistant coach last year, puts his hands on Kobe Bryant, everyone would question the move – and no one would have to appeal to Kobe’s “gender,” or his “status” as an “ambassador” or daddy in order to do so. Curry would be wrong prima facie for putting his hands on an opposing player. Well, so is Mahorn.

Moreover, Elf-guy, you would excuse Mahorn behavior because you think Leslie “swung on” him? Well, she didn’t. But what if she did? You said he could (a) turn and walk away, (b) push her, (c) pin her arms to her side, or (c) swing back. Among these possibilities, (and (b) thru (d) seem increasingly misogynistic) you say the best choice is (b), which happens to be what Mahorn did, in order to “protect” himself (?).

I say the best answer is (a), and sensible people would agree. Why? Becasue (1) If your aim is to make peace, then under no circumstances is pushing people a part of the equation – and if you are not able to refrain from pushing, or if, as some of you say, Mahorn’s “adrenalin” was pumping, then you are a poor candidate for peacemaking in this instance, you should keep your fat ass on the bench and sit this one out, (2) if you’re Rick Mahorn, then you’re 6-8 350lbs, and Lisa Leslie, aka “Bambi” or “Smooth,” is no threat to your physical person. If she does “swing on” you, so what? She can’t harm you, so let her wail away. Notice that Ms Milton-Jones, upon seeing his treatment of her teammate, sucker punched Mahorn in the back and pushed him. The man didn’t even budge! You saw that, right? Right?? Milton-Jones is very comparable in size to Leslie. So how could it have harmed him to allow Leslie to get a few licks off, if that was her intention (which, as I have established, it wasn’t)?

Given these facts, those who maintain that Mahorn did the right thing are terribly misguided, in this case. He may be a good man, but bad things happen to good people all the time, and he was wrong here. Leslie was mistreated and “manhandled” by the alleged peacemaker. Shit happens.

Now, if they suspend Ms Parker right before I get my chance to see her live in the Garden this Friday, well then I’ll really be pissed!