Dunk contest victory just shows how women's athletics is evolving
When I called my brother Anthony to tell him I had won the McDonald's dunk contest, he checked the calendar. He laughed and shot back, "Good one, Can, but I know what today is." After arguing, debating and convincing him that this was not the likes of a bad April Fools joke, he congratulated me.
I'm sure upon first word of a girl winning the dunk contest many believed it was April Fools. I for one did not expect to win the contest when I entered. I looked at it as an opportunity to get a couple dunks down. But a week to reflect on the outcome has allowed me to gain better perspective.
No matter what is done, said, accomplished, etc., people will always pass judgment. Thankfully, I was able to figure out at a young age that it is impossible to please everyone. Even if you walk through life on eggshells, no matter how careful you are, one is liable to break.
My winning the dunk contest was placed under much scrutiny last week. It seemed everywhere I turned people were voicing their opinions on what they thought this meant to the game of women's basketball. Positive or negative, I tried my best to ignore it.
But one thing I could not accept was the fact that the women's game should be played below the rim. While dunking is not essential to the evolution of women's basketball, accepting limitations has never been my strong suit. Now more ever than before, girls can jump higher, run faster and handle the basketball better.
Why?
Because our generation grew up watching female athletes do these things: Marion Jones set track world records; Cynthia Cooper racked up WNBA titles; Laila Ali became the face of women's boxing; Kerri Strug landed her vault in the Olympics; Brandi Chastain won a World Cup; and the list goes on. These amazing feats accomplished by women were not done to mimic the acts of men, but to break through the barriers previously assigned to women.
For a long time pioneers of pure basketball were opposed to the 3-point line. Now it is accepted worldwide as a part of the rules and game itself. I realize things take some time getting used to. I understand now that "haters" of the women's game cannot defend their stance against women's basketball by the rally cry of dunking. I'm not trying to be "The One," I'm trying to promote change. Without change women would still be looked down upon for participating in athletics.
I do not wish to be known only as the girl who dunked. My dreams don't include cherry picking in college to impress the fans with a breakaway dunk. I dream of the complete package. Stepping in at Tennessee and continuing what others started. But while dreaming of an all-around game, I admit right before I wake up, I hear the sportscasters criticize me for taking baseline and dunking on a defender. The women's game is changing.