Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in hot seat over CNBC comments

[cdubbz]

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was on CNBC I think last night and is getting heat (via social media) over her comments after being asked about the racism & hatred currently going on between certain fanbases.

She dodged the question almost and a chance to condemn racism and address the bad fans which upset a lot of people. I too think it was a missed opportunity, but she is a former CEO and the Commissioner of the league and she answered it exactly how a CEO who is all about the bottom line would answer it. She did mention that she recommends the players ignore it in terms of online talk. Big deal? No big deal?

Read on Twitter

[Ice Man]

Yeah, she dodged the question. On the other hand, when asked about racial issues in 1980 NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien said, "I feel the fan and viewer is basically color-blind." LOL at that one! I am old enough to have been around then ... and a big fat no to that response. The Magic vs. Bird debate was heavily color-influenced.

So while I think she should have offered a better answer, it's also true that at least one past commissioner fared even worse.

[theforumblue]

what a crappy answer.

[MrDollarBills]

The hate rhetoric should be condemned. Doesn't matter where it is happening or whose fans they are, the league should be adamant that racism and bigotry have no place here.

Cathy takes her cues from Adam Silver I see. Absolutely gutless.

[Ice Man]

A typical CEO/politician answer. Don't answer the question that is asked, instead answer the question that you want to receive. She came armed with her talking points and when the tough question came, she ducked and loaded up one of those points.

[Green Chile]

Sounds like a perfect answer to me.

In an ideal world, she'd condemn the bull, but that's really hard and probably goes nowhere. As someone who tried arguing about this in the social media space, I'm convinced it's a fruitless endeavor.

There's no solving **** on Twitter. There's no way to reach people that only listen to shock jock radio and don't really care about the League, and never will. But there are those that will if just get exposed to the League.

She kept it about the League and the game, which is all I think she really can do.

The crazies are infuriating, from all angles. There's no reasoning with them. But I know that if we just keep getting sports loving people watching this awesome league, they will like it.

That seems to be her focus here, and that makes sense.

[Green Chile]

I still believe there's a world where ESPN is arguing about A'ja and Stewie for MVP (and Phee).

And the journey of the talented rookies is a fun part of the conversation, but not all of it.

But I know we're a long way from that.

[cdubbz]

Yeah folks on social media are taking her response as she's 'giving the green light' to the bad fans for racism and homophobia towards the players. Honestly think it will blow over rather quickly.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[MrDollarBills]

[MrDollarBills]

Sounds like a perfect answer to me.

In an ideal world, she'd condemn the bull, but that's really hard and probably goes nowhere. As someone who tried arguing about this in the social media space, I'm convinced it's a fruitless endeavor.

There's no solving **** on Twitter. There's no way to reach people that only listen to shock jock radio and don't really care about the League, and never will. But there are those that will if just get exposed to the League.

She kept it about the League and the game, which is all I think she really can do.

The crazies are infuriating, from all angles. There's no reasoning with them. But I know that if we just keep getting sports loving people watching this awesome league, they will like it.

That seems to be her focus here, and that makes sense.

I disagree, it doesn't make sense at all. The problem here is that ignoring this stuff isn't going to make it go away either.

The players are on the receiving end of this stuff. No one should be receiving death threats over basketball.

Cathy showed today that none of this personally impacts her, so she doesn't care.

[theforumblue]

Sounds like a perfect answer to me.

In an ideal world, she'd condemn the bull, but that's really hard and probably goes nowhere. As someone who tried arguing about this in the social media space, I'm convinced it's a fruitless endeavor.

There's no solving **** on Twitter. There's no way to reach people that only listen to shock jock radio and don't really care about the League, and never will. But there are those that will if just get exposed to the League.

She kept it about the League and the game, which is all I think she really can do.

The crazies are infuriating, from all angles. There's no reasoning with them. But I know that if we just keep getting sports loving people watching this awesome league, they will like it.

That seems to be her focus here, and that makes sense.

I disagree, it doesn't make sense at all. The problem here is that ignoring this stuff isn't going to make it go away either.

The players are on the receiving end of this stuff. No one should be receiving death threats over basketball.

Cathy showed today that none of this personally impacts her, so she doesn't care.

and it wasn't even about "reaching the crazies". of course there's no recourse for that. but she had opportunity to tell her people that she got their back and she instead decided to talk about stupid things. have some of the crazies send her and her family some AI nudes of herself like Reese received and let's see if she still want to avoid the topic.

[cdubbz]

Can WNBA commissioner be voted out? who votes? the owners?

[RSCD3_]

I disagree she gave a smart political answer. She gave a daft one that looks like she doesn't stand by her own players. Even if she has no real way to stop trolls online, sidestepping the question and making it seem like she loves the situation (despite how it's effected many players) because of the money it has granted the W is a bad move. Saying "we at the WNBA do not stand of any bigotry, and remain steadfast in promoting friendly competition among competitors, no matter who they are" would have been generic as hell but would have looked much better

[cdubbz]

Stewart makes a comment on the situation

Read on Twitter

[Green Chile]

We all have the same goal here.

My point is that I don't think Englebert is going to be able to do much good in a CNBC interview. I wish it would help, but I don't think it will.

Mainly because the people that need to hear it are not listening to Englebert or any voice associated with the WNBA.

They are only listening to the bull they are fed on social media.

I wish I knew how to fix it. I just don't. So I'm not going to be too hard Englebert in a CNBC interview.

[Ice Man]

We all have the same goal here.

My point is that I don't think Englebert is going to be able to do much good in a CNBC interview. I wish it would help, but I don't think it will.

Mainly because the people that need to hear it are not listening to Englebert or any voice associated with the WNBA.

They are only listening to the bull they are fed on social media.

I wish I knew how to fix it. I just don't. So I'm not going to be too hard Englebert in a CNBC interview.

While I agree with this overall, it's a bad look that Stewie -- who is not paid to be a public spokesperson for the league -- gave a much better answer than the commissioner did. Well, maybe Engelbert can get some media training from Breanna. You know, a couple of sessions.

[MrDollarBills]

Sounds like a perfect answer to me.

In an ideal world, she'd condemn the bull, but that's really hard and probably goes nowhere. As someone who tried arguing about this in the social media space, I'm convinced it's a fruitless endeavor.

There's no solving **** on Twitter. There's no way to reach people that only listen to shock jock radio and don't really care about the League, and never will. But there are those that will if just get exposed to the League.

She kept it about the League and the game, which is all I think she really can do.

The crazies are infuriating, from all angles. There's no reasoning with them. But I know that if we just keep getting sports loving people watching this awesome league, they will like it.

That seems to be her focus here, and that makes sense.

I disagree, it doesn't make sense at all. The problem here is that ignoring this stuff isn't going to make it go away either.

The players are on the receiving end of this stuff. No one should be receiving death threats over basketball.

Cathy showed today that none of this personally impacts her, so she doesn't care.

and it wasn't even about "reaching the crazies". of course there's no recourse for that. but she had opportunity to tell her people that she got their back and she instead decided to talk about stupid things. have some of the crazies send her and her family some AI nudes of herself like Reese received and let's see if she still want to avoid the topic.

Right. Once Angel came out and said what was happening to her, that should have set off a firm and thorough response from the league that this will not be tolerated or accepted.

It cost her nothing to stand up for what's right and show solidarity with the players of the league and she failed to do so.

[MrDollarBills]

Stewart makes a comment on the situation

Read on Twitter

^This is called leadership.

[MrDollarBills]

We all have the same goal here.

My point is that I don't think Englebert is going to be able to do much good in a CNBC interview. I wish it would help, but I don't think it will.

Mainly because the people that need to hear it are not listening to Englebert or any voice associated with the WNBA.

They are only listening to the bull they are fed on social media.

I wish I knew how to fix it. I just don't. So I'm not going to be too hard Englebert in a CNBC interview.

Nothing Cathy says would stop the crazies. I agree. Especially during a CNBC interview where the target audience definitely isn't the people who watch the W.

But she had a responsibility to rebuke this behavior on behalf of the league and it's players, who are the receiving end of this abuse, and she shirked her duty. That's where the problem lies.

[MrDollarBills]

Can WNBA commissioner be voted out? who votes? the owners?

The owners.

I don't think that she should lose her job over this but this is just a horrible look. It reeks of privilege and being disconnected.