Sorry to be a stalker.

Unless you think Lisa Leslie broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record, we’re talking apples and oranges. You and I seem to disagree that men’s college basketball and women’s college basketball are two different things. I submit that they are. Not that one is superior to the other, only that they are different and we don’t combine accomplishments and then sort by number. And, no, UConn and UCLA do not play in the same league any more than Usain Bolt and Carmelita Jeter run in the same races.

If we want to recognize UConn as the world record holder for consecutive college basketball wins (first off, they have to share that with Indian Hills Community College until they win one more), that’s totally fine. But when the NCAA puts out record books next year, there will be one for women and one for men, and UCLA will be listed as the record-holder for its 88 consecutive wins in one book and UConn will be listed as the record-holder for its howevermany consecutive wins it has by that point.

(As for the Ruth/Maris thing, you are obviously too young to be up on the consternation regarding that whole thing. Records under variable conditions require the consumer to make their own personal judgments as to the validity of the record in question. If you think Eric Dickerson has a legitimate claim to the NFL record for rushing yards in a season, guess what? The NFL agrees with you, even though OJ Simpson ran for 2,003 yards under different conditions. I recognize Hank Aaron as the all-time home-run leader, myself, but when I look in the official records, there’s this other guy’s name on top of the list.)

As to the larger societal question – well, I’m in that demographic that really can’t make a point about anything, being a Caucasian male of European descent. My people had the run of the place for the first 500 years or so, so if I make a point I’m either sexist or racist or whatever you like. But do I believe in the concept of equality of the genders? Absolutely. Can most human males out-perform most human females in endeavors that require size and strength? Yes, that’s just physiological reality. Take it up with The Creator.

But I’m not talking in a broader societal sense here. The simple matter of “UCLA’s Record” is what we’re talking about here. And “UCLA’s Record” is shorthand for “UCLA’s Record For Most Consecutive Wins By A Division I Men’s Basketball Team,” and neither UConn’s women nor Hillsborough Community College nor the Harlem Globetrotters can “break” that record. Surpass the numerical accomplishment? Sure. Do they deserve to be honored for that? Absolutely, they’re incredible.

But our society is now all about making instant judgments on whether or not this thing or that thing is The Best Thing Ever or The Worst Thing Ever or Better Than When I Played or Not As Good As When I Played. To have a rational discussion and rise above the cacophony that ensues in debates of matters of sport is nearly impossible.

1 – The temperatures. Supposed to be Ice Bowl cold. I know Minnesotans are tough people, but you can’t tell me there’s not a certain number of them who’d rather be at home rather than watching…
2 – A bad football team that won’t even have Brett Favre available to make things interesting, especially when you can get…
3 – A bit of money in your pocket (even indirectly) by being refunded your cost of that game ticket or having it credited to your season ticket holder account (and let’s be honest, people bitch, but they don’t give up NFL season tickets that often). At the end of a season like this, who wouldn’t rather sit home, especially when there will be…
4 – No alcohol served. I’m sure there will still be drunks, there always are. But added to all the other things, this should keep a percentage of people away.

The novelty of a Vikings home game outdoors is sure to intrigue some people, as will the historic nature of the proceedings and the rivalry with the Bears. So I don’t think there will be seats left unused. But I also don’t think it’s going to be a riot of cataclysmic proportions. Minnesotans are unfailingly polite.