Fair call Anne. Subtle sexism still plagues nz culture and is easily evidenced in attitudes to sport. While many of the glaring inequalities of the past have been dealt with, there remains underlying attitudes that continue to influence public opinion, sports administration and commercial decision making.

On a slightly different tack - why do netball commentators insist on using the term 'man on man' defense? You can only be called a man if you stand up when you pee.

Women are generally more intelligent and have more common sense than men which is why the majority feel no urge to put themselves through the torture that masquerades as sport. They do not have the same fragile egos as men and the constant need to be reassured as to how great they are.

There are of course exceptions to this rule.

As regards the recent event involving the US soccer player it probably did receive more coverage than had it involved a male team because people do not expect young ladies to behave in that way and the media loves anything sensational. One also has to say that there is a section of males (including male journalists) who get a thrill out of seeing women fighting.

May I also remind you of the recent rugby match betweeen Kelston and Ak Grammar wwhich received widespread publicity and earned savage punishment for the Kelston players since rescinded. I also recall a hair pulling incident some years ago when George Smith tthe Oz RU player sported long locks. In short to use the old cliche for the media, "if it bleeds it leads" and for the average punter a bit of 'biffo' in sport increases the enjoyment.

To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen such an unprovoked and unsportspersonly performance from anyone, male or female. She was quite spectacular! And where I've seen anything that's come close, the referee has been really quick to shut it down. The reality is that in this circumstance, the referee failed spectacularly to shut down this player's behaviour. She should have been sent off after the first incident.

As for my interest in sport and women's sport in particular, I can't think of anything worse than watching a game of netball. Unless it's watching a game of rugby.... Give me triathlon, running, track and field and cricket any day - men or women.

A couple of things spring to mind (not criticisms, just thoughts).

First, if it were a male college player being shown to do the equivalent (grabbing testicles, yanking on a male pigtail etc) and this was caught on film and posted on YouTube, I think it would get the same reaction (banning, negative press on sportsmanship etc)...perhaps not the same worldwide media coverage as it is far more common in the male arena. Let's face it, the simple fact it is a women makes it rare and as such, newsworthy.

Second, the "making sex symbols" works both ways. Do you think the large number of female admirers Dan carter has is because of his ability to run lines? Let's also face the fact; in most sports where males and females compete separately, the skill level, fitness level, execution and overall excellence of the sporting fixture is much higher and therefore, more deserving of national attention. No offence, but people who enjoy rugby for the skill and execution at the highest level won't be hunting out a woman's match in a hurry. Yes, I know...the Black Ferns play well....but it's not in the same league. Those who argue otherwise are just trying to be supportive.

@jake the snake

Subtle sexism?? Surely you jest.

In this instance any one physically attacking another player like that should get a life time ban. <sarcasM>Oh unless of course they are a playing professional - then its just part of the game at that level.</sarcasm>.

I remember when I was living in Ireland, the main national newspaper ran it's front page one day with an enormous photo of a female tennis player (I think it was Anna Kournikova) jumping up and exposing her underpants. There was no corresponding story worthy of a front page.

I also notice that in the jockey billboards featuring Dan Carter and Honor Dillon, Carter is in the background - fullish body shot while the main space is taken up by Dillon who is chopped off at the top of the head and legs. She is just breast and vagina, barely covered.

As a woman, that sort of s*** really f***s me off! Excuse my language.

I have to disagree that the coverage is disproportionate because of gender. Though I do agree that the coverage was sexist, because the media and people in general have a bias towards steroetypes rather than attempting to understand the real motivations.

In my (head above the ramparts) view it got "appropriate" coverage that was consistent with what I would expect for three reasons:

Firstly we regularly see noteworthy video on the news of university or even high school sport where something incredible of very unseemly happens - the last second basketball shot from the baseline, the kicking incident in a Aussie junior league game earlier this year and the huge domestic coverage of the Auckland schoolboy rugby brawl and its aftermath.

Secondly, I can't recall seeing such a sustained and overt display of brutality and foul play at any sport at any level that lasted throughout a game. If it was just the one act of foul play, the coverage would be much less. This was exceptional for its duration more than gender or any of the individual acts.

Thirdly, if a guy did it, why would we think that the media would be any less steroetypical (bearing in mind some sexisim is based stereotypes)? Tell me we wouldn't see phrases like: "too much testosterone," or any other number of stereotypes based on stature or race.

I saw the incidents that this player performed and in my days of playing both rugby and rugby league I've never seen anyone carry out as many violent acts as she did, she didn't target one player but basically anyone who was in her way. I think it's not about her being female as I would expect if a guy had done something similar it would've made the news.

I think the newsworthy part of this particular story was that the abuse/attacks on the opposition from this one player were so blatant and so numerous. Quite amazing really.

Would certainly like to think that any player at any level who was filmed doing similar would be exposed in a similar manner.

Jen #3 have you seen the video clips? Because it wasn't "unprovoked", each was in retaliation to an elbow in chest or her shorts being wedgied.