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Myra McIntosh, a die-hard hockey fan, was not impressed last week when she heard about the CBC’s new show While The Men Watch. On Thursday, she appeared in a radio interview on CBC Radio One, explaining why she doesn’t agree with the idea and why she thinks many women aren’t happy with it.

Luckily for us, she’s not done. Read on as Myra explains why you shouldn’t buy into the CBC’s new show.

While the men watch… TRY WATCHING WITH THEM

- By Myra McIntosh

The CBC made a bold move last week in announcing that a “girl talk” brand of commentary would be broadcast during the Stanley Cup Final as an alternative feed on their website. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they’ll be bringing us the expertise of hockey legends such as Cassie Campbell or Hayley Wickenheiser.

Instead, this brand of girl talk is the lowest common denominator of sports commentary. Co-hosts Lena Sutherland and Jules Mancuso have dubbed it “Sex and The City meets ESPN”. The CBC hopes this alternative feed it will draw new fans to the sport of hockey. Problem is, they’re doing it wrong.

4 reasons the CBC’s screwing up

1. They’re alienating real female hockey fans.

Many women are serious about their hockey. They watch every single game and obsess over every offseason move (yes guys, just like you). These women do not care about who is hot, who posed naked (any more than the PITB guys, anyway) or why that commentator is wearing contrasting patterns.

This show will make it much harder for women who like sports or want to be in sports media to distance themselves from the stigma that follows the female sports fans everywhere.

2. Want more female sports fans? Get the right hosts.

It’s nice the CBC finally decided to add some more women to their hockey broadcasts, but they’ve turned to women who admit they have a hard time understanding the rules and the game!

Let’s get this straight: in order to teach women the sport, they’ve put two unqualified ladies on a national webcast. Good plan.

3. This will not create a “hockey audience”

The CBC intends for While the Men Watch to bring in a new hockey audience, but from exploring the website is evident these two do not aim to educate people about hockey at all.

Here is a small list of posts from the site:

– Sex on Game Day: Does He Lock it Up or Love You Down?

– Haute Hockey: The NHL’s Best and Worst Dressed List

– Top 10 Elimination Excuses & What They Say About Him

First of all, if he has control of when it is “locked up” in your relationship, ouch (unless you try during a game, then you’re just dumb). Second, if you think you’re gaining any real hockey fans from posts like these, you’re delusional.

4. More puck bunnies in the making.

Cassie Campbell and Hayley Wickenheiser have said they hope the show will bring new fans into hockey. While I love the idea (sometimes a serious fan wants friends to watch with when it isn’t the playoffs), I dread watching with a bunch of women talking about which player has the best haircut. I actually want to watch the game.

In Conclusion

Look, I’m all about bringing in new fans, but the CBC could have tried to do it in a way that wasn’t completely patronizing to women.

Sports are generally not complicated to understand and let’s be honest, women are more intelligent anyways (except for the two on this show, apparently). If the CBC wants to do this, they should do it right.

Note: Myra will be writing a post on episode one of the show following Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Make sure you come back to read it. You can follow her on Twitter: @myra_mc

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