I broke the cardinal rule of the internet.

That’s right. I read the comments.

This is not the first time I’ve made this mistake and you would think that I’ve learned my lesson and I won’t do it again. But you would be wrong. Especially when it comes to topics that are near and dear to me, or that I feel passionately about.

On a recent episode of ESPN’s Highly Questionable, co-hosts Katie Nolan, Mina Kimes, and Sarah Spain (temporarily) flipped on Dan LeBetard, who had just recently returned to the show, by joking that they preferred it when he had not been there the previous week. They then launched into a reversal of insults that are generally directed towards women in sports, and well let’s be honest, women in general. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, honestly. So I just suggest watching the video below and picking one yourself.

Part of the reason this works so well is because LeBetard plays along and rolls with the punches because he’s not an insecure prick. He can actually take a joke. But we all know that most people on the internet are not as tolerant. And that’s to put it mildly. (Cue Katie deep diving into comments and twitter threads. Oops). That’s when I started to get real fired up.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better I went to another taping of Always Late With Katie Nolan before I moved out of NYC after an 11 year run (long story, I’ll tell you later). In her 3rd block of the show she dropped this GEM on us and the rest of the world and we are so much better for it. To say that I was crying with laughter would be an understatement. (I’m including the shortened version for time purposes, but you should absolutely watch the full thing here). The sad part of it is that it points to a much larger problem overall…

A Much Needed Conversation

Remember Nike’s “Dream Crazier” ad from Oscar season? Or when Serena was berated for not being pleasant in a press conference after a tough loss? What about when the internet attacked Simone Biles for, dare I say it, being confident? Because she’s more than earned it as the greatest gymnast, oh I don’t know, EVER?!

I MEAN, GOD FORBID WE EXPRESS OUR EMOTIONS.

Oh, excuse me, did I just get loud? Does that make you feel uncomfortable? So sorry. EXCEPT THAT I’M NOT. It is beyond time for us to get angry. We’re not apologizing anymore. Time is up on us coddling your fragile egos. Maybe you should take a page out of LeBetard’s book and figure out how to be an ally and advocate for change. And, God forbid, learn how to take a joke. We women have been doing it all of our lives.

PRAISE BE TO DORIS

(*Authors Note…..Had to add one more for good measure because I have to s/o to Josh Hansen and the rest of the male writers for The Turf for “getting it” )