After this ran, a reader chided me for letting it run without a photo of the point itself, assuming it was a mistake. It wasn't. We lifted heaven and earth trying to get permission to use that photo. I contacted Imagn Images (whose name looks like a typo) and Reuters — which supposedly handle permissions for the photo, though not in real time, apparently. I also badgered several top IndyStar editors, as well as the photographer herself, directly. And I know editors at the Sun-Times were doing what they could. All for naught. Another way newspapers have one hand tied behind their backs. Any idiot can grab any photo and toss it online. Responsible publications — what few remain — follow rules, and don't seize the work of others. As do ethical web sites. As much as I wanted to slap the photo in the circle in the meme below atop the blog, I couldn't.
But even I have noticed the ongoing saga of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, whose presence has supercharged the league. Her opponents seem to really hate her, because of — and I base this on my professional research, not personal bias, so don't blame me for these options — 1) her raw talent; 2) her $28 million contract with Nike; 3) her heterosexual orientation; 4) her white race; or 5) all four.
As a result Clark gets poked in the eye more than Curly Howard of the Three Stooges, and she is constantly being bludgeoned to the floor while refs gaze at the ceiling, if Instagram is any guide.
All of which could still be safely left to the sports pages. But Instagram has a way of holding your face in certain cultural moments, and Sunday my feed was inexplicably filled with Clark's teammate, Sophie Cunningham, pointing her finger.
That's it. Pointing. At an opponent. In a very cool, focused manner.
Perhaps you've seen it. Perhaps some background is in order.
In a June 22 game, Clark was issued a technical foul after scuffling with Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. The call caused Cunningham to calmly point at Bonner, with an "I see you" look. Bonner started raging, and pointing herself, and demanding Cunningham stop pointing at her, prompting Cunningham to keep pointing, her face serene, rhythmically wagging her finger.
It might have been another dust mote in the media whirlwind. But the image gained traction online, and on June 30 the White House jumped in, tweeting Cunningham talking about the incident on a podcast, paired it with Donald Trump, also pointing — because everything has to be about him.
Now Cunningham's is the finger that launched a thousand memes.
Cunningham crossing the Delaware in place of George Washington. Cunningham as Helen of Troy. Cunningham at the water's edge, ordering a boatload of dodgy looking refugees to "Go the fuck home."
Why? Well, again theories: Cunningham is 1) tall and blonde, in the mold of the Fox News feminine ideal; 2) she's from Missouri, which led some to assume she's conservative, though there's no sign of that; 3) she's white, admonishing a Black player, causing some on Instagram to decide she's calling out DEI; 4) apparently straight, in a sport where that isn't always the case.
Cue that patented mind-reading trick the right has perfected, Cunningham's viral moment was deemed a finger in the eye of sputtering liberals.
To continue reading, click here.
I don't think Sophie Cunningham is a fan of the orange man. She seems much too intelligent for that. I like her style of play. She is a real team player; she' does all the important little things on the basketball court. You know that she's always got your back.
ReplyDeletePlus she has a black belt in Taekwondo.
Oh my goodness. It seems the Facebook commenter and the like are living in MAGA upside-down world. Apparently unaware that right-wingnut Petey Hegseth has been firing strong, talented, confident, and fearless women from high-level positions they earned after years of hard work. Unaware that among the various ways that the MAGA-influenced SAVE voting act will oppress voting for so many, it will make it especially difficult for women to retain their right to vote if they need to re-register due to address or other changes. Unaware that at Erika Kirk's little gathering a few weeks ago, participants expressed their eagerness and willingness to be subservient to their men as they align with their assigned role of wife and baby-maker while rejecting feminism. And unaware that the poster children for victimhood are groups like the Patriot Front guys in their matchy-matchy outfits who believe only white Christian men deserve special treatment. So sad.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago someone told me that it was the loudest voices that get heard; the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.
ReplyDeleteSocial media has only amplified that reality.
And while the squeaky wheel does need oil, that doesn't mean the other -- quieter -- wheels do not need it as well.
I was watching clips of the dream team online yesterday. The game of basketball has changed a lot since the 90s. The one constant? bad refereeing. It's a problem across sports and it's likely not to change.
It's the same case with the stupidest and the loudest people. Educate yourself and follow the cone head mantra of "maintain low tones."
Besides, if those claiming to defend the constitution actually read (and had the ability to comprehend what was written) the declaration of independence, they would most likely would be appalled and realize that they are the very people we fought to gain our independence from.
Love those female athletes and their fingers! This story reminds me of Libby King in the 2016 Olympics at Rio when a Russian swimmer waved around a finger indicating she was #1 after winning a preliminary race. But in the final, it was Libby who won, and she then wagged her finger at the Russian swimmer, as if to say, "no, no". Libby's point was that the Russian swimmer had a history of doping/cheating, which was NOT ok, and its far better to win fairly. That interaction went viral, too, but I suppose MAGA steers clear of incidents where a Russian's foul is pointed out; its so much more satisfying to call out a Black athlete.
ReplyDelete"While the radical left pushes its anti-woman agenda".
ReplyDeleteEvery accusation is a confession.
"While the radical left pushes its anti-woman agenda".
DeleteBingo. Against women as house slaves, subserviant trophy wives, disenfranchised non-voters, and complaint child-hatchers. Another Fakebook asshat heard from..
Compliant child-hatchers...without any complaints. MOMS.
DeleteHere in Indy, some characterized Cunningham as a conservative influencer, so I spent a few minutes today looking for Cunningham coverage before The Point on June 22. And I have attended a couple of Indiana Fever games, prior to arrival of Clark and Cunningham, who was traded from the Phoenix Mercury. In fall 2024, Cunningham made and deleted some Instagram posts that were seen as pro-Trump, then walked it back in a Sports Illustrated story in September 2025. Also of note on this: As a former Mercury team mate, Cunningham knows DeWanna Bonner, who is romantic partner to Alyssa Thomas. Thomas is the Phoenix player suspended after the June 24 game in which she put her fist on Clark’s throat — two days after Cunningham’s point. I hope Clark can stay healthy while weak WNBA leadership figures out how to rectify the officiating nightmare.
ReplyDeleteYou say she made and deleted some Instagram posts, then walked it back. So what was she walking back, the making them or the deleting them?
DeleteThe Cleveland Rockers were WNBA franchise from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which started play in 1997. The owner, Gordon Gund, also owned the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers at the time. The Cleveland Rockers got their nickname from Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
DeleteDespite fielding competitive teams and having decent attendance for most games, the Gund family decided they did not wish to operate the Rockers after the 2003 season, citing a lack of revenue and poor attendance. What the fudge?
No local ownership was found for the team, forcing the Rockers to fold in December 2003, after seven seasons. The players went to the other teams in the league via a dispersal draft in January 2004.
So guess who's getting a second chance when the WNBA expands in 2028? Hope they bring the old name back. Still have some merch. The Cleveland team will probably be more of a BFD this time around.
@Byron O'Blivion, great question. I was unclear — “it” in walked it back referred to Cunningham’s views generally. The Instagram posting-deleting info came from this October 2024 story: https://www.essentiallysports.com/wnba-basketball-news-sophie-cunninghams-pro-donald-trump-stance-causes-locker-room-tension-after-natasha-clouds-latest-admission/
DeleteI think she walked it back in this June 2024 SI piece: https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/sophie-cunningham-sets-record-straight-on-assumption-about-political-views-01k430q0hs8p
Mr Steinberg. Why do you let yourself get dragged into something like this?
ReplyDeleteEverything about it is speculation. Though she is awfully cute. Thanks for that
My mind was all over the place with wrong impressions of the topic this morning, beginning with misunderstanding and misinterpreting the title, first thinking that it was a typo of "finger points," then thinking it was supposed to read "finger painting" as a hint about MAGA skills, and worst of all, thinking that she was indeed another in the line of blond Fox News/White House dimbulbs.
ReplyDeleteSo... I had a lot to straighten out in my own head before having another go at what we are talking about this morning. That said, I'm not seeing much that's new here; it seems more like the latest little photographed oddity getting some legs. Has it really been fourteen years since Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney held that "not impressed" (at herself) expression for all of one second? That was enough time for a photo, and the photo was enough to go viral. That in turn was enough to yield another photo a few months later with Barack Obama in the Oval Office, both doing the "not impressed" expression, and so of course that went even more viral than the first.
It would not surprise me if an invitation from the White House has already gone out, asking Ms. Cunningham to stop by for a visit and, gee, maybe a photo op. Hopefully she will decline the honor.
My former interest in sports has diminished very significantly over the years. I know little about the WNBA, partly because it didn't really become a "thing" until well after I lost interest even in the sports that I used to care about.
ReplyDeleteSo, most of what I know about it I've pretty much learned against my will, kinda like with Taylor Swift or Kid Rock or the Kardashians. (Or the freaking Bears, for that matter.) You know, like reading this column by my favorite columnist, who I know cares less about sports than I do, and being surprised to find that it's about a basketball incident.
"But even I have noticed the ongoing saga of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, whose presence has supercharged the league." Me too, which is why I would be so bold as to add an additional option for why opponents hate her. She's not been shy about trash-talking and taunting other players, going back to her Iowa days, and what goes around comes around. Not that such behavior warrants flagrant fouls, and from the small amount I know about her, I *like* Caitlan Clark.
(Regardless, "As a result Clark gets poked in the eye more than Curly Howard of the Three Stooges" is gold, Jerry!)
"To not think twice about the endless howl of grievance echoing across this country — must be nice." Despite being aware of many, many other howls of grievance, this one had not come to my attention at all until reading this column. It *was* nice. 😉
BTW, Neil, the hyperlinks to "the White House jumped in," highlighted both here on the blog and in the web version of the column at the S-T, don't work and just go to the Blogger sign-in page.
Fixed, thanks.
DeleteThe nature of the legal issues raised by what comes blowing through in the daily information hurricane in this culture certainly escapes me, but the paragraph you wrote accompanying this column is astounding. What would possibly be the point of not allowing you to post the photo? Did they offer to let you "buy" access to it?
ReplyDelete"I also badgered several top IndyStar editors, as well as the photographer herself, directly." Are you at liberty to let us know what the photographer herself said about this, NS? You'd think she'd be happy for her work to be shared as widely as possible, especially if it were to be credited to her. 🤔
None of them replied. Which is typical.
Delete