June 1, 2009, - 12:44 pm
Taking Bets: How Long ‘Til Feminists, ACLU Sue Over Baseball’s Guy-Only “Man Cave” Contest?
By Debbie Schlussel
If you’ve been paying attention to pop culture over the last decade, you know what a “man cave” is. I’ve written about it, there are shows promoting it, and it’s become part of the interior design vernacular.
A “man cave,” to those who aren’t in the loop, is a room (usually a garage or basement)–generally no girls (or women) allowed–where a guy hangs out by himself (or with guy friends) and keeps all of the guy comforts his wife won’t let him have and/or do: usually stuff like La-Z boy recliners, a fridge full of cool beer, sports memorabilia, pool tables, pinball machines, foosball, a giant screen TV to watch football games all day long on NFL Sundays, and other guy stuff. It’s kind of like the grown-up version of the guys only tree house.
Major League Baseball is glomming onto the “man cave” theme with a promotion in conjunction with the DIY Network’s “Man Caves” show (hosted by a man’s man, former NFLer Tony Siragusa and some dude named Jason Cameron). A guy will get his own Major League Baseball man cave, with the winner chosen from viewer video entries explaining why the entrant is “caveworthy.
The catch: The winner must be a guy (according to USA Today). And the DIY site clearly states:
Boys [DS: emphasis added] can compete on both the network’s website, 12 June to 24 July, by a video to explain why they are their own man cave.
(Elsewhere it says the contest is for men, as opposed to just “boys.”)
After all, the term is man cave, not chick cave. “Man Caves” is one of DIY’s most watched shows and is in its third season. That’s because men like to see the latest in man cavery. I doubt anyone would want to see a woman putting in pink, frilly curtains and a TiVo set to tape Oprah in a man cave, much less a lesbian man cave, complete with brush-cut station, non-shaving kit, and a stack of DVDs of past WNBA seasons and KD Lang concerts. Beside that, there already is the ultimate “woman cave” (no pun or double entendre intended): the home of the OctoMom, Palestinian Nadya Suleman.
But just like the girls who whined about not being granted entry into the tree house by the boys, the feminist are always not far behind with their lawyers in tow.
So, how long until the manly chicks sue Major League Baseball and the DIY network for posting a “Keep Out Sign” on the man cave contest? Don’t worry. We will hear from them. It’s not if, it’s how soon.
I hear the shrill shrieks about “sexism” already. Uh-oh, here come Martha Burk and Gloria Allred. After all, the man cave is basically the working-class to upper middle-class version of Augusta National Golf Club.
***
Here’s video of what you typically find on DIY’s “Man Cave.” Pretty cool . . . for a guy.
**********************
**********************
Miss Schlussel, Et Alii:
Until today, I’d never heard of a “man cave”, and didn’t know what the letters, “DIY” stood for.
But, now, thanks to you, I do.
I reckon I’ve been living in a “man cave” for the past few years, as that pretty much describes my room here at the Old Soldiers’ Home, don’t you reckon?
Here is the URL at the You Tube web site where you can watch a video tour of my room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqSBqKSDDKE
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
Official Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400
**********************
**********************
[JRM: THAT’S A GREAT VIDEO. IT TELLS US A LOT ABOUT YOU, YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COUNTRY. THANKS. DS]
writesong on June 1, 2009 at 2:56 pm