Who should play in Professional sports?

No they should not.

 

Are there actual rules prohibiting them from doing so with most major leagues?

Wins and losses which equal profits are usually what counts. Hypothetically if there was a woman pitcher the could throw 100 mph for strikes, and had a wicked curve ball is there a rule in major league baseball that says a team couldn't hire her? Same question about a NHL goalie, NFL Place kicker, NBA point guard?

 

I don't think so. If a woman can compete with a man in the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL, then I see no reason why she shouldn't be allowed to play in the league.

 

I agree.

I wasn't aware of any rules prohibiting them, that is why I was a little confused by the OP.

 

Major League baseball banned the signing of women to contracts in June of 1952.

I'm not sure if that has ever been revoked.

As far as basketball and football, I don't think there are any written rules in their organizations that forbid women signing with a pro team.

 

If this can be done, then all leagues or competition should be open to all. There should not be a WNBA, for example, but an NBA II.

 

Why shouldn't there be a WNBA? If there's a place for women to play basketball professionally, why shouldn't they be able to play? Women don't have the physical skills required to compete in the NBA.

 

Isn't this about being able to play if you have the skills, regardless of gender? If there should still be a WNBA, maybe there should be a second WNBA, with W meaning "White."

 

Why does race have to so often become part of discussion at this site?

 

Do you honestly believe that there aren't any good white players?

 

No, there are some. But I know you get the point I'm making. For reasons genetic, social, or whatever else, a black is more likely to have the skills of a professional basketball player than a white. So if you think a league should be exclusive of men, but not a league exclusive of women, why do you not also think there should be an inferior league exclusive of blacks? Or, just what is your figure on that? If only 18% of NBA players are non-black [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_nba_players_are_black], how low must it be for white men to be entitled to a league of their own? Since women probably would make up 2% or less (a shot in the dark) of NBA players if it were advantageous for them to play (and if it is allowed), and you do think they are entitled to their own league, I suppose that figure must be less 18% and probably greater than 2%. Where is it?

 

Stop.

Show me where I said that.

 

You said these 2 things:

"If a woman can compete with a man in the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL, then I see no reason why she shouldn't be allowed to play in the league."

"Why shouldn't there be a WNBA? If there's a place for women to play basketball professionally, why shouldn't they be able to play?"

Since you did say women should be allowed to play in the NBA, and the Women's NBA should exist for women to play, then Yes or No.... Do you think there should a league exclusive of men, but no league exclusive of women?

 

My statements about who should play where are based on merit. A woman can't compete with NBA players. You want it to be a philosophical argument, I guess, but I wasn't attempting to make a philosophical argument.

 

Alright, if 'who should play where' is based on merit, there should not be any exclusive league.

 

I have no problem with a woman, if she earns her roster spot, being on an NHL, NBA, or other pro roster.

I have no problem with the existence of the WNBA. It will never be popular in this country, but its existence shouldn't bother anyone. Not all the leagues can be the NFL. So what if you have the WNBAs and the MLSs of this world? Let that niche have their sport and move on. The market will weed out what we don't need.