Sticking Points In The Wisconsin State Budget, Ho-Chunk Language Preservation, Popularity Of Women’s Sports

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• Women's World Cup Attracts Viewers Who Likely Won't Remain Committed Fans, Says Professor

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  The women’s World Cup is drawing millions of viewers — more than any other women’s sport in the world.

  But, a University of Michigan professor says once the tournament is over, the excitement about women’s soccer will likely subside and the sport will again sink into obscurity.

  “The minute the World Cup is over, the women’s game completely recedes in terms of attention and doesn’t even come close to the men’s game,” said Andrei Markovits.

  Markovits, who is a professor of political science and German studies, is also the co-author of “Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism” and “Sportista: Female Fandom in the United States.” He said that even though about 4.4 million people tuned in last week to watch the matchup between the U.S. and Sweden, the viewership numbers have more to do about patriotism than a passion for women’s soccer.

  “Above all, (viewership) is driven by a kind of national identification that Jerry Seinfeld beautifully called ‘laundry.’ Basically, people root for whatever it says on the front of the jersey,” said Markovits, adding that most people don’t follow the National Women’s Soccer League and its nine teams that play in the years between World Cup contests.

  That’s not to say that there hasn’t been progress over the decades. Markovits said the first women’s World Cup in 1991 was an “embarrassment” for FIFA, soccer’s organizing body. By 1999 when the tournament was hosted by the U.S., he said it became a huge event. In fact, he said the championship game between the U.S. and China is the largest attended event by women.

  “That’s clearly an amazing transition, but women’s soccer is not a part of our daily lives, or constant obsession and discussion like the big four of men’s sports — football, baseball, basketball and hockey,” he said.

• Sticking Points In The Budget Approval Process

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  Republican state lawmakers are working to approve the two-year Wisconsin state budget before July 1st, the beginning of the next fiscal year. There are several sticking points though–transportation funding, financing a new Bucks stadium in Milwaukee, and prevailing wage law. WPR’s state government reporter discusses these issues and how they’re affecting budget negotiations.

• New Initiative Looks To Preserve Ho-Chunk Language In Wisconsin

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  As fewer and fewer people are speaking the Ho-Chunk language in Wisconsin, a new initiative looks to get more people teaching and learning the language. The president of the Ho-Chunk nation discusses the preservation effort.

• Will Women's Sports Ever Be Popular?

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  The Women’s World Cup in soccer is in full swing in Canada, drawing millions of viewers from around the world. But can women’s soccer attract this attention outside of the World Cup? An expert on women and sports discusses why women’s sports struggle and the role of women in the sports world.