The Rush Limbaugh controversy has now entered Phase 2: the time when folks rush in to defend Rush. Led today by Allen Barra at Slate.

Lots and lots of talk at all the sports blogs about this issue. To be honest, the whole thing doesn't interest me too much.

But there is one general lesson, a reminder of something I've said before: sports reporting (like other reporting) is sometimes influenced by and infected by politics. This has obvious implications for women's sports, where coverage of the game is often affected by the reporter's views on feminism, Title IX, gay rights, etc.

There's no use denying such biases, but at the end of the day, we should get back to the game. The success of women's hoops (or lack thereof) is related to some big societal issues. But the play on the court has its own value, separate from the rest.