I am a giant.

If you have watched ESPN or espn2 over the past three weeks, you probably have heard that commercial for the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

That phrase -- I am a giant -- is sung as the viewer looks at such figures as Pat Summitt and Diana Taurasi. Even Geno Auriemma, the cockiest coach in college basketball, couldn't refuse the chance to be in the commercial, as he is standing there, hands folded across his chest appearing as cocky as ever. The commercial is trying to get across the point that these people are "giants;" I'm guessing they mean giants of college sports. Sorry Pat and Diana, but you certainly aren't giants, and the same goes for you, Geno.

This commercial is a bold attempt by ESPN to gain interest in the women's college basketball tournament and to try to make it a big event like the men's tournament. Unfortunately for the people in Bristol, Conn., it won't matter if they offer $20 bills to the viewers.

Why? Because there is no parity in women's basketball.

The women's tournament, as Dicky V. would say, is "chalk city, baby." The final four had three No. 1 seeds and one No. 2 seed. No. 5 seed Boston College was being called a "Cinderella" when it reached the Sweet 16. No. 11 seed Notre Dame was the only real surprise of the tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 before getting demolished by No. 2 seed Purdue. The women's tournament will never be gambled on in pools like the men's because all you have to do is pick the higher seed in every game and you will have a good chance at having a perfect bracket.

Meanwhile, in the men's game there has been an upset at every matchup except No. 1 vs. No. 16 and even that looks bound to happen someday. The disparity in women's basketball between teams like No. 1 seed Connecticut and No. 4 seed Penn State is larger than the difference between the men's No. 1 seed and No. 12 seed. That is what makes men's college basketball so exciting and women's college basketball so plain.

I will admit after watching more women's college basketball this year than I ever have before that it can be exciting at times. Yes, watching Taurasi rain threes can be exciting, but the game can't compete with men's basketball because of the speed of the game and sheer physicality. Do you want to watch Summitt's Vols pass the ball around the floor in the motion offense or do you want to watch Carmelo Anthony split the defense and finish above the rim while being nailed by Nick Collison?

Yes, I believe that the ratings can rise from where they were and they already have. Last night's championship game between Connecticut and Tennessee had close to 30,000 people in attendance and since 1982 the attendance has increased about four-fold.

Another problem with the sport is the personalities that come to mind when thinking about women's basketball. I find some women's college basketball coaches' [see Summitt, Auriemma and our beloved Rene Portland] overconfidence to be sickening, but these coaches are the most recognizable figures in their sport because of their personalities. It would be like associating the NBA with Pat Riley and Phil Jackson.

Men's college basketball is associated with the Magic Johnsons, Larry Birds and Michael Jordans of the world. Obviously Summitt, Auriemma and Portland cannot compete with those names even if they are "giants."

The biggest name in women's college basketball history is Pat Summitt, hands down. No one will debate that John Wooden is a genius, but he is not the biggest name in men's college basketball history. That distinction belongs to players like Lew Alcindor or Magic Johnson.

They are giants.