Neal: It’s time the WNBA gets the respect it deserves

Here’s another edition of the 3-2 Pitch, my three observations and two predictions every week.

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It’s time for me to get into the cryptocurrency game. My coin will be called smokeyscribe. I will promote it by throwing cigars and disrupting play at sporting events throughout the country.

What could go wrong? If it hits a fan, he or she can light it up. If it hits a young fan, hey, it will be his or her introduction to tobacco.

I’m certain it will be better, and less exploitative, than what has happened in WNBA arenas in recent weeks. At least three games have been disrupted by sex toys being tossed onto the court. In other instances, the toys have failed to reach the court, including a game on Tuesday in which it struck a man and his niece.

The group behind these events, reportedly, is trying to market cryptocurrency. Really? By being misogynistic? By mocking and ridiculing a surging women’s sport?

They could have brought attention to their cause by tossing teddy bears. It looks like a bunch of Neanderthals are interested in more than promoting currency to me.

And the WNBA is exploding. However you view the polarizing Caitlin Clark, she is an excellent player and has drawn eyes to the league. A minority owner of the Celtics wants to plunk down more than $300 million to purchase the Connecticut Sun.

These sports have earned our attention. But, apparently, not respect from some folks looking to make a fast buck.

It doesn’t help when one of the most powerful families in the country makes light of the situation. Donald Trump Jr. on Thursday posted an Instagram meme in which his father, the President of the United States, appears to toss a sex toy onto a court of WNBA players.

And there has been a spike in sales of that particular cryptocurrency since these incidents started. You should not profit off being sexist.

The WNBA will continue to grow and earn its place as one of the top leagues in the world. The brand of basketball is improving. There are young stars. Franchise values are rising.

So this must be clamped down immediately. Any fan throwing objects onto playing surfaces should be arrested and prosecuted. More than that, they should be banned from any event in that area or stadium for good. That includes concerts, job fairs, conventions, etc.

These are the moments that cause me to fret about where society is headed. There are better ways to promote something than doing so at the expense of WNBA players.

I like my cigar idea better. But I promise not to throw them, just hand them out.

A week ago, I predicted in this space that the Lynx would trade for a post player to help their title push. They did swing a deal, but they added guard DiJonai Carrington instead.

I still love the deal.

And, based on what WNBA legend Candace Parker said on the “Post Moves” podcast, the Lynx will be energized as well. She compared the trade to Cleveland landing De’Andre Hunter at the NBA trade deadline.

“It’s one of those defensive players that will allow everybody to play their normal position,” Parker said. “Kayla McBride can go back to just focusing on shooting threes, and DiJonai Carrington will guard the best player on the other team. For me, for a team that’s already in first place, which the Cavs were already in first place, to make this move, it allowed everybody to play their position. And I think DiJonai Carrington being in Minnesota is actually a ridiculous trade.”

Looks like the Lynx have gotten even better.

I was at CHS Field on Thursday to watch the Saints debut of lefthander Kendry Rojas, who came to the organization in the controversial deadline day trade of local product Louie Varland.

The kid has an arm.

Iowa scored five unearned runs in the fourth, three on a home run off a slider. Rojas threw more changeups after that.

“He looked outstanding,” Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said. “Not too many lefties throwing 95-plus in Triple-A. Throw in the fact that he’s only 22 years old and is a strike thrower with some plus offspeed stuff. Pretty awesome upside.”

The Twins need to be right on this one.

• The Vikings will trade for a backup quarterback before Week 1.