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Archive for the ‘Money, Power & Politics’ Category

Griner’s punch not about women’s sports, but sportsmanship in all college play

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

By Laura Pappano Here we go again. Baylor’s Brittney Griner’s outrageous act last Wednesday – the now-viral YouTube image of her socking Texas Tech’s Jordan Barncastle after the two jostled beneath the basket – has some wondering: What’s going on in women’s sports? We had foul-mouthed Serena last summer, and then the ...

Post mort for IOC: Why are the Olympics so sexist?!?

Monday, March 1st, 2010

By Laura Pappano The closing ceremonies in Vancouver are finished, so let’s reflect: Why does a tremendous sport festival whose aim is to foster political goodwill remain so darned sexist? Events for women are typically lesser or shorter (or in the case of ski jumping, non-existent) compared with the men’s. Many of ...

Ladies: Grab those clickers!!! (And don’t let go)

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

By Laura Pappano I may never (hopefully) hurl down an icy track on a sled at 90-plus mph, but the Olympic spirit does stir a passion for competition. Yesterday, a 63-year-old woman offered to me that she has been absolutely glued to Olympic TV coverage and found snowboard cross riveting. “I ...

Thank you, Sylvia Pressler

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

By Laura Pappano News of Judge Sylvia Pressler’s death last week – at 75 at a family home in Sparta, NJ – drew a few paragraphs in the newspaper, but hardly attracted huge attention. And yet, as spring training gets underway and kids prepare for Little League tryouts (now a winter affair), ...

Sarcasm over, SI: time for real pics of female athletes

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

By Laura Pappano OK, I've learned something valuable: My effort at a tongue-in-cheek fan letter to SI for their "un-coverage" of female athletes was not clearly tongue-in-cheek to many readers on this site or the Women Talk Sports network site. Firstly, what a terrific (and impassioned!) discussion. Secondly, to set the record ...

Thank you, Sports Illustrated!!!!!!!!!!! (From a women’s sports fan)

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

By Laura Pappano As a Sports Illustrated subscriber, I just want to offer a big “Thank You” for all the recent coverage of Lindsey Vonn – or should I say “un”-coverage? If crazy feminists got all in a wad about last week’s cover photo of Vonn, I can only imagine what they ...

Parents, some advice: Three DIII athletes talk about youth sports (and, yeah, playing with boys)

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

By Megan Wood Documentary filmmaker Jenny Mackenzie's film Kick Like a Girl conveys the empoweringand enlightening experience when a soccer team of 8 and 9-year-old girls plays in the boys division -- quite successfully. After Mackenzie's visit to Wellesley College last week, I spoke with three student athletes about why gender ...

Score that a (giant) strike: Kelly Kulick grabs men’s pro bowling title (plus $40,000, brand new fans, and a win for gender equity)

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

By Laura Pappano Last weekend – in case you haven’t heard – Kelly Kulick became the first woman to win a Professional Bowlers Association Tour Title. And she didn’t just win, she blew away her opponent. At the 45th P.B.A. Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas, Kulick beat 2007-2008 PBA Player-of-the-year ...

It is time for the UConn women to play against the guys?

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

By Laura Pappano Obviously, the UConn Women's Basketball team under coach Geno Auriemma isn't merely good. They are dominant. Of 20 games played so far, they have won 14 of by more than 30 points (including four by more than 50 points). The closest game was a 12-point win over Stanford. So ...

Why at 65 this female golfer now hits from the back (er “men’s”) tees

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

By Davi-Ellen Chabner Why would I -- a 65-year-old woman, a 23-handicap golfer -- now be hitting from the blue tees (aka the back tees) -- aka the men's tees? Why not stick with the red tees, the women’s tees, a safer (and my designated) spot? Since I started playing golf more ...