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 ...

Posted in Money, Power & Politics, The Athletes | 5 Comments »

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 ...

Posted in GenNext: Sport Girls, Money, Power & Politics, The Athletes | No Comments »

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 ...

Posted in Money, Power & Politics, The Athletes, The Q&A | 1 Comment »

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 ...

Posted in Money, Power & Politics, The Athletes | 3 Comments »

Why must softball game prep include bronzer and eyeliner?

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

By Megan Wood My final college softball season starts in three weeks. Time to worry about my makeup and hair? Softball may be a serious, competitive, slide-in-the-dirt sport, but as it grows in popularity (and TV interest), there is heightened attention -- to looking good. When I tuned into the Women’s College World ...

Posted in GenNext: Sport Girls, Money, Power & Politics, Softball, The Athletes | 4 Comments »

Top pro squash player on match prep, the fallacy of burnout — and why a bikini calendar

Monday, January 4th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_889" align="aligncenter" width="830" caption="Grainger bests Alison Waters in the finals of the Burning River Classic in Cleveland, Feb. 2009"][/caption] By Sarah Odell What happens when you cross a genetic pre-disposition with an environment crafted for squash excellence? Answer: Natalie Grainger, one of the top women's squash players in the world (she’s ...

Posted in Squash, The Athletes, The Q&A | No Comments »

Spike this: Pregnant volleyball player misserved by school officials

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

By Laura Pappano Sure, research shows that high school girls who play sports are less likely than their non-athletic peers to get pregnant. But sometimes it happens. When it does, schools and districts need fair and sensible policies that allow girls (with guidance from a physician) to continue to compete and participate, ...

Posted in GenNext: Sport Girls, The Athletes | 3 Comments »

Lessons, some victories, and fresh worry: Is there life after college sports?

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

[caption id="attachment_723" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Odell (in blue)"][/caption] By Sarah Odell The other day, the Wellesley College Squash Team -- my team -- opened the 2009 season at home against Smith College. This is my last home opener. As a senior, who has spent four years holding the number one spot at Wellesley, ...

Posted in Squash, The Athletes | 2 Comments »

Why are men running the show in women’s fastpitch softball?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

By Megan Wood I’ve played softball for 15 years, and for nearly my entire career I have been coached by men. Sure, a few female pitching coaches helped on the side, but T-ball through high school, all of my head and assistant coaches were guys. Even when I reflected on the umpires, ...

Posted in Money, Power & Politics, Softball, The Athletes | 3 Comments »

Does ponytail pull sully the wholesome vibe of women’s sports? Is that OK?

Monday, November 9th, 2009

By Laura Pappano NM soccer player Elizabeth Lambert’s hair yanking, punching, and nasty behavior have gone viral. She’s being labeled the “dirtiest player” in women’s soccer and – depending on who’s writing or talking – all of women’s sports. What makes Lambert’s behavior so outrageous (aside from being captured on video) is ...

Posted in Money, Power & Politics, The Athletes | 2 Comments »