Playing Ball with the Boys. Betsy Ross
Playing Ball with the Boys:
The Rise of Women in the World of Men’s Sports
COPYRIGHT © 2011 by Besty M. Ross
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any fashion, print, facsimile, or electronic, or by any method yet to be developed, without the express permission of the copyright holder.
Published by Clerisy Press
Distributed by Publishers Group West
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, first printing
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ross, Betsy M.
Playing ball with the boys : the rise of women in the world of men’s sports / by Betsy M. Ross.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-57860-460-9
ISBN-10: 1-57860-460-5
1. Sports for women--United States. 2. Women athletes--United States. I. Title.
GV709.18.U6R67 2010
| 796.082--dc22 | 2010020563 |
Editor: Jack Heffron
Cover Design: Scott McGrew
Text Design: Annie Long
Clerisy Press
P.O. Box 8874
Cincinnati, OH 45208-0874
TO MY PARENTS
Who always told me I could be, and do, anything I wanted
Contents
by Phyllis George, co-host The NFL Today
“THIS IS SPORTSCENTER”
How a girl from Indiana made it to ESPN
IT All STARTED ON A TENNIS COURT
“My life, since I’ve been twelve years old, is about equal rights and opportunities for both men and women, girls and boys.”
Billie Jean King and the History of Women Sports Pioneers
FROM RADIO TO TV,
WOMEN CHANGE SPORTSCASTING
“Some women love sports and get into television. Others love television and get into sports.”
Ann Liguori | Lesley Visser
WOMEN IN THE BOOTH
“I think in order to be a trailblazer there has to be somebody else behind you on the trail.”
Gayle Sierens | Pam Ward
WOMEN SPORTS REPORTERS
“If there are hurdles in your way, jump over them.”
Christine Brennan | Selena Roberts
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
“I think we need more women in powerful positions.”
Dr. Michelle Andrews | Kari Rumfield Kim Ng
THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS
“I like having women in charge.”
Tina Kunzer-Murphy | Brigid DeVries Tonya Antonucci
FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION
“You have to have the drive to tackle something a little bit bigger than you.”
Zayra Calderon | Sue Enquist
THEY CALL HER COACH
“You can’t be afraid of failure and not being able to achieve.”
T. Jean Dowell | Bernadette Mattox
DRIVING FORCES
“There are just these stereotypes of what you’re supposed to do.”
Kelley Earnhardt | Janet Guthrie
PLAYING BALL WITH THE BOYS: THE NEXT GENERATION
“I think I’m a total product of Title IX—I’m a Title IX baby.”
Rebecca Lobo | Ruth Riley
acknowledgments
I didn’t realize it at the time, but it seems as if I’ve always had this book in me.
As I started the research into the women who have made a difference in sports, I found that I already had a lot of the material in my files: Clippings of the New York Times article on Gayle Sierens; columns from USA Today’s Christine Brennan; research articles on why more women weren’t involved more in such-and-such aspect of athletics. There are many people to thank who helped me get this book out of my files, out of my head, and onto paper.
The inherent fear, of course, is that you won’t name everyone who has played a part in this project, like the Oscar-winning actress who forgets to name her spouse. So if your name isn’t here, please don’t think of it as an oversight, or a slight of any kind. I just have had so many people who have helped me develop this book and this research, that it may be nearly impossible to list everyone who has touched my life.
First, of course, are the many women who have gone before us in the field of sports and made a difference. I’ve had the opportunity to interview a number in this book, but there are many more, be they famous or anonymous, who have worked to make it better for the next generation. Those with whom I had the privilege to talk were gracious to give their time and were eager to tell their stories, and I thank them.
Knowing to whom you