WNBA...2010 Begins

Here we are again. The start of yet another WNBA season. Again we will start the season with some old teams gone and a new location for one. Players have changed jerseys, old players have reluctantly moved on and new players have stepped into the limelight to begin what they hope will be everlasting careers. What does the 2010 season hold for us the fan? Who will reign in the East,...Indiana? Who is the ones to beat in the West,...Phoenix?

One of the biggest stories this past off season had to be the moving of the Detroit franchise only to have their stars (Nolan, Smith) decide they didn't want to make the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Tulsa, the new Shock are also without the services of the all everything center Cheryl Ford. What are the expectations of this team? What are the realistic chances that a 34 year old, ex-olympian can resurrect not only a career but an image and a franchise? Unfair expectations...absolutely! Marion Jones' return will be played out in talk shows, tweets, blogs and articles all year long. A compelling season is what we hope to get. But I think a dismal season is more fact than fiction.

Can the L.A. Sparks transition from Lisa Leslie's team to Candace Parker's team? Parker has matured in years and game and is more than capable of being the face of a franchise but can she assume the leadership role (all season) and guide the Sparks to the playoffs and beyond? And one very important aspect not to overlook, the Sparks are old. Thompson, Penicheiro, Milton-Jones, Lennox and Ferdinand-Harris have been in the league for 8 years or more. Can they sustain for another season?

Seattle stays poised for a comeback. Veteran core leadership remains and a host of talent gives them the pieces needed to vie for the top spots in the West. But another team that will flex is the San Antonio Silver Stars. They picked up a key draft prospect and maintain a core of veterans. They will be worth watching.

What about the defending champs,...Phoenix Mercury. The exodus of Cappie Pondexter and the signing of Candice Dupree change the dynamics and chemistry of the squad, but is it for the good? It remains to be seen the impact of the trade, but on paper just how much did the Mercury lose and how much did they gain! Speaking of Cappie, how does she fit in the Big Apple? Her supporting cast includes veterans McCarville, Powell and McWilliams-Franklin who will be adding her 10 years and WNBA Championship experience into a talented crop. But are the Liberty a year or two away from getting back to the playoffs?

Minnesota and Washington looked promising, but key injuries will likely keep these youthful teams on the outside looking in,...again! Atlanta looks poised to pick up where they left off last year. Connecticut looks to make the draft day picks and off season additions pay dividends immediately. But as in Seattle, having UCONN alumni doesn't always make a championship team?

Indiana is solid. Barring injury they should reach the playoffs again and possibly the Eastern Conference championships.

But what about the Chicago Sky. On paper they are big, physical and speedy. Only one player (Canty) has 11 years of service in the league. The remaining team is young and for some in the prime of their careers. Chicago should make some noise and face Indiana in the playoffs.

It's less than 12 hours til the ESPN2 tip of Phoenix vs. Los Angeles. It's going to be an interesting season full of drama, suprises and compelling story lines. Looking forward to all 2010 has to offer!

In The Pink Zone

I began this search for women's athletic merchandise with the goal of finding licensed apparel. I add to my collection with my recently acquired "Pink Zone" Georgia Tech jersey which was worn by the Jackets on the February 19th game against the Duke Blue Devils. My love for licensed apparel stems from my very first licensed piece, a Pittsburgh Steeler letterman jacket (see Vision Quest 12/13/09). I can say upon receiving this jersey I am just as happy...and...torn. I want to wear it, but what this jersey represents is a "one-of-a-kind." I can't go to a website or sporting goods store and purchase one anytime. These are rare and special in that they were made for this one occasion, the "Pink Zone" game. If you're lucky you get to bid on a jersey...and then they are gone! There were at least 7 or 8 jerseys available on the Georgia Tech website for auction. I believe only 4 or 5 were bid on. There was no challenging bids for my particular jersey. Good for me, but you have to ask yourself did the word get out about the jersey's being auctioned off? I found out the jerseys were available through the Georgia Tech Women's Basketball Fan Page on Facebook. I'd like to think this information was tweeted, probably word of mouth and I'm sure there were other marketing means but what happened to the buyers? Was there no interest in owning a pink jersey? Was the price not satisfactory to the masses? Is "Georgia Tech" planted across your chest something most people don't want to experience? Did anyone out there purchase a "Pink Zone" jersey from their favorite team? I'd love to hear from you, write a comment or visit the womensgame facebook page (keyword womensgame) and add a photo.

reBlog from wsenetwork.com: Dupree’s Star Power

I found this fascinating quote today:

In evaluating the recent WNBA Blockbuster trade,  all three teams got exactly what they need.  New York gets Cappie Pondexter an all-star guard who can score, rebound and push tempo. Shameka Christon & Catherine Kraayveld gives Chicago seasoned veteran leadership and solid scoring.  The Phoenix Mercury add an all-star in Candice Dupree whose game quietly speaks for itself.  Currently playing in the Euroleague for the Slovakian team the Good Angels Kosice, Dupree is doing her thing: Leading the Euroleague in rebounds & blocks per game (11 & 2, respectively) and averaging 19ppg (3rd in the league), Dupree is a valuable player to any championship contending team.  What Phoenix lost in Pondexter, they certainly gained in Dupree.wsenetwork.com, Dupree’s Star Power, Apr 2010

You should read the whole article.

Cinderella good for tournament, but not great

I don't know about you but the women's tournament has been exciting. Quite a few unexpected upsets and unforeseen programs not fulfilling high expectations. As exciting as it has been to watch Vermont and Green Bay play and knock down their Goliath...I must apologize for this next statement...I don't want to see Cinderella in the final four. I realize the tournament is set up to "win or go home". I think it's great to have a few surprises here and there. We need that to validate the tournament. A continuous romp through the tournament by the top seeds year after year would render it "March Blandness" and not make for "must see tv". So why I appreciate the hard work, dedication and effort put forth by San Diego State University in disappointing Texas on their home floor and reaching the sweet sixteen, I found myself rooting against them with Duke. Don't we ultimately want to see the top teams in the country play for the National Championship? I'm not limiting it to a UCONN-Tenn-Duke-Stanford slug fest. I'm talking about the 20 or so teams who have built dominant programs over the years.

I've spent the better part of five months watching games and familiarizing myself with teams and players from the top six conferences (because they are who you get to see on tv). I've gotten to know their names, their style of play, the coach and coaching staff. I've seen their ups and downs, highs and lows. I know who are the players to watch and for many, who is the sixth man off the bench.

For most of these teams, there is history in the programs. Some feature legendary coaches and others have newcomers who are only newcomers to their respective programs. They are legends of the women's game, prodigal daughters returning to restore magic to a once royal program. Young coaches with a bloodline of winning and a determination to prove themselves.

Let me try to put it another way. Unless you are from Iowa, did you really want to see Northern Iowa in the final four of the men's tournament? Don't you secretly want to see Kansas clash with Kentucky or Duke. In the NBA finals would you be happy with the Timberwolves and Bobcats? Isn't it more appealing to see the Cavs-Lakers or Celtics-Lakers?

I love the tournament format. I love that it gives Vermont a chance to be put on the grandest stage in women's college basketball and for a week or so be the bell of the ball. But by the sweet sixteen I want order restored.

This is not to say Cinderella can never be a "bride". She needs to be visible in the regular season. I need to get to know her. Maybe she can participate in one of those high profile pre-season tournaments or schedule some games with the top programs, get on tv a bit more. I'll learn their names and be able to talk about a player or two and most of all they have to win! A couple years of this and when the brackets come out in March and I see their name on the schedule, I may not hesitate to pencil them in...and maybe even to the elite eight.

UCONN does deserve credit for it's remarkable run, Let's watch'em til the end

I recently read an article from SI.com by a Boston Globe columnist, Dan Shaughnessy, entitled "UCONN deserves credit for it's remarkable run, but I can't watch. In his article he wrote about not caring about the women's tournament and that "most red-blooded American fans don't give a hoot about women's basketball", he went on to say that "the dominant Huskies are a part of the problem."

I took from his message that because of the utter destruction UCONN has put on it's opponents this year, with no team coming closer than 12pts, that it renders the games uninteresting, almost boring if you are not a UCONN fan.

He also says there is "little competition in the women's game"...
Since 2000, only 5 teams have won the national championship, UCONN and Tennessee having multiple wins. Compared to the men's national championship game for the same period, eight teams have won, with repeats from North Carolina and Florida. Just for fun I checked out the NBA. Since 2000 only 5 teams have been crowned NBA Champs. The Lakers and Spurs had multiple championships during that period. What jumps out at you about these statistics? All stats look pretty darn similar to me?

..."the game appears in slow motion compared to the men's game."
Only men compare women's play with men's play. Men and women are physically different. We don't run as fast or jump as high. Realistically the women's pace is not in slow motion. Many programs are designed specifically to run! No half court games for some.

..."nobody's fault the women's game is played below the rim"...
Several women have come before Baylor's Brittany Griner and showed effective skills above the rim, and many more will come after Griner who will continue the evolution of women playing above the rim. Playing below the rim isn't a handicap.

"Let's forgive the fact that the women play with a smaller basketball which makes it easier for them to shoot and dribble."
Come on! Is that really a good reason to bash the women's game? Should that really matter? Perhaps if my hand were large enough to spread across a small pizza this wouldn't be an issue. Since men have bigger feet, why have they not gone to a larger soccer ball?

"ESPN has been force-feeding us women's basketball (college/professional) for more than a decade"....
If you don't want to watch...change the channel. Enough said.

"Men simply don't want to watch"
Speak for yourself. At this year's SEC conference tournament in Georgia, I followed two women and two men, from the parking lot to the arena. In listening to their conversation, the men were explaining how they watched Tennessee when they were in the military some time ago, and picked them for their team. Now civilians, they traveled from South Carolina to see the Lady Vols play in person. One gentlemen admitted to having second thoughts about his allegiance to Tennessee since the Gamecocks now had Dawn Staley as the women's head coach.

"Upsets are the best part of the men's tournament. They rarely happen in the women's draw. There's no March Madness in the women's game"...
There have been plenty of upsets in the women's draw. #6 seeds falling to #11 seeds, #4 seeds falling to #13 seeds. Most notably last year's first round perennial powerhouse #5 Tennessee was ousted by #12 seed Ball State. Who can forget the most devastating loss to date, #16 Harvard defeats the number one seed Stanford Cardinal in the first round.

Everyone knows the mantra "Win or Go Home!" Everyone expected the New England Patriots to cap off a historic perfect season with a Super Bowl win, not many predicted the outcome that prevailed.

I love basketball in all it's forms, from the high flying acrobatics of the NBA to the electrifying male collegians that thrill me game after game. I especially enjoy the women's game for the way it's played, hard, energetic and with passion. Passion to play the best they can.

So, a boring women's tournament Mr. Shaughnessy? I beg to differ,...excitement for all and madness for some. And just think, your "UCONN greatness" may not be the script that unfolds. It's why we play the games.

A Novice Picks The Women's NCAA Tournament Winner

In watching the women's NCAA Selection Show and listening to the commentary being offered by the panel of experts, I couldn't help but run through my own belief as to who would sail through the tournament. Would UCONN go all the way unscathed? Who will wear Cinderella's slipper?

At first glance it appears that the committee did a good job of seeding teams. You can't make everyone happy and ultimately someone is going to have to travel well away from their fan base. The number one seeds seem to be what was expected. Even the ESPN commentators agreed these were the top four seeds in the tournament.

The Dayton regional pits the overall number one seed UCONN here. One of the most repeated questions nowadays as we enter March Madness is,..."can anybody upset UCONN?" An intriguing match-up, if it gets that far, is UCONN vs. Ohio State. If you have seen Ohio State play, you've got to like their post play (Jantel Lavender) and point guard (Samantha Prahalis). This is an exciting team to watch and a team with a lot of heart. Part of the madness of March is the idea that on any given night, David can slay Goliath. It's why we play the games! I still think UCONN is destined to be one of the final four.

The Memphis regional has for it's number one seed, Tennessee. With the likes of Baylor, Texas, LSU and Duke as well as some newcomers, West Virginia and Georgetown, I anticipate some exciting games to take place in this region. I pick Duke and Tennessee in the Elite Eight with Tennessee not letting Duke spoil their bid for a final four spot.

The Sacramento regional puts Stanford in as the number one seed. I don't want to belittle a team, but of the four regions, I feel Stanford has the easiest route. Texas A&M has peaked at just the right time, but I just don't think it's enough to get them a final four spot. Stanford assumes the position of Sacramento regional winner.

Finally, the Kansas City regional has Nebraska as the number one seed. My Cinderella team is here, with the number six seed Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets who I have upsetting Oklahoma, but going no further. I also like Harper and the N.C. State Wolfpack beating UCLA. Still Nebraska gets through this region to join the other number one seeds for the final four.

I pick Stanford and UCONN in the title game with a totally different game being played out. Although I think the game will be tighter this time around, I still feel it will be the same outcome.

The women's tourney starts Saturday so you have only a few days to get your bracket printed and filled out. Need a bracket, click here. Think you're pretty good, ESPN is offering it's bracket challenge again. You can compete for prizes, click here for the tournament challenge. March Madness is one of those unique moments, two and a half weeks of ball, ball and more ball! Players playing off emotion, fans enthusiastic about the unknown and the occasional upset that sparks a fire. It's a time to play the games and truly leave it all on the court. Win or go home! Get your bracket and get ready, countdown is on,....tip off starts in four days!

Formula For Success

If you have ever witnessed the Tennessee Lady Vols away from Thompson Boling Arena, you know one thing for certain. Tennessee fans travel well. Attendance at home is over 15,000 fans (per game) but I have a sneaky suspicion that their fan presence is big at away games as well. And according to utladyvols.com it is. Beth Bass, CEO of the WBCA tweeted the other night about how she ran into a UT pep rally at a local tavern "lots of orange and rocky top, I will this for all WBB programs." I assumed she is talking about their fan base. The Lady Vols basketball team is one of the most successful women's athletic programs ever! Is there success determined by their following year after year? What is the key to the success of the program? Winning? Passionate fans? The leadership of the University to support the women's team? The coach? Or could it be all of the above?

I've had the pleasure of seeing the Lady Vols in action on the road a few times. I was there in 1999 when Tennessee lost to Duke in the Mideast Regionals in Greensboro, N.C., ending Chamique Holdsclaw's bid to win a 4Th consecutive National Title. Most recently I attended the 2010 SEC Conference Championships at the Gwinnett Arena in Duluth, GA. You know how most conference tournaments have a distinct section where the fans of a particular team are seated,...not Tennessee. There was a multitude of orange all over the arena. So the real question is, how can all programs learn and duplicate what Coach Summit and the Lady Vols have?

School Leadership
Who knows what the University of Tennessee administration thought would happen when they offered a 22 year old the keys to their women's basketball team back in 1974, but 36 years later, based on her success Summit, who was already a million dollar coach, signed a contract extension that will run through 2014. Not only is the coach cared for, the players are rewarded with top notch training facilities, travel venues and state of the art locker rooms.

Fan Frenzy
UT fans are passionate about Lady Vol basketball! They treat their team like royalty and Summit is the queen. A first hand account of their schmoozing goes like this. They give a standing ovation when the team enters the court before the tip-off. Coach Summit enters last and is greeted by cheers, loud applause and an onslaught of "We love you, Pat!" Pat responds with an appreciative wave. The fans continue to stand until the first bucket is made for the Lady Vols. They repeat the routine to start the second half. UT fans are loud and colorful, knowledgeable and appreciative of the success of their program. Who wouldn't want fans like that.

Just Win Baby
In order to have a winning season you have to have great players. How is Coach Summit able to year after year recruit at such a high level? Frankly, what does the city of Knoxville, TN have to offer a 20 something? It's not the mecca of pop culture. It's got to be the history of the program. The Lady Vols have 28 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, winning 8 National Titles. A combined 29 SEC conference championships and tournament titles. 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans, 72 All-SEC performers, 46 international participants and 43 professional players round out their accolades. One of the most impressive statistics has to be the 100% graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee. The second most impressive statistic,...did you know every Lady Vol (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. WOW!

There are some top programs which of course rival Tennessee,...UCONN, Stanford and Duke come to mind. And there are a mass of other up and coming programs Baylor? Nebraska? Ohio State? There is also a talented crop of young enthusiastic coaches eager to make a name for themselves and their programs. How about Caldwell and UCLA? Staley and South Carolina? Harper at N.C. State? Ironically I just mentioned three programs with ties to Tennessee. Caldwell served as an assistant at Tennessee. Harper was point guard for Tennessee during the 1995-99 season, she was Kellie Jolly then. Two former Lady Vols, Carla McGhee and Nikki McCray, are assisting Dawn Staley in her bid to build a winning program at South Carolina. So not only does it pay dividends to play for coach Summit and the Lady Vols, but it could put you on the fast track in the coaching ranks.



It is not my intent to paint Tennessee as the ultimate women's basketball program in the country. There are arguably a host of other programs well qualified to challenge Tennessee. But after seeing the Lady Vols win against Kentucky in the SEC Championship game, witnessing the ocean of orange, I was just compelled to sing their praises. They are great ambassadors for the game.

For those programs that aren't at the top of the mountain, I join Beth Bass in,... "willing this for all women's basketball programs!"

Naming Practices - Survey Results

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the survey results from the "Naming Practices Of Women's Sports Teams" poll. If you missed the previous introductory blog explaining the survey you can visit it here. The entire concept behind using the prefix "Lady" or suffix "-ettes" in women's athletic teams as trivial or the idea that it evokes a second class status in women's athletics/athletes is an intriguing concept. The original study used schools from nine southern states to collect their data. I was mindful that perhaps "southerners" had a different perspective on the idea. Growing up in the south, I wasn't sure if my opinion about the subject originated as a product of nature vs. nurture.

The sole purpose for creating this survey was to gauge the opinion of persons about the naming practice concept. I hoped to have a good mix of individuals from all over the 50 states. The primary respondents came from the social media sites Facebook and Twitter. The highlights of the survey results are summarized here:

Number of respondents;
31% Male
69% Female

43% Black/African American
52% Caucasian
2% Asian
3% Other

Grew up (state)
87% Southern states*
10% Remaining states
3% Out of country

Current Residence (state)
78% Southern states
19% Remaining states
2% Out of country

* Southern states includes Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky

Respondents High Schools referred to girls teams as "Lady/-ettes";
56% Yes
39% No
5% Did Not Know

Respondents Colleges/University women's team referred to as "Lady/-ettes";
43% Yes
43% No
12% Did Not Know
2% Did Not Have Women's Athletics

Calling women's athletics teams "Lady/-ettes" trivializes women's teams and women's athletics
7% Strongly Agree
30% Agree
51% Disagree
13% Strongly Disagree

Using the prefix/suffix "Lady/-ettes" enforces second class status in women's athletics/athletes
13% Strongly Agree
18% Agree
51% Disagree
18% Strongly Disagree

Of the respondents who answered Agree or Strongly Agree to the last two questions;

65% Female
35% Male

40% Black
55% Caucasian
5% Other

75% Grew up (south)
25% Outside south

65% Currently Live (south)
35% Outside south

40% Born between 1950-1966
10% Born between 1967-1977*
50% Born 1978 or later

* The dates 1967-1977 was chosen as the 5 years before and after Title IX. It is used as a guide. It is unclear if Title IX had any effect on the thought process of the respondents born during that period.

What do the numbers say? What can you deduct from this information? Is it nature vs. nurture? Is it racially based? Does your age play a role in your thinking process? I still find the numbers and answers intriguing and would love to see this concept on a grand scale. I am not a scholar so I'll leave the formation of a theory to you,... the reader. Make your own assumption. I'd love to hear your personal opinion. Feel free to leave comments.

Ice Hockey Merchandise Has A Presence

Equally frustrated by the lack of women's ice hockey apparel, that didn't resemble oversized menswear, was the catalyst for two sister-in-laws, Cindy and Lori Nickerson, to introduce She Plays Hockey, a clothing line devoted to women and girls who play hockey. "Girls that play hockey are girls, not boys and we have our own attitude toward it" says Cindy Nickerson.

According to hockeycanada.ca, females are embracing the sport with increased participation and unparalleled growth. Likewise in the states, NCAA women's ice hockey teams have steadily risen year after year. It being a Winter Olympics year, the excitement of the games is sure to peak interest with fans across the world and translate into new fans of women's hockey apparel.

She Plays Hockey has created an alternative to male dominated clothing. Pink and baby blue hues are offered, as well as traditional colors and their gear ranges from adult and youth apparel and headwear to undergarments and accessories. Frankly, there is just too much to list here. A trip to the website will give you a firsthand look at the merchandise possibilities and some of their catchy female inspired hockey phrases such as, "Sugar and Spice, but not on the ice" or their more passionate expressions "Peace Love Hockey" or "Spirited Gutsy Authentic". You'll find a full array of casual hockey items perfect for outside the rink.

The website is easy to navigate and extremely user friendly. Although located in Canada, the purchasing process features simple and pain free order placement to the United States. She Plays Hockey encompasses an intimate feel. They welcome your thoughts and ideas and invite your feedback on new products. Be sure to take a look, it's worth your time.

Look for these and other apparel items at www.sheplayshockey.com

Tickled Pink

Pink dresses,...pink ties,...shirts, wristbands even whistles. No, it's not a Mary Kay convention, it's the WBCA Pink Zone. Teams all over the country will change out their traditional school colors for pink jerseys in support of the WBCA's initiative which is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The week set aside for this years initiative is February 12-21 which coincides with ESPN's February Frenzy/Rivalry Week.

The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone, formerly known as "Think Pink" in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and communities. The late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third recurrence of breast cancer in 2006.

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, I attended the Georgia vs. Alabama women's basketball game and witnessed the spectacle of pink first hand. You can add to your collection of gear from the WBCA Pink Zone Concept Shop. Basketballs, signage, mouthpieces and many products in between are offered to build an individuals own personal stash or an organization wanting to make a Pink Zone event successful. You can also check out merchandise offered for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund concept shop. Included in this shop is the Nike Kay Yow collection offering footwear, apparel and equipment. In addition, books, jewelry, throws and the "When Life Kicks You" Collection from the late Kay Yow, round out a host of products available. A portion of all sales benefit the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.

Breast cancer and the color pink is not new. We are all familiar with the month of October being recognized as breast health awareness. We are also familiar with organizations like the NFL and some of it's high profile players wearing pink cleats, shoelaces or wristbands to draw attention to the cause. But nothing quite draws attention like some of these collegiate programs taking it a step further and completely cladding themselves head to toe with pink for a day. It's a marvelous sight!

Being a woman and an athlete it's especially satisfying. Almost all of us know personally or indirectly someone diagnosed,...fighting the disease,...recovering or someone who has lost the battle of breast cancer. It would be nice to see the WBCA Pink Zone initiative continue and crossover into other venues. How about volleyball players using a pink net? Soccer athletes playing with a pink ball? Softball outfitting themselves with pink bats and visors, pink lacrosse and field hockey sticks? How about gymnastic equipment pink for a day? Pink pucks? Pink hurdles? The possibilities are endless. It can be pink overload but if it's done over a two week period, a week in October and one in February, it just might help ease the overwhelming and possibly annoying pink overkill. I'm in! I welcome a break from the norm. I believe athletic endeavors should be tailored to the fans as well as the participants why stick completely to the same blueprints everybody else is doing. Add originality! Make the games relevant to the audience, perhaps it will gain new fans as well.

The WBCA Pink Zone initiative runs through February 21, so there is still time to catch a game in your area. If you miss it this year be sure and don your pink in support of this cause for 2011.

Be sure and access the photo gallery below for more pictures of this fantastic day!
Photo Gallery: Women's Basketball vs. Alabama (2/14/10) - Official Athletics Site of the University of Georgia Bulldogs

Are You Holding On To Your Throwbacks

I love throwbacks! I love what throwbacks stand for,...the history,...the stories. Throwbacks are variations on a sports teams uniforms styled to resemble uniforms from that teams past. They were first promoted in the 1980's with baseball. They have proven popular in all major pro sports in the U.S. Mitchell and Ness is the premier provider of nostalgic apparel for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA. They offer jerseys, jackets, tees, hats and hoodies. I never thought about it quite like this but my closet is full of throwbacks from a women's sports era gone by. Every piece of licensed apparel I own belongs to a team or league that is no longer active. Chances are you too have hanging in your closet or folded neatly on a shelf or placed in a drawer a throwback from a WNBA team moved or disbanded. Maybe you recall when Portland, Oregon held two basketball franchises, the ABL Portland Power and the WNBA Portland Fire. Are you into soccer? Perhaps you kept a Carolina Courage tee or cap. For you pro softball fans, did you hold on to anything from the WPSL? Volleyball fans, did they even offer merchandise for the short lived National Volleyball Association?

Even today we are hearing about the disbanding of not only the Los Angeles Sol soccer team of the WPS, but also a staple in the WNBA's historical database has closed it's doors. No longer will there be a Sacramento Monarchs franchise. (I officially took my Monarchs sweatshirt out of circulation). No more free advertising for the Charlotte Sting (I have a lot of apparel, I was once a season ticket holder). No ABL, no WPSL Akron Racers and heaven forbid, the first 4 championships ever won in the WNBA by the Houston Comets is forever just a memory. All my gear is officially retired and put into limited or suspended wearing rotation. There is not a replacement for these articles, once they are worn out they are gone forever. I just can't take a chance of losing history altogether.

I'll tell you what my dream is,...
Mitchell and Ness (or someone else) would understand the importance of women's sports teams and leagues of the past and begins to offer authentic throwbacks of the various sports and era's. I would personally like to have a throwback of Nancy Lieberman's, Dallas Diamond jersey or a Cheryl Miller USC jersey. Unfortunately I never purchased a Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets jersey or a Mia Hamm jersey,...I'd like to add that to my collection. I could go on, there are more I would like to own but it just makes me sad to know I may never get the opportunity.

I'll cherish the apparel I do have and work on my collection for the future. There is Cat Osterman and Jennie Finch jerseys to explore as well as the new faces of soccer. You never know when the next team or league will dismantle. If it does at least you'll have your piece of women's history.

Atlanta Xplosion on Facebook

The Atlanta Xplosion need your help. They need your support to grow the Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football Team Fan Page!

Here is what you need to do:
#1 Login to FaceBook.
#2 Search for: Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football and you will see the Fan page.
#3 Become a Fan and suggest their FAN page to all of your friends!
#4 Visit the Photo Gallery that is organized by years and add any photos that you have!

The page will be used to promote games, have open forum discussions and communicate the happenings of the Atlanta Xplosion Women's Football Team to their fans!

Help them get 10K fans by the first game in April!

Thanks for your support of the Xplosion and women's athletics in general!

If A Pictures Worth A Thousand Words...

Sports memorabilia stirs unique feelings of spirit, happiness and closeness to your team or favorite athlete. A picture is worth a thousand words...
This saying holds true, especially in athletics. I possess a small collection of photographic memorabilia, none more prized than photos taken at N.C.State during a regular season game (1989) versus a feisty Stanford Cardinal team which featured, Jennifer Azzi and Val Whiting among others. I have fond memories of the many games I have attended but I'm no photographer. Most times I'm not in close proximity to take a really good picture nor do I own a high powered camera lense to capture those far off golden moments. You can rest assured a solution is available.
Replay Photos, an exclusive athletic and campus photography site, takes the work out of taking high quality action shots of your favorite athletes, teams, sports and campus landmarks. Products start at $15.95. The site is easy to navigate and it allows you to get started by choosing a store. Stores happen to be a particular college or university and they are broken down into different categories, sports, stadiums, traditions, campus and more. The site offers:

Personalized Gifts
Your name or unique message on select school photos
Custom Framed Photos
Replay Peels (think fathead)
Limited collection of mascots, players, stadiums & coaches
Panoramic Photos
Canvas Gallery Wraps

Also:
NFL Photo Store
SI Collection
SI Covers and Photos straight from the vault
Gift Certificates

Replay Photos work with colleges across the nation to scour their archives for their best photographs, digitally restore them if necessary and categorize them for easy viewing. When asked about photos which date back a few years the response given was this, "if we do not have what you're looking for, on our website, we would be glad to put in a request with the school to see if they would have it available".

This is a great concept and an excellent way to collect memorabilia of your favorite NFL or NCAA schools, players or teams. When you access the site be prepared to lose time just browsing the many offerings. With photographs so vivid and action oriented you can be sure you are getting a prized piece to start or add to your own collection.

Naming Practices of Women's Sports Teams

A recent post on the Womentalksports network by Fair Game News, titled Six Troubled Trends in Women's Sports (and what we can do), offered a look at six trends to concentrate on in the fight for equality in women's athletics. The fourth trend listed was particularly intriguing. It called out the naming practices of women's team nicknames. It cited the use of the prefix "Lady" (ex. Lady Bears) as a way to create, enforce and publicize women's teams as a second class status. In 2008, a sociology professor, Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak, published a report focusing on 249 schools, in 9 southern states and found that 69.5 percent of schools employed what she coded as a sexist form of naming. Most consisted of the "Lady" prefix which Pelak explains is sexist because it "imparts a tone of frivolity and lightness to the strivings and accomplishments of women."

Do women's sport team names invoke a trivial or frivolous value? Is this thinking only limited to the southern states? How does the rest of the 41 states play into these naming practices. What is the sentiment of the general public in regards to "frivolity of women's athletic accomplishments"?

Please participate in this survey, Naming Practices of Women's Athletic Teams, which is geared to collect the populations opinion on whether or not using the term "Lady" or "ettes" is demeaning to women's sports. It is not the intention of the survey to delve into gender equality or fairness of athletic programs across the country and their financial allocations to male sports and female sports. This survey strictly measures the opinion of the public on their feelings about using the "Lady" term. The survey asks only a few simple questions. It is open for submissions now and will close on February 28, 2010. The findings will be published soon thereafter. You can subscribe to this feed to ensure you will get the results or simply bookmark this site and check back. In order to get a good representation of the population feel free to pass the survey link along. Male or female, athletes as well as non sports fans are encouraged to take part. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Are You Ready For Some Football!

The Superbowl is around the corner, the grand prize for the National Football League. With the NFL season coming to an end, it signals the start of another. Currently all around the country open tryouts are being held for the Independent Women's Football League, a full contact women's tackle football league which fields teams all over the United States.

I made a resolution for 2010, to support women's athletics and promote them as much as possible. Included in that resolution was to see for the first time a women's professional football game. I got a preview of that when I was allowed to observe the open tryouts in Atlanta up close, for the Atlanta Xplosion. The Xplosion have been around since 2003 finishing it's first season with a 9-1 record. The brightest moment thus far has been a National Championship in 2006.

So on a rainy day, in a sterile and cold concrete warehouse filled with weight equipment, tumbling mats and a 50 yard field, about 40 plus ladies were put through the paces. I had no real expectations for what I would see. So, before going I pondered... what would I really like to know about women playing football? Who are they? Why do they play? What's their background? I am no stranger to women participating in sports, I am one,... but football? Having to endure bone shaking hit after hit for no pay (they are not compensated) is not on my bucket list. I love to watch it, but wouldn't want to experience it. So again, who are they?...career women, wives and mothers, motivated by the love of the game for some and the call of mid-life crisis for one. For her 45th birthday last year, Patricia, a consultant in the wireless industry, contemplated a bike ride across the country or trying out for the Xplosion. She became a 45 year old football rookie. Now she is a veteran with this years squad. Denise, 23, is a former track and field athlete who used to practice with the boys football team (her mom wouldn't let her play).

Once on the practice field the players prevailed through sprints, drills and more. Numerous times throughout the day they chanted "tick...tick...Boom!" It is symbolic for the countdown of an explosion for one, but also a battle cry, with meaning, for the team. Their head coach, a former NFL player, who stresses character, explained, the first tick means, "toughness identifies character" and the second tick is "teamwork with intensity wins championships". Both toughness and teamwork were tested as they continued their grueling workout. Veterans were eager to teach the rookies technique and quick to encourage their new teammates. It's a good chance all who came will make the roster. They usually suit up 45 players for a game. Injuries are a big part of any athletic team, football being no exception. I spoke to a member of last years squad who tore her ACL and asked what she missed most about the game? Her response, "I miss hitting people." Another was waiting for her doctor's clearance in order to lace up the cleats and play again. Her enthusiasm on the sidelines was infectious!

They have names like "Juice" and "Smooth". They have hardware, a championship ring from the 2006 season and they have knowledge. Because they play, many of the ladies speak about seeing the game differently. They read defenses, recognize formations and some even correct their sons little league coaches. It's a sisterhood and a bond. They are linked by a common denominator. Regardless the background, regardless the story, one thing that unites this group of varying ages and skill sets is the "passion for the game." I was proud of what I saw! I can't explain why. I left the tryouts speechless, amazed and stoked. I've bookmarked the Xplosion website, printed out the schedule and circled my first game date. All that is left, is the wait.

Tick...Tick...Tick...

2009 NCCS National Flag Football Championships

I consider myself a sports nut having grown up with a father who constantly watched sports year round. So, I have to feel a bit embarrassed that I was not aware of the athletes participating in the 2009 National Campus Championship Series (NCCS) National Flag Football Championships, sponsored by Powerade. This event was held on a chilly, University of South Florida campus in Tampa on January 3-5, 2010. Men's, women's and co-rec flag football teams from across the nation competed in this 3-day tournament. CBS College Sports Network aired the women's and men's championship games on January 10th.

They have team names, "Simply Marvelous" and "Allstars" and these athletic women battled the elements and each other, running and passing their way to a victory. The look of intensity on the faces of the competitors, gave you a feel for the passion and determination these players possess. They played hard, represented their institutions and represented women athletes everywhere.

The Florida A&M University squad, winners of this NCCS event in 2007 secured another national title against the host school, the University of South Florida, with a score of 14-13. The women's all-tournament team awards were as follows:

MVP-Ruby Nugent-FAMU
Tynequia Roberts-FAMU
Asia Evans-FAMU
K.K. Matheny-USF
Bryn Renda-USF
Chandree Hunter-Old Dominion
Danielle Low-Angelo State University
Marcia Walker-Univ. of Central Arkansas

You can catch video highlights and photos on the CBS/Powerade site. You'll also be able to find info on it's additional sponsored NCCS event, basketball, which concludes play at Vanderbilt, April 9-11, 2010. For information about the 2010 NCCS Regional and National Basketball Championships visit their link.

See if the FAMU "Simply Marvelous" squad can repeat as national champions. For more information on the 2010 flag football campaign click here.

Deja Vu

In the past, I have been dubbed a pack rat, a badge I proudly wear. I have gotten better about tossing out damaged or hardly used items, although I did release from my possession, my longtime, homemade collection of VHS recordings. The contents of these recordings were the 2000, 2004 women's Olympic events in basketball, volleyball and softball. Also included were a few choice games from the defunct ABL, the Sylvia Crawley blindfold dunk during the All-star dunk contest and a splattering of other ABL games. I also relieved myself of some dated NCAA gems. The 1989 game between Vicky Bulletts, Maryland Terrapins and the Texas Longhorns. The Dawn Staley led University of Virginia Cavaliers when they made a run at the National Championship in 1991. As I regret spring cleaning these choice mementos, I can take comfort in knowing all is not completely lost.

The NCAA has a site, NCAA On Demand, which allows you to purchase a dvd copy of past games. The dvd's are divided into sport categories. All sports offer division I,II and III championship games, matches or highlights. The games date back, for some, as far as 1982 and run to the present. Although the site is large, it is very user friendly. The capability to go directly to a specific game is a time conscious plus. You can search the dvd collection three ways. Browse games by sport categories, or search by school or search by year. In many cases box sets are offered. With over 1,700 women's specific dvd's available there are endless possibilities and you are sure to find classic match-ups from both past pioneers and personalities of today.

I must say my eyes lit up in wonderment at the thought of owning a super library of the greatest moments in women's NCAA sports history. I love it! After all, I am, a pack rat.

A New Year's Resolution

The holidays are over and the new year is here. If you are like me, I always take stock of my mismanaged resolutions of the past and begin fresh every first of the year. It's funny, the older I get, the better I do following through with my new year's declarations. Perhaps I pick a purpose that I am more apt to keep which allows me to have a greater success rate. So as I contemplate the things in my life to change or improve I check off the basics; family, spiritual life, friends, finances and to this list I add a new one. Although I have in the past been a supporter of all types of women's athletic events, I resolve to truly step it up and aid in it's prosperity. My assistance will come in the form of attendance, blogs, tweets, word of mouth and any other advertising avenues I can use. Attending collegiate or professional sporting events is not only accessible and inexpensive, but in some cases, it's free! Give the athletes of today some of your time. Will you join me in my pursuit to double my output from the past year? If you attended one event last year, attend two this year. Vow to assist for success your local colleges, universities and professional squads in 2010. I have already circled a few dates on the calendar including what will be two firsts for me. I will witness my first professional soccer match and women's professional football game. Of course my existence there will not be complete without purchasing licensed apparel. I will be sure to blog about my apparel choices and include pictures, so look for that in the future.

Happy New Year and see you at the games!