Last week, I published the first of part of this two-part series on the utility of women’s sports programs in college. In part I, I reached the conclusion that, for the institutions, the value in women’s sports, in the form of institutional morale, diversity and scholarship, … [Read more...]
It’s not Just Incognito
The recent news surrounding the Dolphins’ Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognitohas, for obvious reasons, brought issues of bullying and racism to the forefront of sports talk. In America, where the NFL (66.3% black) and NBA (76.3% black) dominate our television screens and many of … [Read more...]
Serena Williams Caps off Career Year with Win at WTA Championship
(October 27, 2013)-It took Serena Williams three sets but after a sluggish start the best player in ladies tennis was able to shake off an energized Li Na for the WTA Championship. Williams won the match and her eleventh title of the year with a score line of 2-6, 6-3 and 6-0 over Na who has risen … [Read more...]
Battle of the Sexes Puzzler: Throw the match to pay a debt? If Riggs had won, he would have gotten $100K in prize money
By Laura Pappano Exactly 40 years ago, over 30,000 spectators filled the Houston Astrodome and 50 million more tuned in on TV to watch “The Battle of the Sexes.” Billie Jean King, a 29-year-old who would be #1 in the world for five years (winning six Wimbledon Championships and four U.S. … [Read more...]
Sports History Files: Billie Jean King in the arena, Part 2
Tweet This week I’m devoting this blog to a three-part retrospective on Billie Jean King, who defeated Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes” on Sept. 20, 1973. I’m particularly interested in her enduring public persona and how she embodies an ideal that has eluded other … [Read more...]
Sports History Files: Billie Jean King in the arena, Part 1
Tweet This week I’m devoting this blog to a three-part retrospective on Billie Jean King, who defeated Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes” on Sept. 20, 1973. I’m particularly interested in her enduring public persona and how she embodies an ideal that has eluded other … [Read more...]
Serena Wins A Hard Fought 5th U.S. Open Title
(September 8, 2013)-New York is a city that has a flair for the dramatic and thus served as the perfect host for the women's final of the U.S. Open. In a match-up of the two best female tennis players in the world it was the player who may be the greatest of all time that came out ahead as Serena … [Read more...]
The Power of 100%
I was working a camp this summer and one of the girls asked, “How in the world can I get a scholarship when I am from a small town in North Carolina with cows right behind my high school?” She was implying that because she was from such a small town there was no way she was ever going to … [Read more...]
Old-School Tennis Stars Can’t Let Go
Old-School Tennis Stars Can't Let Go The problem with veteran tennis players is that they can’t separate themselves from the past. They still have the agony-of-defeat mentality in the press box, but it just doesn’t translate to today’s explosive and rigorous play. Earlier … [Read more...]
Serena Williams Defeats Sloane Stephens, Moves onto Quarters of U.S. Open
September 1, 2013-The changing of the guard will happen at some point in women's tennis but Serena Williams made sure it didn't happen today in her fourth round match up with fellow American Sloane Stephens at the U.S. Open. Williams took less than 90 minutes before she booked her ticket to the … [Read more...]