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Subject: Who'll Be the First?
This is a topic we've bounced around at work last week: Who will be the first woman to play in a professional male team sport?
My guess is that it will be in hockey, as a goalie. Strength isn't as important to a goalie as agility and guts are.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Good question. I'm really not too sure if there will be women on men's teams because the women are getting leagues of their own. They now have basketball and soccer and I'm sure more but that is all I can think of at the moment.
FYI: I was the first girl to play soccer for my high school. There were three of us on the team. Great odds ;) The other two girls didn't play in our first game. The other team was surprised to see me but when they discovered my name, they were all cheering for me (yes, the other team was cheering for me).
Cat
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
I'd say being a kicker in the NFL. There was a story not too long ago of a girl making a high school team (or was it JUCO?) and playing that position. She stands to be a great prospect for a WPFL or NWFL team.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Women will never play in a men's professional league in our lifetime. Most of the league's owners are too "good ol' boy" to consider minorities for coaching positions. Until that racial barrier is broken, it wouldn't even be realistic to consider a woman playing on a men's team. We probably won't see it in this lifetime. If it is, it'll be in soccer, and in the European leagues.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
I don't know, IG. I've heard that the late Bill Veeck was ready to bring up a female shortstop before he had to sell the White Sox.
And, even though yes, women now have leagues of their own, they aren't making nearly the money men are.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Of course they are not making as much as men. They never do. >:(
Cat
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Ooh, good question! It would have to be a sport/position where, as you said, agility and dexterity were more important than mass and strength. I've wracked my brains and can't come up with a better option that goalie on a hockey team...
I shall ponder.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
The problem, methinks, is not that women aren't good enough, it's more to do with the guy/girl thing...like, what's going to happen in the locker rooms? How will the guys tell dirty jokes if they have to be conscious of the girls?
In other news...in the minor leagues there are several female pitchers, though their ERAs are typically in the high 6.00s and they never graduate above AAA league. Also, I think that really GREAT player from SW Missouri, Jackie Stiles (I think!) has been signed to a USBL contract, and they're talking about signing the captain of the Canadian women's team (who won the gold earlier this year) to a minor league hockey contract. So there's plenty of progress, you just gotta be patient ;)
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
I dated a woman that played varsity football in HS. She was good, played from Freshman on, don't remember the position. I do recall that she was 3rd female in the nation to play HS varsity. She showed me her scrap book, including numerous hate letters (days before e-mails so these people were serious) that she was quite entertained by. I don't think there will be to much crossing over anytime soon, my guess is it will be an Olympic occurance before professional.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Quoting:
Women will never play in a men's professional league in our lifetime. Most of the league's owners are too "good ol' boy" to consider minorities for coaching positions. Until that racial barrier is broken, it wouldn't even be realistic to consider a woman playing on a men's team. We probably won't see it in this lifetime. If it is, it'll be in soccer, and in the European leagues.
End Quote
Being an avid follower of soccer, and European soccer in general, Indy, I would have to say there are two chances of this, Buckley's and None.
Exactly the same biases and old boys networks exist in that arena as any other.
Frankly, clubs are big business and club owners, boards of directors, or what have you, are all like politicians.....
None of them are going to be the first to try/suggest it, in case it backfires on them, and they lose their job because of it.
And as with politicians, the issue of whether it's a good idea or right or any other consideration would get lost in all the hoo-ha... ::)
FB
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
From the official Manon Rheaume website...
On Wednesday, September 23rd, 1992, Manon made sports history by being the first woman to play in one of the four major sports leagues in the United States. She goaltended for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League in a pre-season game against the St. Louis Blues.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
There you go, Jonman. I'd heard that a woman had appeared in a game lately on some major team.
Of course, there's a world of difference an appearance in an exhibition game and a spot on a regular season roster.
And for everyone claiming old-boy-network-immunity. Every sport sprouts a Bill Veeck type maverick. If you have a losing franchise, if you need to boost attendance, if you want people talking about your pathetic team, I can't think of a better marketing ploy than having a woman player.
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
I thought Chyna(Joanie Laurer)was competing in a male sport such as WWF wrestling.she quit and posed nude for Playboy.
howard :D
Subject: Re: Who'll Be the First?
Quoting:
Of course, there's a world of difference an appearance in an exhibition game and a spot on a regular season roster.End Quote
I couldn't agree more!! Still, she gets the recognition of being the first...and have you seen her? Gggggrrrrrrrrrrooooooowwwwwwllllllllll!! ;) ;)