Stringer rightfully complains about Rutgers’ failure to market her program

Rutgers women’s basketball team have done it again – they’re on their fourth trip to the elite eight in five years. That’s pretty amazing.

But in an article released on NJ.com today, head women’s basketball coach Vivian Stringer was not happy.

In fact, she was just the opposite (and rightfully so). She was quoted as complaining about the athletics department’s inability to effectively market a program that has been incredibly successful in recent years.

I have to say, I agree with her.

And speaking out was a great way to put some pressure on their new athletic director, Tim Pernetti.

But the answer is more than just installing a  flashy scoreboard or having smoke come out when the girls run on the floor.

It has to do with engaging directly with your audience, creating fans.

For example, get your athletes online. Have them blog. Get them on Twitter, have them respond to their fans. Hold contests through Facebook. Partner with third party sites like womentalksports.com (disclosure, I am co-founder of this site) to get these ideas out there.

These ideas aren’t new.The fans will come if you earn their respect, I assure you. In fact, if you’re looking for a good role model, check out what women’s pro soccer is doing – they’re leading the way for other women’s sports teams to follow.

In the mean time, keep winning. Keep speaking out about what’s unfair. Your fans will come.

Check out the rest of this article (it’s an interesting one), here: NJ.com on Rutgers Women’s Basketball.

Nike’s ’08 Tournament of Champions Recap

Check out this great slideshow to show the highlights of Nike’s Tournament of Champions, known to many as the best high school basketball tournament in the country.

National Basketball says that the Tournament of Champions is the largest and most prestigious in-season high school girls’ basketball tournament in North America. Each year more than 100 elite teams from around the United States compete in the event, which has been called “unparalleled” by the USA Today.
The tournament routinely showcases the majority of the preseason top 25 teams in the nation, along with the most powerful teams from Arizona, California, and bordering states, and has produced seven of the last nine USA Today National Champions.

Must have been quite an event! Special thanks to ESPN HoopGurlz who provides (by far) the best coverage of the top high school female basketball players in the country.

Maria Riesch Wins World Cup Slalom

On Monday, Germany’s Maria Riesch won the women’s World Cup slalom for her second victory of the season, while American Lindsey Vonn finished third.

Reish overcame an error in her second run to finish with a combined time of 1 minute, 55.97 seconds.

Via ESPN…

Her Sports Rounds… The Best of Women’s Sports

Below is my roundup – hope you enjoy!

Lauren at Feministe discusses the beauty and power displayed in the image of female bodybuilders – an image that “isn’t that of a delicate orchid.”

Jane from Pretty Tough gives a great recap of what’s happening in the women’s figure skating industry. I know I’ve said this before, but I think Jane probably has the best coverage of women’s sports out there.

Diane from Women Who Serve talks about “who’s hot and who’s not” for women’s tennis in ’09. This is a very interesting read, and a great blog – I’m so glad Diane decided to start this blog – a life-long fan of women’s tennis… what a great way to express her passion.

Rob from the Athletic Women blog discusses the importance of strength training for female athletes.

Apryl Delancey from Women Like Sports discusses how Lisa Guerrero from Inside Edition and TV Guide has decided to become a sports blogger!  I hope she takes the lead in covering women’s sports!!!

Ted and Sara at the Women’s Hoops Blog give great recaps of what’s happening in college hoops – check out their post from November 23 – what great coverage!

Lyndsey from Girls Dig Sports (B5 Media) says that Alicia Sacramone, from the Olympics gymnastics team, is considering a reality show with Lou Reda Productions.

Erica Ortiz discusses what she’s thankful for at Horsepower & Heels.

Keri Mikulski heads back to Texas for a book signing at The Ronald McDonald Tournament which benefits the Ronald McDonald House in Houston.

Our Bodies Our Blog linked to me this week – blogger Christine took a liking to a YouTube video I posted this week about five year old basketball phenom Milan Simone Tuttle.

Sara from Rock Climber Girl is attempting to bring together the rock climbing community by to making a directory of climbing-related Twitter-ers.  I think Twitter is awesome – I’d love to see a community of female athletes raising influence on Twitter.

Stanford FBC gives us the back story on how a musician (Bud Anderson) and a graphic artist ( Sarah Boruta) are the new videographers for the Stanford women’s team.These two seem to be responsible for Stanford’s viral videos and possibly a music video for the team.

Adam Jacobs at The Final Sprint discusses corruption at the top of the track and field industry. He came out with Part III and Part IV of his Dysfunction Run Amuck series. I highly recommend you read them – very, very interesting.

NCAA championship results, latest women’s sports news

Because I’ve been so busy this past week, I’ve seriously neglected my blog, particularly with coverage of women’s sports. This post is an attempt to cover what I’ve missed.

To highlight – the NCAA championships for all fall sports are in process. Some results are below, along with other news coverage.

NCAA Championship Highlights:

The Emory women’s volleyball team won the Division III NCAA championship. Their coach, Jenny McDowell, was named Division III National Volleyball coach of the year.

The Maryland Terps claimed their third NCAA Division I championship. This is their third year doing so. ACC Offensive Player of the Year Katie O’Donnell (cousin of Because I Played Sports contributor Lauren O’Donnell)  scored the game-winner. Congrats Katie!

Bloomsburg won its third consecutive Division II women’s field hockey championship title.

Nova Southeastern women’s volleyball team clinched the Division II championship after losing their coach to anemergency appendectomy.

UConn’s women Huskies captured the Division I championship for cross country, led by star Sally Kipyego, who the NCAA has called “unbeatable.”

Bowdoin won the NCAA Division III field hockey championship, led by a goal in the second half against Tufts by Senior Lindsay McNamara.

Adams State dominated the NCAA Division II cross country championships.

Other women’s sports news:

Nine NCAA athletes were named Rhodes scholars. Five of these individuals are women (go girls!).

Stephanie Brown Trafton won the Jesse Owen Award as the sport’s top female American athlete in 2008. Brown Trafton was the first American woman to win the gold medal in the Olympics in the discus since 1932.

In golf, South Korean Ji-Yai Shin claimed $1 million by winning the ADT Championship on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla., edging Kari Webb.

41-year-old Dara Torres announced that if she stays healthy, she hopes to race at the world championships next summer.

21-year-old Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner took the Cup of Russia title in Moscow.

The X Games announced equal pay to male and female athletes. Women’s ski slopestyle and best-trick snowmobiling are being added to the lineup for Winter X as well.

A very smart move… the Independent Women’s Football League announced it will partner with USA Football on education programs and women’s national teams.

Even with all of this, I’m sure I missed some news. Feel free to post your own in comments.

(Video): 5 year old girl basketball star dribbles with ease

A friend of mine passed this along today and I just had to post it. So cute. She’s going to be great!

About the video: 5 year old Milan dribbles 2 and 3 basketballs with ease. She has been playing basketball for 1.5 years and training with Triple Threat Academy since 2007.

I have to say – not a bad marketing strategy!!!

Word is that she’s going to be on the Ellen Degeneres show either today or tomorrow. If I can find the video, I’ll try and post it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l25bkqWPAQI

Title IX: Not an excuse for cutting men’s programs

NCAA President Myles Brand told USA Today last week that Title IX is not to blame for cutting men’s programs during tough economic times.

In my opinion, this is a message that was barely heard and needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

Because of tough economic times, the NCAA expects that some schools may drop men’s teams in the coming months. Brand is urging schools not to blame Title IX – which bans sex discrimination at schools receiving federal funds.

To my faithful critics who will come on here and post in response to this, I HAVE to point out.. from the NCAA’s Double-A Zone (something I’ve been trying to emphasize for months):

The law does not mandate a university cut men’s programs to accommodate this proportionality. “I would suggest that athletics directors need to spend more smartly,” Brand told the paper and suggested cutting costs in travel, facilities and “expenditures in the highly visible sports.”

I’d like to personally thank the NCAA for helping me construct my argument.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the economy effects programs in the coming winter season.

Where’s the Women’s Sports Foundation?  You guys should be helping the NCAA broadcast this message!!!

LA Sparks, Girls Inc. unite powerful women to empower girls

On Monday, November 17, six of the most powerful women in television, philanthropy and sports were honored for their achievements in harnessing the media and entertainment to show girls a world without limits. They also seek to counter gender stereotypes, and create positive, empower messages.

The event was hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson at The Beverly Hills Hotel and supports Girls Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold.

Apparently the event was a success – with over 300 people in attendance.

The women honored include:

- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman, Owners, Los Angeles Sparks
- Brenda Freeman, Chief Marketing Officer, Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media
- Lisa Ling, Special Correspondent to The Oprah Winfrey Show, Contributor to National Geographic, Nightline, and CNN
- Lisa C. Paulsen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Industry Foundation
- Katherine Pope, President, Universal Media Studios

Cheryl Messer, Media Relations Manager of Girls Inc. passed the following information along (as well as the pictures included in this post):

As owners of the Los Angeles Sparks, Christofferson and Goodman exemplify the mission of Girls Inc. They had been season ticket holders of the Los Angeles Sparks since its inception, and transformed their love of basketball into a business venture when they purchased the team in 2006.

Christofferson is Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP and has been recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in a survey by Law & Politics Media Inc. Goodman currently teaches high school English and Social Studies at High Tech-LA, a local charter school. Previously, she served as a partner at the law firm of Katten Muchin Zavis and Weitzman and was a founder of Intermedia Films.

During her acceptance speech, Goodman said, “Girls now have role models in the sports community in professional sports. And for Carla and me, it’s more about what they do on the court and what all the men and women do in our front office to put that vision out there, so that both girls and boys see what it is that women can do in society.”

“I find Kathy and Carla especially inspiring because I learned in Girls Inc. that girls are just as good as the boys, and everyone should get their fair chance to participate. By showcasing the incredible players on their team in a positive way, they have made these athletes role models for young women like me everywhere,” said Brittany White, Girls Inc. National Scholar and presenter of the award to Christofferson and Goodman.

Dysfunction Run Amuck: USA Track & Field and the Need for Change

Adam Jacobs from The Final Sprint has written a very interesting article about USA Track & Field. Titled Disfunction Run Amuck: USA Track & Field and the Need for Change, this article is a great read for those interested in investigative journalism and corruption at one of the highest levels of the sport. Hopefully this series will bring the much-needed change that Adam highlights.

From The Final Sprint:

“TheFinalSprint.com’s investigation into this matter uncovered disturbing accusations and issues of dysfunction, including infighting, power struggles, racial tension, lack of oversight, and conflicts of interest within the board of directors. While the allegations may not rise to the level of criminality, they do threaten to undermine the organization at a time that it desperately needs cohesiveness and efficiency. With the belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant, TheFinalSprint.com will publish an article each day for the next week providing an inside look at USATF and its current situation.”

Below is the schedule. I highly enourage my readers to check follow its progress.

• 11/20 – Introduction
• 11/21 – How Did We Get Here?
• 11/22 – USOC Mandates / State of Dysfunction at USATF
• 11/23 – Financial Mismanagement / “Jets vs. Sharks”
• 11/24 – Racial Tensions / Infighting / Overstepping
• 11/25 – Conflict Of Interest / USATF Pres. Election
• 11/26 – Reasons For Hope / Restructuring

(Poll) Modified brostrom surgery: orthopedic surgeon or ankle specialist?

Today, I’m posing a question to readers:

[poll id="2"]

Here’s some background:

Last November, in a championship rec basketball game, I landed on my opponent’s foot and felt a pop.

“Nothing unusual,” I thought, since I had sprained this particular ankle about twelve times in my basketball career. So I laced my sneakers a bit tighter and continued to play – and win

Turns out, however, that this was not such a simple injury. It was the turning point – at least as far as the stability of the lateral ligaments in my right ankle is concerned.

The next week, I could barely walk.

A few more weeks past, and still – considerable pain.  Two different orthopedic surgeon visits and two four-month sessions with physical therapy  later, I still feel considerable intermittent pain, particularly after exercise and with long periods of standing or walking.

Finally, I made an appointment to go see Dr. Paul Cooper at Georgetown Foot and Ankle Clinic. He immediately recommended a procedure called “modified brostrom.”

Apparently, when you sprain your ankle enough times, the ligaments loosen and it creates instability, which results in pain. If you look at the pictures in this post (yes, they’re my actual x-rays) you’ll notice that there is some considerable space between my ankle bones. (that’s not supposed to happen)

Modified brostrom surgery essentially tightens everything up and “makes you feel like you have a new ankle,” or so Dr. Cooper says.

He told me it would require a month in a cast and at least another month of physical therapy. But this would be a simple procedure that he could do in about half an hour.

The next day, Dr. Cooper’s surgeon scheduler called. She proceeded to tell me that Dr. Cooper is booked for surgeries until March of 2009.

“Uhh… that’s a little ridiculous,” I replied.

She told me the operating room is jam packed and Dr. Cooper is booked solid. This really sucks for someone who loves to play rec sports in the spring.

So I made an appointment with another well-respected sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Weimi Douoguih at Washington Hospital Center. Impressed by Dr. Wouoguih’s contribution to Insider Medicine and his e-mail address present on his business card, I was hopeful that he would be right for me.

I was immediately impressed by his personality and ability to talk to me.

Dr. Douoguih said he thinks I do, in fact, need the surgery. He mentioned that he doesn’t do a lot of this type of surgery, but he’s trained in it and feels comfortable performing it. And – even better – he can work around my schedule.

So here’s what I need help with – do I wait until March for the specialist (Dr. Cooper)? Or, do I get it done sooner with Dr. Douguih? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Appreciate your opinions.

[poll id="2"]

“Football Under Cover”: Documentary about women’s football (soccer) in Iran

A new documentary (released this year) discusses the reality of women’s soccer players in Iran.

The plot: An amateur female soccer team from Berlin goes on a nerve-wracking journey trying to carry out the first female soccer match in the history of Iran. And it happens in front of over 1,000 cheering female fans.

According to Cinema Without Borders, Football Under Cover won two prizes in Berlin film festival, The TEDDY for the Best Documentary Film and VOLKSWAGEN Audience Award.

This documentary has been capturing attention across continents. For example, check out this NPR article. Also, popular soccer blog, The Global Game has even featured information about this movie.

Can anyone figure out where we can see it? I’d love to view this.

Check out the trailer below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyMc0bW_b8M

Her Sports Rounds: The Best of Women’s Sports

Below is my weekly rounds of what’s being discussed in the blogosphere of women’s sports:

16-year-old girl (with a mean knuckleball) is playing professional Japanese baseball. Check it out at Girls Dig Sports (b5 media). Also cross-posted at Girls Can’t What! and Pretty Tough. (I will likely be blogging about this later, too).

Sue Favor surveys foreign players on US college teams – covered at the Women’s Hoops blog.

Mara Yamauchi, a British long distance runner who holds the record for the second fastest time in a marathon amongst British women, is discussed at Right Fielders.

Jennifer discusses her frustration with playing on mixed-gender rec teams on From a Left Wing. (I have to say – I have to agree with her points).

Women Who Serve posted a link to a 2009 guide for the Women’s Tennis Association.

Keri Mikulski discussed her recent trip to Texas to meet professional softball players, including USA Softball gold and silver medalist and the best shortstop in the world, Natasha Watley.

Pat Griffin discussed Jeff Sheng’s Fearless Campus Tour, a traveling photo exhibit of GLBT high school and collegiate athletes, on her LGBT Sports blog.

Over at Sports, Media and Society, Marie Hardin discussed a new book about women’s basketball by by Marie Hardin, titled, “Why She Plays” . The book features interviews with top figures in women’s basketball — including Val Ackerman, Tamika Catchings, Donna Lopiano, and Diana Taurasi.

At the Stanford Women’s Basketball blog, Judy Richter discussed how Stanford’s forward Jillian Harmon is looking to lead the team this year.

At The Final Sprint, editor Adam Jacobs featured post-run interview videos with elite runners Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher.

Apryl Delancey from Women Like Sports, featured a video from the Seattle Majestics, an IWFL team in her area.

Hope you enjoyed! Please be sure to send your links over to me at bciplayedsports@gmail.com to be considered for inclusion the next rounds.

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