Fantasy or Fact

For men who deeply wish they could experience the feeling of being a part of a professional sports organization, but lack the big size, explosive speed, and athletic agility to play professional sports; Fantasy football is a dream come true. Fantasy football is a game that originated in 1962 from a genius idea of Bill Winkenbach, then a limited partner in the Oakland Raiders, with assistance from Bill Tunnell, the Raiders' public relations man, Scotty Stirling, the beat writer from the Oakland Tribune, and George Ross, the Tribune's sports editor, as well as Philip Carmona, Winkenbach's friend. Fantasy Football is a fantasy game that allows participants -called owners- to create their own fantasy team using players from all over the National Football League(NFL). The game requires extensive knowledge about team organizations, player positions and stats, injuries, salary caps, and trading deadlines. Fantasy Football has become a subculture in American sports with an estimated 18 million adults participating each year. According to Scott Linzer, director of media with iCrossing, a digital marketing agency, "Marketing research has shown the average fantasy football player to be predominantly male, married, in a high income bracket." However, the research fail to mention that 6% to 10% of those fantasy football participants are women.

Although fantasy football is marketed towards men, it also appeals to women because of its intellectual, strategic, and competitive elements. Female presence on the sideline provide balance and diversity to professional sports, and their visual existence is significant to the potential growth of female sports journalists. Not only do women enjoy writing about professional sports and playing fantasy football, but they also enjoy competing in their own professional Women's Football League.

Women Pioneers

The success that women sportswriters enjoy today is made possible by women pioneers who paved the way before them. Many women sportswriters have successfully gained the respect and credibility that they deserve because of the determination of women like Mary Garber, the first female sportswriter, Lillian Johnson, the first black female sportswriter, and Margaret Kistler, the first female sportswriter in Texas. Today, women journalists can believe with great confidence that they can impact the world of sports, and achieve the success and credibility equal to their male colleagues.

Mary Garber, the first female sportswriter, was the first woman to win the Red Smith Award, an award given to sports editors for outstanding contributions in sports journalism. She started her career as a society writer at The Winston- Salem Journal, but she got her opportunity as a sportswriter when the all-male sports department was deployed to World War II. Garber was a sportswriter for the Journal from 1947 through 1997. In 2006, the Association for Women in Sports Media named its annual Pioneer Award for Garber. Mary Garber died in September of 2008.


In addition to Mary Garber, Texas pioneer sportswriter, Margaret Koy Kistler, also helped to knock down doors and break gender barriers for today's female sportswriter. Kistler, a graduate from the University of Texas, was hired as a sportswriter for the Abilene Reporter News- the first woman to hold that position in the state - and immediately made her presence known in the male-dominated domain of high school press boxes. Her first assignment, covering The Kings of West Texas high school football team, was met with great disapproval by the coaches and team players. Even though the team greeted her with total silence and blank stars, Kistler was able to prevail using her witty personality and journalistic skill to perform the interview with ease. Kistler’s professionalism eventually propelled her to a successful career with the Austin Bureau, the Temple Daily Telegram and the Dallas Morning News.

Fight for Credibility

Journalistic credibility is one of the most important pillars of journalism. To practice the art of journalism, the profession of writing and communicating news for the benefit of a particular community of people, it is required that all six values: balance, accuracy, leadership, accessibility, judgment and credibility, be practiced simultaneously. Journalists who are fortunate enough to earn and sustain credibility with their readers can reap the benefits of a fruitful career.

Even though American society expect male and female sportswriters to have a certain level of credibility when reporting the X's and O's of sports, the credibility of a woman sportswriters is far more likely to be attacked by sport fans, athletes, and the national media than their male colleagues. Pam Oliver, a sideline reporter for Fox, was accused in 2007 of misquoting NFL quarterback, Donavan McNabb, about his unpredictable future with the Philadelphia Eagles. According to Oliver, “It’s not easy being called a big, fat liar. You wake up to that and it’s very unpleasant.” Oliver went on to say that her relationship with the quarterback is irreversibly damaged. Lisa Guerrero, a sideline reporter for ABC, was replaced after her credibility and experience was questioned by the national media after one stumbling commentary of a football game. The national media criticized her performance and suggested that maybe she got her job based on her looks and not her background. Sports Commentators have always been hired with appearance in mind, but the national media has suggested that women sports reporters receive their jobs based on their television friendly looks and not the quality of their experience. High profile incidents such as these are very damaging to the reputation of all female sports journalists.

Every columnist or commentator gets harsh feed back about their performance; however, women sports writers are subjective to receiving hostile correspondence demanding they be reassigned or fired from their jobs because of a misquote or fumble of a report. The double standard for an on air blooper can cause detrimental harm to a female sports writer's credibility and career. Women can't afford to make the same mistakes men can and recover from them.

If Senior ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) analyst, Chris Berman, were to slip and say innings instead of quarters during a football commentary, people would overlook his gasp, but if a veteran female reporter is lost for words during a halftime report, she is characterized as having a "senior moment". Unfortunately, some people neglect to acknowledge the importance and impact that women have in the male dominated world of sports.

Historical Movement of Women Sportswriters.

Once a rarity, Women Sportswriters have become a fixture on the sideline at different American sporting events. For decades, Women Sportswriters have faced intimidation and harassment from male athletes, coaches, and even colleagues. Since the mid - 1970's, women sportswriters have been fighting for equal rights and equal respect in the male dominated world of professional sports. In the news profession, writing about sports is not considered hard-core news; nevertheless, cable networks have established television news channels for the sole purpose of reporting sports.

Nearly all male sportswriters have grown up breathing sport rules and statics and many feel they know the rule book inside and out; however, they neglect to acknowledge the tremendous growth of female fans who support professional sport organizations. Many women lack the heritage and knowledge of sports trivia, which is the primary argument of many chauvinistic ideas; nonetheless, many women are learning the importance of sport statics through journalism programs that teach female students how to become sport writers.

Because professional sports are very important in American society acquiring fresh -off- the field interviews with players is essential to the careers of sportswriters. In our society, an on going national debate rages about the role and knowledge of women sportswriters; consequently, some people in America question whether women sports writers should be allowed into the male locker rooms. I strongly believe that women sports writers should have the same opportunity to perform their jobs and make a living just like their male colleagues. To deny women sportswriters that right puts them at a great disadvantage to their male colleagues.

Melissa Ludtke, a sports writer for Sports Illustrated, filed a civil suit in the Supreme Court in 1978 against the New York Yankees and Baseball Commissioner, Bowie Kahan, for implementing a policy which excluded accredited female sports writers from the locker room of the Yankee clubhouse. Melissa Ludtke won her suit and The Supreme Court ordered equal access into the male locker rooms for both genders. According to Melissa Ludtke, "The male athletes' problem with female reporters is rooted in stereotypical, outmoded and confining images of women, not at all suited to the reality of their actual lives."

Although the Supreme Court allowed women sportswriters into the male locker room, they soon learned that they were not welcome there. Some athletes, disappointed by the court’s decision, used nudity to show their disapproval. Amidst the hostile environment, women sportswriters vigorously continued to perform their jobs and pursue their goals. As a compromise, some reporters recommended the introduction of interview rooms in professional sports, while others denounced the idea as impractical.

Despite the criticism of women in the lock room, women sports writers have made great progress in their profession. The accomplishments of women sportswriters can be observed through the creation and contributions of the "Association for Women in Sports Media" organization. Nancy Cooney and colleagues founded the “AWSM” as a support network for women, which work to promote and increase diversity in sports media through internships, scholarships, and mentoring.