Erica Boeke2009-11-23T13:27:34-05:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=erica-boekeCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Erica BoekeGood old fashioned elbow grease.TONY HAWK: Enjoying the Ride (and helping young skate rats, while he's at it)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.3127752009-10-07T14:40:55-04:002009-10-07T14:54:46-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
Then my sister became a skate rat. Sure, this was back in the mid-80s, and so much has changed since then, but she kind of changed my perception of the skateboarding culture.
I guess you could say that my sister was the Tony Hawk of our family -- really bringing skateboarding to the masses and showing people (i.e. my dad) that skateboarding was cool and cutting-edge ... a way of life. A part of the culture. I wish my sister had Tony's entrepreneurial talent -- because then she would have retired from skating at 31, and we'd be living on some island drinking fruity drinks. Sigh.
But Tony Hawk seriously has brought skateboarding mainstream -- yet still maintained that elusive cool-factor. And he turned his interest in skateboarding as a kid, into a million-dollar industry.
Aside from his gear, apparel and gaming successes, Tony has always been committed to charities. He formed the Tony Hawk Foundation to help fund many projects that are near and dear to his heart. This weekend, he hosts Stand Up for Skate Parks (www.standupforskateparks.org) in LA, which promises to be an action-packed, star-studded affair -- all in hopes of raising money to build skate parks around the country.
Here, one of my famous (or infamous) Q&A's with Tony Hawk.
Erica Boeke: Tony, you are now retired from competition but it seems like you are traveling and skating now more than ever, tell me about that....
Tony Hawk: Not worrying about the constant competition schedule has opened up many other opportunities for me. I do many exhibitions throughout the year, as well as appearances and charity work. It has been liberating to choose my own destiny instead of worrying about my rankings all the time.
EB: Yeah, I bet ... with all this traveling and skating how do you find the time to focus on your apparel, gear and gaming...
TH: I do most of it on the road. All of this traveling gives you plenty of time on airplanes to do busy work.
EB: I do all my best work on planes. "Stewardess, hold my calls, please!" But you also are very active with the Tony Hawk Foundation, providing grants for communities to build skate parks. How do you feel skate parks positively affect kids?
TH: I think they give kids that choose to do something different a chance to shine. I also believe that skate parks can give kids a sense of self-worth and self-confidence that they may not find elsewhere.
EB: Cool. What neighborhoods/communities that now have skate parks due to your foundation are you particularly proud of?
TH: We have helped to fund over 450 projects, so it's hard to pick favorites. Compton is special to me because it is such an iconic inner city of Los Angeles, and the park is top-notch. I also like Springfield, OR, because it was our first big grant recipient to open.
EB: Tell me where you hung out as a kid, before there were lavish skate parks and such.
TH: In my neighborhood ... trying to build sketchy driveway ramps in our alleyway.
EB: Nice. Who would have thought you'd end up as an iconic skateboarder hosting your own star-studded celeb events to raise money for skate parks!? You practically invented the skate park! So you have two big events coming up: One this weekend in Beverly Hills and one in November in Las Vegas. Tell me more about what is going on ...
TH: We have family-centric events that include kids' activities, music and skate/bmx exhibitions. We also auction many special items in order to raise funds for THF. Our last two Beverly Hills fundraisers earned over $1 million each for public skate parks.
EB: Very nice! What kind of stuff are you auctioning off?
TH: Extreme trips, signed boards, rare memorabilia, all kinds of cool stuff.
EB: And who is coming that I should know about?
TH: The A-listers from the X-Games and many celebs. People like David Spade, Victoria Beckham, Benicio Del Toro, Lance Armstrong, Diddy, Mia Hamm, Jon Favreau, Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson have shown up to previous events.
EB: Very fancy. So let's pretend we're on the red carpet ... or red skate ramp, shall we say, and I will channel my best Joan Rivers. "Tony," (Joan Rivers accent) "Who are ya wearing?"
TH: Quiksilver, always
EB: Nice. OK, now I'll be Melissa Rivers, OK? "So Tony, I hear there will be a live performance by Blink 182 at the LA event, how did you make that happen?" (Is there such thing as a Melissa Rivers accent?)
TH: Well, it took persistence. I asked each member individually before they hit the road if it would be a possibility and they all eventually agreed to it. They played our very first fundraiser in 2004, so it was only fitting for them to come back once they reunited.
EB: Very cool. So Tony, if there was one person you would want to have at your charity event who has not attended yet who would that be?
TH: My father, who passed away in 1995. He wouldn't believe that we've come this far.
EB: I'm sure he'd be so proud. Not only of this event - but I'm sure he'd also be proud of this new video game coming out soon ... tell us what is new and exciting about it?
TH: "Tony Hawk: Ride" (www.thride.com/us) will have a skateboard controller, meaning that you stand on a board that senses your every movement as you play. Your onscreen character emulates your actual movements, to feel like you're actually skating.
EB: Very cool! I hear the game features brand new technology ... and that you might be debuting it at the Wired Store (www.Wired.com/WiredStore) in NYC this holiday season. Is this true?
TH: Yes, that is in the works.
EB: So you have a busy fall, between the Stand Up for Skate parks events and the debut of your new game. What are you wishing for this holiday season?
TH: Some time to enjoy the ride.
For more information on purchasing tickets for the event call 760.477.2479 or visit the Stand Up For Skateparks website at www.standupforskateparks.org. You can also follow Tony Hawk on Twitter at twitter.com/tonyhawk.
]]>Not Your Regular 21-Year-Old Snowboarder: A Q&A with Kevin Pearcetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.2704622009-08-27T12:35:51-04:002009-09-27T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
There are a dozens of up-and-coming athletes who are looking to go for the gold and the glory in 2010 -- but one rising young snowboarding star is also looking to change the face of his sport. His name is Kevin Pearce ... he's 21 ... and he's the one to watch in Vancouver next year. He is also extremely fun to watch -- flying through the air with his big air moves, flawlessly executing and nailing his elaborate tricks, even in the most unforgiving elements.
I have to admit that when I was offered the chance to interview Kevin, I had some preconceived notions. When someone tells you that you just have to interview this incredible 21-year-old snowboarder, lots of things pop into your head. Things like, "This may be a tough interview filled with one-word answers ... one-word answers that may often include the word 'dude.'" Wrong. This kid is different. He's heart and soul and passion and patience. He's an Olympic hopeful that you find yourself really hoping for.
Here, my Q&A with snowboarding phenom, Kevin Pearce.
EB: You split your time between living with your family in Vermont and your buddies in Carlsbad, California -- snowboarding and surfing. Which do you prefer?
KP: Snowboarding is my first love, but surfing is a great break. Carlsbad is a great getaway from snow and cold -- it's totally mellow. I was recently up in LA and wanted to kill myself ... I would say there were too many velvet ropes and parties for me. But I do love the west Coast, because it offers surfing and snowboarding.
EB: I know you started snowboarding in Mammoth, but what would you consider your home mountain?
KP: I don't really have one home mountain. I ski a lot in Colorado, Mammoth and Tahoe, but I love skiing all over the world: Japan, where there is an amazing amount of snow and powder; Norway; Switzerland; Austria; Colorado ... all over the world.
EB: Tell me about your family. You seem to be a very tight knit group. Your parents, your brothers ...
KP: My family is a huge part of my success. My parents had a very unique sense of raising us. Their motto was: "Do what you want, we trust you." I think this helped to shape me into the person I am. I'm the youngest of four -- two of my brothers and I have dyslexia, and my oldest brother David has Down Syndrome. The experience of dealing with these challenges with my brothers has taken me down a lot of different paths.
EB: Your dad is Simon Pearce, a renowned glassblower and designer. Tell me more about him ...
KP: My dad dropped out of high school and traveled around the world. He started creating pottery in Ireland and then opened a glassblowing shop there. A few years later, he moved to Vermont and opened a glass-blowing mill and a restaurant. It's cool. It's all hand made glass and pottery, plus everyday tableware.
EB INTERNAL MONOLOG: What other 21-year-old uses the phrase "everyday tableware"?
BACK TO KP: My oldest brother Andrew works there and David works there. It was a great place to grow up as a kid. We got to throw pots and make pots. Not many kids can say their dad's an artist, they can throw pottery and have a skateboard ramp in their barn!
EB: OK, please tell me more about this barn. What a cool place to grow up ...
KP: Yeah, it was. We had a barn in the back of our house and my parents turned it into a playhouse for all of us, with a skateboard ramp and everything. This is where we spent most of our time. Now, it's more of a snowboard museum, it's where we keep all of our trophies and posters. But I still hang out there with my brothers and our friends.
EB: You say "our" trophies. Isn't your brother David a well-regarded Special Olympian?
KP: Yep, David does it all: Bowling skiing, running ... He does great in all the sports. And he's so unhappy at second and third. He hates to lose ... just like me!
EB: How was it growing up with a brother with Down Syndrome?
KP: David's a very unique kid in that he's aware that he has down syndrome. So from a very young age, my parents put a twist my on it. We called it "Up Syndrome." It was their way of keeping it positive. Even when he was younger, if someone said "Down Syndrome," David would immediately correct you ... "Nope, Up Syndrome." Growing up with David has taught me patience. I can travel and see the world, and then spend time with David -- and it's so real. I can see how life is so difficult for him, but also see how he can have so much fun and give so much to people.
EB: Tell me about your group of friends, or should I say, "Frends" because there's no "I" in "Frends" ...
KP: This is a group that came about really naturally and organically. My friends and I all had obligations to all of our sponsors, but we wanted something to bring us together in a team forum. Snowboarding is such an individual sport, this is the great way to add our support together - and have each other's backs. Now our group has gained recognition ... We want to show people that we're a tight knit group of friends and expand on it and show how cool it can be. That no matter how big you get, you still have your friends. There's even a TV show in the works, where they'll show our lifestyle and how lucky we are to do what we do on the road to Vancouver.
EB: So speaking of which, how excited are you to try to qualify for the Olympics?
KP: So excited. I'm trying to qualify for the Men's Halfpipe. The last time it came around I wasn't in the running for it. Now I really have a great chance. I'm putting as much energy I can to making the most out of it. It's a great opportunity for me. I'm really hoping that it works out.
EB: You are known for exhibiting great patience and your nickname is "Marathon Man." How do you think this will serve you as you look towards Vancouver?
KP: Patience is huge for me -- and it will be huge going into this year. I'm going to do my best to be patient with everything, take things one step at a time, and give it my all when I get the chance.
EB: So what do you think of Shaun White?
KP: I've known Shaun for a long time -- I'm going to the US Open with him. He has always been there at the top of the sport, and I've been there learning from him and riding with him. He has really done amazing things for the sport. I really hope, though, that we can all become the face of snowboarding. In our crew of "Frends," it's not just one or two, it's all of us. At any of these contests, any of us could win. We've had some really good training sessions, we have some new tricks coming up.
EB: Anything you can tell us about?
KP: There will be some cool new stuff, but we're trying to keep things quiet for now.
EB: Fine, Kevin. This interview is over. No really, it is over. I don't have any more questions.
KP: Cool.
As you know, I typically reach out to the Twittosphere if they have any questions for these athletes. Visit GoGameFace.com for the full Kevin Pearce interview, and check back this fall for our upcoming interview with Kevin on the GoGameFace.com podcast series GameOn. You can also follow Kevin Pearce on twitter at: http://twitter.com/Kevin_Pearce
]]>SIBLING RIVALRY: The Manning Brothers help settle the score in a classic Sister Kissertag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1919502009-04-27T17:12:41-04:002009-05-28T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
To many, the biggest sports story of the weekend was the NFL Draft in New York City. I had the chance to go to the Draft, just a quick subway ride away. Instead, I chose to drive two hours to Easton, PA -- a small, former steel town.
The game in Easton didn't mean anything in terms of stats -- but it meant everything to this community. The NFL Draft, on the other hand, is all stats, all the time. Apologies to those of you who have been holding mock drafts for weeks, but I chose to spend my weekend experiencing all of the things that I love about sports: tradition, redemption, underdogs, hope, cheerleaders, marching bands, bonfires and ice-cold beverages
This chill-inducing, get-all-choked-up-weekend was provided by Gatorade, through their ingenious "Replay" program. Here's how it worked:
>> Gatorade found one of the country's most intense high school football rivalries -- Easton, PA, vs. Phillipsburg, NJ. Separated by the Delaware River, P'Burg is more blue-collar, Easton is swankier. Every Thanksgiving Day for more than 100 years, the teams battle it out. In 1993, the big game ended in a 7-7 tie -- a classic "Sister Kisser."
>> So Gatorade gathered together the 1993 teams, trained them for three months, and launched the "Replay" program, in conjunction with their low-calorie G2 drink. "Replay" shows that we're all athletes -- or that we can be. (Even if some of us haven't picked up a football or put on the pads in more than 15 years.)
>> Finally, on Sunday, the two teams replayed the game -- complete with cheerleaders and band members from 16 years ago.
>> Gatorade also provided some celebrity muscle by inviting football's good guys -- Peyton and Eli Manning -- to serve as honorary coaches for the game. The result? Maybe the best sports weekend ever.
To add to the Sister Kisser vibe, I invited my sister Christa, a GoGameFace.com contributor, to join me for the festivities. The Saturday night bonfire was "Friday Night Lights" meets "All the Right Moves." The community block party on Sunday morning was congenial, lively and had the feel-good spirit of people who knew that it didn't really matter who won. It was about being able to suit up again ... about getting a second chance ... about what could have been. Finally, at 3pm, it was time to replay the game.
There were some amazing plays. There were some Bad News Bears plays, as well. It doesn't really matter. I will tell you that the underdogs won -- blue-collar P'Burg beat swanky Easton 27 - 12, in front of 14,000 fans. But there were no hard feelings on either side at the end of the game. Just sunburnt faces, grins of satisfaction, and that rare moment that allows you to look back at what could have been, and simultaneously be inspired by what could be.
For us, another highlight of the weekend was the opportunity for the Boeke Sisters to tackle the Manning Brothers, via an on-field interview at halftime.
EB: Eli, what game would you replay if you could? EM: In my junior year, we lost in the third-round playoffs to ... I think it was West St. Johns. That is a game that sticks with me, and one that I would love to play again.
CB: Peyton, what game would you replay if you could? PM: Everyone asks that. I think you have to play every game like it's your last -- that's the intensity. But the great thing about this is that these guys do get another shot.
EB: Eli, this weekend brings up a lot of high school memories -- for us sisters, too. Did you and Peyton ever date the same girl, or did you ever date sisters? EM: Well, no. We didn't go to school at the same time, so we didn't have a chance. EB: Good, because it just makes things awkward. EM: But we did wear the same number and we both wore the same ugly, lime-green t-shirt under our uniforms. I think it was my dad's.
CB: Peyton, in high school did you and Eli ever date the same girl, or sisters? PM: Is this about the game at all? CB: Um, not really. So would you replay anything about high school over again? PM: There are lots of great things about high school I'd do over -- playing ball sophomore year with my older brother Cooper ... that was amazing. School dances, Prom -- all that stuff I'd do again.
EB: Eli, I interviewed Serena Williams a couple weeks ago and she said that she and Venus would beat you guys in doubles. Should we set it up with the Gatorade folks? EM: We were actually with them a few weeks ago and we played mixed doubles ... Peyton was definitely the weak link.
EB: Eli, would you and Peyton ever co-host SNL together? EM: Well, [Peyton] has already done it ... but maybe somewhere down the road.
EB: Eli ... why Hoboken? EM:(Slightly annoyed.) I have lived there for five years. I love it. I wanted to be in New Jersey so I could be close to the stadium.
EB: I hear that N.J. Senator John Corzine lives or used to live in your building. Is he a good neighbor? EM: (Slightly confused.) Yeah, I think so. I don't remember him ever causing problems or being a bad neighbor.
EB: How did it feel when you won the Super Bowl, saving the world from cheaters and bringing down the Death Star? EM: (Still confused.) Winning the Championship made me really proud and it was a great moment.
EB: (Thinking she better knock it off.) What was your favorite part of this "Replay" experience? EM: The fact that Gatorade made all of this possible, and just talking to the fans and seeing how hard these players have worked. It's really inspiring.
And he's right. The whole damn weekend was inspiring: From Easton kicker Kendall Hochman, a leukemia survivor who played Sunday, to Tyrone Randolph who was abandoned by his mother in high school and moved in with his teammate's family -- not to mention the couple of guys who lost 60+ pounds during their "Replay" experience. Check out missiong.com for their stories.
Through our Facebook and Twitter updates, my sister and I inspired a few people, as well. Our high school friends in Southern California have been chattering all weekend about a classic football game back in 1986, between Sunny Hills (us) and Valencia (them). In the fourth quarter, the lights suddenly went out -- and the game went into double OT. To this day, there is still much speculation about who turned out the lights, and how things might have ended if they hadn't. We nominated our school on Facebook for the next installment of "Replay" -- in hopes that our town can experience that "what could've been" moment ourselves. Wish us luck.
]]>World Premiere Video: Serena Fills in For Tigertag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1856092009-04-10T11:47:35-04:002009-05-11T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/Facebook Friend Serena Williams is at it again. And besides Scrabble, I found something else I just might beat her at: Golf!
Gatorade gave me a sneak preview of Serena's video, which is part of their new video series "Focus on your Game: Golf Tips from Tiger." And now ... drum roll, please ... I will share it with you, dear readers!
When the title slide comes up, we are all expecting the T-man himself to come out and share some pointers about putting. But if you haven't noticed, he's pretty busy these days. Instead, Gatorade turned to some other athletes -- my BFF Serena, along with Eli Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson and Matt Kenseth -- to try their hand at golf, filling in for their buddy Tiger.
I will say, though, after a whopping 32 putts on Thursday at the Master's, which put Tiger in a tie for 83rd place in a 96-player field -- maybe he should take some pointers from Serena and the others. But knowing Tiger, he'll pull off some breathtaking, dramatic come-from-behind win that will leave us all with goosebumps and realizing just how much we missed him.
The next round of the Master's takes place today, Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m. EST (ESPN).
That said, I know what I'm doing this afternoon: guzzling some Gatorade Tiger Focus (which hydrates, and also promotes mental focus!) and settling in for an afternoon of Augusta. (I sure wish Manny Ramirez had downed some Tiger Focus for our interview last week!)
The rest of the Gatorade "Golf Tips from Tiger" videos will be unveiled soon, and there's plenty of other original content on missionG.com.
]]>Mano-a-Mano with Mannytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1834242009-04-06T08:40:33-04:002009-05-07T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
I arranged the meeting through the Dodgers PR department, who had just started allowing bloggers in the clubhouse. They suggested I stop by early in the morning, or right when Manny left the game -- if he even played that day. He had been struggling with a pulled hamstring all spring. But he did play, for six innings, as his Dodgers hosted the Royals in their new digs -- Camelback Ranch in Glendale.
Manny got three hits (all down the middle) and made a few great plays in left field -- including charging the ball and making a ridiculously strong throw to the cutoff man to hold the runner at third. No signs of hamstring issues there. But he did routinely toss his glove up in the air several times during plays when the ball wasn't headed in his direction -- like my niece who gets bored while playing soccer and stops to pick flowers. So Manny was still Manny. The moment he left the game, I bolted down to the clubhouse.
I was wearing a white flouncy skirt, a polo shirt and flip-flops. I was in Arizona! I was at Spring Training! My legs hadn't seen sun in six months! (Note to self and the rest of the world: This is not a good outfit to wear in the clubhouse. It screams, "I am a chick. I am alienating your world. I do not belong here.") There were other reporters there from the LA Times, the Associated Press, the LA Daily News -- and a gaggle of Japanese journalists there to interview pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. The Dodgers starting pitcher came out of the shower in a towel with his arm iced and wrapped. He bowed politely to the reporters -- who bowed back, then asked him a million questions. That's not quite how it went down with Manny.
When I entered the clubhouse, he was surrounded by sportswriters who were there to talk about today's game. I had loads of other questions for Manny. Good stuff. Juicy stuff. In fact, I solicited questions from GoGameFace.com readers on Facebook and Twitter. I thought some would make him laugh. Once the sports writers finished up, I approached Manny. He shook my hand and said, "How you doin' honey?"
I said, "Great! I'm writing a story for the Huffington Post, and don't worry, I have some fun questions for you."
"Do you mind if I take a shower first?" he said.
"Sure thing, Manny! In fact, I'd prefer it..." I said, with a smile.
While I waited, a few other players filtered in and out. Some in their towels, some in their unis, all looking at me with disdain. One player seemed to position himself behind a pillar while he got dressed -- out of my line of sight. There was another woman in the locker room, but she looked like a sportswriter. She wasn't wearing cruise wear. She fit the part; I did not. I just stared at the TV and focused on the game.
Even though I worked for the San Francisco Giants in the '90s and I cover the topic of "ladies in the locker room" in GameFace, I thought having women in the clubhouse was commonplace now. Maybe not. But I do take some level of responsibility, because I didn't really do my homework. I didn't try to fit in. I should have started off with serious questions to prove myself, then eased into the fun stuff. Instead, I tried to just be me. And as a result, Manny was just Manny.
When he came out of the shower in his towel, several male reporters swarmed him. While I waited for Manny to no longer be nude, the Dodgers PR guy said to me, "He might be done for the day. Let's see how it goes." This was my first indication that this might not end well.
Finally, when he finished putting on his Seven Jeans and t-shirt, I strolled over. It was game time. For me, anyway.
EB: Hey Manny, so I have some fun questions for you. MR:(Angry) Like what? Are you going to ask me about Boston?
EB: No, well, I was going to ask you about your new book, "Becoming Manny." MR: (Angrier) I don't even know what that book says!
LA Times Reporter: Did you even read it? MR: Hell no! I don't want to talk about this. I want to talk about the game!
EB: (Shuffles through her notes. Knows that most of her questions are about baggy pants, whether he hangs out with Alyssa Milano and if he's noticed that gas prices have dropped. She panics.) So Manny, how's the hammy? (Trying to get things back on track.) MR: (Slightly less angry) Fine.
EB: (Phew) OK, so how do you define "Manny being Manny?" MR: (Angriest) I don't want to talk about this stupid stuff. (Starts to walk away. Puts his hand on my shoulder.) Sorry, honey ...
Game over. For both of us.
So is this another case of Manny being Manny? Maybe a little. But I get it. He's an incredible athlete -- sure, one with a questionable work ethic -- but all he wanted to do was talk about the game. And I didn't. I wanted to talk about his baggy pants. I still do, actually.
While in Arizona, I also met former Giant Vida Blue, former A's pitcher and renowned handlebar-mustache-wearer Rollie Fingers, and the aforementioned Tommy Lasorda -- who were all wonderful ... charming ... delightful, even. How could you not be delightful and giddy and light-hearted during Spring Training, with Opening Day just around the corner? The sun is shining. The grass has never been greener. The players are psyched about the season. The fans aren't heckling anyone just yet. There is the distinct smell of hot dogs -- and hope -- in the air. Life is good ... Even if Manny didn't answer my stupid questions.
]]>Q and A with Serena Williams -- Serena Meets Her Matchtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1699922009-02-25T17:46:31-05:002009-03-28T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
The campaign features an everyday athlete, matched up with a pro athlete who happens to have the same name. What does all this mean to you? It means that I had the opportunity to interview the world's top-ranked female tennis player Serena Williams yesterday -- who appears in the next G2 ad -- and you get to come along for the ride.
The younger of the Williams sisters spoke to me from Hollywood's painfully hip Roosevelt Hotel -- just coming off of an amazing win in the Australian Open and losing to her sister in the semis in Dubai.
I wanted to jump right in and talk about her 10th Grand Slam title and the controversy in Dubai and all the rest -- but Serena was definitely focused on the G2 campaign, as she had just selected the "Serena" who would appear with her in the new campaign. The event at the Roosevelt was emceed by the woman with the elastic voice, none other than Nancy O'Dell of "Access Hollywood" and "Dancing with the Stars." Five everyday athletes named "Serena" came in from around the country to share stories of how sports and exercise helped them overcome a personal challenge and reach an important life goal. (Check out missionG.com for more info, and also to share your everyday athlete story.)
Luckily, I'm a big fan of Gatorade and their cool programs (I'm particularly obsessed with Replay), so I did want to hear more about the G2 campaign.
EB: So you're in LA to select the "Everyday Serena" to appear in your ad. Which "Serena" story inspired you the most?
SW: It would have to be Serena Cuevas from San Diego. She got in a car accident at the age of 17 -- just as she was in the prime of her dancing career. She was told she might never dance again. It just got me thinking about what if something happened to me when I was that young -- would I have tried to keep playing tennis? But this Serena, she didn't give up. This was a turning point for her. She recovered and went on to compete in dance competitions, and she even started her own dance company -- Deseo Dance Company. She really inspired me.
EB: Very cool. So what's your favorite G2 flavor?
SW: That's easy: The purple one. Grape ...
EB: Congrats on the Australian Open ... such a great accomplishment. Now what was it like playing in Dubai?
SW: Dubai was fine. It's a super metropolitan area -- lots of Londoners, Asians, Americans. I actually was almost disappointed, because I felt like I was still in the United States.
EB: So on my web site GoGameFace.com and in my book GameFace, for women who love pro sports but not stats, I talk about the fact that I'm a passionate female fan - but I don't follow a lot of women's sports. I do follow women's tennis (I always have) and I also follow athletes like you and Venus, plus Danica Patrick. What intrigues me is when the level of play is comparable to men, and I like it when women beat men with no handicaps and no ladies tees, etc. Would you ever consider a Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs type match up? Maybe against Andy Roddick, who I read that you already beat?
SW: Probably not at this point in my career. I'm focused on being the best on the women's tour. You know, I play women's tennis ...
EB: Gotcha. OK, how about you and Venus against the Mannings?
SW: Yes. And we will win because we're better than they are.
EB: I believe you! So how is your fashion Aneres line going?
SW: It's going really well ... we have a new collection coming out in April. There are so many things going on with G2, my fashion line, featuring the other Serena in the magazine.
EB: Gotcha. So my readers are going to kill me if I don't ask. I know you have been rumored to have been dating some people (including Common) ... Are you dating anyone?
SW: Right now, I'm dating my tennis racquet.
EB: That is so cool because I'm dating my computer! We should go on a double date.
SW: Um, OK.
EB: So has Venus set a date yet for her wedding to Hank? Has she picked a dress yet? Or are you helping to design it?
SW: That is so funny. She is not engaged and everyone still talks about it. I'm going to have to call her now and tell her that people are still asking about it. Last time, I sent her a bottle of champagne to congratulate her. I'm going to have to send her another one.
EB: Or send her a bottle of grape G2!
SW: Um, sure.
EB: So I also read that you have a new memoir coming out in the fall?
SW: Yes, it's this book I've been writing ... it's been really intense, but a great experience.
EB: And I read on your web site about a screenplay you were talking about writing?
SW: I love to write. I always have. A goal of mine is to definitely write a screenplay ...
EB: You know, some people have said that you have so much going on between the fashion line and your endorsements and your writing -- or are you one of these people that thrive on having more and more things thrown at you?
SW: It's all about managing your time. Yeah I have a lot of things going on, but tennis is number one, and it has enabled me to have opportunities like this with G2 and my fashion line and my book. But I know that it's tennis that paves the way for me - so it's important for me to put all my effort and focus into tennis.
EB: So Serena, is there anything you are not good at?
SW: Yes, I am not good at any sports outside of tennis.
EB: I find that really hard to believe.
SW: No seriously, I am terrible at basketball. Track is kind of a no-brainer, but yeah, anything other than tennis, I'm not good at it.
EB: Well, I will tell you that my friend Deborah interviewed you once and beat you in ping-pong. And I also know that Conan O'Brien beat you at Wii tennis ... May I challenge you to a game of Scrabble?
SW: I'm the worst speller in the world.
EB: Oh good!
SW: You would win. I read a lot and I love to write, but I'm a horrible speller.
EB: I'm going to friend you on facebook and challenge you to a game.
SW: Um, OK.
POST-INTERVIEW UPDATE:
Approximately three seconds after the conclusion of the interview, I am here to report that the real Serena Williams does not appear to have a facebook profile. I can't believe she didn't mention it during the interview! In the meantime, I friended someone who I thought was Serena -- I mean, her name is Serena Williams. I'm currently waiting for her to accept me. However, in my heart, I do not think it's the real Serena.
(Type in "Serena Williams" in the search bar for facebook. You will see a Serena Williams profile, but I do not believe it is not the same woman I spoke to from the painfully hip Roosevelt Hotel. This Serena Williams could have been one of the G2 "Everyday Athlete" finalists, though.)
I did, however, became a fan of Serena Williams on facebook and challenged her to a game of Scrabble on her wall -- also adding a little trash talk. I will let you know if our Scrabble challenge is, just like the Oreo lick-off, on like Donkey Kong. That's: D-O-N-K-E-Y K-O-N-G. Just practicing.
]]>Hoop Dreams: A Female Fan's take on College Basketballtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1678302009-02-18T09:21:49-05:002009-04-08T05:07:59-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/The body paint. The outspoken coaches (like Bobby Knight or John Chaney or Geno Auriemma or who could forget Andy Kennedy). The unruly mascots. The young and wild players getting in and out of trouble. The rowdy fans. The rowdy female fans.
Sure, we all agree this UNC fan's comment was extremely offensive. But some members of the press seem to be making as much of a fuss about the fact that the comment was made by a "rich" female fan, as they are about the content of the statement itself. If a male fan had yelled out the same slur, would the comment have received as much attention? We would hope so, but is it really surprising to people that a woman could get so riled up about her team -- or the fact that a lady fan made such an unladylike comment?
It's not surprising to me that women are passionate about sports, and that more and more women are following college sports. If you've been following this blog, you already know that in 2008, I co-wrote a book called GameFace and launched GoGameFace.com, for women who love sports, but not necessarily memorizing stats. I know there are millions of us out there who are extremely connected to our teams and favorite athletes.
According to a 2007 study*, about 30% of women age 18 and older consider themselves fans of college basketball and football - up from the year before. (Yes, these are stats, but they are interesting stats, no?) And another 2007 study** revealed that 60% of women said they watched televised sports regularly, while only 42% watched soap operas regularly. In short: women love the drama on and off the court more than we love the drama in and out of General Hospital. Does the fact that women love drama surprise anyone? Uh, no.
It also does not surprise me that college is the place where many women begin their love affair with sports. (My love affair started much earlier, at around age 7, sitting with my dad keeping score at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. And thank goodness I didn't have to wait until college, because my school had a ridiculously weak collegiate sports program.)
But for many women -- especially those who didn't grow up with brothers or a particularly sporty father figure -- college is where many start to appreciate the other aspects of sports that don't include memorizing stats or being tested on the depth of your knowledge. Many women begin experiencing sports as purely a social gathering. Sure, you get your pre-game drink on (if you're of age, of course), but the next thing you know, you're wearing matching team shirts ... painting your face and/or body ... making oh-so-clever signs to hold up for the cameras ... and then you end up holding hands, crying, and singing/chanting on national TV after a loss -- or a win.
Soon enough, many female fans also start experiencing other powerful elements of college sports: the loyalty and camaraderie ... the pomp and circumstance ... the time-honored tradition and long-standing legacy ... the true meaning of being a "blue blood."
If you happen to go to a school like Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Kentucky, and more recently, Florida or Memphis -- you can smell the tradition in the air. And if you go to a school that happens to upset one of these teams, one win can literally make your season. Walking through campus, you'll find a new spring in your step and your chin held a little higher, having just put a ding in your rival's time-honored tradition.
Many a female sports fan has had their love affair with college sports ignited by "tradition nights," where you learn the songs, chants and wacky rituals that stay with you forever. These traditions are the things that make the UNC fan stick around and sing, even though most schools would find their students cussing and heading for the exits after a loss. These traditions are what cause people to hate losing to KU because they have to hear the droning "Rock Chalk" chant (even in their own house), or the slightly more entertaining UCLA chant. These traditions have caused thousands of Duke fans to grab their sleeping bags and spend a night in K-ville year after year, and have kept the St. Joe's Hawk mascot flapping at least one wing throughout the entire game for more than 50 years.
Many women also begin appreciating the lessons that sports teach you, whether you're a player or a spectator. Things like being a good winner and a better loser. (Hope you're reading this, girl from UNC.) The fact that there's no "i" in "team." Listening to your coach, even if he's a bit of a jackass. Doing the right thing because it's the right thing, but also because you really want to play next week. The joy when the underdogs win. The despair when the heroes fall.
And then these female fans become hooked. For life. Because these are magical moments that only sports can deliver, and these are moments that stay with you long after college -- year after year, roster after roster, dramatic plot twist after dramatic plot twist. Being a college hoops fan becomes a part of your DNA, part of who you are -- whether you're a man or woman ... whether you're a student or alum ... whether it's the first game in November or the frenzied height of March Madness.
* Scarborough and Sports Business Journal, 2007
** BIGresearch, 2007
]]>A-Rod's Scarlet Letter: Does it Really Matter?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1653512009-02-09T16:10:17-05:002009-03-12T05:12:01-04:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/a report on SI.com, four sources have confirmed that he was indeed juicing back in 2003. Rodriguez joins players like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds, who will be forever tarnished (and some prosecuted), not just for their illegal drug use, but also for lying about it.
And just two weeks ago, the results of Barry Bonds' urine samples were made public. The reports reveal that Bonds used injectable steroids, not just the "cream" and the "clear" -- substances he claimed to have thought were arthritis cream and flaxseed oil.
It's just further affirmation of what we already know: Athletes have been using performance-enhancing drugs for years, while many people chose to look the other way. Fine. But the real questions are: Should we really be upset by these types of A-Rod "bombshells" or simply regard them as further examples of society's hypocritical view of athletes and drug use? And should we even bother trying to regulate drug use in sports at all?
In the book GameFace (Virgin Books 2008), which I co-wrote with Chris De Benedetti, we cover this issue in-depth. The bottom line is that athletes are being held to a set of standards, while other individuals who turn to performance-enhancing drugs -- from Hollywood A-Listers to NYPD cops -- are simply not held accountable. And whether or not we want to admit it, most of us turn to legal performance-enhancing substances on a daily basis.
Just go to an NFL game and just look around. The fans have spent the day loading up on alcohol. Plenty of the cheerleaders have had plastic surgery. The overworked coaches, with their legendary 20-hour workdays, undoubtedly are fueled by coffee or Red Bull. The players? At least some of them are on steroids or human growth hormone. The in-stadium advertising includes Viagra or Levitra logos, pushing sex-enhancement pills. Major League Baseball takes the Viagra ads one step further, placing them quite visibly on the wall behind the catcher during TV telecasts. (Maybe there should be a Linda Ellerbee-hosted special on Nickelodeon for parents: "How to Handle the Kids' Inevitable Viagra Question While Watching Sports.")
On TV, turn the channel to professional wrestling or Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts. Then click the remote to MTV and watch hip-hop stars Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean and Timbaland, whom upstate New York prosecutors said were linked to a Florida pharmacy that also allegedly provided steroids to Major League Baseball players and at least one NFL star. (Most of the accused musicians denied the reports.) Oh, and flip the channel to an old Meg Ryan movie on any given Saturday afternoon, where you'll find that the '80s "girl next door" has certainly had some procedures and used some products designed to enhance her performance and longevity.
So, it's official. The use of artificial means to "improve" oneself is everywhere. Why should it be any different with athletics? Increasingly, it's not. The line between what's acceptable and what's not may be most blurred in sports. Players constantly are given mixed messages. Asking your trainer to inject you with deca-durabolin or androstenedione, to name two illegal steroids, is against the rules. But having your trainer shoot you up with cortisone or other pain-killers is perfectly legal and common practice, even though that drug is the only thing allowing your injured body to play. Until a few years ago, amphetamines reportedly were common in baseball, readily available in clubhouses for players needing an energy boost. In that world, it's easy to see how some ballplayers could rationalize using steroids or HGH, even when everyone knows they're illegal.
So, it doesn't seem to make much sense to "tell these athletes they are going to be society's last pharmacological virgins," as John Hoberman said, a professor and author who has written extensively on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs. "There is lots of selective indignation here. There is something crazy about this. Hypocrisy is not quite strong enough a word to describe it ..."
Read more on this topic, as well as an excerpt from our book at GoGameFace.com.
]]>Breaking News: Joe Montana is a Steeler Fan... Plus, A Message for Aaron Rodgerstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1627142009-01-30T18:59:00-05:002009-03-02T05:12:01-05:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/Obama being a Steeler fan was not breaking news either. But this is definitely noteworthy: We now have a president that goes out on a limb to root for a team and does not pander to both sides! Maybe change really is in the air?
You also have to admire a former player -- undoubtedly one of the best of our time -- who goes out on a limb and roots not for a team that he played for, but the team he grew up loving.
"My favorite Super Bowl moment, as a fan, had to be some of those acrobatic catches by Lynn Swann," said Joe Cool, a.k.a. Joe Montana, a.k.a. Big Sky. "I'm a Steeler fan."
I spoke to Joe today as part of Gatorade's huge Super Bowl unveiling this weekend. Many have seen their controversial ads over the past few weeks, "What is G?" -- these cryptic spots were designed to leave viewers scratching their heads and wondering, "Gee, what is G?" This Sunday, they'll run two new spots, revealing that Gatorade is indeed G -- which again falls under the category of breaking news that isn't really breaking news, as I did a simple YouTube search and got to the bottom of the mystery weeks ago. But really, I'll pretend to be surprised on Sunday.
This week down in Tampa, the power-drink-formerly-and-still-sort-of-known-as-Gatorade also launched something called G Studio, an exhibition of several murals created by abstract artist SwankOne, each depicting a great "G" moment in Super Bowl history, narrated by Common. All murals will be available for fans to bid at nflliveauction.nfl.com with proceeds going to the NFL Retired Players Fund.
In Studio G, a select group of past and present NFL players took part in the creation of a painting depicting great moments in their careers -- then autographed the works to be auctioned off. The players involved spanned generations, and included Ronde Barber, Matt Cassel, Brandon Jacobs, Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Brooks, Jerry Rice ... and Joe Cool, himself.
So really, this was a great chance to talk to a couple of these guys -- of course about the power of G -- but really to ask them questions that I really wanted to know. As a woman who loves sports and not stats, I didn't really scrutinize the finer details of "The Catch," or "The Chicken Soup" game, but instead, I asked the Mr. Joe Montana the following:
EB: Joe, with all the great QBs and athletes from the area, do you think maybe there is G
in the water in Western Pennsylvania? (Note: both Joe and I grew up near Pittsburgh.) JM: I think it's that Iron City Beer, actually! No, when you're coming from a tough area, a
blue-collar area like around my house growing up, with steel mills and coal mines,
sometimes it's a kid's way out. If you couldn't afford college, sports were a great way to
keep out of trouble and give an opportunity for a better education.
EB: What do you think of some of today's QBs? Which of these guys epitomize the heart, hustle and soul of the game? JM: Guys like Brady and Peyton. They have done it for a long period of time and done it well. These guys have played at the top level. Brett, too.
PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF EB: Loved that Joe and I are on a first-name basis with Peyton and Brett! But curious as to why he didn't mention our buddies Ben or Kurt ...
EB: What was your most thrilling Super Bowl moment? JM: Well, it's the image that was depicted in the mural. It was the John Taylor pass [in Super Bowl XXIII against the Bengals in 1989, with just 34 seconds left in the game.] That was my best G moment. That's the ultimate way to end your season ... a game-winning pass.
EB: How can the Niners increase their G? JM: Singletary brings a different attitude [to the team] that they were missing ... an old school attitude ...and I think they need to hang on to that.
Totally agree Joe. So, I also got to speak with Aaron Rogers earlier in the week to ask him a few of my own personal questions.
EB: What was your favorite Super Bowl moment as a fan? AR: The Joe Montana/John Taylor pass in Super Bowl XXIII.
PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF EB:Cool! Synergy! I am also interviewing Joe!
EB: What do you think it will take for the Packers to have their own G Super Bowl moment next year? AR: A lot of times, getting to the dance takes the team with the best chemistry ... the team that is hot at the best time. We have a talented team; we just have to learn how to win again. We're going to pay more attention to detail -- we lost seven games by four points or less. We just have to get there and we have the right guys to get there. And in the executive office, we have the right men and women to get the job done.
EB: How is that shoulder doing? AR: It's great, thanks so much for asking. EB: No problem!
EB: What are you doing there at Studio G -- and why did you feel like this was an important project for you to get involved with? AR: I like that this project involved all athletes, not just players I play with ... it was great to work with a company I respect and someone like Spike, who I have great respect for. This was just a special thing to be involved with.
EB: Tell me about the NFL Retired Players Fund ... AR: You know, they have laid the groundwork for myself and colleagues to be able to enjoy the good fortune that we have and protect our future. It's very important.
EB: Do you wish Brett Favre was a member of the NFL Retired Players Fund? AR: (Laughter.) No comment.
EB: So A-Rod, as your teammates call you, what's it like to date Madonna? AR: (Laughter.) EB: No comment again? AR: Uh, yeah.
EB: So I'm interviewing Joe Montana tomorrow ... have you met him? AR: Oh really? No, I haven't met him yet. (Awe in his voice.)
EB: Why do you think he represents G and what advice would you seek from him? AR: (Suddenly breaking into his own L'il Wayne voiceover): Joe is "Joe Cool" ... He is so "G" ... He is in a class all by himself ... Four Super Bowl rings, three MVPs ... he is the most amazing QB ... the winningest QB in the NFL ... coolness in the pocket ... a cool head down the stretch ... Joe is ... Clutch.
EB: Well, geez, um, do you want to be on the phone when I interview him? Want me to ask him anything for you? AR: Yeah, can you ask him how do you get from being a good QB to a great one? What were some of the things he did, or who were the people that he talked to between when he first got in the league in 1980 to 1981 when they beat the Cowboys ... Like what were the one or two things he did to go from good to the best? PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF EB: This conversation just shifted and you are now witnessing this young QB trying to reach out to his hero -- through you, by the way -- and his tone is just so earnest and sincere and I think you just really have to get him his answers and I think it might help him to become a better QB. And maybe even become the Joe Montana of his generation.
So back to Joe.
EB: I interviewed Aaron Rodgers this week and he told me that you are his hero. [Then I read Joe the Aaron Rodgers/Li'l Wayne monologue.) What advice would you have for Aaron. How did you go from good to great? JM: I learned two things from Bill Walsh: Preparation is really important for the success of a quarterback. You have to spend more time off the field than on ... knowing and learning plays and formations. You know, we didn't have those little earpieces -- we'd have 100 plays, three to four formations each. So I had to know the plays, the formations, in what order ... I spent a lot of time tracing over plays and I would know exactly where my receivers would be. I spent a lot of time at it. The more comfortable you are going in, the more prepared you'll be. It's like studying for a test. You'll be fine if you go in prepared -- every game is a test. You're always going to be nervous, but you're less nervous if you're prepared. The other thing Bill taught me was to strive for perfection. It's not possible, but you have to try for it. If you try to be mediocre and you miss that ... then you're not very good. If you try to be perfect, you end up still being pretty good. The key is just to never be satisfied.
PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF EB: Wow. Goosebumps. Lump in throat. I think I just experienced the power of G. Or probably more accurately, the power of Joe. Aaron, I hope you get this message.
]]>Armchair Shrink: A Female Fan's Take on Big Ben vs. Kurttag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2009:/theblog//3.1604892009-01-23T18:16:57-05:002009-02-23T05:12:01-05:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
Then these guys emerge, and for the rest of the season, they spend countless hours each week, trading both players and insults with other "owners" of make-believe teams in their make-believe league. (Just ask ESPN's The Sports Guy and his wife The Sports Gal, how they feel about Fantasy Leagues.)
Full disclosure: I do play in a salary cap league with my family, which doesn't feature a draft, but does feature weekly "homework," so I'm not judging here -- just stating some preconceptions about Fantasy Leagues.
I've said it before -- most women are just not into memorizing countless stats and, while female fans are passionate about their teams, most don't necessarily want to devote large chunks of their busy lives to developing and cultivating pretend teams.
However, I have a friend who recently got involved with her boyfriend's fantasy league. She didn't have a pretend team of her own, but she was more like a trusted consultant or consigliare, using armchair quarterback psychology to predict the outcome of games. While her boyfriend studies the stats, she does in-depth research on the QB's personal life. She then uses her intuition and an insight into the male psyche to predict who will have a stronger game. Now we all know that much more goes into a win than just the QB's performance, but let's face it: The guy sets the tone and tempo of the game, so he often is the make-or-break variable in a game of many variables.
I'm going to take a page out of her playbook to analyze the upcoming Super Bowl match up.
Again with this Full Disclosure business: I am a Steelers fan. But, as we say at GoGameFace.com, I will attempt to be as Fair and Balanced as Fox News. So here goes.
Big Ben Roethlisberger: At age 26, Ben Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. At a very young age, his name can be mentioned alongside the likes of Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and other great quarterbacks of our time -- as well as names like Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath of other eras. His youthful exuberance provides a much needed injection of energy into this team and now, with more senior players out of the way, he's settled into his role of captain of the Steelers both on and off the field. Big Ben's youth provides a resiliency and strength that is impressive, to say the least. (Keep in mind that he ran his head into a moving car with no helmet and walked away, and walked right into training camp ... He was carted off of Heinz field strapped to a gurney and came back a week later to play one of his most solid, thoughtful games yet. He has come a long way from the boozy Miami of Ohio grad with the questionable taste in women, who could often be found on the web site drunkathlete.com, getting wasted with college coeds.)
But although he is maturing and growing into his role, the Miami of Ohio coeds do bring up a good point. Any QB's choice in female companionship does tell us a lot about his inner confidence. (Consider the aforementioned Joe Namath and his relationship with Raquel Welch, among others.) Although the woman that Ben is reportedly dating, Missy Peregrym, is indeed attractive -- I would think that a more confident, swaggering Ben would be dating an A-List actress or supermodel. (To be fair, Missy made her acting debut in a 2006 gymnastics comedy called Stick It and had a recurring role in Heroes and now stars in the CW series Reaper. No, I haven't heard of it either.) A guy with more confidence would be dating someone along the lines of Gisele. Not Missy. Please note that Ben has also been linked romantically with Kim Kardashian -- which further makes my point.
And truth be told, he hasn't been the same since that motorcycle accident. Big Ben's weakness is his fluctuating confidence and lack of complete trust of his own judgment. He holds on to the ball too long and does his best when the coaches call quick short plays that he can execute without thinking too much first. When he goes with his gut, he's at his best. But, despite his youth and inconsistency, he is 7-2 in the post-season, compared to Warner's 8-2 record. This is his second Super Bowl; it's Warner's third. Despite the age difference, their post-season experience is rather similar. But it's Ben's youth, resiliency and instinct (when he trusts it) that give him an edge.
Kurt Warner: At 37, Kurt Warner is about 85 in NFL years. But he's got wisdom and grit. The guy's been through so much personally that he will certainly be the subject of a Lifetime made-for-TV movie shortly, if one already isn't in the works. His tale includes being drafted by the Packers and cut in the same year. Having a quarterback tryout for the Bears, but not being able to participate due to a spider bite on his throwing arm, sustained during his honeymoon. Oh and marrying a divorced woman a few years older than him, with two kids, shortly after her parents died in a tornado. (You just can't make this stuff up!) Speaking of his wife, she has played a large role in his playing career, probably more so than other SWAGs (sports wives and girlfriends). Here is an excerpt from our book GameFace:
Brenda Warner: This former marine and wife of QB Kurt Warner used to have her own radio show in St. Louis, where she spent a lot of air-time telling the Rams to play her husband more, commenting on his injuries, and even asking to be traded. She also has been known to call other radio shows to talk about her husband's on-field skills. She seems to have quieted down a bit since Kurt's move to Arizona... Random things you might like to know: Brenda and Kurt met at a country western bar while Kurt was working at a grocery store. Kurt was a stock boy, having taken the job after he was cut from the Green Bay Packers. Brenda was a bit older, divorced and had two children. Kurt married Brenda five years later, adopted her two children, and then the duo went on to have five more kids together -- for a total of seven. Maybe she just has less time to call into radio shows these days?
What does this tell us about Kurt? He's secure in his decisions. He knows what he wants and goes and gets it. He doesn't flee from hairy situations. He's comfortable with a strong wife who speaks her mind (and his, at times). He has the wisdom of an older player and the precision of a confident one. He's seen it all, and pretty much done it all. Basically, it means we're going to have a very interesting match up come February 1.
So Ben and Kurt, our 50 minutes are up for the week. We'll continue our analysis next week when we see which of you has channeled your inner demons to work in your favor on the field. In the meantime, although I'm not going out on a limb and choosing outright whether youth and resiliency will win over wisdom and grit -- let this armchair-quarterback-meets-shrink-session be a lesson to all of you fantasy-loving, stat-heads. You might try adding a bit of Page Six and/or Psychology Today to your weekly stat homework before the game next weekend.
]]>The Changing Face of the Gametag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2008:/theblog//3.1531642008-12-23T14:44:16-05:002009-01-23T05:12:01-05:00Erica Boekehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/
Gentlemen, look out. The Old Boys Club of Sports Fans has a few new female members. Try upwards of 50 million women who follow at least one professional sports team, according to a 2002 Scarborough study. (More recent projections put the number of female fans closer to 70 million.)
Female sports fans, please repeat after me: We're here! We cheer (passionately for our favorite teams)! Get used to it!
Don't worry, fellas. We're not here to invade the inner sanctum -- like the Leslie Mann character in "Knocked Up," when she busts in on her husband, played by Paul Rudd, as he secretly participates in an underground Fantasy Baseball cult.
We're here to watch sports in our own way. To soak up the drama on and off the field. To comment on the fusion of pop culture and sports. To enjoy other aspects of the game -- food, travel, fashion, music and sure, the occasional juicy story about SWAGs (sports wives and girlfriends). But let me assure you, our interest in sports is not just a technique to impress our husbands or boyfriends, or even to meet men. And nowhere in our conversations do we talk about which team has a "cuter uniform" or how great the athletes' butts look in their tight pants. Please.
My sister and I walked into a sports bar last football season, proudly -- and stylishly, I might add -- sporting Steelers apparel (apparel that was black & gold, not pink -- but that is another subject for another blog). We hadn't even ordered a beer yet, when a guy walked up to us and started quizzing us on whether we knew the first and last name of the Steelers' new coach and asking us if we knew the top-five rushers of all time. I could hear the Jeopardy theme song playing inside my head. I said to him, "First, who is Mike Tomlin? Second, who cares about all-time rushers? And third, what year did the Steelers merge with the Eagles to become the Steagles, just for one season, because most of the players in the league were fighting overseas in World War II?" He didn't know. I did: 1943. And thankfully, this got him to leave us alone so we could enjoy our game in peace.
It's fine. We're used to it. And to be fair, guys quiz each other like this. It's their way of sizing each other up. We get it. But we're not really concerned with that stat-head guy. We are content to enjoy sports with our families and girlfriends -- and our enlightened guy friends, who listen to our reflections and opinions, rather than try to test us on the numbers. In our world, sports bring people together -- uniting them in a common cause and a lively conversation.
And that's why I wanted to reach out to women who know how many points are in a touchdown -- and what an RBI is and what a hat trick means. Because I don't think anyone is talking to us. Sure there are plenty of fluffy pink books (there's that color again) that try to dumb sports down for women. And then there are the books that try to teach us to watch sports like men. (We all know that men and women are wired differently, and I maintain that our appreciation of sports is no different. I often liken it to the fact that men memorize every line from every movie, and women can tell you the plot. The same goes for sports.)
While we might not be obsessed with memorization, female fans are more concerned with the emotional side of sports. When I reflect back on my favorite sports memory, it involves who I watched the game with (my dad) ... the amazing array of stomach-ache-causing food we ate (too many to list) ... the great music that was playing ("We are Family") ... the summer breeze at the ballpark ... my first glimpse of my favorite player of all time (Willie Stargell) ... and the thrill of victory (back when the Pittsburgh Pirates were good). Not one of those memories involves the stats that Willie (or Dave Parker or Omar Moreno or Bill Madlock or Phil Garner) racked up.
So guys, as you look around in the stands and at the sports bar, don't be threatened by the growing number of female fans surrounding you. And don't worry; we're really not trying to force our way into your club. We're forming a club of our own.
Erica Boeke is the co-author of "GameFace: The Kick-Ass Guide for Women Who Love Pro Sports" and the creator of GoGameFace.com. She lives in New York City, but deeply loves the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, she plans to name her first child, boy or girl, Franco Harris Boeke.]]>