I
was watching that episode of Costas Now where they talked about the current state of sports and media when I noticed that women were pretty much absent from the
conversation. That got me to thinking about how women were represented and
viewed in the blogosphere, as it was, in my opinion, almost a wholly
male-dominated venue for sports opinions. So, I e-mailed Sooze from Babes Love Baseball
and Lisa Horne from Straight Talk from the West Coast about that and they were gracious enough to answer some of my questions.
How did you first become interested
in sports blogging?
LISA: I was recovering from ankle
surgery and noticed an anti-Pac-10 bias going on in some discussions about how
Michigan should not have dropped in the polls when they lost to #1 Ohio State
in 2006. I just offered my two cents on a couple of blogs, and got some good
feedback from the guys. It occurred to me to write my own blog offering a
different argument than ones already presented.
From there, it just kind of grew. I have been blogging since late 2006, and
really enjoy the myriad of opinions sports fans have. The passion that sports
fans have is what keeps me interested, well, that, and I'm a huge sports fan. I
love college football, and that love comes from understanding all the elements that
incorporate a play. While most fans are watching the quarterback, I have my
eyes on the offensive/defensive line. That's where all the battles are won and
lost, and is the key to really understanding football.
SOOZE: I've always been interested in writing about sports - it's my career goal - but Deadspin was the blog to inspire me, midway through the 2006 baseball season. As commenters, Lizzy and I hooked up to form the blog, and were lucky enough to add Sarah and Melissa along the way.
Do your readers know you're female? If so, do you notice any
difference in the way your readers and commenters treat you as opposed to your
male counterparts? Do you credit any of your successes and failures to the fact
that you're a woman?
LISA: I do notice the difference in
how men treat me. It's both a good thing and a bad thing. They know I'm female
by virtue of my name and picture, although many have accused me of being a man!
The good: A lot of men wish their significant others enjoyed sports as much as
they do. They have expressed their admiration that I am fairly knowledgeable in
football, and am not afraid to hang with the boys. I have also been lucky
enough to get a peek into the proverbial boys clubhouse, and have gotten a good
read on how important sports are to men.
The bad: When there is disagreement on my takes, I get called names, the
"go back to the kitchen" remarks, and a lot of personal insults. The
remarks are generally female-bashing – they don't take me on over what I
actually wrote, but rather, the fact that I am female. It's puzzling.
Overall: All bloggers suffer from the trolls out there who have nothing
relevant to say but bash the messenger. Many male bloggers get personal insults
thrown at them as well, so while I may get more personal insults than them, in
the end, it's still just a bunch of trolls bashing the author of the blog. It's
equal opportunity bashing.
I would have to say it's a benefit being a female blogger. Shocked? LOL. Well,
it makes me unique. There aren't a lot of football bloggers who are female, and
very few understand the X's and O's of football. It's a lot easier to be
noticed when you are a girl talking football than it is to be a guy talking
football.
Not long ago, the male-opinionated consensus was that women broadcasters were
allegedly hired due to their looks, and not knowledge. With more and more women
taking Sports Information classes, the knowledge has increased and they are now
getting hired because they know what they are talking about. It gives women
more respectability, and the "she's just a pretty face" argument has
really diminished in the last few years. It opened doors for me, and for that I
am grateful.
SOOZE: They totally know.
I haven't really noticed a difference in the way readers comment besides the
occasional anonymous jerk, but actually that they enjoy the fact that we're
female and love/know our baseball. We get more love letters than hate mail, I
guess.
A lot of sports blogs are obviously geared towards the
younger male audience since that's the bulk of their readership, but how do you
feel about some of the blogs that seem to objectify women? You know how they
have the "hottest sportscaster" contests or "hot pics of the
day" – how do you respond to that?
LISA: I think it's great! Look, if a
woman poses for a picture seductively dressed, or not wearing anything at all,
I assume she wants to have the attention. Guys will be guys and I think
it's fine to have that kind of content on sports blogs. It doesn't offend me in
the least bit.
SOOZE: We actually
objectify men just as much as they do [Ed. Note: Way to preemptively answer another one of my questions]! You know,
some men are attractive, and if they also happen to play baseball, we're going
to make mention of that. Some women are attractive, and if they also happen to
be a high school pole-vaulter, it's relevant.
Do you think it's harder for a female blogger to gain
traction in the blogosphere? Are people generally skeptical of a woman who
talks about sports?
LISA: I don't think it's harder if she
knows the sport. If she is fairly intelligent, has a good understanding of the
sport, and has good grammar, she probably has a better shot than the typical
male blogger. If she's attractive and has her picture up, I would bet the farm
she succeeds. It's every guy's fantasy; a hot chick who loves football.
Some men are skeptical. They simply can't believe a
woman can talk about a 23 blast or fly route without really being a guy [Ed.
Note: I have no idea what those are].
I would hazard a guess and say football is the one sport that seems to be the
hardest sell for female bloggers. Men love their football, and some can't
handle the fact that a woman may know more than them. While most men know a lot
about their own teams, they may not know a lot about other teams. The key to
getting their respect is to convey that overall knowledge (offensive schemes,
defensive schemes, play-calling, match-ups, etc) to them.
SOOZE: I think generally
people are pretty skeptical. Everyone assumes Joe Mauer is my favorite Twin
since he has the hottest sideburns in baseball, when it's actually a close tie
between Justin Morneau and Pat Neshek... both huge dorks. Mauer does have one
of the sweetest swings I've ever seen, I won't discount that. Although, I am
guilty of obsessing over Conor Jackson (and his hot bat) pretty much because
he's adorable. I may or may not have a thing for first basemen.
Males, obviously, make up a large percentage of sports
bloggers, but just how large is that percentage, in your estimation?
LISA: I have no idea, but I would
guesstimate about 95%. I would like to know how many female bloggers have
actual sports blogs rather than blogs under the guise of sports blogs. (There
are many porn/dating sites under the guise of sports blogs, so I would want to
know just what constitutes a sports blog in that count.)
SOOZE: I read somewhere it
was a 20-1 ratio in favor of the males. There is some serious quality among the
small percentage of female sports bloggers out there, though: Chicks Heart Fights is awesome, as well
as Center Field, Leave the Man Alone, Strikezones and Endzones, In A League of Her Own, I could go on and
on. We're a growing number under what some would describe as a glass ceiling,
but I like to think the sky is the limit.
Is sexism an issue in the way sports are covered not just by
bloggers but by the mainstream media as well?
LISA: I think they do a pretty good
job. In fact, they cover some sports, like LPGA or WNBA, a lot more extensively
than the interest warrants. I have had the opportunity to sit in the press box
with the guys to cover some football games, and have to tell you, they treated
me like just one of the guys. In fact, they were a bit more mindful of their
language, but overall, they felt comfortable hanging with me. Or at least they
made me feel that way.
Interestingly, when I interviewed some head coaches,
they did treat me differently than my male counterparts, but it was a positive
thing. They held their eye contact with me, and turned to face me when
answering my questions. Perhaps it was the female voice coming up among all
those male voices that got their attention, but in any case, I have always been
treated with respect and courtesy from everyone. It's been a very positive
experience for me, and I haven't had any negative situations come up. It's all
good!
SOOZE: I think people like
to make it an issue. The recent shenanigans involving Carol Slezak and her
opinion on the blowup dolls in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse was tangled into
a sexist issue, while Erin Andrews is objectified every day of her life. To me,
it's a non-issue, since I was raised to believe that I could do whatever a man
could do, just as well. I'm also not easily offended, so I suppose that comes
into play.
Do you feel that you look at male athletes the way males
view female athletes? Do you objectify them?
LISA: I don't know exactly what men
are thinking when they see Anna Kournikova, but I have a pretty good idea. If I
am working, and have to interview a male athlete, their looks don't even get
noticed by me. I've got a wireless recorder and a media tablet, and I am
focused on what he is saying, and when I should ask my question, can I move to
a better spot without getting in the way of the cameramen, and I wish this guy
would quit blocking my view etc..... it's such an intense thing, you actually
forget who you are talking to in terms of looks. You are staring at a moving
mouth; that's the only way I can describe it.
SOOZE: Yes and yes. I have
no shame.
Do you feel male athletes are held to the same standards as
female athletes? Do you think the success and popularity of some female
athletes like Maria Sharapova and Danica Patrick is due in large part to their physical
appearances?
LISA: I not only believe their
popularity is in large part due to their looks, but they use their looks to get
more endorsements and popularity. It's a give and take. I expect it, and have
no problem with it, although the nude shots (i.e. Amanda Beard) are sending the
wrong message to young girls. It's one thing to use your good looks to sell a product;
it's another to use your naked body to earn money. "Sexy" is leaving
a little bit to the imagination, not baring it all. It's a fine line that, for
some women, can't be resisted to cross when there's a lot of cash involved.
Maria
posed for Sports Illustrated. She's not stupid...she's beautiful and can play a
mean game of tennis. Danica did a GoDaddy.com ad where
she supposedly "took it all off," but didn't. These women know
exactly what they are doing, just as Tom Brady (Stetson Cologne) and David
Beckham (taking his shirt off) know what they are doing. They are brilliant
marketers and taking advantage of their physical characteristics to make money.
Looks sell, and they would be foolish not to cash in on their good looks before
they start getting too old. I think it's a good investment in their future, as
long as it is in good taste.
But I will say this: female athletes sometimes get more of their fair share of
accolades and market value due to the fact that they are the opposite sex and
their "value" in the sports world is directly related to their sex
appeal. If you watch a tennis match, the more grunting the women’s finals have,
the more direct correlation to their sex appeal. And popularity. And success.
It's biological.
Are men and women judged the same? Of course not. Does it make sense? Yes. Most
sports fans are men, and unless there's a sexpot involved, guys aren't
interested in women's sports. Male athletes are considered successful if they
connect to the fans and convey a message. Pure and simple. Since most men
consider women a giant puzzle, it's no surprise that they don't connect as well
with females, thus the more difficult task of viewing them as successful as
men.
SOOZE: Danica Patrick's success in fame likely was due to her appearance at first, but also to the novelty of the idea of a female being a great racer, up until her first win. She's totally legit, now. Same goes for Michelle Wie, Anna Kournikova, etc. As far as Maria Sharapova goes, she has proven her skill as a tennis player, so her looks are a bonus. I do think she has created some new tennis fans, though.
. . .
Much
thanks to Lisa and Sooze for being so gracious as to answer my questions. Don’t
forget to check Sooze out at Babes Love Baseball, and Lisa at Straight
Talk from the West Coast.