General

This blog's favorite athlete, action heroine, and humanitarian made the CBS Evening News last night for her work with orphaned children. CBS's Cynthia Bowers profiles Rebecca Neuenswander Welsh and her HALO foundation:

The year that just ended was a busy one, too busy even to summarize in one short post. But here are a few of the many noteworthy items from 2010.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team won 90 games straight, a new record for college basketball.

Kelly Kulick became the first female Professional Bowlers Association champion.

The IAAF, after demonstrating clearly how grotesque is the enterprise of gender testing, cleared track athlete Caster Semenya for return to competition. (Unfortunately, that still left us with some whining.)

Jordanian Farah Malhass became the first Arab woman to compete in an international bodybuilding competition.

Female athletes, not surprisingly, brought their A-game to the 2010 Winter Olympics, particularly Lindsey Vonn.

In entertainment news, Covert Affairs was, in my view, the best thing to come about in 2010; I can hardly wait for its return this summer.

I try to post little amusements throughout the year that perhaps elicit a chuckle while making a point. One from 2010 that I remember
fondly is the Knight and Day stunt rehearsal gone wrong, so good it is worth a repeat. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!—

Being an Olympic athlete is a full-time job. There isn't time for much else. Thus money can be a problem. Depending on the athlete's sport and country, sometimes there will be a full sponsorship. Generally this is not the case, however. Instead, the typical Olympian is left to figure out on her own how to subsist and pay for training expenses. In particular, women who compete in strength-related sports quite often need financial assistance.

It is important that we support female strength athletes. They must be free to devote themselves, without distraction, to developing their bodies and advancing their sport; that is, if we really do want a future where women are regarded for their physical strength on a par with men.

Olympic hammer-thrower Loree Smith, for example. Loree works hard year-round to make herself a better, stronger thrower. Just as important, she doesn't allow oversimplified, restrictive feminine ideals to influence her training: "I love being strong and athletic, and I absolutely love being a woman and don't believe the two are exclusive!" says Loree. With her talent, determination, and hard work, she is paving the way to that aforementioned future.

But once again, Loree needs our help. Fortunately, she has made this easy enough (also here). So, now, before 2010 is gone, make a donation that helps Loree keep her dream going, not to mention ours.

P.S. — Here is Loree in action:

Former taekwondo champion and Rigged star Rebecca Welsh, née Neuenswander, is a rightful contender to be Wonder Woman. In her case, however, a script may not be required—she already plays a wonder woman in real life with her HALO foundation. This year she once again asks that we help out too, by playing Santa Claus to her Wonder Woman:

There seems to be modest interest in the Who should be Wonder Woman? poll, I'm happy to report. And thus far voting has been spread evenly, without a runaway leader; I assume this follows from a superb group of contenders. Continue voting—you can vote more than once—and sending in nominations, or rather, start sending them in, as I haven't received any recently.

Oh, and have a wonderful holiday too!—

Professional athletes will be in the Gulf Coast today as part of a press junket sponsored by the Sierra Club. There, they will survey the Oil Disaster and share their thoughts about the mess. The need for "clean" energy—is there such a thing? or is it "clean" only when not in your backyard?—is another subject that will be discussed.

Several female athletes will be in attendance, among them: Leilani Munter, Krista Bradford Ference, Stacey Cook, Loree Smith, and Chanda Rubin.

The gesture is a thoughtful one on their part, and will perhaps do some good. But to wipe the mess away will require a long-term commitment, one lasting many years. Harder still, the problem of how to supply energy to a world population close to 7 billion, and growing, many of them already living in abject poverty, without contaminating the planet or over depleting its resources. I don't have the answer, and doubt anyone does right now, but I do know that it will take more than a press junket, a concert, a slogan to produce one.

It does seem to me, though, that more could have been done here—and sooner. BP is of course responsible for the spill in the first place, and partly at least for the ineffectual response. But the government—the politicians—too, especially early on when action was most critical.

The early weeks of the disaster must have been a time of amnesia on my part, I guess, for I couldn't understand the devil-may-care attitude in Washington. Nor their incompetence once the politicians finally did take notice. But then I saw a video that jarred my memory, that got me to thinking straight again, and I understood once more that it was all par for the course:

I've grown tired of a certain type of commercial, practically unavoidable nowadays, for home security systems. You know the story: a woman, home by herself or alone with children; a man, usually a stalker or a crazy ex; he smashes a window or kicks open a door; the woman screams; the alarm sounds; now another man, this one sane and professional, an employee with the security outfit, calls to check on her—help is on the way.

Not to make light of a serious topic, but must woman always be shown the helpless victim? Always at the mercy of some man—attacker or defender—for her safety? Can't producers of films, television series, commercials imagine life any other way, indeed, as it really is?

For it isn't that way in real life. A woman's safety is her own province, whether she likes it or not, and something for which she is well-equipped; and the athletic woman, abundantly so.

In point of fact, the would-be attacker in the Cincinnati area who recently found out the hard way:

Just in time for peak wedding season (imagine that!) FitnessMagazine.com has launched a "bridal boot camp" that includes workout videos, targeted workouts, and a 20-minute circuit workout for buff brides.

Brides want to look great on their wedding day, a worthy and understandable goal. But muscling up before the wedding also has a utilitarian purpose—the buff bride is prepared to take charge when it obliges her fancy:

My DI women's bracket for one thing. I don't as a rule pick many upsets, but I invariably succumb to temptation and pick one or two. Well, of course there were upsets this weekend. But none that did me any good. For instance, I picked Virginia (5) over Green Bay (12). Green Bay pulled off the upset yesterday. Not the end of the world, since no doubt that one caught more than a few by surprise. But my problems were made worse by my picking Lehigh (13) to upset Iowa St. (4). Didn't happen. Thus I'm completely out of tomorrow night's matchup between Green Bay and Iowa St.

So much for my bracket, my little lonely trifles.

Unless you are reading this blog for the first time, you know that I hold politicians (and our increasingly servile citizenry, who seem incapable of thinking or acting on their own to solve problems) in fairly low esteem; not that political shenanigans aren't sometimes amusing to watch. But the year-long health-care debate that (perhaps) ended with a vote last night takes the cake. Too much even for me.

Astonishing were the lies and corruption so clearly on display; worse still, the impudence with which it was all done (Ways to Become a Banana Republic 101). What further damage will come from this latest round of lies and irresponsible promises remains to be seen. But maybe, just maybe, after having had an unfiltered whiff of the miasma in Washington, people will not be quite as gullible from now on. Politics is about power, and it's played best by megalomaniacs. End of story. Remember that the next time you hear a politician saying that he or she is "fighting for you."

Congress consists of one third, more or less, scoundrels; two thirds, more or less, idiots; and three thirds, more or less, poltroons.
—H.L. Mencken

The music of North America owes a tremendous debt to Irish (and Scottish) music: country and folk, obviously, but later the "hillbilly" in rockabilly, one of rock-n-roll's foundational music forms. You will see, hear, and feel this connection in a moment, thanks to an extraordinary musician, indeed one of the world's best: Máiréad Nesbitt.

Nesbitt has an athletic performance style that at moments leaves one wondering if she isn't a world-class athlete too. (Ah, you weren't quite sure how I would tie this in, were you?) Such is the case seen here in a performance of "Granuaile's Dance" (possibly a tribute to Gráinne Ní Mháille, another remarkable Irish woman).

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Today, International Women's Day, we honor women—something we should in fact do every day, without prodding.

Still, it's nice to have a special day to celebrate women. I was pleased to find this beautiful tribute created for the occasion: Women of the World ~ Divine Goddesses:

My little contribution to a "Best of '09" series by Women Talk Sports bloggers is a selection of favorites from this blog. I don't expect you'll find a particular mood or theme, less so a standard of quality, but rather, I hope, a few morsels that provoke reflection or simply entertain:

The story of Tina Lockwood

A Kind of Grace

Super shenanigans

Esther Williams

A lesson from the past

Athlete or sex symbol? A false dichotomy

A Wonder Woman of color?

Aneta Florczyk: setting records, inspiring women

Female Muscle: a little schooling for its detractors

Ruminating on the big fight

DC shakeup. The ugly paradox

The Body Issue

Advancing women's sports: largely a bootstrap process

Bridgett "Baby Doll" Riley and her art of violence


Happy New Year!


More "Best of '09" from other WTS bloggers:

Best of '09: Forming a community, WomenTalkSports.com

The "Best" of 2009 and the State of Girls & Women in Sports

Best of '09: A Fresh Meat’s Perspective

Best of '09 – A Year for Women in Wake

2009 Salute to Women in Sports

Victories and Failures in Women's Sports in 2009, or #FTW and #FAIL (Hot or Not for us old-timers)

Best of 2009: The Humble Emergence of Tanisha Wright

Best of the Best of 2009

During this season of giving we shouldn't forget to consider where our kindness is needed most. Today, I share with you a gentle reminder that arrived in my Inbox earlier this week.

Rebecca Welsh, nee Neuenswander, is a former taekwondo champion well on her way to a brilliant acting career. But what so obviously matters most to her is HALO, the foundation she started to help orphans worldwide. My plan is to honor this Holiday appeal from her, and my hope in sharing it is that you will do the same:

Dear HALO Supporters,

Thank you for your continued support in 2009! This year we have added 4 new orphanages to the HALO family. Each of our 13 homes and programs serves as a safe haven from the streets to suffering children. As the Holiday season approaches, the needs of our orphanages continue to grow. Please kindly consider making a donation to help us meet these needs. Join us in giving the gift of a brighter future - from food to medical care to providing mentors for the children. With your help we can continue to provide a bright future for the parentless.

If you would like to make a donation in honor of someone you love, you will receive a HALO Holiday Card that you may present to them as a gift. Simply click on the link below to donate and type their name in the "In Tribute to" box.

You may also donate by sending a check to: The HALO Foundation, 1600 Genessee #528 Kansas City, MO 64102 or by calling 816.472.4256

Click here to donate

Please consider sharing this email with your loved ones and asking them to make a donation in your name as your Holiday gift. Its the gift that makes a difference in the life of a needy child.

We are very grateful for your generosity. You have given us the tools to build a bridge between the fortunate and the unfortunate.

Warmest Holiday Greetings,

Rebecca Welsh
Founder, The HALO Foundation

This week brings us to the holiday season. For many, The Nutcracker is a tradition this time of year. Everywhere young ballerinas prepare earnestly for school and community productions of the popular ballet. But their practice sessions aren't always innocent; now and then things go wrong, as here with "Waltz of the Flowers":




Have a wonderful holiday!

Time once more to recognize organizations that have wisely decided to enlist star female athletes to promote their goods and services. Of which there are two today:

The Amazing Avocado:

Jenny Finch has teamed up with Avocados and kicked off the Avocado League. Eight women are competing for the game day avocado recipe that best embodies the spirit, passion and flavor of their hometown. Stop by www.theamazingavocado.com/bighit to take a look at the delicious recipes. Votes will be counted from September 23 until October 14. The "Big Hit" recipe – the one with the most votes – wins the title of Avocado League MVP and receives the grand slam prize package – a $1,000 grocery gift card and a year's supply of avocados.

Tampax:

Tampax, the number one tampon brand in the U.S., announced today that tennis champion Serena Williams will appear in a print advertising campaign starting in October 2009. The images bring to life Tampax's "Outsmart Mother Nature" campaign, further illustrating the brand's commitment to celebrating today's women and empowering them to live life on their own terms every day.

Williams will be featured in a series of playful, lighthearted advertisements and online videos. In each piece, Williams defeats Tampax's Mother Nature character, who tries to deliver her "monthly gift" in an unsuccessful attempt to throw Williams off her game – on and off the tennis court.

"Serena embodies the energy, independence and strength we celebrate in women, and this exciting partnership is a game-changing moment for the feminine care industry," said Courtney Schuster, Associate Brand Manager, Tampax. "In this creative, lighthearted campaign, Serena embodies the playful wit of Tampax as she continues to be a champion and successfully Outsmarts Mother Nature."

We end with a video from the new Tampax campaign. Not so surprisingly, this ad has raised eyebrows and prompted a few comments (e.g. see here and here). I refrain from comment, yielding for once to my prudent self: