Athletic Women Blog

"My girls are stronger than your boys"

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:01:00 -0500

I believe it. Way to go girls!

(Video by Strongman Athletics)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Shocking News: Bodybuilders show off their bodies!

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:46:00 -0400

In another story for the Mrs. Grundy files, a high-school administrator bans a coed bodybuilding contest, saying that she doesn't want the school associated with "scantily clad women."

This is, of course, foolish on many levels. But why is it that men can wear next to nothing without anyone saying a word against it, yet women get scorn to no end for wearing as much or more?

Two 100 lb Dumbbells, One Woman

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:29:00 -0400

If this doesn't put to rest the canard that women can't be strong, like really strong, then nothing will. Former basketball standout Nikki Rouillard in an impressive display of strength:

Hope Solo is going dancing!

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:30:00 -0400

Dancing with the Stars has wisely given us a good reason to watch this fall.

Natalie Coughlin photo shoot: Natalie as Esther Williams

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:41:00 -0400

Who better to channel Esther Williams than Natalie Coughlin? The connection is so obvious: two fantastically gifted athletes in the same sport, and camera friendly as she is, we should expect that someday Natalie will have a movie career to match Esther's as well.

So, recently Natalie took on the role of Esther Williams with the help of award-winning make-up artist Melanie Mills. The results, needless to say, are stunning. What is more, the photo shoot was itself eventful, as seen in this cleverly edited footage:

Esther Williams

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:52:00 -0500

When Esther Williams was winning national championships in swimming, female athletes rarely achieved fame, much less fortune. They were few in number and generally marginalized. Still, Esther was a preternaturally talented swimmer and likely would have won a gold medal at the 1940 Olympics to be held in Tokyo, perhaps becoming an exception to the times. World War II intervened, however, and stole that singular opportunity from her.

Nevertheless, she had attracted attention anyway. From her official website:

In 1940 newspaper sports reportage, swimmers were frequently lined up for cheesecake photos, flashing big smiles and lots of leg. With her stunning good looks and tall, well-muscled frame, Esther was a standout! It didn't take long for legendary showman Billy Rose to notice the photogenic champion. Rose needed a female lead to star opposite Olympian and screen star Johnny Weismuller in his San Francisco Aquacade review. He invited Williams up for an audition and, so the story goes, Weismuller himself picked her out of a casting call of 75 hopefuls. Her performing career had begun.

Williams went on to make several movies, and for a time was among MGM's biggest stars. She was most famous, of course, for her scenes in the water. There she did most the work herself, which led to many injuries, even breaking her neck once during filming of a 115 ft dive. (Something to keep in mind when watching scenes from her movies, like the clip below.)

Resilient as ever, Esther recently fought back from a stroke; not only that, she is still swimming, as revealed in a GMA interview from 2007.

Want to know where the sport of synchronized swimming came from? Look no further than Esther Williams:

CLAW: Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:48:00 -0400

Theater, arm wrestling, philanthropy—three things that don't often come to mind together. But in toto they do describe CLAW (Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers, or more generally, Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers), as seen in the group's About page:

About

CLAW is a loose (and we do mean loose) affiliation of superbad women arm wrestling each other to raise money for women-initiated causes. We used to hold tournaments once a month at Blue Moon Diner until we got too big. Now we’re aiming for every 2-3 months. We are committed to supporting our community in and around Charlottesville, Virginia.

We have a facebook page, where you can become a fan and get all the latest CLAW news and updates.

Our Official Mission

CLAW exists to empower all women and strengthen communities through theater, arm wrestling, and philanthropy.

I learned about CLAW from Brian Wimer, who is making a documentary about it ("the revolution currently happening in women's arm wrestling"). The project's Kickstarter video gives a sense of the fun and madness that takes place at a CLAW event:

Angela Bassett: 'Strange Days'

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:10:00 -0400

I think it a shame that Angela Bassett hasn't been given more action roles. Truly she is everything you could want in an action star: a great actor with commanding physical presence.

In 1995 Bassett was given one opportunity to flex her muscles, in Strange Days (a sci-fi film that deserves more than the scant attention it has received). Here she tosses co-star Ralph Fiennes into a wall, and the action looks seamless, because you sense that in real life she could:

NBC passes on David E. Kelley's 'Wonder Woman'

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:38:00 -0400

A phrase I'm quite tired of repeating—we'll have to wait to see a live-action Wonder Woman.

Except this time, though I'm pained to say it, it's probably for the best. From casting right through to the writing it was becoming evident that this was going to be a weak, light-headed (the typical Hollywood treatment given to heroines) presentation of the classic superhero.

It is better that Wonder Woman retain some of her majesty and live to fight another day.

Female Athletes Tribute

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:02:00 -0400

This ably crafted tribute to female athletes was created by VashtisVoice. You might find it inspiring. I did—the music notwithstanding:

Is NBC paying attention to Wonder Woman fans?

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:09:00 -0400

Version 1.0 of the new Wonder Woman outfit didn't go over so well. That being the case, Wonder Woman producers and NBC have made a few tweaks.

Just to refresh your memory, here is the before image:

And now the latest, as seen during filming in LA last week:

I'll let the fashion police judge the design's merits as just that, fashion, since Wonder Woman's fashion sense doesn't rate a high concern with me. But there has been analysis combining both aesthetic and functional issues, like Sequential Tart's, that is worthwhile. And I do think it odd that they put Wonder Woman in pants but didn't bother to put straps on her top. Pants rarely ease movement, and sturdy legs can be a sign of power. Having the additional concern that your top might fall off while fighting the bad guys, however, seems more a problem.

Nor do I think much about whether Adrianne Palicki is "beautiful" enough or whether she compares favorably with Lynda Carter. My only concern regarding imagery is that she be convincing as a formidable heroine and potent as a symbol of physical strength to girls and women, nay, to all of us.

Science meets Brittney Griner

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:09:00 -0400

Watching the NCAA basketball tournament yesterday, I caught this segment from ESPN's Sport Science. Pretty cool! It is wonderful to see a female athlete spotlighted for her redoubtable athleticism; and thankfully, that happens much more often nowadays:

First look at NBC's Wonder Woman (prepare yourself)

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:28:00 -0400

It's not as though in popular culture girls and women have symbols of strength to spare. Perhaps if they did what David E. Kelley and NBC are doing to Wonder Woman wouldn't be quite as hurtful. The new Wonder Woman costume, as it will be worn by the actress playing Wonder Woman, was revealed Friday (in truth, probably floated as a trial balloon). Does this give you the impression of a super-strong heroine?

I suspect it doesn't. Indeed, it seems not to have for hundreds of commenters at EW.com, Facebook, and elsewhere:

Leo: "I agree! I do hate the costume, but I think she should be more toned. She looks frail and way to thin. This looks way too pin up and less Female Empowerment. This costume makes Linda Carter’s look like a pair of military fatigues."

Shaa-chan: "I agree 100%! I don’t ask much, she doesn’t have to look like a bodybuilder or anything, I would just like her to look like she has strength at all!"

Wilhemina: "Holy crap. Cheap Halloween costume-meets XXX parody costuming meets the tranny Kardashian. And those boobs are obviously, distractingly fake. Looks cheap all around. To think that this is comics’ premiere female hero. While Supes and Bats get big-budget films, reboots, and Oscar-winning franchises, the alleged third part of DC’s comic Trinity gets a crappy Ally McBeal Meets Smallville TV Pilot that already looks like a disaster."

Lisa: "I completely agree. I am so disappointed,because Wonder Woman was my favorite growing up. I watched the series religiously and even had a Wonder Woman Barbie. I was excited to be able to introduce my young daughter to an empowering female superhero….guess I’ll have to look elsewhere."

Still, we need to make absolutely certain this great heroine isn't ruined by Hollywood hacks. So, if you think it important that media represent women as athletes and physically capable beings, and I assume readers of this blog do, make your voice heard as well. Join the fight!

A muscular history for women

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:40:00 -0400

March is Women's History Month. Right in line, literally and figuratively, with this year's theme ("Our History is Our Strength") is David Chapman and Patricia Vertinsky's new book, Venus with Biceps: A Pictorial History of Muscular Women.

I can't review Venus with Biceps in this post, as I haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet (though it seems to get generally positive reviews—even the New Yorker). Its having been published alone warrants attention here—for books exploring this neglected and marginalized aspect of women's lives and history are few and far between. Put this special book in your to-read list.

Angela Mao: "the world's first major female action film star"

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:28:00 -0500

I couldn't resist sharing this wonderfully done tribute to Angela Mao. A star in many 1970s martial arts films, Mao is sometimes regarded as the first world-famous female action star. It may only be the movies, but prodigious martial arts skills are on display here:

NBC has its Wonder Woman

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:40:00 -0500

The rest of us I'm not so sure about. Late yesterday it was announced that Adrianne Palicki will star in NBC's Wonder Woman pilot.

I was right about one thing, Kelley and NBC didn't waste any time. Indeed, now it seems they were in too much of a hurry, "... she was the only actress invited to test for it."

The putative casting sheet gave some hope they would choose someone with heft, that is, not the usual scrawny, not-so-athletic super- or action-heroine that has been Hollywood's staple. It might be too early to say, but that seems not to have happened.

We wish Adrianne luck—she certainly has her work cut out for her.

Wonder Woman wanted: "Long flowing black hair, blue eyes. Amazon-like, muscular, an Olympian"

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:05:00 -0500

Things are moving fast on the Wonder Woman pilot. Not only has a director been settled on but the search for the new Wonder Woman is already under way. According to the casting sheet circulating the Internet, Wonder Woman producers are looking for:

WONDER WOMAN / DIANA THEMYSCIRA / DIANA PRINCE] Female, late 20s to 30s. A kick-ass Superhero / Powerful C.E.O. / A vulnerable woman. Long flowing black hair, blue eyes. Amazon-like, muscular, an Olympian. The charismatic stage presence of a rock star. A crime fighter. Also, a real woman who yearns to live a normal life. She is accessible and appealing to all people, men and women alike…SERIES LEAD. ASP.

This is quite encouraging in my view (sans the "vulnerable woman" nonsense). Someone in Hollywood seems to have figured out that a superheroine, just like any superhero, must have a redoubtable presence if she is to be taken seriously. In other words, if the above is to be believed, the producers realize that they are looking for Wonder Woman not Wimpy Woman.

We also have good reason to think that at least two auditions have already taken place—Jill Wagner and Tanit Phoenix. Expect the casting process to continue at a fast pace, considering that the target date to start filming is March 15.

The poll here has been heating up as well. Over the last few days I have received several excellent nominations. I will be mildly shocked if the new Wonder Woman isn't to be found there. Without question a few of the women listed in our poll fit the description to a T!

Amelia Cooke and the ballerina-action heroine nexus

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:08:00 -0500

I have commented before on the apparently easy transition afforded ballerinas when they decide to take up action roles in film or television. The foremost example of this would of course be Jennifer Garner, but there are others too (e.g., Summer Glau). It might be that their specialized, extensive training gives them complete sovereignty over their physical self, and that the camera captures and somehow amplifies this. In any case, whatever the exact cause, one perceives something special when watching the ballerina-turned-action heroine perform—her movement is potent yet seamless and majestic, it has an almost mystical quality to it.

Amelia Cooke spent the better part of her youth as an aspiring ballerina: studying at the National Ballet of Canada for ten years, and touring with the company as well. What's more, in 1997, Amelia was given the "Outstanding Athlete of the Year" award in Toronto. Later she turned to modeling, then to acting. That has led, perhaps inevitably, to action roles. The following scenes from Alien Agent supply further testimony to the unique physicality of a trained ballerina:

Amelia is sometimes mentioned as a possible Wonder Woman, and she is one of the many excellent candidates listed in our poll. It seems to me that they could do much worse, and that Amelia might just be special enough for this special, all-important role.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day 2011

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:08:00 -0500

Yesterday was the 25th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. To mark the occasion—better late than never!—I am sharing a nice little salute to women in sports put together by Pretty Tough:

Rebecca Neuenswander Welsh, HALO on CBS Evening News

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:54:00 -0500

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:

Wonder Woman is returning to television after all (Thank you NBC!)

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:08:00 -0500

I should have kept true to my Pollyanna self. Two weeks ago I reported that Wonder Woman would not be returning to television anytime soon. But thanks to NBC's new president of entertainment, Bob Greenblatt, she is. Greenblatt gave the go-ahead for David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman pilot last week, in one of his first moves after taking over the reins at NBC.

We'll have to wait and see if Kelley's version of the superheroine is worthy, but now we at least get to judge that for ourselves.

P.S. — Look for the "Who should be Wonder Woman?" poll to return shortly.

How to become a superwoman

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:09:00 -0500

Apparently, you do exactly what Laura Phelps Sweatt has been doing. Laura is the fourth woman to bench press 500 lb or more, and she is the lightest (181 lb) to do so. Here she is bench pressing 510 lb (yikes!):

So, you say, That's great, but what else can she do? How about a 40.5" box jump?—

See, women can build their bodies and become superlative athletes just like guys can. Only time and pure dedication are required.

'Wonder Woman' series a no-go for now

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:10:00 -0500

Why it is so difficult to get a Wonder Woman film or television project off the ground I cannot fully explain. Certainly a sexist Hollywood mindset would supply part of the answer. But still...

Friday it was reported that David E. Kelley and DC Entertainment, after shopping around a spec script that Kelley had written, couldn't find a network willing to take on Wonder Woman. CW, which is under the same Warner Bros. parent umbrella as DC Entertainment, turned down the series because the license fees were too demanding. (Huh?) This may not be the final word on Kelley's Wonder Woman, but don't hold your breath.

There is a bit of good news to report, however. Twilight writer Melissa Rosenberg is working with ABC, whose parent company, Disney, now owns Marvel Comics, to bring Jessica Jones to television next fall. Consequently, one superheroine will have her own television series—and before Halley's comet returns (knock on wood).

2010, a remembrance

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:53:00 -0500

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!—

Loree Smith and why we must support strong women

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:40:00 -0500

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:

UConn 89-0

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:45:00 -0500

A splendid day to be a fan of women's sports. Last night UConn went to 89-0. Awesome!

Does the LFL brawl like it plays football?

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:21:00 -0500

I hadn't paid much attention to the Lingerie Football League before recently. I had seen just enough about it to know that I wasn't that interested. But over the last few weeks the controversy that it engenders has become increasingly difficult to avoid.

Most objections to the LFL center on the skimpy attire worn by the players (a strange mix of bras, panties, garters, pads, and helmets). This is to be expected, particularly here in the US where a marked remnant of Puritanism still colors things. (We live in a country that is at once uptight about sexuality and addicted to pornography—tells you something, doesn't it?) Knowing that sex is integral to life, which of course includes athletics, I typically abstain from criticism along those lines. I suspect that we would be better off, maybe not so schizophrenic, were we a little more comfortable with our bodies and our sexuality. Oh well, that's a topic for another time.

So the LFL is entertainment (titillation?) glossed as sport. There isn't anything inherently wrong with that. I will, however, submit one admonitory observation. That LFL players are rated by how they look—conventionally feminine with just a tinge of athletic—rather than by how they might play football or whether they have the size and body type advantageous to certain football positions possibly does send an unwanted message, one already repeated too often in our culture, to athletically inclined girls: to be an athletic woman is acceptable so long as one doesn't overdo it and stays within certain confines.

The LFL managed to get press again last night with its first "brawl." Some think it was staged. Either way, does it matter?

Rare boxing video, circa 1910

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:54:00 -0500

Before Title IX was even a pipe dream, Vicki Unus and untold other athletic women managed somehow to give expression to their physicality. Certainly that was the case for the two female boxers seen in this rare video clip, without which they might otherwise be lost to history.

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A historic weekend in women's sports

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:42:00 -0500

Last year I hinted that the Penn State volleyball dynasty maybe hadn't yet run its course. My intuition turns out to have been correct: the Nittany Lions won their fourth straight volleyball championship Saturday night.

Then, Sunday afternoon, the UConn women's basketball team won its 88th consecutive game, tying the NCAA basketball record held by the UCLA 1971-74 men's team. The Huskies will attempt to break the record Tuesday night, when they host Florida State.

Congratulations, Lions and Huskies!

Rally for Girls' Sports

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:50:00 -0500

The benefits that girls derive from playing sports are numerous and by now well-documented. It's likely you will see many of them articulated today, the National Women's Law Center's first-ever "Blog to Rally for Girls' Sports Day." But I'll briefly restate a few of them just in case:

Girls who participate in sports are more likely to go on to college, and more likely to graduate from college.

Girls who participate in sports are less likely to use tobacco, less likely to take drugs, and less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.

Girls who participate in sports generally have higher self-esteem and a positive body image.

Benefits continue into adulthood too. Girls who plays sports tend to lead better and more productive lives.

On a personal note, I've seen first-hand the positive difference playing sports has made in the lives of little girls and the grown women they later became. I also know women from the generation before Title IX, and know then what they missed out on.

I'm not one who thinks Title IX sacrosanct, and my hope is that someday it will no longer be needed, that it become obsolete. Regardless, I'm thankful for it and what it made possible. The good it has done for girls and women, and for society as a whole, is incalculable.

Use the following links to further explore what girls win just by playing sports:

Girls in Sports - The Many Benefits of Team Sports For Young Women.

Facts and Findings: Sports and Physical Activity.

Raising Our Athletic Daughters.

As Girls Become Women, Sports Pay Dividends.

Nattering Ninnies of Negativism

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:20:00 -0500

My week started with a guest appearance on Women Talk Sports Radio. I was invited on to talk about gender segregation in sports. The discussion centered on an article written by a promising high school journalist named Julia Friedman. I had been forewarned but didn't take heed: this week's theme would be: can girls compete with boys in sports?

This became evident Tuesday when I came across another article, which had been published in Washington Square News (the student newspaper for New York University). This second article can accurately be described as facile. Madeline Paumen, its author, thinks not only that women cannot hope to ever compete with men, but also that they shouldn't play sports rigorously as the men do, for they are too delicate. (Is this really the year 2010?)

Let's do away with a few myths here. Female athletes will invariably be compared with male athletes; neither wishful thinking nor complaining will change that. Moreover, how many honestly believe that for women to simply participate in sports, watered-down of course, without any hope of their being seen as truly elite athletes is satisfactory? I suspect not many in the general population think this way, certainly fewer still among female athletes.

I've pointed this out many times, and I apologize to frequent readers for doing so again, but human biology isn't fixed; it is in fact astonishingly plastic. The environment and societal forces have tremendous influence on our biology, including how testosterone and other muscle-building hormones are produced and utilized in our bodies. Therefore, whether or not X is the norm biologically now doesn't mean it will always hold true. There was a time, not long ago either, when it was said that women couldn't match the intellectual capacity of men because their brains are smaller than men's. We know this to be foolish today. While it is the case that women, on average, have smaller brain sizes, their brains are wired differently, more efficiently (e.g., more neuron fibers in the corpus callosum). That they were (and sometimes still are) denied access to learning and education probably had the say in any perceived differences in cognitive ability. The same, of course, could apply equally to athletics as well.

Despite their still being hampered by feminine ideals incompatible with athletic competition, female athletes have made remarkable gains (beyond those made by male athletes in the same period) during the little more than a generation that they have had genuine access to athletics. So already we can see changes afoot.

There has been much fuss lately over the "epidemic" of injuries experienced by female athletes. Certainly injuries are a very real issue for female athletes and those who care for them. Still, I can't help thinking that some people are using the subject for reactionary purposes.

Here is the difficulty. We know that early and frequent work in the weight room helps reduce injuries, in youth and later on. Moreover, strength training improves athletic performance overall, it even raises levels of muscle-building hormones naturally. Simple enough. But why aren't more girls and young women lifting heavy? Because they have to overcome the aesthetic aversion to women with big muscles, thick necks, etc. that our culture still clings to. Thus, the solution is within easy reach, yet seemingly invisible.

Often we are distracted by issues irrelevant to improving the lot of female athletes; for example, how much skin female athletes show, or whether they are being "objectified." But, as we've already seen, a broken aesthetic is their biggest obstacle. It must go before female athletes can realize their athletic potential, and someday perhaps rival their male colleagues.

I should add one more thing before ending. The Washington Square News article says in effect that female athletes should just give up—throw in the towel so to speak. Yet the request is illogical, it transgresses a known fact—strong women don't quit.

Take a moment to be Santa Claus

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:17:00 -0500

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:

'Who should be Wonder Woman?' — The early returns

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:33:00 -0500

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!—

Vote for the new Wonder Woman!

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:10:00 -0500

Finally it is time to ask, "Who should be Wonder Woman?" And to your left (also here) you'll see a fancy (garish?) new poll where you can respond with your vote. There are, to begin with, ten candidates from which to make your choice. These women are, in the main, plausible and impeccably qualified; but the list also shuns banality. For example, it includes two world-class athletes (Gina Carano and Natalie Coughlin), the selection of either of whom to don the costume would set in place a grand message for young women.

But there is room for more, so (sensible) nominations are welcome. You can leave a comment here, or send in your suggestion by email.

Ariana Berlin's dance and stunt reel

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:25:00 -0400

Another gymnastics standout making the transition to acting and stunt work. Only Ariana Berlin has a story that could fairly be judged miraculous, and a demo reel more rhythmic than any previously featured here:

One can play action heroine at any age

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:40:00 -0400

As Helen Mirren demonstrates in Red, due in theaters October 15:

David E. Kelley's "Wonder Woman" Must Succeed

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:32:00 -0500

Elizabeth Grunewald explains why, in her view, the new television series must succeed. But also in her post at the Escapist she ably provides a road map for how the series will succeed, namely:

Casting is going to be key. No, I'm underplaying it: casting is going to be crucial. Kelley needs to find an actress (perhaps an unknown, or at least a lesser-known) that can both redefine Wonder Woman for the generation that grew up on Lynda Carter, and introduce Diana Prince to a new generation of impressionable minds.

(Grunewald puts forth Gina Torres for the role, a good choice were this a few years ago. Jodi Lyn O'Keefe still gets my nod.)

Wonder Woman will rise or fall with the new Wonder Woman. The actress who will be Wonder Woman to this generation must embody the strength and dignity of the character, so that she is admired and respected by young and old, male and female alike. We've seen many times over on this blog that Hollywood is replete nowadays with talented athletic actresses. Let's hope that the people in charge of the new series put this bounty to good advantage.

Tess Kielhamer action reel

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:05:00 -0400

Tess Kielhamer proves a maxim of mine: never mess with a ballerina.

espnW, 2010 Women's Sports Foundation gala

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:02:00 -0400

The Women's Sports Foundation held its 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala in New York City last week (see video). Perhaps the most news-worthy item there was the announcement that WSF would be the "official charity" of espnW, a new brand for women to be launched soon by ESPN. On its surface ESPN's attempt to cater to women would seem a positive thing, but not everyone agrees. I too see a downside: espnW crystallizes gender segregation in sports further, taking us in the wrong direction good intentions notwithstanding.

Yes, we want to see women in sports getting more coverage. But this should be done via plain ol' ESPN (or its established sister networks, like ESPN2 and ESPNU). Segregation in sports perpetuates the second-class status, real or imagined, of female athletes. No amount of palaver or wishful thinking will materially change that.

Wonder Woman might return to television

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:40:00 -0400

Like many people, I was thinking we'd see her next in a live-action film. But now it is starting to look as if Wonder Woman will be returning to television. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A high-profile television series—one well-produced, well-written, and with the right star—could be equally worth looking forward to.

Farah Malhass: athlete, pioneer, heroine

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:50:00 -0400

Farah Malhass has faced numerous obstacles, including death threats, on her road to becoming a competitive bodybuilder on the international stage. Saturday, she competed at the 2010 World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation World Championship, her first international competition, where at one point she posed in an outfit bedecked with medals—quite fitting, I think.

Under Armour "Protect This House. I Will"

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:54:00 -0400

Under Armour deems athletic women crucial to its business model, attested by a new campaign that specifically targets female athletes. It's a smart move—or rather, a no-brainer—on UA's part because women have so thoroughly embraced the athletic lifestyle in recent years. Fittingly, UA shows us how great the transformation has become in one of the new ads:

Recruits meet their first DI

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:07:00 -0400

A group of young women encounter their first Marine drill instructor. Her job: start preparing these raw recruits to be warriors:

Merlene Ottey interview

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:21:00 -0400

Had she retired ten years ago, Merlene Ottey would have ended what was already then a remarkably long and productive career as a sprinter. But she didn't. Today, she is still running strong at 50. And judging by this recent interview, I don't expect that the "Queen of the Track" will relinquish her throne anytime soon:

'Avengers' will be a one-heroine show

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:01:00 -0400

I was more than a little disappointed to learn that Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) will be the only female Avenger to appear in the forthcoming movie. Moreover, Whedon's "but she will not be the only female character" is something of a cop-out, since any additional female characters will most likely be nothing more than love interests for the movie's male Avengers.

Nor can the excuse that there aren't enough extant female Avengers be used. The Avengers team has had a number of potent and interesting heroines associated with it over the years, including one of the strongest characters to be found in any superhero team: She-Hulk.

What a missed opportunity.

That ever so cagey hormone

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:00 -0400

When Caster Semenya races, people talk. Sometimes in support of her, but very often it's the opposite, sadly enough. Lately, this latter sort (or something very close to it) has been coming from her sister athletes, that is, her competitors, many of whom think it unfair that they should have to race against her.

But let's forget, for a moment, Semenya. Rather, let's focus on the ignorant, gender-abasing obsession with a "male biology" that supposedly confers unfair, insuperable athletic advantage, here in particular the hormone testosterone:

"We have levels that we are not allowed to test over, so even if she’s a female, she’s on the very fringe of the normal female athlete biological composition from what I understand in terms of hormone testing," Cummins [Diane Cummins, who finished eighth in Berlin] said. "So from that perspective I think most of us sort of just feel like literally we are running against a man because what we know to be female is a certain testosterone level. And if that isn't the case, they need to change everything."

The first and most obvious problem with such thinking: There is no certain (precisely defined) testosterone level for females! Testosterone, the so-called male hormone which nearly all women have in their bodies, can be found in widely varying amounts among women, with some women having levels well into the range generally considered "male".

What is more, even a baseline testosterone level for individuals is hard to come by. Monitor someone's testosterone and you'll find that it changes constantly, responding to all manner of environmental factors, some seemingly random, others quite predictable. Strength training, for instance, increases testosterone naturally, only women have to work just a little harder and longer to get the benefit. Sex (# 8), too, raises testosterone levels. (Should female track athletes with already "high" levels abstain from sex before meets?)

Research the subjects of steroid-, hormone-, and gender-testing for a time and you see how silly and hurtful the effort to make sport perfectly "fair" has become. Anything beyond the most basic of tests is in fact pointless and counterproductive. The witch-hunt has to end sometime.

Martin Schoeller: 'Female Bodybuilders'

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:23:00 -0400

You probably wouldn't as a rule expect to find photographic portraits of female bodybuilders featured in a dignified art exhibition, much less their carrying the name of a celebrated artist whose work is part of the Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. But that is exactly what you will find at Hasted Hunt Kraeutler, which is hosting Martin Schoeller's "Female Bodybuilders" through August 27. (Location: 537 West 24th St, Ground Floor; Chelsea, New York City 10011.)

Judging by not only his work but also his words, Schoeller's appreciation of female bodybuilders is paired with a keen awareness of what they can teach the rest of us.

The action heroine returns to television in force

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:52:00 -0400

Already happily enjoying Covert Affairs, I could almost be convinced that halcyon days have returned to television looking at the fall lineup. Perhaps you are as encouraged as I am:

Kelli Giddish plays Deputy U.S. Marshal Annie Frost in Chase. Right now, I'd have to say that Chase has most piqued my interest:

La Femme Nikita gets a reboot of sorts with Nikita starring Maggie Q:

Not strictly a female action series—think instead Mr. & Mrs. Smith—Undercovers looks somewhat promising as well:

Battle of the sexes: 100 pull-ups for time

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:33:00 -0400

Drags on a little, but worth sticking around to see who wins:

Amanda Beard in the news

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:50:00 -0400

Seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard returns to competitive swimming this week, and along with that naturally comes a return to celebrity life, in not entirely predictable ways, as it turns out.

For instance, the New York Times recently ran a profile of Beard, one especially noteworthy because in it she reveals a past struggle with self-injury (i.e., deliberately cutting herself). It's good Beard draws attention to what is a serious, often shrouded problem, though likely better without so much attendant pop psychology—self-injury is rather more complicated and physiological than that.

And something else caught my attention, this time more by accident. Looking as I often do at the news ticker to the left, I saw a headline titled "The 20 Skankiest Women in Sports." More fine Internet "journalism," no doubt, but intriguing enough that I took the bait. I found nothing that was terribly surprising—mostly women who date or have dated one or more male athletes—that is, until I got to the list's headliner: Amanda Beard. And why is Beard there? Because she posed in Playboy, awful crime that it is, and for the "wrong" reason.

More evidence that female athletes, like most women really, seldom get a break. Always there is someone—be it prude or misogynist—waiting to pass harsh judgment.