WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 43

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Re: Response to women's hockey on the net
	by "Andria L. Hunter" 

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Date: 	Sat, 25 Feb 1995 15:13:39 -0500
From: "Andria L. Hunter" 
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Response to women's hockey on the net
Message-ID: 

Originally-To: email@hidden

Steve,

Thanks for the inspiring note.  The efforts of people like yourself
undoubtably overpower the negative responses ... yet, it's unfortunate
that there are any of that sort at all.

>I think that sometimes people think that something not important to 
>them is not important to anyone else.  There is a lack of respect for non 
>North-American- major-league sports in general, not just women's hockey. 
>If you caught any discussion about World Cup soccer on sports radio in the 
>U.S. you know what I mean. 

Yes, that's a very good point.  The soccer fan/players in North
America must share some of the same feelings.

>Still, I have to agree that women's sports in general have, unjustly, been 
>snubbed by the sportsfan.  What I keep hearing is "Until the caliber of play 
>improves dramatically, you couldn't drag me to one of these things..." 
>I think that kind of comment reflects a misunderstanding of what sports 
>is really about. It's about the athletes struggle to triumph in spite of 
>obstacles, to bring out a personal best in each game and for the spectator, 
>it's about seeing something new and unique every time you visit the arena.
>It's about rewarding effort and being rewarded for effort. 
>It's about teamwork, the sum being greater than it's parts. 
>It's about strategy, outthinking (or second guessing) split second decisions.
>It's about suspense and highs and lows.
>It's about time I stop ranting.

Very nice summary!!!  You really have things in perspective.  I'll have to 
remember some of those quotes for when I'm doing guest speaking in the
future! :-)  But seriously, these things are more important than the overall 
level (i.e. women's hockey is not as fast as men's) of the game, but a lot 
of people seem to miss those other important points!

>Anyway, Andria, I hope you maintain your WWW and gopher sites (even 
>though I don't have access to either). Be proud of your accomplishments and 
>those of other women's hockey players. I honestly believe that women's 
>athletics will be appreciated the same way men's athletics is now.
>
>To paraphrase Eleanor Roosevelt: No one can make you feel inferior unless 
>you let them.  Don't let negative comments stop you from doing what you do.

Thanks again for the  note ... and there's not a chance that I'll let the 
negative comments get to me ... if anything, it just inspires me more to
do what I can to promote my sport! :-)

Take care,

Andria 

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End of WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 43
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