Disqus - Latest Comments for donnamcaleer

Re: A Novel Approach: Lucy and the Football

donnamcaleer — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:52:16 -0000

And they do it with simplicity. Less is more in writing as in comics. Thanks for the reminder!

Re: Unplugged and Disconnected: A Technology Holiday in the Wilderness

donnamcaleer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:24:54 -0000

We did not even take ours with us!

Re: Unplugged and Disconnected: A Technology Holiday in the Wilderness

donnamcaleer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:24:09 -0000

So true. Thank you Jack

Re: Unplugged and Disconnected: A Technology Holiday in the Wilderness

donnamcaleer — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:43:05 -0000

We did not even take ours with us.

Re: Women’s World Cup Soccer: Winning by losing

donnamcaleer — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:31:47 -0000

Thanks so much Bill. Well written--its the one on the front.

Re: Honored Role Series (part 10): Sue Fulton – Hallowed Words

donnamcaleer — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:56:49 -0000

Brenda 'Sue' Fulton, Openly Gay Veteran Named to West Point Board of Visitors by President Obama

http://www.huffingtonpost.c...

Re: KUER: 7/5/11: Finding the Audience for Women's Sports (2011-07-05)

donnamcaleer — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:34:17 -0000

A Hurdle in Women's Sports: Getting Men to Wear Women's Team Jersey'sThe month of June provided a myriad of exciting championships for athletes and sports fans. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship, the Boston Bruins handily defeated the Vancouver Canucks, on Canadian ice in game 7, to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to Beantown, and Rory McIIroy walked onto the Congressional Golf Course in Maryland and won a momentous and memorable US Open Championship. Winning by 8 strokes, McIIroy shattered numerous records and endeared the hearts of fans worldwide.The CupIn Boston, on the days of games 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup final, my seven year-old daughter and I saw countless hockey fans and proud Bostonians modeling Bruin logoed apparel and waving flags and placards. The entire city railed behind the Bruins. A “Let’s Go Bruins banner” adorned the Massachusetts State Capital on Beacon Hill. The Boston Public Gardens iconic statues of General George Washington and Robert McCloskey’s ducks — Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings–sported Bruins jerseys with their names emblazoned on the back. The ducks were immortalized in his 1941 award-winning children’s book Make Way for the Ducklings.Among the die-hard fans were many women with finger and toenails painted black and gold. And there were plenty who smeared face paint and hair dye enthusiastically cheering their team to victory. We too got into the championship frenzy picking up numerous Bruins placards with the words “We Want the Cup” and “There Can ‘B’ Only One” and posing in front of various landmarks along Boston’s Freedom Trail.After the win, together we watched on television, more than one million Bruins fans line the two-mile stretch from the TD Garden, the Bruins home ice, to Copley Square for the championship parade to congratulate their team and perhaps touch the cup. Children were everywhere. This team has inspired a new generation to take to the ice.The following day we watched Rory McIIroy’s win for the ages. On Monday morning, as I read several articles that lauded this young Irishman’s skill and focus, I thought about the last time my daughter and I watched a women’s athletic event together. We both play several sports, but are rarely spectators to such games.The last time was back in April when Texas A&M women’s basketball team defeated Notre Dame 76-70 earning the school their first NCAA Championship.What is broadcastSo just why is it that we watch men’s sports more than women’s? Is it because they are not broadcast as much? Is it that they are not as exciting? Are there not as many events showcasing women athletes (for instance no female pro baseball or football or hockey)?The Wimbledon fortnight is underway and the LPGA Championship is being contested. Serena and Venus Williams have won 4 and 5 Wimbledon titles respectively. With 23 career Grand Slams, Serena has become one of the tennis’ greatest all-time players. Venus, her older sister, owns 21 Grand Slam titles, more than any other active female player, except for Serena. We have yet to tune into these two competitions.Women’s professional basketball, soccer, and golf are struggling. In her article “Twelve years later, still the best” ESPN.com’s Johnette Howard wrote about the U.S. team that won the 1999 Women’s World Cup. She wrote:The U.S. women’s sports movement seems to have fizzled since they moved along, which feels bittersweet. The ’99 World Cup and ’96 Atlanta Olympics (the so-called Gender Equity Games) were supposed to be a liftoff point to a ceiling-less future — more women’s pro leagues, more exposure, more of everything for women across the sports spectrum. But instead, that time now feels like it was the best it might ever get, at least for a while. The LPGA golf tour is shrinking. The WNBA is limping along in its 15th year with yet another new commissioner. The women’s tennis tour seems to obsess annually over two questions: “How are the Williams sisters doing?” and, if Venus and Serena are on one of there frequent hiatuses, “How long before they’re back?”
The first stab at a U.S. women’s pro soccer league tore through $100 million in three years and folded. The latest try, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), is fighting to hang on.The 1999 US Soccer Team was the first women’s professional sports team to capture American hearts and imagination. This group of talented athletes included many whom had played together for more than a decade. In dramatic fashion in front of 90,185 screaming and face-painted fans in Pasenda, CA, the US beat China 5-4 in the penalty shoot out. It was the largest crowd to ever witness a women’s athletic competition.The Naked TruthUpon scoring the winning goal in this international competition, an exuberant midfielder Brandi Chastin ripped off her jersey, fell to her knees, and with clenched fists raised her arms in victory. The moment was captured in every major paper and the cover of Sports Illustrated. In that celebratory moment, an adrenaline pumped athlete at the pinnacle of her sport, revealed a ripped body and a six-pack of abdominal muscles. It is one of the most iconic photos in all of sports. And it ignited a controversy about just how much she revealed.Women jog in sports bras everyday. Still people made a big deal out of nothing. This is what winning soccer players do (or did until after FIFA made it a yellow card penalty in July 2007). It was not the first time Chastin had disrobed. But it was the first time for many people to see because most people do not follow women’ sports. Chastin’s sports bra covered more than most bathing suits we would see at the beach…or a beach volleyball tournament.Time and Newsweek put this U.S. team on their covers. Some journalists declared them the pop culture story of the year. Across the nation, young girls took to the fields kicking balls and wanting to be like Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Kristin Lilly, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry, Carla Overbeck and Joy Fawcett.Watch a GameOn Sunday Jun 26, the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup commences in Germany. As expected, the quadrennial event is getting little media coverage in the States. USA Today ran a page length article on the back cover of its sports section on June 23. Friday’s Wall Street Journal published, “It’s Germany’s Cup to Lose” and ESPN has aired a few commercials in between the NBA draft.During two weeks, I encourage you to take the time to watch a few of the women’s world cup games with your daughters and sons. ESPN and ESPN2 are broadcasting the games.If our women’s team wins the World Cup again, that might give another professional soccer a boost. But, it’s going to be tough. One big problem is while women have no problem wearing replica jerseys of male pro athletes, men have a problem wearing the jersey of a top-flight female pro athlete.

Re: A Hurdle in Women’s Sports: Getting Men to Wear Women’s Team Jerseys

donnamcaleer — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:06:32 -0000

Members of the French national soccer team decided to take matters into their own hands posing naked to draw attention to Women's World Cup Soccersoccernet.espn.go.com...

Re: A Hurdle in Women’s Sports: Getting Men to Wear Women’s Team Jerseys

donnamcaleer — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:26:38 -0000

@Chip. Thank your for your oncise distillation. Personally I like soccer--great athletes with great bodies (and I like long hair on men i.e. Diego Forlan, Uruguay). I think you forgot to add Danica Patrick and Maria Sharpova on the list with "babe appeal". Now we are back to sex sells on and off the court. Perhaps cheerleaders need to be added to women's professional sports!

Re: Greg Mortenson: Tea Stains and Hollow Stones

donnamcaleer — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:29:01 -0000

Legal action against Greg Mortenson being pursued for fraud, deceit and breach of contract.

http://tinyurl.com/3uuuu3s

Re: Greg Mortenson: Tea Stains and Hollow Stones

donnamcaleer — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:30:19 -0000

Mortenson is now being sued for fraud---http://www.thedaily...

Re: Greg Mortenson: Tea Stains and Hollow Stones

donnamcaleer — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:44:09 -0000

@Dwight--Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences. Unfortunately, the scandals will continue but they will be out of the news quickly as new ones will emerge.

Re: How a Soldier Takes on Community Health Care

donnamcaleer — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 01:16:46 -0000

Shrikant,

Thank you for emphasizing that volunteers are motivated by a desire to add value and make a difference. It is a leaders responsibility to both practice and provide the tools which inspire others to contribute and add value.
Best from the Mountains,
Donna

Re: How Cadets Learn to Be "Clutch"

donnamcaleer — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:13:36 -0000

Right on point. Universally applicable in the: military, athletics, public and private corporations and the non-profit environment.

Re: All it Takes is One

donnamcaleer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:44:29 -0000

@Linda--Thanks for reading. It is a journey many of us share.

Re: Honored Role (part 17): Maj. Candice O’Brien – One Step at Time

donnamcaleer — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:20:39 -0000

@Mindy Welcome back. Thank you & Candice for your continued service to our Nation, others, and your families.

Re: Honored Role (part 17): Maj. Candice O’Brien – One Step at Time

donnamcaleer — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:18:51 -0000

@Valencia-She inspires me as well. Thanks

Re: Honored Role (part 17): Maj. Candice O’Brien – One Step at Time

donnamcaleer — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:56:34 -0000

Thanks Rich for taking the time to acknowledging those serving.

Re: Honored Role Series (part 11): Lt. Col. Jen G. Buckner- In the Long Run

donnamcaleer — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:52:10 -0000

@ Mike. Thanks so much for the compliment. I'm looking forward to carving some turns with Jen on the slopes soon.

Re: Honored Role series (part 12): Sister Teresa Hougnon – Faith Forged in Conflict

donnamcaleer — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:23:02 -0000

You are most welcome.

Re: Honored Role Series (part 11): Lt. Col. Jen G. Buckner- In the Long Run

donnamcaleer — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:59:27 -0000

@Anne--Thanks for sharing your experience. As you know from experience and most of the literature, in the military physical fitness is a proxy for leadership.

Re: Honored Role Series (part 11): Lt. Col. Jen G. Buckner- In the Long Run

donnamcaleer — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:52:56 -0000

Jen graduated in 1990. And yes, that is her twitter persona. Thanks for the read. She is quite the soldier and athlete.

Re: Honored Role Series (Part 7): 1st. Lt. Aubrey McCary – Shades of Gray

donnamcaleer — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:46:01 -0000

You are most welcome. Given the media's obsession with celebrities, it is important that the stories of strength and character are offered.

Re: View From West Point: We Are Not The Enemy

donnamcaleer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:37:08 -0000

On point and powerful piece Ben. 73 graduates have been killed in their service to the country during the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan and most are blissfully unaware of the challenges of cadet life and the sacrifices of service to the Nation.

Re: #18: Self-Doubt

donnamcaleer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:41:13 -0000

Yeah, Steve what about rejection? Rejection keeps stoking the fires of resistance.

So one has a solid manuscript, a good agent, a web presence and is building a platform, is there more? It seems that one has to be a philandering politician engaged in an extra marital affair, a has-been actress involved in a 17 year incestuous relationship with one's father, or an elected official who quit her job to get a major trade publisher to print a new author's work.

As always, thank you for Writing Wednesdays. I anticipate each one.