Ponytails, braids, singsong cheers, bows and a big yellow ball - how are these things connected? They are all key components of the Division I Women’s College World Series. First round tournament play began today in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a state where great things come from – such as myself. The tournament is now in its 26th year and showcases talent from around the nation. The top 8 teams are Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, DePaul, Northwestern, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Washington.

Our very own Mississippi State Bulldogs made an appearance in Regional tournament play where they beat Pacific, but fell to Arizona (the number one seed) and then to Pacific in an elimination game. With talent such as freshman Chelsea Bramlet and junior Hayle Guess returning, we may see STATE in the top 8 in 2008. Bramlet was recently named National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-America. She was also named SEC Freshman of the Year.

As a fastptich softball player myself it excites me to see the support in the stands, dugouts and press boxes at the World Series. Fans are going crazy with their faces painted and ESPN’s Holly Rowe is doing live interviews from the dugouts. What a change-up?!
I’m watching women’s softball in high definition on ESPN.
Two words: female domination.

Tune in and watch attractive women pull off eye black on their faces while drilling a laser-like 70 MPH fastball. It’s that kind of distinct talent that makes softball worthy of being on national TV. Women can look good while playing even better. They can hit a big round ball with a big round bat with composure and control – trust me it’s harder than you think.

Saltalamacchia should be a spelling bee word.

Christi

LADIES and Gents

It’s been a big week, Super bowl Big! It’s been a week of ups and downs, winners and losers and heartache and joy. For women and men around the nation the Super bowl of TV finales were aired this week.
In the Rose bowl there was a great match up with team Bevin and team Tessa playing for Andy’s heart on the Bachelor. It was a season of player differences, great performances and victory of the heart. Bevin left it all on the field like Peyton Manning and Tessa withheld emotion like Bill Belichick. In the end Tessa won with the Patriots playbook; give little, stay consistent and reveal yourself when it matters most. Men, if you don’t know what I’m talking about ask your wives, or maybe you do because you know you were watching.

Next up was the American Bowl. A season of talent came down to a beatboxer and a seventeen year old phenom. No I’m not talking about the Contender, but the one and only American Idol. Now I didn’t watch the entire season, kinda like NCAA basketball, but I did watch the final two weeks for all the good action. It was a tough year of talent, but in the end the girls came through with the victory. Jordin Sparks, from Arizona took the honors. She’s getting a mega contract with a signing bonus of inevitable success.

And not to leave out the Dancing Bowl. The show that has mesmerized America and my parents did not disappoint this season. Legit athletes such as Laila Ali and Apolo Anton Ohno put on their dancing shoes, tight clothes and learned how to dance…all for a silver disco ball trophy. Sweet. The Olympic Gold speed skater, Apolo Anton Ohno won and now he’ll be known as a dancing champion instead of an Olympic Gold medal winner.

Now we can look forward to So You think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent and On the Lot for our reality tv fix. My question is when are we going to see a show called American Athlete or So You Think You Can Dunk?

In conclusion, TV watching is a sport. We live and die with reality TV and that ever constant, “each vote counts” mentality. Women and men (you know you watch) sit in front of their TVs with a Super bowl spread of chips and dips and watch to the end. It’s about dedication, it’s about heart and the strength to keep it together when your favorite idol gets kicked off. Christian stayed in bed for three days after Sanjya was voted off. Reality TV teaches the life lesson to give it our best and dreams really can come true.

p.s. The Spurs are winning it all this year.

Be Better,
Christi

LADIES and gents

Have you ever heard the term under rated? Well, when it comes to coverage of women’s sports that term is well known. As a softball player in high school I knew that the baseball team received more coverage in the local paper than we did and only when we made it to the state tournament did our picture turn up on the front page of the sports section. I almost came to accept it. Then I thought to myself with my salty lower lip from spitting sunflower seeds in right field, why don’t women’s sports get the same coverage as men’s sports when its obvious girls are athletes too?

Well, I’ve learned it’s quite simple; it’s about the money. Great teams, great games, great athletes lead to even greater profits. The attendance for a WNBA game can’t compare to the attendance of a NBA playoff game. And how could it when you’ve got 7-foot tall Yao Ming man, talent from around the world, and street ball players like Stephen Jackson and the Golden State Warriors? Oh and not to mention a player who has been dubbed ‘King James’.

Where my girls at? Oh they’re in Russia. That’s right Russia.
All-star players and former NCAA champs, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird are living in Russia just to play basketball and guess what they’re making six figures there, almost 10 times more than their salary with the WNBA. Sure they’re playing for a Russian czar and living in a castle, but hey they’re getting paid and getting what they deserve, NBA treatment.

Back in the states one of the most well known WNBA player, Lisa Leslie is going to miss the upcoming season because she’s pregnant. Congrats to her. I’m sure the owners of the LA Sparks are thinking how this will affect profits, but I’m thinking how it will inspire women to achieve more. You can be a mother and professional athlete.

I’ve got more from where that came from. Heck, I haven’t even really gotten into discussing softball’s soft coverage. For those who are so focused on the upcoming Ole Miss v. State baseball game on Wednesday rewind with me to last Saturday. Both Mississippi State and Mississippi Valley made appearances in the NCAA regionals. Although, they didn’t get past the first round their victory came when they were selected to compete. I’m sure Jackson State basketball fans can relate. Done and done.

I know that this is an ongoing discussion and everyone has an opinion when it comes to women’s sports and the lack of coverage they receive. It will continue to be a heated discussion in our house in which I will continue to dominate. I don’t know what the answer is, but I will leave you with this. If someone tells you that you throw like a girl…take it as a compliment!

Hardball facts about softball in Mississippi:
· The SWAC champion, Mississippi Valley State's Delta Devils played in the Carbondale, Ill regional and suffered two losses against DePaul and Southern Illinois to end their season.
· Mississippi State dropped an 8-0 decision to top seed Arizona, and then fell 12-10 to Pacific in the elimination game at the NCAA Tucson Regional. 5 players received All-SEC honors and Chelsea Bramlett was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
· The Hinds Community College softball team finished second in the state and third in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 23 tournament.
· In 5A, South Panola fast-pitch softball team had never been in the postseason before. Not only did they beat defeating Champs, Oak Grove they beat Madison Central, with the help of Head Coach Ashleigh Hicks, who took Madison Central to the state championship the previous year. Now, that’s a great story!
· In 4A, third-ranked East Central won its fifth championship by sweeping fifth-ranked DeSoto Central in the final.
· Ninth-ranked Newton County won its third 3A title, beating 13th-ranked Caledonia.
· Eleventh-ranked Eupora won a third straight 2A title, over Clarkdale.
· In 1A, East Webster made it two in a row over Hamilton 3-2.
· Kemper Academy won the Mississippi Private School Association Overall slow-pitch softball championship.

Be Better,
Christi

LADIES and gents...

This is Christi Steckel or as you’ll soon learn, the better half. My husband, sports director Christian Steckel and I are new to marriage and new to Mississippi. We’re excited to be here and experience true Southern hospitality. Although everything may seem new around us… one thing that has remained constant is our mutual love of sports. On our first date, Christian gave me his standard test to find out if I was worthy of a second date. The test? To throw a spiral football pass. Well, I “passed” his test and now we’re married.

Christian may be the pretty face on television broadcasting the daily sports highlights, but ladies we all know who the brain is behind the operation. Don’t get me wrong… he knows his stuff as it relates to statistics, scoring averages or yards completed. He can tell you what team won the Super Bowl in 1982 and who the winning coach and quarterback were on that team. I on the other hand could not tell you that, but I can tell you about Carrie Underwood’s boyfriend, Tony Romo and how he relates to a winning season for the Dallas Cowboys. I’ll go beyond the numbers and statistics to bring you the female’s philosophy of sports. My goal of this Blog is to examine the Xs and Os of football, discuss the importance of great base running with players on 1st and 3rd and two outs… and research the mental game of golf that our husbands love to play. Who knew a little ball would cause such emotional and mental strain?

We’re excited for this opportunity and hope ALL enjoy it. I’m personally excited about exploring women’s sports in the state and showcasing women’s athletic talent in multiple sports… especially at the high school and college level.

We’ll bring you discussion and analysis surrounding current headlines in the sports world, and I guarantee like the last twenty minutes of the Vanderbilt / Georgetown game in the NCAA tournament… I’ll be the better half.

Christi