Ladies of the Gridiron by Julie Wicher, Sirens Half Back Perspectives Editorial Volume 2, Issue 7 May 20, 2003 “Well she's all you'd ever want. She's the kind they'd like to flaunt and take to dinner. Well she always knows her place. She's got style, she's got grace, She's a winner. She's a Lady. Whoa whoa whoa, She's a Lady. Talkin' about that little lady, and the lady is mine. Well she's never in the way. Something always nice to say…” Good old Tom Jones. I’m guessing that when he sings this song he is not thinking about women’s professional football players. Although we try to be ladies off the field (most of us that is), on the field we are athletes and gender is not a consideration. We are not thinking about how awful our hair looks or how bad we smell, we just play the game. To listen to this song makes me laugh; it really proves how things change over a period of 30 years (the song was recorded in 1971). Actually, looking back at the history of women’s professional football, the early to mid 70’s was the time in which this sport began to flourish. Like clothing styles, popularity comes and goes. Although many people will live their life in denial, like the 70’s both bell–bottoms and women’s football have once again become popular. Playing football has made me look at many things from a different perspective. Whenever I hear a song, see a show, read a sign, etc. I relate it to football. “Here comes the boom,” “Back in Black,” “Another one bites the dust”; these are all Siren songs now. Reality TV shows are based on a common goal of being the one to come out on top; overcoming adversity and having a good strategy leads towards accomplishing your goals. “Don’t Drink and Drive” or “Tobacco Kills” signs; every time I see these I think about how these substances effect your body and how much harder it is to maintain athletic stamina with these things in your system. Call me crazy but football is on my mind at all times. Tom may have hit the nail on the head whether he intended to or not. For many significant others, a lady who is outgoing and athletic is all you’d ever want. Those associated with our team love to flaunt their girlfriends/wives; they are very proud and want the world to know it! We do always know our place, it’s on the field playing the game we love. Style? Every player definitely has their own style and it works for them. Grace? Well that may not be as easy to find out there but we still get the job done. Winners? There is no doubt about that. I have to say that as an offensive player, the line “she’s never in the way something always nice to say” has its faults. When I’m running the ball there are always defenders in the way and as far as something always nice to say, well I’ll just leave that up to the imagination. The bottom line is this; regardless of what people feel, think, see or say, we are going to play. We are the ladies of today. Sounds like a Sirens song in the making… Perspectives Archives