TACKLING A FIRST FOR WOMAN IN SPORTS

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MERLE'S WORLD

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THE NEW YORK SHARKS

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New York Sharks

Canton, Ohio is noted for their main attraction, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My journey through areas of Ohio brought me into the famed Fame as I searched for an exhibit on women's tackle football. There wasn't any. The reason, I was told, was that there are no women's football teams that are "Pro," like the NFL. I was, however, welcome to send information, photos and any team gear that would be filed into their archives for which (upon request) one could view them at the library. Having been involved with publicity for the New York Sharks since 2002, I was more than happy to do so. The curator soon informed me about a new display case entitled "Recent Acquisitions," a glassed enclosure that would be changed regularly. If I were to obtain an IWFL football signed by the team, would they be willing to have it on exhibit? In October of 2005, that football sat for all to see and became the first item from a women's tackle football team to ever be displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although I was proud of my accomplishment, why did it take so long for women's football to have this temporary acknowledgement? It is the summer of 2002 when I learned that the New York Sharks women's tackle football team clinched the IWFL Championship game in Oregon. In New York, the media is focused on a Little League baseball team in the Bronx, that didn't win. A team of players who are passionate about their sport comes home to a city void of accolades, indicative of the attitude towards women playing tackle football. I first became aware of any women's tackle football team that season and as a journalist writing for a local newspaper there was not much that I could do to get the word out. As a heavy contact sport, players are prone to greater injuries, which may effect their source of income. It doesn't stop them. Let's call it Football Fervor. Many of the players keep themselves in shape by working out at the gym or running every day. They have to. The season schedule begins at the end of February with tryouts and mini-camps. As the first April game approaches, the New York Sharks practice three times per week, including a strenuous series of exercises just to loosen up for the moves.Believe it or not, there are three women's tackle football leagues in the country, with the IWFL having over 40 teams at present that even includes one from Montreal. www.iwflsports.com . The New York Sharks are just an example of one team composed of women who (unlike their male counterparts) have not learned to play football in high school or college, have full time jobs, oftentimes have children, and must shell out as much as $1000 for the season in order to fulfill their passion. The expenses cover hired staff including coaches, physicians, and referees. Football fields have to be rented for both games and practice. Add to that the cost of travel and uniforms. Owners are hoping to see the season ending in "the black" by ticket sales, fundraisers, sales of team logo items and sponsors. “One team, one goal!” That’s what I hear the players yell. It isn’t until the 2007 season that they break their 48 game seasonal winning streak, and have done no less than being in the 2nd playoff game. Yet, New York, let alone the rest of the sports world, doesn’t seem to care.While traveling in Wichita I came across the Museum of World Treasures (www.worldtreasures.org) housing an area of sports memorabilia. I sell Lon Smith, Director of Sales on the idea to have a permanent exhibit of the New York Sharks since they are the only women’s tackle football team to ever have an item displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With total enthusiasm on both sides, we put together an exhibit that included: a different signed football; framed collection of “legend” photos; Andra Douglas’s jersey; and a photo of Andra at a Women’s Sports Foundation awards dinner. With the unveiling covered by their local media, Lon said, “Why don’t we have the IWFL Women’s Football Hall of Fame here.” A permanent exhibit, and now, Hall of Fame. Another first came about in January of 2005 when the team was met by 60,000 screaming fans having been afforded the opportunity of an eight minute scrimmage during half time at Giants Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey. Although it didn't create a heavy dent in regards to future game attendance it did lead to having the NFL approaching the Sharks about starting a Junior Development Player program for girls.This 2007 program had the Sharks scouring high schools in the tri-state area recruiting girls ages 14-17 for a camp to be held in March and coached by some of the Sharks players. The idea is to use the camp as a feeder system in order to participate when the girls turn 18. The success of the attendance of approximately 150 girls coming from as far as Maine set the way for a repeat of another successful program in 2008. www.nysharksfootball.com September 1, 2007 marked the opening of the IWFL Women’s Football Hall of Fame as they unveiled world-renowned sculpture Bruno Lucchesi’s bas relief, the insignia. Although there was a request for a simple signed football from the other teams, they sent in photos and jerseys as well, along with a banner of the two teams that vied for the 2007 season Championship game. The Museum of World Treasures IWFL HOF led me to finding the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on Long Island. With a long time and excellent player, Jen Blum on the team, it was easy to get a display of their first woman football player. It’s season eight for the NY Sharks in the IWFL and their first two games produced a winning score of 26-6 against the Baltimore Hawks and 40-0 against the Central PA Vipers.

Merle Exit is a syndicated writer and host of the Internet radio show

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