ePub Finding a Way to Play: The Pioneering Spirit of Women in Basketball by Joanne Lannin in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Hoop Heroes You Might Not Know - - - But ShouldBy John L. MassaroI strongly recommend this book. Joanne Lannin solidly and delightfully delivers on her promise to capture the pioneering spirit of women in basketball who against all odds fought for and found a way to play the game they loved. In doing this; Lannin most commendably does not limit her focus to one particular group of courageous women. Rather; she draws upon the athletic experiences of women from many different social strata and different eras. There are well-informed and interesting chapters devoted to the development of women’s basketball in the West; its unique history in Iowa; the cross-country barnstorming of women’s teams; pre-and post high school and collegiate women’s basketball; and women’s basketball at the Oympics. Particularly knowledgeable and helpful are chapters on the little known struggles of black and Native American women to play basketball; the determination of older; senior women to resume or continue playing the game; and a forthright discussion of lesbianism and women’s basketball. Lannin astutely notes early in the book that while Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball; Senda Berenson very likely saved it; at least for women. Lannin alerts us to the fact that Berenson re-shaped Naismith’s original rules to make the game more suitable for the late nineteenth century view of how women should participate in sports; if participate at all. Berenson devised more genteel rules for women’s basketball in large part to lessen thecriticism from those who still believed females should not break a sweat. And this strategic move appears to have been a fundamentally critical one allowing women to continue to play the game. Berenson is one hero but there are so many others; including; Clara Gregory Baer; Lois Warren; Luisa Harris; “Babe” Didrikson; Helen Van Houten; Hazel Walker; Cathy Rush; Pat Summit; Cheryl Miller; Molly Bolin; Nancy Lieberman; Brittney Griner; Lisa Leslie; SherylSwoopes; Rebecca Lobo; SuAnne Big Crow; Angel Goodrich; Shoni Schimmel; Patty Stogsdill; Cyndi Bona; and Kristen Cummings. Should the names of none or only a few of these outstanding women be familiar to you; Lannin eloquently presents all their courageous stories. And while one can only include so much material in a book with such a large scope; one feels Lannin could have presented more on how Title IX significantly changed the environment in women’s sports in general and especially women’s basketball. And; perhaps; there should have been more rightful indignation expressed at times. Without much overt criticism from Lannin; she recounts the male-dominated NBA’s perhaps self-serving and successful effort to destroy the generally independent women’s professional American Basketball League and establish under its wing; and control; its own women’s league; the WNBA. Likewise; the interesting history as to how and why the NCAA supplanted the Association of Interscholastic Athletics for Women (AIAW) as the prime institution controlling women’s collegiate athletics needs a more critical assessment. At least one view is that it wasn’t until Title IX was enacted and women’s collegiate basketball started to skyrocket that the NCAA showed much interest; if any; in women’s athletics. And; once it did; it immediately began to undermine and replace the AIAW. Without further analytical comment; Lannin notes the somewhat disturbing fact that under the AIAW upwards of 90-percent of women’s teams were coached by women but under the more recent control of the NCAA only 60 percent are. These important considerations are not completely assessed as to whether they have been helpful or not to the development of women’s basketball. That mild criticism aside; Lannin has performed a very useful service in compiling in one well-written and very readable book; the stories of the pioneering spirit of women in basketball. These are stories of courage and determination we all should know.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It is full of great stories of real women with lots of quotes and ...By Madeline CottonThere is a lot of history in Joanne Lannin's new book and I learned many things about women's basketball that I didn't know. While the book ends with an extensive index and annotated bibliography; it is not a dry recitation of facts. It is full of great stories of real women with lots of quotes and anecdotes. Some of the stories made me chuckle; a few made me angry; and a few others made me cheer. I found it interesting to read about how the first women who played in college were thought to be too rough and so the rules were modified to keep the game more lady-like!!My favorite chapter was "On the Road;" which brought to life the exploits of such women as Hazel Walker and Nera White; two colorful and talented women who played on company teams in AAU-sanctioned tournaments in the 1940s and 1950s. I'd heard of both women; but I didn't know that Walker had been "fired" from the All-American Redheads or that White wanted to become a teacher but was too shy to do her student teaching. There are also more contemporary chapters that provide stories about the women who played on the first Olympic women's basketball team; some of the women in the first women's professional league; and the first Native American women to make it to the WNBA. I would certainly recommend this book to any girl or woman who loves basketball.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Important History of Women's BasketballBy AnneAs I began reading this book I found myself sharing its stories and facts with my teenage high school students; many of them basketball players themselves. The book's comprehensive review of the early pioneers of the game-- the struggles faced; the multi-cultural discrimination; sexism--was at times infuriating; and always enlightening. Along with my students. I learned so very much in reading this book and have a much greater respect for all who have battled to find a way to play a game that has; no doubt; been a source of inspiration for many. Kudos to the author who takes her time to passionately become the resounding voice of all those who "ignored the odds and the naysayers in order to play the game they loved".