When it comes to the topic of sportscasters, most of us willingly agree that one needs to be knowledgeable and personable about the sport. Where this agreement ends, however, is on the question of female sportscasters. Whereas some are convinced that sports casting is primarily a man's job, others maintain that females serve a large role. Nationally known, Lesley Visser, has paved the way for female sportscasters in today’s society. Visser began her love of sport communication as a focused fan of the Boston Celtics. Accrediting her education, knowledge and personality; Visser grew into one of the most respected female commentators and sideline reporters in professional sports history. It wasn’t easy for Visser to become a professional commentator
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From a young age Visser was intrigued with sports; she spent countless hours watching and listening to professional sports, and reading Sports Illustrated. She was a focused fan, an identified fan which is vested in a team from a person’s geographic location, for the Boston Celtic and Boston Red Soxs (“Lesley”). Visser idolized male basketball and baseball players, John “Hondo” Havlicek, from the Boston Celtics, and Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski, from the Boston Red Socks (Terzieff). From the players on the field or court, to the male dominate sideline reporters; Visser loved all aspects of sports. It is reported that Visser dressed up as her favorite Boston Celtics player for Halloween when she was younger, differing from her female friends who dressed up as Mary Poppins (Terzieff). As a person can see, Lesley Visser had a passion for sports. Through her supportive parents and self perseverance she graduated from Boston College with a degree in English, with the hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster or writer (CITE). Visser quotes, "Being a sports writer was the only thing I ever wanted to do since I was 11 years old,” and little did she know, years later, she would become the most successful female broadcaster in American history …show more content…
A female covering sports in the 1970’s was almost unheard of; therefore, Visser had to prove what she was the women for the job. Covering high school football games for the Boston news source was just a stepping stone for Visser. With hard work, determination, and the ability to be personable with her coworkers and audience, she was promoted to cover the New England Patriots just two years after being hired at the Boston Globe (“Talent”). Visser reflects, “There was no ladies’ room in the press box, no women allowed in locker rooms, no comfort zone whatsoever” (Terzieff). Since there were so many restrictions for women in sports media, Visser had to be creative with her interviewing; she waited in parking lots to interview New England Patriots players after practices and games to get the highlights. Not all players and coaches treated Visser with respect. It is reported that after the 1980 Cotton Bowl between the University of Houston and the University of Nebraska, the University of Houston’s head coach, Bill Yeomans, reportedly kicked Visser out of the locker room, yelling about female reporters and the Equal Rights Movement (Terzieff). This didn’t damper Visser’s determination, it gave her incentive to work harder and to create a name for herself that all sports teams and viewers will recognize. It wasn’t until 1984,
From a young age Visser was intrigued with sports; she spent countless hours watching and listening to professional sports, and reading Sports Illustrated. She was a focused fan, an identified fan which is vested in a team from a person’s geographic location, for the Boston Celtic and Boston Red Soxs (“Lesley”). Visser idolized male basketball and baseball players, John “Hondo” Havlicek, from the Boston Celtics, and Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski, from the Boston Red Socks (Terzieff). From the players on the field or court, to the male dominate sideline reporters; Visser loved all aspects of sports. It is reported that Visser dressed up as her favorite Boston Celtics player for Halloween when she was younger, differing from her female friends who dressed up as Mary Poppins (Terzieff). As a person can see, Lesley Visser had a passion for sports. Through her supportive parents and self perseverance she graduated from Boston College with a degree in English, with the hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster or writer (CITE). Visser quotes, "Being a sports writer was the only thing I ever wanted to do since I was 11 years old,” and little did she know, years later, she would become the most successful female broadcaster in American history …show more content…
A female covering sports in the 1970’s was almost unheard of; therefore, Visser had to prove what she was the women for the job. Covering high school football games for the Boston news source was just a stepping stone for Visser. With hard work, determination, and the ability to be personable with her coworkers and audience, she was promoted to cover the New England Patriots just two years after being hired at the Boston Globe (“Talent”). Visser reflects, “There was no ladies’ room in the press box, no women allowed in locker rooms, no comfort zone whatsoever” (Terzieff). Since there were so many restrictions for women in sports media, Visser had to be creative with her interviewing; she waited in parking lots to interview New England Patriots players after practices and games to get the highlights. Not all players and coaches treated Visser with respect. It is reported that after the 1980 Cotton Bowl between the University of Houston and the University of Nebraska, the University of Houston’s head coach, Bill Yeomans, reportedly kicked Visser out of the locker room, yelling about female reporters and the Equal Rights Movement (Terzieff). This didn’t damper Visser’s determination, it gave her incentive to work harder and to create a name for herself that all sports teams and viewers will recognize. It wasn’t until 1984,