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Ann and Patty Dolan and Maureeen, Ann Marie McGrath, Annie, Basketball, Betty Trapp, Cathy Ann Brady, Christine Butler, Claudia Bradley, Dee-Dee Dixon, Denise Rabbat, Diane and Patricia Rafferty, Diane DiTonno, Diane Gottlieb, Dolores Conlon, Eileen and Noreen McGee, Eileen Deere, Female Athletes, Gerry and Kathy Cregg, Holy Name, Jeanne Raheb and Marielee Parker, Joanne Monti, Karen Pisselli, Laura and Josie Kennedy, Laura Jean Thomas, Linda Barrett, Mary Ellen Nolan, Mary Kawas, Mary Lou Retton, Maureen Corrigan, Maureen Slater, Noreen Keating and The Pynn Sisters, Regina and Kathy Corrigan., Running, Susan Rail, Swimming, Women's Sports
“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.”
-Mary Lou Retton
A couple of days ago former 13th street resident Susan Rail posted a comment on the blog.
I was able to catch up with Susan last October at the Holy Name Foundation Dinner-Dance. That night was a lot of fun; Susan hasn’t changed a bit. She is cool and very down-to-earth. A wonderful personality and of course, an amazing sense of humor!
Reading her comment brought back an instant memory; Susan was a great athlete!
In the world of sports, female athletes do not get enough respect. We can all agree that exposure and participation was limited back in the day. But the enactment of Title IX during the 70’s has helped.
As a father of a 12-year-old girl who is playing as many sports as she can (her decision, not ours), I get a chance to see how important athletics is to girls. I witness the passion and the hard work on a daily basis.
I watched the United States women’s soccer team lose to Japan a few weeks ago; I was glued to my TV watching their run through the entire World Cup. I heard people rip this amazing accomplishment. I chalked it up to ignorance.
As for female athletes in our neighborhood along with Susan there was Mary Kawas, Diane DiTonno, Christine Butler, Laura Jean Thomas, Karen Pisselli, Eileen Deere, Annie, Diane and Patricia Rafferty, Dee-Dee Dixon, Noreen Keating and The Pynn Sisters. We had Gerry and Kathy Cregg, Laura and Josie Kennedy, Denise Rabbat, Cathy Ann Brady, Maureen Slater, Claudia Bradley, Joanne Monti, Eileen and Noreen McGee. There was also Betty Trapp, Dolores Conlon, Ann Marie McGrath, Cathy Ann Brady, Ann and Patty Dolan, Diane Gottlieb, Jeanne Raheb and Marielee Parker. I can’t forget girls like Linda Barrett, Mary Ellen Nolan plus Regina, Maureen and Kathy Corrigan.
Man-o-man, these women had game! Our neighborhood produced amazing female athletes.
These ladies weren’t just limited to one sport either; besides fantastic basketball players we had fast runners, excellent softball players and the hard-working swimmers.
The comment “she’s good for a girl” never pertained to these athletes. Sure they clutched teddy bears as young girls, wore high heels and dresses, and were called Tomboys. But that didn’t stop them from competing on the playing field (or in the schoolyard).
My only regret with this blog entry today is that I’m sure I didn’t list all the female athletes from the neighborhood; and with that I apologize if I made any major omissions. Please feel free to post a comment…
Respectfully,
Steve
Hoops135@hotmail.com