BREAKING NEWS: WOMEN LIKE SPORTS TOO!

"So what made you get into sports?"

This is a question I am commonly asked and yet still confused about. Because it's kind of an insulting question if you really think about what is being asked. What made me get into sports? As if something had to convince me to like sports and there's no way I could like them on my own. I'm assuming most people ask me this question because I'm a woman. And like I said I am assuming this but, then again would you even question a guy who says he likes football? I'm going to say probably not......

Women in sports journalism isn't taboo.... anymore. But just like equal rights (yeah I went there) women had to pave some serious paths for us to be taken seriously when talking about running routes, MLB stats, top draft picks and anything sports related.

"Sometimes you have to cross when it says don't walk"

I'm so glad she crossed. And by she I'm talking about Lesley Visser. Visser wrote a book I read earlier this year by the same title ("Sometimes You Have To Cross When It Says Don't Walk") that sheds so much light on her career from start to finish.

• First and Only Woman to Handle a Super Bowl Trophy Presentation (mind boggling)

• First Woman Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (AMAZING!!)

• First Woman on the World Series

• First Woman Sportscaster to Carry the Olympic Torch

A lot of firsts for this amazing woman who has pioneered women in sports journalism. Visser faced a lot of adversity throughout majority of her career but never faltered to those who told her no. What she talks about in her book that reigns great importance to me is that she grew up liking and playing sports. At a young age Visser knew she wanted a career in sports broadcasting but it didn't exist for women until she made it happen for herself. She is truly one of the most empowering women in our lifetime.

WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA

• 69 percent of news wire bylines are snagged by men – by far the biggest gender gap in news media; 31 percent by women

• 63 percent of TV prime-time news broadcasts, feature male anchors and correspondents; 37 percent are women.

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Being an on air personality comes with struggles no matter what you're reporting and whether you're male or female. That being said - women ESPECIALLY in sports media face a lot of repercussions for their appearance. AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? FACTS ARE FACTS lets focus on that and not what color sweater Lindsey is wearing and how washed out it makes her look.

This video I found is slightly disturbing but is also a real look behind the scenes of what women in sports media deal endure from online trolls.... check it out.

Solutions To This Problem

• employers becoming more proactive in their recruitment of women to sports writing roles and more flexible with working patterns

• universities, schools and journalists working together to promote sports journalism to young women

• start the conversation! we have to promote conversations to all girls and boys - there is no such thing as "men" or "women" 's jobs - we HAVE to end that stigma

To end on a happy note - here is a funny video of some of my favorite ladies in the sports biz