Do Women Belong on the Sidelines or Anchor for the NFL?
By PatriotsChic
@PatriotsChic (28)
United States
December 28, 2006 9:45pm CST
I have been a fan of the NFL for years, practically since I learned to say my first word. However in the old days, women were not on the sidelines for Sporting Events like the NFL, it was a male position. Now that there are women who are known around the NFL in journalism seem to be emerging.
If you have the NFL Network, do you watch Alex (female anchor whose name I may have wrong) at all? When she takes on discussions with Coach Mora she messes up quite a bit. I think it is poor work on her part missing names and talking foolishly about a subject I wonder if she is familiar enough with.
I am all for women being treated fairly and equally, but there are many old timers that believe the NFL allowing female anchors on the sidelines should not be happening. With the NFL Network, I just find the one woman anchor obnoxious because she messes up. However, Suzie obviously knows her stuff on the sidelines.
Where do you think this issue sits? Should it keep tradition of men or should women be allowed to do more than just be on the sidelines?
6 people like this
19 responses
@kareng (54724)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Great question! I think women should be allowed IF they have the knowledge and experience to do the job. I don't look at it as the past "tabu" profession for women. If they have the ambition and qualified, I'm all for it.
If they are not qualified and don't know beans about the sport, then they need to hit the door.
1 person likes this
@PatriotsChic (28)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I have to agree with everything you have stated. It really ticks me off that they put reporters down on the field rather than the press booth, etc. They also usually only use women for that position which how this thought came about for me.
@rosettaresearch (1285)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Have you heard some of the stupidity that comes out of Joe Buck's mouth. A female friend and I actually fell off the couch laughing at some of the things he said on Thanksgiving day. Any journalist, male or female, should get their facts straight. As long as they do that, they have just as much right to call the game as anyone. Three sideline reporters -- not anchors -- ago, Monday Night Football had a great female reporter. Then they replaced her with Suzy Kolber and then Andrea Kramer. I wish they would bring the old one back, she knew her stuff, knew her football history and could ask and intelligent question.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I don't think ANYONE that is not knowledgeable about the game should be there, male or female. I think there are obviously more men who know the game, it's generally just the way it is but there are definitely enough women out there that know there stuff too. To see a woman in the position on the sidelines or in the locker room, who has no brains but is gorgeous just aggrevates me. If you want eye candy, go watch playboy. If you want a good game, good coverage, and good answers to good questions then put someone on who knows their stuff. If it happens to be a woman, fine. If it happens to be a gorgeous woman fine. If they use the woman just as eye candy to get stupid men to turn it on and oogle... forget it.
I personally am an avid sports fan and would love to have the opportunity to interview different players from different sports but to be honest, I'm not a trivia person and think I'd suck as someone who interviews because I can't remember squat! lol
@sarahbeth1977 (384)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I love to see women anchors on the sidelines, but the problem is this: I wonder if most of the time they are there because they're trying to move up in the world to a better job while the network is trying to fill a quota? I completely agree that these women need to know their stuff if they're going to do the job.
@denversun (17)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I am mixed on this, I like some of the women and some I really do not care for. I really enjoy someone who enjoys the sport, Suzy Colber is one of those that you can tell does.
I guess I really dont need a sideline reporter at all and I definately do not need a weather woman like they have on fox. They are getting bad.
I think a mix of everthing is ok, but it needs to be football related and the people involved need to have an intrest and knowlege of the game.
In my opinion keep the press off the field all together, let me see the coaches and players.
1 person likes this
@PatriotsChic (28)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I just wonder does it really make a difference having a journalist on the field, when they are going to be questioning in the press room? Do they really need a weather report from a women dressed half clothed who obviously doesn't know the game. That is my problem with it. Man or woman KNOW THE GAME of FOOTBALL!!!
@Katy238 (1028)
• United States
29 Dec 06
UM hey now. A woman is good enough to be half dressed and be on the sidelines, cheering. I personally can do without it, because I like to focus on the game and find half dressed women rather annoying. I think even some men who want to focus on the game feel the same. Anyways, I am a football fan and if I had the chance to be a sports anchor, I may take them up on that offer. I am NOT liberal either.
1 person likes this
@baldingeagle69 (749)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Certainly a woman should be allowed(of not encouraged) to cover NFL games. If it is something that interests her why shouldn't she be allowed to cover the games? Women reporters are just as good as men, they do their homework, they understand the game, and they are equally qualified to cover the action.
I am not sure I agree with them being in the locker room. That would be like me being in the locker room of a woman's volleyball match while they are changing. That would be uncomfortable for me as well as them.
If they don't know the game or don't take the time to do the homework that is a different situation. I don't care what gender you are if you are earning a paycheck to cover a game, you must do the work neccessary.
@majora1112 (103)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I think the best person for the job should be down there- male or female
1 person likes this
@groomtobe23 (635)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I really think that they do. There is no reason they cannot be, as long as they know what they are doing, and aren't just there for the "look". I have seen plenty of women in the sports reporting that were just there for the guys to look at, and I hope that the sport can grow out of that, and look for a more intelligent female base to do the reporting. Looking for a job? ;)
1 person likes this
@iknowitall (455)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Women have every right to be anchors, sportscasters etc.
I like them, I like fox's girls, I dont have nfl network
so i dont know about them... also did you know the African American lady on Good Morning America was once a ESPN anchorwoman... out of all the sports ladies she knows more then lots of men, also I play Madden 07' online and there are some girls on their that will teach you a few things about football...lol
@Rotiro3 (27)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I don't like sideline reporters at all women or men. They are useless do we really need to hear what Bill Belicheck did not want to say. They really have no insight on the game. They update us with general injury updates which we can see anyway. The only one I like is Erin Andrews because she is hot.
1 person likes this
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
29 Dec 06
It really depends on why they are there. If they have actual knowledge of the sport (and many women do) then yes they should be a sideline reporter.
However, if they are there for eye candy then no. We have cheerleaders for that.
@doniker (493)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I don't like it but in this world of "politically correct" and "equal opportunity rights" we will have to put up with it.
It just burns me up when women want equal pay and equal jobs when it FAVORS them; but when it comes to divorce they usually get and want more than half.
Also when you date women they want the man to pay. The worst is when a man looks like a jerk if a woman is carrying something heavy and the man is carrying nothing..
@Alexanderrp (163)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Well, alot more women are being broadcasted on tv, with lesser and lesser clothes, and with boobjobs. I think that the reason that is, to attract men to the products of commercials, and the fact that football is a man sport.
@andygogo (1579)
• China
29 Dec 06
Firstly,we chinese boys should have enough confidence.Acturally,we are all handsome,i am sure that many young female foreign friends also think so.There exist a lot of examples. Now in China,anywhere,you can see a couple of which hero is local and heroine is foreign.
