This 29-year-old, 5'9 former Stanford volleyball setter proves to be an agent of change for women in sports - at least that's what SF Chronicle says. And I actually agree.
While serving as the captain of Standford's 1997 National Championship volleyball squad, Kagawa received her BA in political science. Later she would return to her alma mater and earn an MA in sociology.
Kagawa's passion for sports is evident, but her business savvy and go-get 'em attitude is what makes this senior director of player management at BDA Sports Management a hot comodity among WNBA players, like friend an client Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).
Photo courtesy of WNBA.com
I'm about a year shy under Kagawa in age, and she has certainly inspired me as a woman with high career hopes. What makes Ms. Kagawa's story most compelling is her focus on social and community activism. Kagawa has been involved in many social justice projects, like AIDS advocacy program Until There's A Cure with her clients and other young athletes in the SF Bay area.
For more information about Kagawa's fellowship program in SF, Standford Athletes & Kids United (SAKU), vitist Stanford's athletic page
My father dreamed of one day playing professional baseball – he almost did for the Cincinnati Reds, but they told him he was too short. That was over fifty years ago.
My father also dreamed of one day having a family, and children to carry-on his legacy. Of the two dreams, the latter happened, and is still happening. Though he never got a shot at the majors, he proudly sported his love for the game each and every time the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros came on television, or when his own children took to the court or turf. Some dreams manifest differently and in ways we barely notice. Yet still we dream.
My father would always attend my volleyball, basketball, and track practices much to my dismay as a teenager without a clue. During 8th grade, my teammates and I would always know when practice begun because we could smell the smoke coming from my dad's tobacco pipe as he entered the stadium to watch us run our warm-up laps.
But dad wasn't just a spectator; he was involved—All. Of. The. Time. Many knew him as the "honorary coach," serving as an official line judge during volleyball games and also serving as the official score keeper during basketball games and track meets. Even when I was a 5th-grader playing AAU basketball, my dad jumped at the opportunity to coach my team when our head coach was out sick. Incidentally, that was the only time I ever scored 34-points in a single game.
[Left to right: Dad, me, mom]
At times I'd get so annoyed at my dad simply because he was always there—no matter what. I used to hope that one day he'd just forget and miss one of my practices so I could feel like one of the 'normal' kids whose parents never attended. And it wasn't just with organized sports; my dad was there when I first learned how to ski—and when I almost fell off of a cliff. He was there, along with my beautiful mother, when I first learned how to ride a bike. My entrance to sports and play came through my family, particularly the old gray-haired guy whose last name I proudly share.
The last time my dad watched me play ball was this past February while competing during the Texas Woman's University intramural basketball tournament. Despite his weak condition, he wanted to be there to watch his twenty-seven-year-old-washed-up daughter play ball with young twenty-somethings. "It'll be just like old times," he said, as if he really needed to convince me. After playing two full twenty-minute halves and while gasping for air, my dad said to me "You still got it kid-o."
Despite being terribly out of shape, I did well and held my own playing against folks ten years younger than me. I was glad dad could watch me play during my post-glory days. Leaving the game, I opened the gymnasium door for him much like he used to do for me when I had gym bags hanging from both shoulders, and tennis shoes dangling from each hand. I pushed him along through the parking lot in his wheelchair, and instead of dad driving me home from the game; I drove him home. That was the last time dad saw me play.
Moving forward, I can better appreciate my father's unshakable presence in my life, as an athlete, as a young woman, and as his daughter. He was there because he knew—we all knew—that these moments wouldn't last forever.
This past Wednesday, December 17th 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (PST) my dad, in cahoots with God, decided it was time to transition. Undoubtedly he'll be met with great fan-fair on the Other Side as family and friends will welcome him with open arms. While back here, I mourn the death of the greatest man I've ever known. He's great in my eyes not simply because he's my father, or even because he almost became a Cincinnati Red Sock. He's great because he always believed in the possibilities of people, especially when they—when I—didn't believe in themselves. He touched the hearts of many he encountered. Everyone who knew him can recall a moment they shared with my dad that will forever remain because he was always there.
I was there this past Wednesday when my father took his final breath. Just thinking about that moment while writing the words weighs on my heart. I breathed with him up until the last breath. We looked at each other for one final moment before the veil descended over his eyes. When it was over I cried, I screamed, I fell to my knees. I was hurt beyond repair. Yet despite the agony of losing my father, at that moment we were still together. Though my dad is no longer here to watch his daughter shoot (intramural) hoops or run (trot) a 100-meter-dash; I know he's still around, still there watching from the stands, still talking out loud, still laughing, and yeah, probably still cursing.
My father's dreams and legacy are being fulfilled at the price of his death in this life, a small price to pay when knowing that he will forever remain in the hearts of many, especially mine.
I love you daddy. You can rest in peace now. James Joseph Conley April 6, 1930 – December 17, 2008.
[Before my father's health took a serious turn for the worst, he always wanted to know how my writing was coming along and what I was writing "on the computer" – a.k.a. the Internet. When I first joined YouthNoise my dad was always anxious to read my blogs. This blog, of course, is dedicated to him.]
**Photos courtesy of The Conley Family - be cool and don't redistribute these photos for consumption and/or inappropriate use.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to inteview L.A. Derby Doll Tabitha 'Paris Kilton' Esther of the Sirens. Very cool chick, might I add. We had a cool conversation and I learned that not only does she dislike Paris Hilton and likes Craigslist, I also discovered that we were born and graduated high school in the same years! Check out the interview and pics below. Photos courtesy of Tabitha Esther. Photography by Nathan Nowak.
How did the name Paris Kilton come about?
I didn't really like Paris Hilton a lot – I thought it was a funny play on [the name]. I began skating during the time that she became really popular. So it seemed appropriate for somebody to take that name at the time.
How long have you been skating?
I have been skating since spring of 2005. The LA Derby Dolls have been around for about 5 years – since 2003.
How did you get involved with the league?
I just saw an ad on Craigslist and it seemed like a lot of fun. You fall into a really cool group of women and you can exercise. It's just a fun thing.
Have you been involved in any other organized sports in the past?
No – not really. I wasn't very inclined to play sports until roller derby.
Is the camaraderie among the women something that draws you to the sport?
Sure. It's hard in general for women to make friends with other women without the contacts through college or work. So, coming into the organization it's very helpful. It's easy going. People are super smart. Everyone has the same mentality. It's a really great collection of women who are just really cool and get a long pretty well.
Are there any programs or leagues that are focused on younger girls and adolescence?
Actually, we started a program for younger girls called the Junior Derby. That started last year when a few of our skaters got together and decided they were going to put together a program for younger girl. I think the ages are from 8 to teenagers, or so. They've been working really hard and they are adorable! They all get together and skate. They all learn roller derby and they're all getting their exercise, having friends. It's nice because a lot of the moms in the league can bring their girls in. These girls can see their moms skate. It's very sweet.
The Junior League was able to play during our half-times – or what is called the "baby doll brawl" – that was in late October.
How long does a typical league game last?If I was coming into the game as a spectator for the first time what would I expect – is the game played in halves or quarters?
We have four quarters and each quarter is 12 minutes long. Then we have about a half an hour during half time break. Jams are 60 seconds of game play. The game lasts somewhere around 2 hours.
Where do you all play here in LA?
We have our track and it's housed in a warehouse a little bit west of downtown. The warehouse used to be an ice cream factory! We moved in there last year after living in Little Tokyo shopping malls.
How long do you see yourself skating?
[Laughing] Until I have to stop! Until my body physically says 'no thank you!' I've been fortunate enough (knock on wood) to not get seriously injured. I have been skating for a while and I want to keep doing it until I can't any longer.
Do you mind me asking how old you are?
I'm 27. Born in 1981 – graduated in 1999.
Where do you see the league and the sport itself in about 5 years?
The league goes through all sorts of changes. I think the league will continue to grow. We've gotten really popular within the last year and I think it has a lot to do with finally having a stable house to skate. Now that we have a permanent space to practice it's definitely more attractive to people who want to pick up the sport. And I think with things like Junior Derby it helps because the sport itself is fun! People are going to participate as long as it's fun.
On average, how much of your time do you devote to practices and games?
There are about 8 practices a month minimum. Each practice is about 2 hours long. The game days usually take a lot of time to set up and clean up. It is pretty time consuming but you look forward to it – it's kinda like going to class, but it's really fun and social.
Is there anything else you’d like the YouthNoise/PlayCity community to know about yourself and the Derby Dolls?
Yeah, if you've ever thought about playing- then try it out. Give it a shot. Go out and see what you want to do and see if it's for you. You might actually discover an enjoyable pastime and make friends. For myself, when I first moved to Los Angeles I didn't have my own friends. So it was one of those things where it was like 'I'm going to go out and do something!' And it worked out really well for me. I'm really happy about where I am in the league and all the friends I've meant along the way.
Someone once told me that when you play roller derby you walk about six inches taller – it's not only like you finally have something you can work on, it's also very gratifying mentally. One day you just let go and you've done it!
Many many congrats are in order for Angel Taka - the Ugandan soccer player who lead her team to defeat Austrailia in the Women's 2008 Homeless World Cup finals.
Taka has also been awarded the Nike Fair Play Award for her accomplshments. Taka's story is quite inspirational. Despite her father's paralyzing condition and her families financial struggles, Taka worked at a local university to help make ends meet.
According to HWC website, Taka embodies the spirit of the 2008 Homeless World Cup. Taka asserts that because of the opportunities she's been given as a player, she's "no longer stressed."
Perhaps we all can learn from Taka's triumphant story - especially now as we all confront our own daily challenges.
The lovely folks over at Bitch are talking about a topic I brought up a few months ago during the summer Olympics: the sexualization of female athletes.
La Macha does a great job of asking people to think about the implications of the hyper-sexualized female athlete, and also if there's a way female athletes can negotiate between a sex positive image and the aforementioned.
There is a thin line, in my humble opinion. I mean, really, where do we draw the line - or rather who is doing the drawing of the line? Is it the female athletes themselves or the advertisers and companies that endorse these athletes?
Speaking of advertising, the folks over a Jezebel also brought up the issue regarding sexist advertising. We all know sex sells - or do we? Is this a universal claim or just something posed so consumers (you and I) remain complacent?
If you ask car racer Danica Patrick, she'd probably that this pose is empowering. So be it. Like I said in a previous post I don't have a problem with grown women doing what grown women want to do.
But then La Macha brought up another key point about 'white' female sexualization versus women of color. Perhaps some of the more 'feminized' athletes who can sell a sexualized athletic image are boxer Laila Alli and WNBA player Candace Parker. But what about when idiots call female athletes like Serena and Venus Williams monkeys, or when the women of the Rutgers basketball team are called nappy-headed hoes. What are folks really saying about Western beauty here? And what in the world are we, as consumer and sports enthusiasts buying into exactly?
As the debate continues, my head throbs and my blood pressure rises...
