i may be a bird in a cage but at least it's your cage

14 Valentines: Women In Sports. This is a topic close to my heart: when I watch women's basketball, I wonder why men can coach women's teams, but no women are the head coaches of men's teams. I wonder why the ACC men's teams have had countless sell-outs this year, and the women's teams have had only three. Cameron Indoor Stadium hasn't been less than (tickets sold to) full-capacity for a Duke men's game more than 15 years; Cameron Indoor Stadium saw its first women's sell-out this year, in 2007, despite the Duke women's team being a powerhouse juggernaut who have been competitive nationally for years. Bobby Knight and Dean Smith are held up as examples of the winningest coaches ever; no one mentions Pat Summitt, the University of Tennessee women's coach, who had 913 victories at the start of this season, more than anyone else, male or female, in the game. Pat Summitt has won six NCAA titles, more than anyone other than John Wooden; she has never lost a first or second round tournament game.

I sit in Chapel Hill bars and the men who sit there with me are shocked, and sometimes genuinely appalled, that I can argue with them not only about who the "cutest" player in the NCAA is, but also about who most deserves the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in the country. There's nothing I want more in the world than to write about sports for a living; the two things I love best, sports and writing, together.

Mostly, when I mention that to people, I just get laughed at, in an oh-isn't-that-little-girl-so-cute sort of way. And that, that, should never happen.

Title: In Jerusalem Next Year
Fandom: The West Wing
Characters: Abbey, Ellie, Zoe Bartlet; Dolores Landingham; CJ Cregg; Ainsley Hayes; Mandy Hampton; Donna Moss; Amy Gardner; Margaret Hooper.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 7.
Disclaimer: Sorkin, Schlamme, and Wells own 'em. I'm just fooling around.
Summary: i will make it through this year if it kills me. 1000 words.

( there will be feasting, and dancing, in jerusalem next year )