REAL SPORTS

Monday, December 21, 2015

Most Important Moments in Sports 2015

#6 Breaking Glass Ceilings

· Sarah Thomas, a 19-year veteran official, including eight years with Conference USA, became the first full-time female official in NFL history.

· The Arizona Cardinals hired Jen Welter as an intern linebackers coaching assistant . Welter had been the first female coach in men’s professional football when she was hired by the Texas Revolution of the Indoor Football League.

· USA Football, the governing body for the game’s development for youth, high school and other amateur players, tapped for its board of directors Molly Goodwin, the CEO and linebackers coach for the Boston Renegades of the Women’s Football Alliance.

Becky Hammon has paved the way for a second NBA female coach.
©2014 NBAE Photo credit: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

· Nancy Lieberman joins Becky Hammon (hired in 2014) as an NBA assistant coach when she was hired by George Karl of the Sacramento Kings.

· Hammon notched another first when she coached the San Antonio Spurs to the Las Vegas Summer League Championship, with a 93-90 victory over the Phoenix Sun — Hammon was the first female head coach in the summer league.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Most Important Moments in Sports 2015

#7 Europe’s Unintended Consequences

After being infuriated by a call they found unsportsmanlike, the Americans staged the biggest comeback in Solheim Cup history Saturday to wrest the golfing trophy back from Europe. Paula Creamer defeated Germany’s Sandra Gal to complete the turnaround and secure a 14½-13½ victory; the United States had trailed by 4 points going into the singles. The win gave the U.S. its first title since 2009, denying the Europeans their first three-peat. The U.S. extended its series lead to 9-5. No team had ever come from more than 2 down going into the singles.

Photo by photo moments of the controversy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3242246/Water-hazard-course-Furious-sportsmanship-row-erupts-golf-s-Solheim-Cup-Norwegian-player-refuses-concede-putt-American-rival-leaving-female-stars-sides-tears.html

Personal stories of a comeback:

http://golfweek.com/news/2015/sep/23/solheim-cup-2015-angela-stanford-us-golf-record/

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Most Important Moments in Sports 2015

#8 Path to MLB May Lead Through France

Elissa Mayeux, a 16-year-old shortstop on the French under-18 junior national team, is the first female to be added to the Major League Baseball’s international registration list. Mayeux, a right-handed hitter, became eligible to be signed by any MLB club starting on July 2, 2015. She was one of four players from the French team selected to participate in MLB's European Elite Camp in August.

Of the 76 players who have signed with major-league teams in the 10-year history of the camp, only two have reached the majors, according to MLB.com.

Meet Mayeux: http://www.ooyuz.com/geturl?aid=7032733

Friday, December 18, 2015

REAL SPORTS Most Important Moments in Sports 2015 Countdown

#9 Backing Winners

Kudos to Oracle for having Carli Lloyd meet and greet attendees at its 60,000-person Oracle Open World Conference.

Carli Lloyd's pubic appearance at Oracle Open World on October 28, 2015

Women athletes are a bargain for corporate sponsorship programs, and as evidenced by the around-the-booth line hours before her scheduled appearance, quite the draw as well.

See Carli's Goals: http://nesn.com/2015/07/carli-lloyd-scores-ridiculous-world-cup-goal-hat-trick-in-16-minutes-videos/

Thursday, December 17, 2015

REAL SPORTS Most Important Moments in Sports 2015 Countdown

#10 Parity at the Senior Golf Ranks

The U.S. Golf Association announces it will launch a Senior Women’s Open in 2018.

According to USGA President Thomas O’Toole Jr., every championship conducted by the U.S. ruling body for golf has a women’s counterpart with the exception of the U.S. Senior Open, which began in 1980.

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