Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League
by Frankie de la Cretaz
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Description
"In the early 1970s, a businessman had a brilliant idea: why not start a women's football league? It was conceived as a gimmick and a publicity stunt to capitalize on the popularity of Second Wave Feminism and the passage of Title IX. He recruited women across the country; much to his surprise, he learned that women really wanted to play, and play hard. Hail Mary is the story of the unlikely rise of the National Women's Football League and the players who loved a game that society told them show more they shouldn't be playing. In fourteen cities around the country, these athletes broke new barriers and showed adoring crowds what women were capable of physically. Thousands of people came to watch-perhaps to gawk at first-but then, in the end, to cheer. Hail Mary is a rollicking chronicle of fearless women-players on the Detroit Demons, the Toledo Troopers, the LA Dandelions, and more-bringing us into the stadiums where they broke records, the small-town bars where they were recruited, and the backrooms where the league was conceived, and where it ended. Hail Mary is a celebration of women athletes and their fight on and off the field, and a powerful story of the league that changed their lives and the course of women's sports"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I love football. Despite all the things I know about football, I love the game. I loved playing it as a kid. I love watching it on TV. And when Chicago had a women's professional team, I went to watch them play as much as possible. I never gave the history of women's football much thought. I assumed as with most women's sporting leagues there was some connection, if not a root to Title IX. "Hail Mary" tells a much longer tale that stretches further back than 1972. The thread that is woven throughout the book about players not identifying as feminists or part of the feminist movement, especially in the 1970s was fascinating. And a great read for people who are frustrated by women who distance themselves from the movement.
An added bonus show more to this book is I came away learning more about football itself. Again, I'm a fan, but I am not a student of the game. I don't understand all the plays and positions. I have a stronger sense of what is happening on the field though Britni & Lyndsey's excellent storytelling.
Highly recommend this book for sports fans, feminist history fans, and sports business folk. There is something in here for just about everyone. show less
An added bonus show more to this book is I came away learning more about football itself. Again, I'm a fan, but I am not a student of the game. I don't understand all the plays and positions. I have a stronger sense of what is happening on the field though Britni & Lyndsey's excellent storytelling.
Highly recommend this book for sports fans, feminist history fans, and sports business folk. There is something in here for just about everyone. show less
This book is great. It’s well researched and tells important stories. Anyone who loves the new League of Their Own series should check it out! There’s an audiobook on Audible.
This book is fucking funny.
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1 Work 29 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- Sports and Leisure, Nonfiction, Sexuality and Gender Studies, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 796.330820973 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Sports Ball sports Inflated ball driven by the foot
- LCC
- GV955.5 .N37 .D4 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Recreation. Leisure Recreation. Leisure Sports Ball games: Baseball, football, golf, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 29
- Popularity
- 950,870
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
