Jim Williams » ESPN focuses on women embracing sports in ‘Her Story’
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
March 29, 2009
It is Women’s History Month and ESPN has been doing a number segments and features all month on SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com.
Her Story
If you happened to miss Friday’s broadcast, ESPN will re-air the show, hosted by Hanna Storm, at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, April 5 on ESPN2.
As SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm drove home from the ESPN Campus Wednesday, we talked about “Her Story” a special that she hosted and the importance of sports in the lives of women of all ages.
What impressed you most about all the features that ESPN has done this month?
Storm » We covered a great deal of ground over the last month and we were able to look at stories that you may not see in the media. There is the story about teenage surfing phenom Bethany Hamilton, who after losing her left arm in a shark attack in 2003 has battled back to become one of the world’s top surfers. We had a piece about on Shoni Schimmel, a Native American teenager in Oregon who is among the top high school hoops players in the country but must deal with cultural bias and personal challenges as she starts her senior year. There are so many amazing stories viewers can’t help to be moved by the show. I am very proud of all the many people who worked so hard to make this program a reality.
What do you hope viewers get out of these features?
Storm » The importance for women of all ages to embrace sports. Play it in school and learn the importance of teamwork. The joy of being part of a team and the relationships that will last a lifetime are all things women need just as much as men do.
So this all about women competing in team sports?
Storm » Not at all. This about the importance of women — of all ages — finding a sport and just enjoying playing it. Exercise is so important to women. Playing tennis, golf, jogging, walking, swimming whatever you like to do the key is we want women of all ages to be more active and enjoy the benefits of sports.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
