As I delve deeper into the fascinating world of sports journalism and broadcasting, I find myself continually amazed at the trailblazers who have paved the way for women in this industry. One such individual is Hannah Storm, whose life’s work has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of women’s sports coverage.
In the late 1980s, Linda Cohn, who would later become a legend on “SportsCenter”, was striving to advance from Long Island cable news to her dream job as a sports anchor. One day, she prepared a large batch of chocolate chip cookies as an incentive to keep her camera operator working late so he could assist her in filming a trial sports report. This report she sent out to various TV stations in pursuit of her dream job.
Luckily, KIRO-TV, the CBS station in Seattle, provided an opportunity for Cohn. Originally from Long Island, she spent over two years covering sports in the Pacific Northwest before receiving an offer that would significantly impact her life. In 1992, without any pastry-related incidents, Cohn relocated back to the other side of the country to join ESPN and its esteemed team of anchors for their primary news program “SportsCenter.
Before, comments about women in sports often revolved around the notion that they couldn’t manage stress, with phrases like “I wonder if they can handle the pressure,” or “What happens if the microphone fails? Their voice might be too shrill or too soft.” Cohn reflects that it was a constant stream of excuses.
However, the arrival of ESPN significantly transformed my situation. ESPN provided me with an opportunity, as John Walsh and Steve Anderson were the ones who recruited me and had faith in my abilities.
Today marks ESPN’s 45th birthday, a network that began broadcasting from Bristol, Connecticut at 7 p.m. ET on September 7. Over four and a half decades, this trailblazer in sports television has significantly contributed to the surge in popularity of women’s sports this year. In an interview with EbMaster, ESPN veterans Cohn and Hannah Storm discussed how ESPN has expanded opportunities for women’s collegiate and professional leagues and teams, as well as fostering more roles for women in the sports industry.
ESPN has woven itself into the tapestry of numerous generations, I often refer to it as America’s wallpaper due to its ubiquity. You can find it in every taxi, in every airport, and ‘SportsCenter’ is one of the most iconic TV brands ever created,” Storm notes.
Back in 2008, I made my move to ESPN, having previously worked for NBC Sports and CNN, and even spent some time as a morning host on CBS’ “The Early Show.” Notably, I was the inaugural play-by-play announcer when the WNBA kicked off in 1997. It was a privilege to witness the league’s initial struggles, but ESPN’s round-the-clock coverage undeniably provided a vital lifeline. The fervor surrounding this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament, which I believe has been a long time in the making, is nothing short of exhilarating.
ESPN has consistently invested in women’s basketball, assigning their best commentators to cover the games. In essence, they treat women’s basketball much like they do men’s basketball. Storm notes that the ground was well-prepared for the significant surge in popularity that women’s basketball experienced in the past year.
Back in 1981, Rhonda Glenn became the first woman to become a full-time anchor for ESPN. Tragically, she passed away at the age of 68 in 2015. Prior to her career in broadcasting, Glenn was well-known as an accomplished collegiate and amateur golfer.
As a golf analyst for ABC Sports, I spent the three years prior to my transition to “SportsCenter,” a timeframe that predates the merger of ABC and ESPN under Disney’s ownership. In his latest book, “The Early Days of ESPN,” author Peter Fox refers to me as ESPN’s equivalent of Sally Ride, a trailblazing figure in her field.
In a 2013 interview with ESPN Front Row, Glenn expressed that she didn’t feel compelled to break barriers; instead, much like Cohn, her passion lay in sports, particularly golf.
“I never wanted to be the first, I just wanted the job,” Glenn told ESPN.
Glenn spent merely two years in Bristol before she moved on to other sports opportunities, such as extended golf broadcasting for ABC Sports and a position in communications with the U.S. Golf Association. However, her belief that competent women can be equally powerful as male broadcasters continues to hold true.
It took Linda Cohn roughly a year to get comfortable at ESPN. Eventually, her superiors provided direct feedback that helped her understand what they desired: “They told me, ‘Linda, you’re in the newsroom. You’re discussing sports effortlessly.’ They wanted me to be that on-air personality. And I responded, ‘Fantastic. I can manage that,'” she reminisced.
If Glenn is comparable to Sally Ride, then Cohn can be likened to Sue Bird in the context of ESPN. By February 2016, she had achieved a milestone by airing an unprecedented 5,000 episodes of “SportsCenter.” She celebrated her 30th anniversary with the brand in 2022. Cohn’s long service has been influential and groundbreaking for women in sports media.
Cohn notes that numerous individuals approach him, reminiscing about growing up alongside him. They share their tales of success – some became broadcasters or sideline reporters – and credit his presence on ‘SportsCenter’ for inspiring them. They explain that it showed them a woman could excel in sports broadcasting, and that people wouldn’t view us as alien or strange. It was empowering to know that being a woman and loving sports was perfectly acceptable.
Cohn, who also works as an NHL commentator for ESPN, spent their childhood playing mixed field hockey on Long Island. Storm’s connection to sports dates back to her early days. Her father, Mike Storen, was a sports team owner, manager, and commissioner of the American Basketball Association before it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. She attributes the growth of women’s professional basketball over the past 25 years to one of her father’s successors in the NBA, David Stern, for sowing those seeds.
David Stern, who served as the head of the NBA from 1984 until 2014, recognized a growing potential in women’s basketball. Inspired by the triumph of the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he managed to persuade the owners of NBA teams to back an expansion league. The following year, Stern played a pivotal role in establishing the Women’s National Basketball Association.
The chance for prominent female college athletes to move on to a well-established professional league in the U.S., such as the WNBA, has significantly advanced the movement for women’s sports. This year’s March Madness standouts like Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, and others have grown up with the presence of the WNBA. In April, ESPN broke an NCAA ratings record by broadcasting the women’s championship game.
As a passionate film enthusiast of basketball, I’ve witnessed an exciting surge this season. The die-hard fans have always been here, but something extraordinary has happened – more people have joined our ranks! This year, college basketball captivated audiences like never before. The games were thrilling, and the unique personalities and skills of these players ignited a level of rivalry, intensity, and competitiveness that’s typically associated with male basketball. It was intense, fierce, and in-your-face – the kind of sports drama that fuels debate shows and transcends mere highlights. The interest in the game has been elevated to unprecedented heights as a result.
From my perspective as a passionate moviegoer, it’s truly remarkable to witness a significant turning point in the world of sports – a cultural evolution that’s led to a more inclusive outlook towards women taking on roles as commentators, coaches, and executives within teams.
The stereotypical situation found in every sports movie where athletes react defensively when a female sportscaster enters the locker room was something Cohn experienced frequently in her early career. However, today, ESPN boasts no fewer than seven female anchors who present various “SportsCenter” broadcasts throughout the day.
As a movie reviewer reflecting on the subject of sports coverage, I’ve always advocated for the presence of women in these settings to authentically portray their passion and belonging. It’s not uncommon for today’s athletes to have grown up with women covering sports, making this an accepted norm. However, if a female sportscaster is there merely as a stepping-stone to other ventures like ‘Access Hollywood’, the seasoned athletes can easily discern this insincerity. They have a keen eye for phoniness and are more critical towards such individuals, given their professional commitment to sports.
Storm attributes ESPN’s extensive coverage spanning all parts of the day as a key factor in boosting the impact of sports within mainstream culture.
Storm stated that it facilitated sports to advance into a more detailed level of examination,” can be a paraphrase of the original statement, while maintaining its meaning and flow. The new sentence also provides a clearer understanding by avoiding jargon like “desk for” and emphasizing the concept of analysis progression in sports.
Storm notes that since ESPN is a news network, it allowed us to delve deeply into all the events that transpired. As ESPN gained the capacity to cover these stories, they started introducing fresh perspectives, even ones we hadn’t heard before.
Over time, what started as a small seed has blossomed into a vibrant sports media landscape, fueled by the cyclical momentum of live events, traditional and streaming television, and social media, according to me. This expansion across various platforms – even my colleagues and I have ventured into fan-centric podcasts – has inevitably created more opportunities for women in this field.
Storm notes it’s fantastic to observe an increase in chances for outstanding women broadcasters who previously didn’t have such opportunities. It’s truly exciting to witness this remarkable progress.
(Shown above: Hannah Storm alongside National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman on ‘SportsCenter’ in April)
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2024-09-07 17:48