ON THE MARK.

LADY KICKER CAN'T BOOT ONE OVER THE GENDER BARRIER.

A week ago, we were praising Danica Patrick for her groundbreaking performance at the Daytona 500.  Today, I'm sorry to report, another woman's attempt to gain athletic notoriety fell short.  About 40 yards short.  28 year old Lauren Silberman was hoping to kick a 60 yard field goal at the NFL combine in New Jersey.  Instead, she embarrassed herself  with two kicks that totaled 33 yards.  Pathetic.  This, after Silberman, who had never kicked a football in competition, paid a 275 dollar registration fee and told just about anyone that she was going to become the first female to try out at an NFL regional combine.  The media ate it up.  But did she deserve to even be there?

 On the NFL’s website for registration, the league makes it clear it expects serious competitors:

“Applicants must meet NFL eligibility rules and be able to perform at a high skill level. The NFL reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any applicant it determines to be unqualified or unfit to compete.”

 After seeing Silberman's efforts, it must've been clear to the NFL that she didn't fit into any of the above categories.  Not even close.   She had never played competitive football before.  She was a club soccer player in college, so I guess that was enough for the NFL to take her money.  Of course, the fact that she had a whack of camera crews following her every move, including the folks at "E" television, made the whole affair smack of a publicity stunt.  Seriously, my 80 year old mother wearing orthopaedic cleats and using a walker could've kicked it further.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7I0r7YVEE

     There have been many occasions where a qualified female athlete has taken on "the boys" in an effort to follow their sporting dreams.  Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie both played in PGA tour events, but they were PROFESSIONAL golfers.  Ann Meyers was a sensational college basketball player who tried out, unsuccessfully for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.  But she could PLAY.  Manon Rheaume played an exhibition game in goal for the NHLs Tampa Bay Lightning, but she was already an accomplished player at the highest levels of female competition.   As for football, there are plenty of  kickers who would've been better representatives of the female gender than Silberman.  In fact, Katie Hnida, the first woman to score a point in an NCAA Division One football game, thought that the "stunt" has likely done more damage to the dreams of female athletes than boosted them.    Hnida said Silberman's kicks were terrible.  "Her performance does not have to do with her gender.  It has to do with her experience and preparation." said Hnida, who kicked for the men's varsity at the University of Colorado, and, later, the University of New Mexico. "Unfortunately, what's going to happen now is she's going to be looked at as inferior because she was female".  

      According to eyewitness reports, Silberman took no warm up kicks because she was nursing a quadriceps injury (even though NFL officials say they had no idea she'd suffered it) and it took her 20 seconds just to put the football down properly on the kicking tee. (She didn't know how).  At this point, NFL officials should've wondered why they allowed this woman to compete.  But it was too late.    Her first attempt looked as if she had never kicked a football before, and barely went 20 yards in the air.   Her next attempt was even worse, just 13 yards.  She then asked to see a trainer, and before you knew it, she was out of the competition, the victim of a recurring quad injury.   A happy ending?  Not at all.   A blow to all women who dream of competing in a male-dominated sport?  Certainly.  It's going to be even tougher now.

    And what of Lauren Silberman?  Well, she wants to try again.  "You know, the distance wasn't there, but hopefully the scouts will notice my technique.  It's not always length".   Yeah, that's what SHE said.  But we all know the truth.