Angie Wiatrowski

I’ve realized that I was a little quick to judge when it came to the Erin Andrews situation and I do feel bad about it and I think we shouldn’t focus on her so much anymore. Having said that and leaving her out of the picture, I think the main problem is how women are looked at in this profession. It seems to me that people only care about the appearance of female sportscasters than anything. For example, go to Google and type in, Female Sports Reporters. First two links: World’s Hottest Female Sports Reporters, and Pictures at SidelineHotties.com. Now type in Male Sports Reporters. Nothing even close pops up. Women, however, are still mentioned though. For example, the second link reads Women Sports Reporters- Have They Caught Up? This is followed by the fourth link reading, Should female sports reporters be allowed to enter men’s locker rooms? (Thats an issue for another day).

I’m not surprised, but kind of disappointed. It’s crazy that we still live in a world where in  most cases Sex sells everything. Even to the point where it may seem like that’s all that women have to offer. It’s disappointing that people can’t look past the pretty face. I know this really isn’t anything new, but I guess it’s something to think about. Will it change? Who knows? Probably not in my lifetime.

After reading over some comments on the article, Erin Andrews Blasts Women Back to the Stone Age (http://sportsonmymind.com/2008/08/04/erin-andrews-blasts-women-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-8345), I’ve learned that people are starting to get the wrong idea. We all know that I highly disagree with the choices Andrews made that day in the clubhouse, but it wasn’t all about her attire. Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley asked,

Seriously, what is becoming of this profession when a girl can’t wear a summer skirt to a baseball game without offending someone?

I agree, it is a little ridiculous, but that’s not the entire issue, to me at least. It sounded to me as though Andrews had really nothing to do and was just walking around the clubhouse, telling “Rammie” (Aramis Ramirez) ‘Good For You!’ and getting cat calls. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no problem telling a player they played a good game, and maybe Nadel exaggerated but it sounded a little weirder than that. And the whole “Placing her hand suggestively on Soriano’s bicep” made it sound fishy too. Was he exaggerating? Who knows? Either way it seemed worthy to report and to be almost concerned about. There’s nothing wrong with a pat on the back or a handshake, but it just seemed as though she was suggesting a little more, which is why this whole issue is causing such drama. And it didn’t help that she was dressed a little skimpier than normal.

Why did it bother me? Well some seem to think it’s because I’m not confident with my femininity and see her as competition, but they couldn’t be more wrong. I have nothing but confidence which is why I have gotten as far as I have. I appreciate other women being in the locker room because we deserve to be there and I don’t see it as a threat in any way. It bothered me because it gave people another excuse to not like women in the locker rooms and the press box. It’s almost like the blow up doll incident with the White Sox when Carol Slezak went on a rant calling the White Sox sexist pigs. I know for a fact they’re anything but. Now I’ve never hung out with the Cubs long enough to know how they handle things like this, but I think them going to the extent of saying, “Hot? Or just attractive? Does she do anything for you?” and other cat calls gives me the idea that she wasn’t as professional as she should have been. It just gives female sports reporters a bad image.

In another comment in the above article, I was basically called a fool for believing that women could be successful in this field, to be specific, this is what it read,

Ms Wiatrowski is very young and a fool to boot. She thinks there is some sort of meritocracy and that if she simply works hard enough and is good enough that she’ll get her fair shake from the white men who dominate her chosen field. So she plays into the paradigm they set for her, one that maintains their power while at the same time diminishes hers. And oh, BTW, one that tricks her into a duped, foolish complicity.

Homegirl, there ain’t no meritocricy and they ain’t gone ever look at you as their equal. You keep on fallin’ for their song and dance but just remember to ask how high when they tell you to Jump.

Jump fool, jump!

Are you kidding me? Do we still live in the 50’s? First of all, this kind of made me loose my faith in humanity considering someone named ‘KevDog’ is trying to tell me how foolish I am when he is in complete denial of how things have changed by calling me Homegirl and a fool. Granted, it’s still hard for women to be successful in this field and KevDog clearly has no idea of how things have changed and how many opportunities are available for women. If this isn’t apparent enough, poor KevDog lives in a world that still treats women like a piece of meat and with zero respect. I feel sorry for him and I refuse to live in that world and I don’t. How else would I have gotten as far as I have? Things have changed whether you like or not and I think that’s why everyone got so hyped up about the Erin Andrews thing. We didn’t come this far to be pushed back into a stereotype we were able to stay away from. The only reason women have these kinds of issues is because of people like ‘KevDog’ who still believe that women cannot be successful and refuse to change their views. People like that just cannot except change and realize that some women are just better than men and can work hard and be successful. Try thinking outside the box.

It never fails, people out there are just making it harder and harder for me,(and other respectable female sports reporters) to be taken seriously. First of all, let me give a big thanks to ESPN’s Erin Andrews. I read a column today about Andrews’ little modeling show in the Cubs Clubhouse. (http://www.pjstar.com/sports_columnists/x1768857641/Nadel-Blonde-bombshell-cant-distract-red-hot-Cubs).

Apparently Andrews brought out the pumps, lost some skirt and shirt and flaunted around the clubhouse, taking in the stares and dropped draws from the players. You’re not there as a piece of meat, Erin. I’m surprised, seeing as though you’re a ‘respectable journalist’ that you sold yourself so short, and I don’t mean you’re skirt. I’m glad that Mike Nadel made this observation and called her out on it because it’s just sick. Bending down to talk to Aramis Ramirez and calling him “Rammie” is not the most professional thing to do. Did you forget what you’re there for? Honestly, I understand you can become close with the players but to start giving them cutsie nicknames and shrinking your clothes is not only disrespectful to yourself, but to other female journalists and possibly the players. I’m sure they enjoyed it but what a waste of their time.

 You know it’s bad when Lou Pinella comes out and says, “Hey, hey, hey! Look at this! Are you doing a baseball game today or a modeling assignment?”

One of the main reasons why people are cautious to hire women and allow them in the locker room is because of stunts like that. You’re not there to be eye candy. It’s not easy gaining respect in this inudstry as a woman and Andrews has lost all of my respect, whether she thinks she did something wrong or not. This is the feminist in me coming out again but it’s just plain irritating to hear this stories and realizing that companies may just hire women as eye candy and nothing more. So thanks Erin Andrews, I really appreciate you making it even harder for females in the club house to be respected.

That’s right, the thoughts and ideas from my last post could possibly come true. White Sox GM Kenny Williams announced today that the trade for Ken Griffey Jr. is official. Nick Masset an Danny Richar will go to Cincinnati.

The Sox outfield is pretty stable as it is, with Carlos Quentin’s 28 home runs and 83 RBIs, along with Jermaine Dye’s 24 home runs and 65 RBIs, but there is still room for Griffey. Nick Swisher has been a little slow at the plate, with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs, but has improved out on the field. Adding Griffey would bump Swisher back up to first base, which is his best defensive position. This will definitely cut into Paul Konerko’s playing time, but there hasn’t been any real playing on his part. Konerko’s batting average is .214 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. The poor guy is falling apart too. He was put on the DL for a strained oblique and is now battling through an injury in an area near his right thumb. I think it’s time to hang up the bat and glove for a bit.

With Griffey in center and Swisher at first, I think we’re going to see some all around great baseball from the Sox.

The Sox are starting to head back into a slump, which always sucks. However, last time this started Paul Konerko was put on the DL and Nick Swisher took first Base. The Sox were much better off that way and I think we should keep Swisher at first. Chances are slim though, considering how much they pay Konerko to stay at first base, and he’s got nowhere else to go. God knows we can’t use him as a DH. He’s been in a slump and hasn’t really been too beneficial for the team and it’s a little irritating when you have another first baseman on the team that can do a better job, for now at least.
Swisher is even doing better at the plate. He’s hitting .226 while Konerko is hitting .216. It’s not much, but still, we’d be better off with Pauly taking another break for a bit. I love ya Pauly but you’re just not so hot right now.

For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, athletes will have to be extremely careful of what they eat. I heard on the news yesterday that a lot of food in Beijing could test athletes positive for steroid use. Another thing they have to look out for is Dog. That’s right, Chinese restaurants have been ordered to take Dog or Fragrant Meat or Xiangrou off the menus during the Olympics. Waiters and Waitresses have been told to “patiently” suggest other options if someone orders something made with dog.

Apparently the Chinese eat dog for its “health-giving” qualities. Either way, it’s still a dog and completely grosses me out. People adore their dogs around here and treat them better than most humans get treated. I guess it would be the same if someone kept cows as pets? It could happen.

China isn’t the only place that had to ban dog from restaurants. South Korea banned dog meat and “foods that seemed unsightly” during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It makes me wonder if there’s anything we have to “hide” if  Chicago hosts the 2016 Olympics?

Teammates are going to fight every now and then; it’s a known fact. However it just seems to me that Orlando Cabrera is searching for too much attention when things don’t go his way. It doesn’t matter if it takes some crying to the press box for giving him an error or having a temper tantrum in the dugout.

Twice this season Cabrera has called the press box to complain about errors, once at US Cellular Field and again in Toronto. Unbelievable. How old are we? This isn’t little league. The scorekeeper knows what he’s doing and I highly doubt he’s out to get Cabrera. Apparently he declined to speak to other White Sox beat reporters and told the Tribune,

“If it happens again, I will call again. I don’t have to do it with other teams because they always had my back. They don’t want to do it here; I can take care of my own business. If you have a problem with what I did, come to me and say something. Don’t go to the media to send a message, because he didn’t send any message.”

So, according to Cabrera the other scorekeepers will lie for him? Either way it’s completely childish and ridiculous.

Now there is some controversy between Cabrera and teammate Jermaine Dye. During Dye’s at-bat on Wednesday, Cabrera stole third base, which apparently distracted Dye causing him to strike out, and jeopardizing the rally. Dye apparently said something to Cabrera in the dugout after he scored which set off some sparks. Cabrera starting yelling at Dye and had to be restrained by Jose Contreras. Granted, we don’t now what Dye said but I still think the temper tantrum was unnecessary. Ozzie doesn’t seem to mind conflict however. Ozzie told the Chicago Sun-Times,

“I don’t want good guys, I want (bleep)ing winners. Good guys finish last.”

What happened to ‘Good Guys Wear Black’ Ozzie? Either way, I don’t think it’s a matter of good guys and bad guys. You don’t have to be a bad ass to play baseball.

The Sun-Times also reported today that Cabrera met with Ozzie because the Sox’ initial perception of Cabrera was that he was selfish and had no desire to interact with his new teammates. I don’t think much has changed, and it may never change. It’s time to grow up and just play ball.

    Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique on June 17. Konerko felt some pain as he took his first batting practice with the team on Saturday. Konerko said that he is trusting White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider when it comes to healing his injury. He said, “I’ve never dealt with really any injury let alone this one. (Schneider) has had experience and said it was normal to feel discomfort because that’s the scar tissue breaking up in there and I definitely felt that. In my head it alarmed me a little but I’m going to trust him on that.”        

Konerko hopes to go to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte for an afternoon game on Monday. The game will be a sort of rehab session if everything goes well after Saturday’s batting practice. As of Friday Konerko is expected to play two games in Charlotte but he’s not making any promises. He said, “There’s really no answer today. We have to see how it responds (Sunday), because today was obviously a big day on the field. But up until now every test that we’ve had starting with last Sunday, I’ve passed easily. This was the only day I felt (pain), but we knew today was going to be a good test because there’s some adrenaline, taking some full swings and letting it go.”

  Konerko is definitely ready to get back into the game and said it’s hard having to sit out for so long. He said, “You want to get back as soon as you can because it’s not fun just sitting around. At the same time I’ve missed games already so it’s kind of like if you miss 12, then what’s 15, what’s 16? You have that kind of thought too where you want to make sure it’s right.”

      Whether Konerko plays or not on Monday, he still plans to work. He said he doesn’t want to miss any days and will probably just hit and work on timing. He will continue with practice on Sunday and said he just needs to take it one day at a time.