You don't know how hot the water is until you step out of it...

[logansrogue]

And then you're a nearly-dead lobster.

Tonight, I saw a woman goal umpire while watching the football. It was like seeing a unicorn.

I pointed at the screen, pointed at the breasts and I said, "That's a woman! Was that a woman?!" I've watched football my entire life. Seeing a woman on that field, even just as an umpire?

I can't tell you what that meant to me. I can't tell you the joy and delight in my chest. It was BETTER than a unicorn! More liberating, more exciting, more invigorating. I have a new hero! I want to know who she is!

And I realised - I really need to see woman's football. But they don't televise that, sadly. Except on cable, and I can't afford it. :(

But really - seeing that woman throw the 'goal' signal made my entire night. I didn't realise how much it meant to me to have a woman on the oval as something OTHER than a cheerleader until I saw it. Then I realised that all these years, I'd been shouldering a sadness, a feeling of non-inclusion that I'd grown numb to. I'm not numb anymore.

I was so glad to see that woman.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigjobbies_/]

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=62186

Chelsea Roffey - she's been doing it since 2004
And yes, it IS better than a unicorn - should be more like her

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Chelsea, eh? She's now in my list of "Awesome Women I'd like to go for a drink with and shake by the hand". Seriously, she's a hero to me. I nearly cried when I saw her.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I could imagine women being wickedly good at cricket. There's a certain limberness and flexibility needed to bowl, and the power is all in the levering power of the human arm, not the muscles per se. So there's no reason why a woman couldn't be a kick-ass bowler, or an excellent batswoman, etc etc.

[meleth.livejournal.com]

Last night, Jon Stewart interviewed a 42-year old Olympic swimmer. Her arms were amazing.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

Did you seriously only just find out about women goal umpires?

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I might have peripherally noticed before but not registered. It probably didn't quite have the impact then that it did now.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

I think i've even seen a couple of female boundry umpires if that makes it any better.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I just wish I could see a sport where they're on the damned field as more than an umpire.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

Netball, swimming, athletics, golf, tennis, almost every other olympic sport, poker?

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Shut up. I like football. I want to see football.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

You know what i'd like to see? Mixed Netball.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I can't help but think that the women would come off second best in that. I played netball. It's fucking ruthless. I would hate to think how a woman would come off in a mixed game.

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

In the amatuer competitions i've seen women tend to equal out with the men because they are more patient and careful with ball placement. The guys are all about speed and big passes, the girls about accuracy and maintaining possesion. It makes for a really interesting mix.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm sending those photos off today. Sorry about the delay, I've been very sore.