Dick’s Sporting Goods & Female Basketball Players: An F for Effort

Written By: Kim - Oct• 06•14

2014-10-06 14.56.08In today’s mail I received a nice 28 page, full-color brochure from Dick’s Sporting Goods touting their basketball gear. There is one major problem with Dick’s new basketball brochure: not one female is represented on its pages. Oh, there are young men, teenage boys and yes, even younger boys. Sorry, middle-aged and older men, but apparently you don’t play ball either. But, apparently Dick’s Sporting Goods also does not believe that girls and women play basketball. No one on their marketing/communications team has ever heard of the Women’s National Basketball Assocation, either. Oh wait, there are women in the brochure: background crowd in the stand and cheerleaders. That earns them an F for effort.

Female athletes deserve better.

I checked the brochure three times because I wanted to make sure that I was not mistaken. Surely, this is a 2014 brochure and not something from the “olden days.” Surely, the marketing/communication gurus at Dick’s who ask me everything from my zip code to my shopping preferences know who their market is. Surely, they have heard that yes, women do play sports traditionally dominated by men and in many cases, are better athletes.

The kicker on the brochure? It was addressed to me – clearly someone with a female name. And why was that? Not because I am some cool athlete, but because I make these kinds of purchasing decisions. I get the store “discount” card so that we get coupons, discounts on purchases, invites to special events, etc. Oh wait, there was a nod to breast cancer awareness month on the vanity link www.dickssportingoods.com/basketball. I suppose that is what the womenfolk should be grateful for – that this retailer is recognizing our boobs and the fact that we may lose one to breast cancer.

Female athletes deserve better than to be ignored by Dick’s Sporting Goods. If you love a female athlete, let Dick’s know that this is not acceptable.

What I Want in a New Pope

Written By: Kim - Mar• 11•13

The Catholic Church’s cardinals are in conclave. Starting tomorrow, they will begin voting on a new pope. Here’s are three things I want our new pope to seriously consider.

Swiss Guards protect the Vatican and the pope. ©Mike Howard

Swiss Guards protect the Vatican and the pope. ©Mike Howard

1. A true role and voice for women. I understand the Catholic church’s long history of men running the show. But, there are no women in positions of power at the Vatican. There, I said it out loud. My local church still stands and lightening has not struck me (yet). It’s about time that the men who run the Catholic church let the women who comprise a large portion their flock have a direct voice to the pope. There is something inane about a group of celibate, single men telling women how to do things. I am not suggesting that the church drastically change it’s stance on issues overnight. I am simply suggesting that women have a direct voice to the church’s CEO: the pope. When you surround yourself with people just like you, you have limited perspective. I don’t care how holy you are. I am simply asking that you expand your horizons.

2. A voice for abuse victims. Some of you created it. Many of you overlooked it. The church condemned it but only after news agencies caught wind of it. Do not let this happen again. Ever. VIRTUS training is only a starting point. Stop protecting your own and turn them in to the local police. Defrock them once they are found guilty. It’s really pretty simple.

3. Look ahead instead of becoming steeped in tradition. As with any CEO, the board of directors, shareholders and employees expect you to be able to see around corners. Tradition is nice for ceremonies, but that’s about it. Look ahead a decade or two and decide where the Catholic church needs to go.