Doug’s Sports Rap: Can Women Coach in the NBA

This week another first for women in sports as the San Antonio Spurs hired WNBA star Becky Hammon as an assistant coach, making her the first full-time, paid female assistant on an NBA coaching staff.

Throughout the decades woman have been making their way into professional sports as commentators and annalists, my earliest memories are woman like Phyllis George and Lesley Visser who were subjected to a lot of jokes and raised eyebrows when they first had their spotlight. I openly admit I was one of those people too.

Through the years more and more women have found positions in sports, women like Robin Roberts who was a star basketball player herself.

Today professional sports has several female reporters in various roles, and although I think most people have grown comfortable with seeing women in these positions, it still remains a mans game in the eyes of many.

Later this year when the WNBA’s season ends Becky Hammon will be seated next to Gregg Popovich on the Spurs bench, how will people react to that?

The bigger question will be how the players react to her coaching skills, hey lets face it NBA players don’t  exactly have a legacy for respecting women.

I have been a broadcaster for almost 30 years and women are still minorities in this field, is it because men are better broadcasters and personalities? An emphatic ‘NO” that’s ridiculous.

I going to end my blog today with  a quote from one of the pioneers of women in broadcasting, Lesley Visser who said, "The three most important things for a sportscaster are knowledge of the game, a passion for sports and the profession, and the stamina to struggle."

I think Becky Hammon meets those requirements. Respect.