I finally decided after 2 weeks that I’m fed up. Not with female fans in general, but with the misconception that all female fans of football are such because of their fascination with particular players. I mean, that’s why women watch, isn’t it? All those cute faces and butts? NOT!

I won’t deny there are women watching for those reasons, but they are NOT fans. They just happen to like (or lust for) some guy in tight pants. And my response to that is, KEEP THAT TO YOURSELF.

That’s because the last thing I want to see is the perpetuation of this myth in commercials, ads, or articles. And unfortunately, this was perpetuated in a Boston Herald article that was supposedly designed to discuss hard-core female fans. I will acknowledge that their coverage of Karen (a.k.a. Mrs. B) was accurate – she IS a hard-core fan who is dedicated and knowledgeable and worthy of winning Fan of the Year (congrats Karen!). Her website focuses on a single player, but it’s for his skill and ability, not his backside. In fact, she’s part of a group of men and women who cheer on #54 Tedy Bruschi (Full Tilt, Full Time). So, her support and admiration is right in tune with the men who are part of the same group.

My problem, however is with the coverage of some woman who "fell in love" with Brady AFTER he won the Super Bowl and she saw him standing on the podium (anyone remember TigerBeat?). Now, I ask you, is that really hard-core or football? Granted, being good-looking obviously doesn’t hurt, and I admit to my fascination with Charlie Waters (Strong Safety #41) when I was young. However, I was YOUNG...my interest in football from junior high/high school to this day has been for the sheer enjoyment of the sport.

I would like to provide some personal background on the matter (i.e., my initiation into football). Now, please keep in mind I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and was raised a Cowboys fan in the ‘70s (THE ‘70S!):

• My father played football in junior college in Oklahoma in the ‘50s, and would play against the 4^th-string University of Oklahoma (OU) team in scrimmages on a regular basis. For those of you who may not know, OU was a major powerhouse in the ‘50s under Bud Wilkenson (whose professional career was short-lived as head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals), and to this day holds the record for most consecutive wins (48) in NCAA history (’54 to ’58).
• My sister has made it very clear to me that I was a football fan (originally, for OU) from birth, but I argue that I didn't become cognizant of it at age 3. College and Professional Football was on the TV in my house EVERY weekend…and, yelling at the TV was not considered bizarre or abnormal behavior.
• My father used to quiz me on the name, number, and position of every Cowboy throughout the ‘70s. When I mentioned this to him last year, my mother, skeptical as always, asked me who #83 was in 1978. My reply: "Golden Richards." She looks at my father, who says "Yep, I think that’s right." My mom then exclaims "OH MY GOD!" She was shocked I could still remember, but why wouldn’t I?
• My dad would make time to toss the football with me in the front yard, and he would comment on my potential to play wide receiver (based on my agility when running sideways and backwards). My mom knows that one of the toughest and lengthy positions to develop is a center.
• I attended Texas A&M, where our social lives revolved around football. We would have 70,000 fans attending games each weekend, all chanting the same yells…the result of hours of practice through what’s known as yell practice. Bonfire was the culmination of our football season, where we’d burn half the trees in the United States (and Brazil) in our desire to "beat the HELL outta t.u." I’m a huge fan of the I-Formation and the 4-3 Defense (maybe throw in a Safety Blitz for fun).
• I stopped supporting the Cowboys around ’88, when Jerry Jones fired a coaching god, Tom Landry, then hired Jimmy Johnson (rival to OU in the Orange Bowl many times prior to his NFL career). Johnson then traded Middle Linebacker Jack Del Rio (relation through a cousin) to Minnesota. That was the third strike, and I couldn’t support the apparent lack of respect shown for those Cowboys I admired.
• In 1996, I met my husband (football fan since birth as well, but for the Pats), who asked if I’d like to watch a Pats game at Murphy’s. I was ready, after 8 years of self-exile, to see if I could find another NFL team that would capture my respect and support. That summer, Jack Del Rio had been traded to Miami. A month later, Jimmy became head coach of the Dolphins…then proceeded to release Jack from the team. I was PISSED! I placed Jimmy Johnson in the Number 1 slot on my s*** list. So, when the Pats lost the opening game against Miami , I walked out LIVID. I’ve been hooked ever since, and have not missed a game to this day.
• I’ve attended games in freezing weather (including the recent game against Tennessee with a –10 degree wind chill) and while suffering from food poisoning (just grabbed a garbage bag and kept going). Although I’m 8 hours from Foxboro, I still manage to attend at least 3 games a year, many of them as a visitor to other stadiums.

I’m writing this article to make one main point – that there are MANY women who watch football solely for the joy of the sport, are knowledgeable about the positions/players, play calls, and penalties. I’m dismayed that the stereotype of the naïve and ignorant, silly female who asks such questions as "What inning is this?" seems to be perpetuated on a continual basis, even by those who try to contradict such myths. What I’d like to see are articles, ads, and commercials that portray women as men are portrayed – as football fans, not female football groupies. 

My favorite commercials are still the Southwest Airlines "Must be Football Season" series, where women play quarterbacks and place kickers as if they knew their stuff. Current commercials show women showing midriffs and mud wrestling…not exactly positive reinforcement. And, of course, the majority of women on bulletin boards and chat rooms are discussing Tom Brady’s new model girlfriend and how she just MUST be a b****…not exactly defying the stereotype. As I’ve always said, "The first step in proving people wrong is NOT proving them right." C’mon, ladies, time to take that first step.  I guarantee the journey is more than worth the effort.