Ann Meiers, Forgotten Pioneer

Even if the NBA still waits to know His first wife “Chief Coach”Fair sex gradually imposed on today is still today and more women in the NBA, whether assistants, leaders or staff members. The less we know is that no regulation prevents the woman from playing in the NBA, and in 1969. and 1977. San Francisco warriors and new Orleans Jazz chose long Denice and Lucia Harris. But it wasn’t further …

In 2013 year we also remember that Mark Kuban promised to draw Brittney GrinerHe was violating everything in NCAA, but Head Maverik was not at the end of his idea despite the enthusiasm of the current Star of Phoenix Mercury, ready to fight men.

One of the best players in NCAA history

In fact, it is on the side of Indianapolis that we need to find traces of the “NBA player”. Even if he entered the hallway of the glory and it is a significant personality of women’s basketball in the United States, Ann Meiers is not known to the general public in France.

However, his jersey was on the ceiling of the UCLA room, next to Karee Abdul-Jabbar and was Valton. Under Bruin’s jersey, she even signed the first four-four-four-half double NCAA, men and women in combination. In 1976. was a member of the first Olympic team in the United States, and she brings money from Montreal. But in the middle of the 1970s, the women’s basketball has no equivalent VNA and is complicated to do it.

It is only in 1978. The entrepreneur decided to create a professional basketball league (VBB). It is an ancestor of VNBA and three years after leaving NCAA, announced in the first place in 1978. Three years later, VBB disappears, but Meiers was elected MVP of the first season and its platinum level in the eyes of the NBA. At least Franchise, Pejčana.

At that time, the franchise was young, arrived in 1976. years in the NBA and She owes survival to the phone Recording! Public impact or not, Patchers bring Ann Meiere in history by offering him a test agreement. He is a real contract, and in 24 years, it affects $ 50,000 times for this test and a position in a franchise. Playing with men, but it has already done it already at the university, there was a question to join the Male Team. Then she reversed because of “we say” …

“It was probably the egg and I didn’t deny it, but I’ve never been a search type” A few years ago, Ann Meiers believed. “It was the best decision of my life. When I was in the Men’s Summer League, I was planning in a high school, and you are physically changing. When you are in high school. When you are in high school. When You are in high school, and you are physically changing. When you are in high school, and you are in high school. At that time, you have already played for Bucks. “I thought it was an opportunity for life. The decision was not easy to do, but after a decision was made, I told myself that I would give everything. “

Between mockery and Machismo

In the United States, the news makes you smile, and the press is not an offer. Here’s what the journalist writes In Washington Post : “In case Ann can’t do it, Penigan says that they will stay in the team “in a particular position,” I guess it will prepare meals before the game for real players“.

On the side of the opposing leaders, we are no longer offered. Example with Sonni Velblina, Vlasna Knicks. “It’s totally funny” It says. “It’s embarrassment. I don’t think commissioning it tolerates it. I think it’s bad for a picture of professional basketball. It’s a parody.”

The same bell tower on Mike Bant, Tested by New York Times at the announcement time. At that time, he was part of the Piser’s labor force, and he did not understand the owner’s decision. “It all made it in Los Angeles by our owner, and I don’t see it could be useful. I think that when you try to win, it’s not a way to convince our fans that we are serious in our goals.

1979. The coach of the Passera was Slick LeonardHe died last April, and one who keeps training with this guest of surprise in the middle of his players. “It was very difficult to smooth Leonard, Coach, because he came from the generation where women were at home, and not on the basketball field with Bend Boy” Remind SE ANN MEERS. “I’m sure he was put in a very difficult position. But I was 24 and I was focused on me and nothing else, I was trying to do the best thing I could do the best I could do the best

There are three days on campus in the Butler, where Pejcers organized their campsites. It has three days to convince with two trainings a day. The first sessions are complicated because … players. They refuse to play physically, and the manager gathers all players and asks them to behave normally, not trying to save it. She is not part of the first group of cutting players and she believes in it even more. But another cup will be fatal.

Not only a marketing blow

“Did I have fair treatment?” She asked a few years ago. “I’d like to go to the next round of the free agency camp. I followed a three-day process with two trainings a day. So I was a contract to work in a franchise. When I was smooth,” Hey, he was great. We liked you to come here, but we will move “I wasn’t happy. I was just playing enough, but it opened me so much door. But that opened me so much door. But it opened me that door.”

Cut Snamed, Ann Meiers returns to VBB, of which the best player was on and remains on Mannerars to comment on matches. Women’s basketball star, she plays friendly meetings with Magic Johnson, Vilt Chamberlain or Julius Erding. From the top of her 1m77, it proves that her test was not just a marketing blow, and the biggest players are respected and playing with her. We even get to know that Advertisement with Magic Johnson always.

“I will tell you one thing: We called the player’s bet and was better than many of them” He said a smooth Leonard, former coach of Pejačan, in the origin of his dream. “I cut her as any other player. I wasn’t good at the idea of ​​cutting him. But I didn’t like a great job and I was proud of her.”

Forty years later, what does it remain from this experience? The feeling he was a pioneer. “” “During my tests, I remember that the journalist had: “You are Jackie Robinson from Women’s Sports” She said. “At that time, Billie Jean King (Legend of tennis facing men) There was still there, and such comparisons was very flattering, but I said I told myself the next thing: “I’m impossible to Jackie Robinson!” “

“When people give you a chance, why don’t you figure it out?”

A few years later, Ann Meiers will marry a baseball star, former teammate … Jackie Robinson, and it will be much more than pioneer.

That year, in 1979. she became the first woman commented on the NBA matches. The TV consultant was still in the microphone in 2016. years for this Meeting of Peray – the Sun, the first commented by two women.

As leaders, she also pointed to a trip, and today is still Vice President of Fenix ​​Mercury, after GM. At 66, she hopes to change the mentals and open the door. “Even if it didn’t turn like I would like, that I opened me so much of the door”, It says in His autobiography published in 2012. years. “I just had a privileged life thanks to the decision that many did not understand that, but for that reason, but that is good for that, but it is bad, but that is for that reason, but someone believes it is bad, but someone He believes it’s bad, but that’s for that reason I say it’s bad.

The word end for Billa Russell, the legendary turn of the Celtic. “For me, Ann is one of the biggest basketball players in history. Without a difference between a man or woman”.

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The article was initially published in 2021. Years