I love sports. I really, really do. I played three different sports competitively at different point in my life, and I started attending football games at my dad's alma mater when I was so young that I barely even knew which team to cheer for. More recently, I've lived in the heart of the SEC where the head football coach is the highest paid state employee, and spotting the place kicker on campus is text-all-your-friends type of news.

But even when surrounded by all the over-commercialized glitz and glamour that comes with revenue-generating college sports, my real heart lies with (usually sparsely attended and barely noticed) women's athletics.

So, imagine my delight at the discovery of MSNBC's compilation of the best female athletes in 16 different sports. While their inclusion of poker still has me scratching my head, they do include several other under-the-radar sports that always seem to be left out. Additionally, they appear to actually have some knowledge of the sports they select from.

Rather than simply choosing the most popular athlete in each sport, they have done their research in selecting the best from each. Check the list out for yourself for the full rundown, but here are some of my favorites:

Best WNBA player: Lauren Jackson

The blond Aussie — who turns 27 on Sunday — was drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm in 2001 and has remained with them ever since. In those seven years, she's a two-time MVP award winner, holds the WNBA record for most points (47) in a game, and was declared the Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. So, not only can she shoot, but she can block and rebound as well? Impressive. Oh, and did I mention that she posed for 2005's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition? … continue reading

This episode of SMMWT! is all about women in sports movies! The ones we like, anyway...

Not included? The recent soccer movie Gracie (kinda disappointing), Million Dollar Baby (too depressing), and lots of ice skating movies (whole 'nother genre). Plus probably whatever movie is your favorite, which I'm sure you'll let us know in the comments.

You'll also learn how Lori met one of her tennis idols, why you'll never catch her on a surf board, and what movie the Chariots of Fire theme song makes me think of (hint: Wally World!).

Special thanks to Kayla Jones for the new SMMWT! graphics!

Recently I got to check out the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. To be honest, I'm not much of a tennis fan, but I'm also not one to turn down the chance to watch athletic girls running around in short skirts and grunting loudly after each and every swing. (Mama didn't raise no fool, ladies!)

On the trip down from NYC, I started picturing a mini Dinah Shore weekend, complete with LGBT booths, celesbian athletes signing autographs, and sporty females decked out in a mix of Lacoste visors and wrist cuffs. After all, the 35-year-old cup is a women's tennis tournament — you know, the sport of Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova. So imagine my surprise horror when nary a gay woman was to be found (well, an out one anyway).

Now, I'm not naïve. I wasn't expecting the level of Dinah debauchery you'd see in Palm Springs — South Carolina isn't exactly known as a hotbed of (open) lesbian activity. But I thought there would be at least one special event planned by the local LGBT community or an after-hours party at a gay bar. Two days in, I would have been happy to just see a rainbow-colored anything.

And that's when it hit me: What a missed opportunity this whole thing was, especially for all the East Coast and Southern ladies who couldn't make it to California for Lesbian Spring Break. If ever there was a tournament that demanded a dyke presence, it's a female-only tennis cup. … continue reading

Danica Patrick just made history. Last Sunday, she became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race when she finished No.1 in the Japan 300. In her 50th career start, Patrick finally got what she wanted since her debut back in 2005: first place.

Patrick poses with her trophy at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan, on April 20, 2008

Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

And it’s been a long, long ride since she first got on the road. Patrick was usually tormented with “When are you going to win something?” questions and with comparisons with Anna Kournikova, the tennis player who never won anything but became famous for being good-looking. But Patrick’s no Kournikova. Not anymore.

"I'm not going to lie," she said. "I was getting frustrated. I believed in myself. It was just a matter of when it was going to happen. I've been asked so many times when I'm going to win my first race — finally no more of those questions."

Patrick is one of the Indy’s biggest stars, but she has always been known more for her good looks than her abilities. In 2005 in Indianapolis, she took fourth place — her best result prior to her win in Japan — and that was enough to get her more attention than the race’s winner, Dan Wheldon. She was even named Rookie of the Year for her 2005 IndyCar Series without ever having won anything. So it always came back to haunt her: Was she famous for being good or good-looking? … continue reading

Yesterday marked the first day of this year's TV Turnoff Week, which runs April 21-27. If you weren't aware of this, well, I didn't know either until Monday night, and by then I'd already made plans to watch Gossip Girl and my DVR-ed recording of last week's Battlestar Galactica. But I think that Tuesday, April 22, is a much better day to start TV Turnoff Week, because tonight is the premiere of a huge turn-off: A Shot at Love 2.

So instead of tuning in to whatever disasters await Tila Tequila during her second quest for "true love," here are a few suggestions for what you can do instead.

1. Go out to dinner with your girlfriend(s) and have some lively conversation. There are so many lesbian chefs these days that you can surely find a restaurant headed by one of them. If you're in Miami Beach, stop by Tantra to taste the cuisine of executive chef Sandee Birdsong. If you're in San Francisco, how about Elizabeth Falkner's newest restaurant, Orson? She was a guest judge on Top Chef last season and has been a contestant on Iron Chef, and she rocks some platinum blond hair.

If you're in Chicago, stop by Avec, where head chef (and recent Top Chef guest judge) Koren Grieveson presides. No, Grieveson hasn't come out to us officially, but as Dorothy Snarker noted in her recap, she's sports all the requisite lesbian paraphernalia; her Food & Wine profile notes that she was a soldier in the U.S. Army for nine years; and in this Time Out Chicago article she says that her place of inspiration is "My girl Frog's studio. ... We bounce ideas off each other, but really, just working next to her keeps me inspired." Hey, Koren: How about an interview with AfterEllen.com? … continue reading

We’re a year away from the start of the highly anticipated Women’s Professional Soccer League, the successor to the failed Women’s United Soccer Association. In April 2009, the new league will kick off and relaunch nationwide worldwide interest on women’s soccer.

(That’s Mia Hamm’s silhouette on the WPS logo. How cool is that?)

The first women’s U.S. soccer league, the WUSA, folded prematurely in 2003 after a lack of sponsorships and audience. Now, the WPS has to learn from the mistakes of its predecessor, and league Commissioner Tonya Antonucci guarantees that it will. “In order to ensure long-term success, WPS has developed a brand-new business model, focused on shared infrastructure, cost containment and realistic expectations that will maintain profitability for the league and team owners,” she wrote on her blog.

In 1999, after the U.S. won the World Cup title before 90,000 fans at the sold-out Rose Bowl (when Brandi Chastain became famous for taking off her shirt — and was I glad she did), there was just as much potential for a great league as there is now.

The difference, however, is in planning. Today, with assistance from the men’s league (MLS) and investors such as NBA star Steve Nash and former Yahoo! president Jeff Mallett, the WPS will be stronger and steadier, in a pursuit to become "the premier women's soccer league in the world." … continue reading

That rumbling you heard Sunday night was the sound of thousands of jaws hitting the floor as Stanford beat the University of Connecticut 82-73 in the Women's Final Four. (If you were in the vicinity of a UConn fan, you likely heard much more, but we can't print that kind of thing here.)

Unlike many playoff games in which the outcome can be blamed on poor officiating or injuries or just a bad night for the losing team, this game was a simple case of the better team winning. More precisely, the team with Candice Wiggins. Every time UConn stepped up its game, the ball went to Stanford's Wiggins — and she finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. She certainly was not alone in outstanding play, but, as I said a few weeks ago, Wiggins is a wonder to behold. … continue reading

I realize that spring is a time of change, but this year, I'm not liking it. A person I love working with is changing jobs. Two of my closest friends are moving away. Couples I'm invested in are breaking up. One and only one thing will get me through this iffy time: March Madness.

I hear that men play basketball this time of year, too, but I don't pay much attention. In fact, I think I'm something of an enigma to my basketball-loving friends because I am not a "basketball fan," I am a "women's basketball fan." I have no clue what the top men's teams are. And I don't care. I also don't care much about statistics or analysis. I just love watching women play the game. Moments like this are why.

Lest you not appreciate the beauty of this play, I should tell you that Nicky Anosike, No. 55, is 6'4" without her arms fully extended. I do believe Ms. Myia McCurdy has a helluva jump.

The bottom line for me is that I find inspiration in watching talented women doing something they are passionate about. It makes me passionate, too. I cry like a baby at the buzzer of the championship game. … continue reading

OK, I'll admit it: I gave up on The Sarah Connor Chronicles after the third episode. For me, Lena Headey's hotness just couldn't make up for the convoluted story lines and John's terrible acting. But I know I'm in the minority, and plenty of people love the show.

Tonight's two-hour season finale has a very tantalizing description: "Sarah enters into a business deal with a mysterious partner." If only Piper Perabo were playing the partner.

Meanwhile, if real-life showdowns are more your style, there's another finale tonight: the women's college basketball Big East regular-season title game. UConn takes on Rutgers at 7/6c on ESPN2.

And there's one more face-off tonight — probably the most dramatic one. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give female bonding a new meaning in Notes on a Scandal at midnight/11c on HBO2. The film polarized lesbian audiences (at least here on AfterEllen.com — see my take and Malinda's for examples), but no matter how you feel about it, you'll probably be fascinated.

 

The one time of the year we don’t get up to use the bathroom during commercial breaks has come and gone, and it’s time to assess whether our impending bladder infections were worth it. In short, never mind the game: How about them Super Bowl ads?

If you like cute animals, disembodied hearts and a nearly naked Angelina Jolie, it was probably a good night for you. Here's a rundown of some of the more female- (and fauna-) centered spots from the broadcast and my picks for the best, most boring and just plain bad ads.

The Best

Bridgestone: What’s better than talking animals? Screaming animals. I didn’t say my taste was all highbrow. P.S. Does anyone else think this squirrel is related to the famous Dramatic Prairie Dog?

Budweiser: Maybe I had too much of their product beforehand, but the whole "Rocky of the animal kingdom" thing worked for me. … continue reading

On Monday, it was announced that the WNBA and WNBPA (Women's National Basketball Players Association) have reached a new collective bargaining agreement that will start with the 2008 season and run through 2013.

Taking a look at the raw numbers, things seem to be on the upturn for the WNBA. Last season, new attendance records were set for the playoffs, with 216,863 fans drawn for 21 games, and the finals, with 74,178 fans over five games. Regular-season attendance increased by two percent. Television viewership was also up, and last season saw a new, eight-year agreement to air games on widely distributed ESPN. With the completion of that deal, the league's relationship with the national sports network will reach 20 seasons.

2007 Finals

Regardless of those positives, however, the WNBA is still not a profitable enterprise. As Indiana Fever star and Players Association president Tamika Catchings was quoted as saying in USA Today, "The league is not really making money at this point, so for us to go in and say we want million-dollar contracts would make no sense." … continue reading

Lately I've been watching billiards every time I happen to catch a broadcast on ESPN. Over the holidays, I watched Allison Fisher win the Women's Professional Billiards Association Championship, and shortly after that I watched Karen Corr win the WPBA Midwest Classic. (Fisher is English and Corr is Irish — they were both raised on snooker, I'm guessing?)

And this past weekend, I caught some of the World Cup of Trick Shots, featuring Jeanette Lee and Ewa Laurance. Ewa is fascinating — not only is she stunning and skilled, but when she serves as an announcer for the tournaments, she's smart and funny. No wonder they call her the Striking Viking.

Here's Jeanette Lee in action — they call her the Black Widow: … continue reading

Olympic champion Marion Jones learned her fate last Friday: She was sentenced to the maximum six months in prison for lying about using steroids and for her role in a check-fraud scheme. She pleaded for lenience out of concern for her two young children, including an infant she's still nursing. But U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas said he imposed the maximum sentence to send a message to pro athletes:

“Athletes in society have an elevated status; they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps most important, they serve as role models."

Jones was also given two years' probation and must perform 800 hours of community service.

Despite previous denials that she had ever used performance-enhancing drugs, last October Jones finally admitted she had used a steroid called “the clear” from September 2000 to July 2001. Jones won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics: golds in the 100- and 200-meter runs, and in the 1600-meter relay, and bronzes in the long jump and 400-meter relay. She returned those medals before the International Olympic Committee asked her to do so. … continue reading

Friday marked another chapter in the ongoing Martina Hingis saga, and it's one her fans aren't going to like.

The tennis world was shocked when, back on Nov. 1, 2007, Hingis unveiled a double-whammy — she had tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon last summer, and was retiring from competitive play. At that time, Hingis stressed her innocence, denied using drugs, and announced that she would fight the charges.

"I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous, that I've decided to confront it head-on by talking to the press," she said back then. "I am frustrated and angry. I believe that I am absolutely 100 percent innocent."

Hingis expressed doubts at the accuracy of the urine test on which the positive result was based, but the International Tennis Federation said an anti-doping tribunal found that she had committed an offense. The tribunal rejected suggestions there were any doubts over the veracity of the sample.

The ITF also disqualified Hingis' results from Wimbledon, and any subsequent tournaments in which she played. She stands to forfeit any ranking points gained, and $129,481 in prize money. … continue reading

At the risk of losing major lesbo points, I have to admit that any interest I have in women’s golf has little to do with the sport itself.

And news that Anna Rawson has qualified for the LPGA tour certainly will not help redirect my attention. … continue reading