Diane Hill: Inside the Locker Room

When I was about 12 years old my grandfather told me that the definition of SUCCESS is getting the respect of those individuals whom you respect. I never quite understood what he meant or how important "respect" was until I stepped into the locker room for the first time.

Truth be told, it took me almost a year to muster the courage to enter the "forbidden land". I felt like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz". I had heard a lot of things about "behind the curtains" and how impossible it was for a woman to be taken serious, how impossible it was for a woman to get RESPECT. I was dreading the thought of trying to make a living in the presence of naked men. Somehow that didn't seem normal to me...or comfortable for that matter.

Would they be discreet if I was in there or would they prance around trying to make me blush? Would they welcome a female presence or would they stick to their "good ole boys" network? I started to drive myself crazy by overanalyzing what amounted to a walk down a hallway.

I reminded myself that I was not the first woman to enter a locker room and I definitely would not be the last. So I threw caution to the wind and entered the clubhouse. As soon as I entered the entire place fell silent. "Oh no," I thought. "This was a bad idea."

A couple guys were playing cards, a few were playing dominoes. The pitcher was watching game tape and the third baseman was getting treatment in the training room. But they all stopped and looked at me.

I broke the ice by introducing myself and like clockwork they all went back to their business. I made my way to the shortstop--the star of the team. I figured if I was going to do this I was going to start at the top and make my way down.

To my relief he welcomed the chance to break the monotony of the usual beat writers. He even called his teammates over during the interview to chime in. I hit a grand slam that day and each time it becomes a little easier.

Sure there is the occasional embarrassing moment when I accidentally look over as a guy is changing or the unfortunate times when some of the older PR guys for the teams revert to their antiquated sexist attitudes and hassle me simply for being a woman in their world.

But that's the irony. The athletes aren't the ones who have a problem with the women as long as they are prepared and professional. I've been given the most grief by PR directors and male reporters.

Women have broken a lot of the glass ceilings of the past, but we still have a long way to go. Every time I've entered a clubhouse I've been the only woman. That fact alone makes me realize how fortunate I am and how difficult it is to be respected in a field that's predominately male.

At the end of last season a highly regarded future hall of fame centerfielder waited for me as I interviewed his teammates to give me his last interview of the year. When I asked him why HE was WAITING for ME, he replied, "Because you are one of few reporters that I trust and respect."

Grandpop, I'm successful.

 

Diane Hill is a sports journalist. Click here for more.