Do Things History Could Only Dream Of

Here it comes on September 8th! But Book #3 in the girls series is already on Amazon – so you can pre-order it now! Check out this cover!

This is a book about girls and women who beat the odds to excel in their chosen field of competition – a testament to the success of sports trailblazers and legends of the past, a revelation of the work they put in to fight their way to the top, and reveals the long path of development in women’s sports that has prepared us for this moment – as women’s sports – all of it participation, appreciation, coverage – comes into its own.

From the early days of Olympic glory, when men excelled and women were banned, to the restrictions of amateur versus profession holding back many careers and causing many brilliant stars to give up and drop out, to the sea change brought about by Title IX – this book takes a sweeping look at it all. From heroines to villains, there is much in these stories that will surprise, inspire respect, and generate hope for tomorrow.

It includes the journeys of true “Greats” from the likes of Babe Didrikson Zaharias to Peanut Johnson and her incredible pitching arm, to the many firsts, including Paralympian Muffy Davis, basketball phenom Caitlin Clark, tennis legend Althea Gibson, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and more. They are all there waiting to share their stories and their inspiration, training secrets, determination and drive.

Women’s sports has been building slow momentum for years. Now its breakthrough change – pro soccer league expansion, pro football, softball, hockey, rugby and other team sports are all beginning to see record breaking fan interest. Well, of course, you say. When someone plays a sport well – at the top of their game and with incredible power and finesse, we all want to watch and applaud.

But getting there is the hard part. It takes years of practice, personal sacrifice, training, recovering from injuries and more. It is no wonder that, as shoemaker and sports apparel company Nike has found, young girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys.

A series of ads focus on inspiration and encouragement for girls. With tag lines like “Find Your Potential, Own the Floor, Prove them Wrong, and Do Things History Could Only Dream of,” they are seeking to inspire and encourage next generations.

Nike’s commitment also go much deeper. The company is promoting gender equity in sports as a big part of their social and community impact strategy. Their “Get Her in the Game” campaign works with parks and recreation centers across the country to help provide a positive sports environment for girls. The focus is on belonging, teamwork, and leadership. Just what every aspiring champion needs.

So get ready. The Girls Who Beat the Odds is already waiting at the start and will be taking off on September 8th!