Lesley Visser is a true trailblazer. She became the first woman on the NFL sidelines, the first to provide color commentary, the first to be a beat writer for an NFL team, and covered 35 Super Bowls and 35 NCAA Final Fours, Visser has become a role model for inspiring young female reporters. She shares her life story and provides the outstanding narration for “Sometimes You Have to Cross When It Says Don’t Walk.”
Vissler adopted the tagline that became the book’s title from her mother, when she shared her goal of becoming a sports reporter. Of course, the field for female sports reporters at the time was nonexistent. After graduating from Boston College, she became a writer for the Boston Globe. She was named the beat writer for the New England Patriots. In her book, Vissler talks about some of her not so flattering experiences with male athletes.
She describes meeting her first husband Dick Stockon at Fenway Park during the 1975 World Series. Visser and Stockton were married for nearly 26 years, before Visser remarried. She also describes meeting her second husband, and seems happy that Stockton also remarried.
In her book, Visser discusses the controversy over women being allowed in the locker room. She notes that only 13% of the sports media are women, pointing out that she was never hired by a woman. If you pick up this title, you will also enjoy Visser’s stories of working with Frank Gifford, traveling with John Madden, and interactions with the likes of Jerry Jones, Jim Valvano, Joe Torre, Bill Parcells, and Robert Kraft. She also reflects on her experience on Monday Night Football, and rightfully being honored by the NFL hall of fame.
She also outlines how sports media has changed over the years, and the influence of social media. I thoroughly enjoyed Visser’s life story, and glad that she is recognized as a true sports trailblazer.
By: Lesley Visser
Narrated by: Lesley Visser
Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 12-15-18
Publisher: Brilliance Audio