FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 11, 2014
Read about another woman in the news. What school subjects does she probably use often at work or at home?
Pick a sports story that's not just about a game and list things you learn or admire.
Look for a story or photo about a job that seems appealing. Tell why.
Going from star basketball player to pro coach isn't unusual. The latest athlete making that leap is noteworthy, however. Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Stars, a 16-year WNBA veteran, next month starts a historic regular-season job as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. The 5-foot-6 point guard is the first woman to break through a "glass ceiling" that kept women out of the National Basketball Association’s full-time paid coaching ranks.
Just one other woman came close since the league began in 1946. Lisa Boyer served for less than a year as an unpaid assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. So Hammond's selection is a big deal. "The NBA is a risk-averse place. . . . Nobody was hiring a female coach because nobody had ever hired a female coach," writes ESPN columnist Kate Fagan, a former semi-pro player.
The 37-year-old Hammon says it's "silly" for anyone to think a woman can't coach NBA players. "When it comes to things of the mind -- things like coaching, game-planning, coming up with offensive and defensive schemes -- there's no reason why a woman couldn't be in the mix and shouldn't be in the mix."
Head coach says: "I'm confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs." – Gregg Popovich
NBA executive says: "I'm sure he [Coach Popovich] didn't hire her because she was a woman. I'm sure he hired her because she was the best person for the job." -- Nancy Lieberman, general manager of the Texas Legends minor league team and an ex-WNBA star
Teen player says: "I was surprised and happy at the same time, because she's a girl and she gets to help coach the boys. It's good." – Glorien Escalera of the Spurs Youth Basketball League in San Antonio
Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
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