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Football Chick

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This is the fusion of being a fan of football and now at 43, playing professional tackle football with the Dallas Diamonds, 4-time World Champions. We travel together through my journey of being an overweight, suburban wife and mom to a seasoned professional athlete. My goals include encouraging and impacting you to live a clean and active life and to never utter the words, 'I can't'!

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Archive for July, 2008
DALLAS DIAMOND WIN IN OVERTIME 35-29

I'll make this quick....

DALLAS DIAMONDS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!

We are coming home with the trophy DFW!

Thanks Diet Pepsi Max and all our sponsors and fans who helped us get to Chicago and win this thing!!

I'm going to go celebrate with my family and teammates!

Stay inspired,

Kip #45

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 26, 2008 11:55 PM
It's Game Time

Play by Play before the Championsip Game:

 

We gave our practice and walk-through session to the Montreal Blitz. They play in the Tier 2 Championship game in a couple hours prior to our Tier 1 game against the Chicago Force. Coach believes we don’t need it and, well, the travel scenario we find ourselves in means many of our players are continuing to fly in up until late this morning…game day!

 

You’ve heard about the Diamonds travel woes but it appears travel expenses are a problem throughout Women’s Professional Football. According Deborah Howlett, the Crack-Back blogger, one team in the NWFA did forfeit their playoff game due to a lack of financial backing. Check out her blog at www.crack-back.blogspot.com .

 

Holly and I arrived around noon Friday in the Windy city and can I tell you….the traffic here is unbelievable. I thought Dallas was bad…I’ll never say that again! It was bumper to bumper from Gary, Indiana to O’Hare near our hotel. Once inside the hotel doors, there sat about 20 players waiting on rooms…the rooms were not ready! Ugh…more waiting!

 

Grabbing a bite, we returned to the hotel to find the rooms ready. Next, we checked in with the IWFL representatives to get our free stuff…a very cool looking IWFL sling bag but the rest of the stuff was kinda lame…a water bottle, a t-shirt, stickers, a guide to Chicago (as if I’ll have time to see the city with a curfew of 9:00PM), and a game day poster that does not even have the teams on it. We signed four game footballs and two of those lame posters.

 

Focusing next on a little rest, we napped before the “Meet and Greet” where we met players and fans. Our star player Jessica Springer took two IWFL League Awards: 3rd place for Strength – Bench press 23 reps/150lbs. and 3rd place for Speed – 4.8/40 Yard dash.

 

I think the league thought they were feeding a bunch of gymnasts at this event instead of four football teams. I did see a bowl of chips and then when pizza was placed on the table, it was gone within a breath. Healthy don’t you think? And, would you believe the league representative actually apologized for not having enough food. So, when the awards were done, the Diamonds left to go get something to eat. The event was supposed to last until 9:00PM. The league questioned why we were leaving. Our Owner politely said, “hum, they are hungry, they need dinner, they are going to eat.”  I think they closed down by around 7:45PM.

 

After eating, we hung around the lobby for a while. It turns out NCAA football officials are here for meetings. Jen Welter and I talked up Women’s Professional Football among the officials. Many of them had never heard about Women’s tackle football! Now they have! They end their meetings today at 5:00PM and are coming to our Championship game. This is good for women’s football! As more people learn women can play football well, the greater the possibility for us to move forward with the sport.

 

This morning we did the breakfast in bed thing…sooooo good! We had our offensive and defensive meetings. Now we are staying off our feet, hydrating, and mentally preparing to take away a title from Title TownUSA.

 

Stay inspired,Kip #45
Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 26, 2008 12:57 PM
8 More to Go!
Diet Pepsi Max just came through big!! They answered our desperate call for eight  more players to get to the Championship Game! Some of you also eagerly answered the call and supported the Diamonds by donating your airline miles or purchasing a plane ticket for one of our players. Thank you….to Rob Enright at the Ward Group, Kenneth Clark, Banks Dental, Real World Ministries, Patrick’s Roofing Company, Beyond ROI, Neal Bronzo at PBG, Bent Tree Bliese Lifegroup, American Airlines personnel, Jen Welter’s Client, Toby and Kimberly Page at Southwest Airlines, and fans who have donated via our web site and Pep Rally. All of you have contributed to amazing athletes who adapt and overcome any obstacle put in their path.

 

It is truly amazing how I’ve watched our players, staff, and the community unite around us to get us to this Championship Game. We held a Pep Rally Saturday in which enough donors gave money for us to get three players to the game! We enjoyed great food prepared by the team and their family members, kids and players jumped in the bounce house, and we watched game film from our victory over Seattle for the Western Division Title. K104.1FM even showed up and engaged in the festivities.

 

And, just so you know how GRASS ROOTS the effort is to get us to Chicago, our Player Relations Director, Amy Ashkinazy ran through our practice field parking lot getting all the spare change from the player’s cars…no penny was left in anyone’s ashtray!

 

Should it be this way? No…but this is our reality. It costs thousands and thousands of dollars to travel with 50+ people and all our equipment. Unfortunately, for a multitude of reasons, there is not the financial backing to get us to Chicago to play this Championship Game. Nearly every single one of us feels sad and frustrated by this. Even though we, the players, should not be worried about the finances, we do? How could we not? We were deeply impacted by the travel arrangements for the Seattle playoff game. We could not bear the thought of us forfeiting this game…no way! So, here we are doing whatever we can do to get this entire team to the game. Thank you again to all who came along side us. We feel loved by your support. And, let us leave no doubt….we will bring home another Title for DFW. I think we could use another Ring!!

 

I am headed out with my kids on Thursday morning flying to Columbus, Ohio. I then drive to Chicago on Friday. I'll keep in touch...give you more behind the scenes look at this Championship Title run. 

 

The game is on Saturday, July 26th in Chicago. Check out www.iwflsports.com for the latest information on the game.

 

Also, check out www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com and see Kandace Dodson, our Neighborsgo Editor attempting a workout with us! She showed up in heels and a dress…ok….hello…Kandace, this is football…take a look and see for yourself how she did!

 

Stay inspired,

 

Kip #45

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 22, 2008 1:11 PM
Post Traumatic Diamonds Travel Stress Disorder (PTDTSD)
It started at 5:00am in terminal C…will they make it….can they get on this flight….denied! Next flight…off to Terminal A…”please call our name”….Denied. Time to eat…They grabbed a bite and moved again…different gate in Terminal A but again denied….Next the Conrail to Terminal D…surely they will make this flight to Seattle…No, denied! Several more gate and terminal changes, quick bites….long waits…and finally reaching Seattle and the team hotel at close to midnight around 2:00 in the morning Texas time…about 18 hours later.

 

And, believe it or not, but the travel adventure in Seattle only got worse. Upon arriving at the hotel, we helped a player move into her room. The key card would not work, “You know it sounds like someone is in this room”, said Holly as Laura went back to the  desk to get another key. When Laura returned, we tried and tried again to no avail to get that hotel door open…then…suddenly… a very weary middle-aged man cracked the door open, “can I help you ladies?”. Yep, this poor man was being invaded by the Dallas Diamonds in the middle of the night.

 

Laura and three other teammates finally got into a room. It smelled like dirty old socks that had sat in the garage for several months. Holly actually opened the coffee pack and began waving it around the room to try and change the smell. We opened windows and turned on the air. Slowly the smell began to change or we just got used to it.

 

Unfortunately, our Assistant Coach Mikal Black and his wife were left out. No smelly rooms left for them in this team hotel.  So, Coach Black set out to find a place to stay. They were denied next door; no room at the Inn. Down the road a way, they finally found a place.

 

We had players waiting for hours and arriving at various times prior to the start of Saturday’s 3:00PM playoff game. Several key players were unable to make it. And, our Owner gave up her seat so our Running Back Odessa Jenkins could make it in time for kickoff.

 

This kind of travel is highly conducive to winning playoff football games don’t you think? But that is the kind of travel arrangements many Diamonds players had to endure in order to get to Seattle to play our Western Division Championship game against the Majestics.                Amazingly, we did win! We dominated again 38-6 against a team that only allowed 27 points scored against them all season. We even had nearly 150 yards in penalties against us and still managed a decisive victory. We stay focused on our goal despite how we felt, the travel issues, and the flag-happy officiating. We have a motto we stand upon when we must adapt and overcome…’One Team….One Goal’.

 

And, our goal is to bring home another World Championship Title to the DFW area. I believe we can do it. We have the depth of talent, great Coaching, and a staff full of perseverance and unbeatable in the low-budget trenches in which we live.

 

We are the most successful professional sports franchise in Texas in the 21st century. We win!! We dominate!! We know how to play football!! What other team is doing what we are…three World titles in the last four years and we are about to win another one. Yet, we can’t travel to our Championship game without some significant help! Winning… hard, but we make it look easy. Paying for travel expenses and marketing….easy, but we can’t seem to find people and companies willing to help us.

 

Oh, and just so you know…the travel back home was again full of adventure. Val, who I am second string to, endured  an overnight stay in the Seattle airport by herself. She stood there and watched as everyone else made it on a flight home. She tried several other flights but was denied. She even tried to get to St. Louis…a step closer but was denied. Finally making it on a flight to Austin, she was harassed in First Class for wearing a sweatshirt because she was cold. And, if that wasn’t enough, there was a take-off delay due to a toilet problem. Again waiting, the bathroom was fixed and she was on her way to Austin. Three other teammates drove to pick her up. She arrived back home about 30 hours after her ordeal first started.

 

As a counselor, let me just say I am seeing more and more cases of PTDTSD…Post Traumatic Diamonds Travel Stress Disorder. I will be offering free group and individual therapy session this week at practice.

 

If you can help sponsor a player to Chicago for the Championship Game, July 26th, we would be honored. You can donate miles or actually ‘adopt a player’ by purchasing her ticket.

 

Please contact me directly for a sponsorship, ‘adopt a player’, or donation of airline miles. You can call me at 214.543.4108. Or you can make a donation at www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com .

 

Stay inspired, Kip #45  

 

 

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 16, 2008 5:00 PM
Diamonds Need the Home Town Behind the Home Team

I leave for Seattle and the Western Division Championships in about an hour. I bought my own ticket and my own hotel room. I did that to free up a space for another teammate to get to the game. There is just not enough money to take our entire team. That kills me!! I can't believe we can't find enough people, businesses, and/or sponsors to assist us in winning this 4th World Championship Title.

 

The press has kindly helped and gotten involved. Several of the local newspapers, television and radio stations have allowed us to get the word out about our needs. Yet, here we are...in danger of not having enough players...not  having enough weapons on the field to win this thing. I'm stunned that not more of the home town has come along side us to support this home team.

 

As of yesterday, only 25% of the players had airline tickets to get to the game. And, while we, the players, continue to focus on football, the team management is trying to figure out discount travel options to get the best team on the playing field, “ I think that the team, as in the players, don’t worry about the financial backing. They worry about playing football.” says Amy Ashkinazy, Player Relations Director for the Diamonds. It’s the front-office that worries about the finances. It just makes our nights very restless because we are always worried and thinking of ways to get the players and the coaches to the games.”

 

Well, I am one player that worries about the finances. I just admit that...but I guess it is because I ask and know more instead of just concentrating on football...

 

 

And, even with all that press, we've only had about $200 dollars in donations in the last few weeks bringing our base to around $15,000. This falls short of the nearly $65,000 needed for travel to Seattle and the Championship game in Chicago. To some football fan out there $65,000 is chump change. To us, however, it means everything.

 

The Owner assures me we will have who and what we need in Seattle, but it has come with a hefty price to her, “We will have our starting team in Seattle. We will make this game, but I have lost thousands of dollars on Seattle, “ says Dawn Berndt, Owner of the Dallas Diamonds. “We want to bring DFW another championship and continue to let the world know the best athletes come from Texas. We need individuals and companies who want to be a part of what these great women are doing to come along side them and say ‘yes, we will help you get there and win!’”

 

It is truly an honor to be a part of the Dallas Diamonds, the most successful professional sports franchise in Texas in the 21st Century. With three World Championship titles (O4’, O5’, 06’) since our inception in 2002, we are on a quest for a 4th World Title. The Diamonds (8-0) dominated the California Quake (8-0), in the first round of the Western Division playoffs winning 69-3. Seattle (9-0) also dominated their first round opponent the Corvallis Pride (35-0). They will be a tough opponent.

 

We will be ready! We have worked hard to get to this point. The Championship is one game away. We can do this thing! We will do this thing! We are Champions who overcome and adapt.

 

 

To make donations and/or talk to the team about sponsorship, please contact the Diamonds or visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com .

 

You can watch the game live on www.ustream.tv . Game time is Saturday at 5:00PM.

 

Stay inspired,

 

Kip #45

 

 

 

 

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 10, 2008 3:17 PM
Please Tell Me This is Wrong!
‘Kids in Sad Shape’…that was the DMN headline that got my attention and I hope it got yours too! Recent evaluations on nearly 2.6 million Texas students grades three through 12, showed that our kids are in pathetic physical shape. Roughly 30 percent of the third graders tested managed to reach the ‘healthy fitness zone’. The fitness levels dropped with each passing grade to the point where only 8 percent of girls and 9 percent of boys in the 12th grade met the health fitness standards.

 

 

Wow…….that means only 92 percent of our Seniors in high school can function in a physical capacity that is normal and healthy. What does that say? What is going on with our youth? How can this be? Are we as a nation really in this bad of shape? Please tell me this is wrong!

 

 

This is absolutely alarming! This seems to reveal most of our children are failing basic standards for fitness. And, as our kids get older, their fitness health is getting worse. That is disasterous. For a multiple of reasons, most of our kids are not fit. My guess is most adults are not fit either. And, generally, where we find a child or teen not fit, we find a parent in the same condition.

 

 

As a counselor who has worked with teens and adults struggling eating disorders and addiction issues and their family members, these statistics disturb me but do not surprise me. Very few of the clients I saw over the past decade including their family members lived ‘healthy’ lifestyles. Most did not exercise on a regular basis, most neglected to eat clean and healthy. Most lived on fast food and did not sit down as a family over a cooked meal. Most were never appropriately hydrated, and many did not sleep the necessary amount for the body to function at its best.

 

 

I am convinced that unless this changes, we will continue to see more and more mental illness and more and more people who are unable and ineffective to deal with the pressures and normal trials of life. This can be prevented! There is hope. There are four basic things we can all do from kids to older adults to change this direction. In the weeks ahead, I will address these four things in depth. Stay tuned…

 

 

 

And, the Diamonds are off to Seattle this weekend for the Western Division IWFL Championships. You can watch the game live on www.ustream.tv at 5:00PM Saturday, July 12th. 

 

I'll give you an update on our efforts to get our entire team there in the next day or so...if you'd like to help us out, please visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com . Thanks!

 

Stay inspired,

Kip #45 

 

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 9, 2008 5:21 PM
We are in the Playoffs...BUT...
You may be surprised to know the Dallas Diamonds are most successful professional sports franchise in Texas in the 21st Century. With three World Championship titles (O4’, O5’, 06’) since their inception in 2002, the women of the gridiron are on a quest for a 4th. But that quest may fall short due to a lack of financial backing. “It is no secret that women’s athletics especially football does not get the big bucks in sponsorships and media attention like the Cowboys. We play for the pure love of football and right now we can’t afford to travel to the playoff games,” says Amy Ashkinazy, Player Relations Director for the Diamonds. “Right now we can’t take all of our team members which can hurt our chances of winning.”

 

 

The Diamonds (8-0) dominated the California Quake (8-0), in the first round of the Western Division playoffs winning 69-3. Part of that winning strategy was using the depth of the Diamonds’ roster. “The talent on this team is incredible”, says Holly Headen, Guard for the Diamonds. “We have so many strong, first rate athletes; it is sad to think that all of us will not be able to go to Seattle or Chicago due to a lack of funding.”

 

 

Needing approximately $85,000 to send the team to the Western Division playoffs, the team is asking for donations and sponsorships for their travel to Seattle and Chicago for the World Title Game. “We want to bring DFW another championship and continue to let the world know the best athletes come from Texas,” says Owner Dawn Berndt. “We need individuals and companies who want to be a part of what these great women are doing to come along side them and say ‘yes, we will help you get there and win!’” To make donations and/or talk to the team about sponsorship, please contact the Diamonds or visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com .

 

That is a story I wrote and I'm sitting here kinda sad every time I read it. These women are the most amazing people on and off the field. As you know from my previous blogs, I am impressed with their athleticism and professionalism. I feel honored to play along side them, and it just kills me we do not have the funding to get our team to the Playoffs...let alone the Championship game in Chicao when we beat Seattle!

 

Marc Cuban has a plane, he could send us! I wonder if John Travolta is busy with his plane? Any number of the Cowboys and former Cowboys could afford to help us. There are individuals companies out there in this Metroplex that should and could take a chance at supporting women's football...become the pioneer that it takes to put us on the map! Or, what about Pepsi...we drink G2, a Pepsi Bottling Group product...SoBe...What energy drink company is out there that would like a bunch of fun, tough, football loving kind of female athletes drinking and pushing their product????????

 

Jen Welter, Linebacker and Personal Trainer, shared today on the KSCS morning show with the Dorsey Gang how one of her clients bought her a plane ticket and hotel room in Seattle for the playoff game next weekend. Jen called her a Guardian Angel! How awesome is that woman!! Thank you!! Who else would like to step in and send a player...show us DFW how much you love your home team!

 

All our success is really cool, but the reality is it takes money to travel. The more players we can take to the Playoffs and the Championship game, the more weapons we have. The more weapons we have, the better our chances of bringing DFW another World title!!

 

If you can help us, please visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com or drop me a comment or email.

 

To check out the Video and pictures from our visit with the KSCS Dorsey Gang, visit www.kscs.com or

http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/9864/Rebecca-with-the-Dallas-Diamonds-Football-Team

 

Thank you. Stay inspired and keep moving,

 

Kip #45

 

Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 3, 2008 5:13 PM
"There's No Crying in Football"
I started walking back to the locker room at the half…I had to stop just short of the door….I moved back…turned myself around…I was about to cry and we all know, ‘there’s no crying in football!’

 

Disgusted with my performance just before the end of the half, I had to collect my thoughts, my attitude, my tear ducts before walking into that locker room. I missed a clear shot at my first solo tackle during a kickoff. I was too high. I was right there and I let her get around me. Yeah, like I was going to pull her down by grabbing her arm. I know to go low…I practice going low.

 

Coach Black did the right thing as we were running into the locker room. He said I needed to make that tackle. Then he saw me pull up just shy of going in and he asked me if I was okay. I said, “I want so desperately to do this right.” He again said the right thing to me, “We all miss it sometimes, it happens to all of us; you’ll get it.”

 

It’s not just missing that tackle that got me, it is what the miss represents. First, it means someone else had to make that tackle. I let down the team. Perhaps she got a few more yards because I missed the tackle…or what if she actually scored on that return?? Making sure I stay in my lane and get the tackle are critical in kickoff situations.

 

Second, it reveals in my heart the desire to be ‘perfect’; that belief somewhere in my DNA that says, “I want to be really good right now….never mind I am a rookie”.

 

I think that perfect desire is related to that whole ‘fear’ thing I blogged about a couple months back. Not being perfect reveals an insecurity about failing, messing up, not getting it, and looking bad in front of others.

 

Truth be told, I think it reveals my desire to better than I am or maybe ever will be. I turned 42 Friday. And, while just starting to play tackle football at 42 is inspiring, it does not give me a long window to get good at football. So, I want to be good now…see the logic there?

 

This involves a learning curve. I am aware. I am still in mid-curve even though the season is over (9-0) and we are in the playoffs. And, nearly every Coach and every player has reminded me of that and given me kudos for making progress each practice and each game.

 

I guess I wish I was more of the aggressive…let it rip type of person. The natural talent. You need those on the football field. I am a classic learner…tell…show…do…I study…I read…I watch film. I practice…practice…practice and practice some more…at team workouts and on my own. It just feels like I work real hard to be average.

 

More than likely, I will not be on the travel team when we head to the next playoff game in Seattle in two weeks. I am totally ok with that and understand fully the reason. So, I will pay for my own ticket and go. I'll suit up. And, more than likely, I’ll get to play.

 

Dang it…I want to hit hard like KB Bowman and Jen Welter. I want to be fast and strong like Jessica Springer. I want to get through that line like Ann Richardson, Tiny Mitchell, or Moma Young. I’d love to hold that line like Nicole Malloy, Suede Murrell, Esther Pitchardo, and Michelle Gailey. I want to cover and catch like Berta Fitcheard-Brydson, Valerie Murawka, Dani Welniak, or Jennifer Ferrell. I want to read that offense and make the play like Lindsey Clark, block like Rachel May, zigzag down the field like Q. Ragsdale and Odessa Jenkins, or be the most versatile player like Monica Foster. Okay, and I want to pass like Karen Seimears. Yes, it’s true, I want it all and I want it right now!!

 

See, how ridiculous it is to expect perfection especially at 42 in your rookie year of playing tackle football. I am so blessed and so honored to be around all of these incredible women and Coaches. The Diamonds are full of amazing athletes and the depth of our team is unbeatable and unstoppable. We will bring DFW another World Championship Title!

 

Stay inspired…telling myself that…

 

Kip #45
Posted by Kip Watson, MA, LPC, ACE-CPT on Jul 1, 2008 6:08 AM

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