Bleacher Report - Boston Breakers

Lilly's Views On Unsportswomanlike Conduct During "Greater Boston" Show

Todd Civin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:59:57 -0500

Boston Breaker and US National Team star Kristine Lilly appeared last night on "Greater Boston", a Boston based talk show on WGBH Channel 2 Boston, and spoke in detail about the recent violent incidents in woman's high school and collegiate soccer.

Appearing with Dan Lebowitz, Executive Director of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, Lilly spoke candidly with show host Jared Bowen about the well publicized incidents that happened recently at a high school in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and a college game in New Mexico. In each of these incidents video shortage has been blasted across the Internet showing the violent actions of women at soccer games.

"I think it's an incident that you don't see frequently," explained Lilly, who sees the incidents as isolated and made more newsworthy by Youtube. "The part for me that's hard is the game of soccer is so great and then it's focused on that. That's the part we need to bring back and show the great game of soccer."

"That's what Women's Professional Soccer and the Boston Breakers is trying to show."

Lebowitz agreed with Lilly that if the events had happened 20 years ago before the advent of Youtube, the incidents wouldn't have received national attention.

"For that to become the face of New England women's soccer, or for the New Mexico incident to become the face of women's collegiate soccer is just wrong," explained Lebowitz. "When you really look at the growth of women's sports, it's a beautiful growth.

He continued, "It's a growth about healthy development of young women. It's about cognitive development and conflict resolution. It's about competitive spirit and cooperative spirit and working together."

Lebowitz explained that through the media glamorization of incidents like these it "takes away from what sport really is."

Lilly has quickly become the face of Women's Soccer in Boston after starring for the Breakers in their maiden season in the WPS last season. Together with stars Kelly Smith and Alex Scott, Lilly led the Breakers to a 5-7-4 record last season, their first in the newly reformed WPS.

Greater Boston is aired nightly at 7 P.M. on Boston's WGBH Channel 2.

WGBH is PBS’s single largest producer of content for television (prime-time and children’s programs) and the Web. WGBH also is a major supplier of programs heard nationally on public radio. And is a pioneer in educational multimedia and in media access technologies for people with hearing or vision loss.

The previous story is excerpted from a press release by WGBH TV and is reprinted by Bleacher Report writer Todd Civin. Civin is a freelance writer who works as part of the coverage team for the Boston Breakers of the WPS.

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Breaker's Lilly To Appear Tonight On Boston's Channel 2

Todd Civin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:26:32 -0500

Current Boston Breakers and long time Women's Soccer icon, Kristine Lilly will appear tonight at 7:00 PM on WGBH Channel 2 in Boston. Lilly will be speaking with the host of the nightly public affairs program, Greater Boston, and will be speaking with host Jared Bowen about a variety of topics.

Lilly, who was one of the shining stars for the Breakers last season in the maiden campaign of the Women's Professional Soccer League, will be speaking with Bowen about her views on women in sports, her soccer career, and the recent outbreaks of violence on the soccer field.

The program airs tonight at 7pm on Channel 2 in Boston, while the video of her segment will be posted on the WGBH website at www.wgbh.org/gb by Wednesday morning.

Lilly is also is a member of the United States women's national team and is the most capped men's or women's soccer player in the history of the sport. The long-time native of Wilton, CT currently resides in Brookline, MA with her husband Dave Heavey and her daughter Sidney Marie.

The 38-year-old star of the Breakers is currently in her 22nd year as a mamber of the United States National team.

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Breakers' Angela Hucles Named Humanitarian of the Year

What's News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:12:19 -0500

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, announced today that retired U.S. Women’s National Team star and Boston Breakers midfielder Angela Hucles has been selected as a 2009 Humanitarian of the Year award winner.

Hucles joins Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause as recipients of the 2009 honor.

Hucles, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist from Virginia Beach, VA and stand-out player during the Inaugural Season of Women’s Professional Soccer, has been active in philanthropic efforts throughout the year.

She serves as a spokesperson and active supporter for America SCORES New England, a non-profit which provides soccer and creative writing programs after-school for 650 Boston inner-city youth, and reaches hundreds more during summers.

Speaking at annual events and providing skill sessions to the youth of SCORES, Angela has a “rock star” status within the organization, and is truly valued as a friend.

Each Humanitarian of the Year is given the opportunity to select a youth program to receive a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Hucles selected America SCORES New England and will donate 300 Kwik Goal soccer balls to SCORES’ Middle School poet-athletes as part of their "Voices" event on Nov. 19.

“Angela’s passion and commitment for providing children in vulnerable communities with opportunities to play soccer is truly inspirational,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “She’s achieved great success both on and off the field and serves as an example to others looking for ways to give back.”

"Angela is so deserving of this award!" said Anne Strong, Director of Strategic Initiatives of America SCORES New England. "For nearly five years she has frequently given her time and personal warmth to inspire our aspiring student athletes to keep giving their all to soccer and to school."

Hucles’ service in the community has positively affected women and children from across the globe. As an American Ambassador for the Brazilian chapter of Partners of the Americas, Hucles works to enhance life skill education for young girls through the game of soccer. Bonding with them through a sport they can relate to, her affect on the children is immediate.

In addition, Hucles serves on both the Women’s Sports Foundation advisory board and the Omega Institute’s Women in Power Conference, offering advice on everything from how to improve female athlete participation to discussing the effects of Title IX on generations past and generations to come.

Though Hucles announced her retirement from professional soccer in October, her influence in the community has only begun.

The previous story is excerpted from a Press Release by the Boston Breakers of the WPS. What's News is the alternate profile of Bleacher Report writer Todd Civin and is used to repost Press Releases for the AHL, The WPS and the NY-PENN baseball League. Civin is a supporter of the award winning children's book A Glove of Their Own , which promotes Pay It Forward through baseball.

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