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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2003)
may 2.2003 » 1 SPORTS ...... w ...... 2nd & goal! et this: Portland has its very own womens fixrtball team. And I’m not talking flag foot ball or “Powder Puff.” I’m talking about the real deal— full-contact tackle football. Tire Portland Shockwave, now in its sec ond season, is part of the Independent W om en’s Football League, a member organiza by J amie B olyard tion of team owners similar to the National Brisson. Townsend plans to try out for the team Football League. T he league was founded in next season; Brisson is the Shockwave’s starting 2000 to support wom en’s tackle football and wide receiver. now has more than 20 teams throughout the U nited States and Canada. Brisson loves football. The daughter of a high school football coach, she grew up on the The Shockwave are in the Pacific Northwest gridiron. She played flag football in the sixth Division of the Western Conference alongside grade and was asked the following year to play Oregon’s other two teams, the Eugene Edge and on the regular team. Corvallis Pride. The Tacoma Majesties and “I got teased enough,” she says. “I wasn’t Boise Xtreme are also in the division. about to go play real football with the boys. 1 Four lifelong female athletes own the regret that, but now 1 get a chance.” Shockwave— two lesbian, one hi and one Most Shockwave players joined the team straight. Founding owners Emily Schwartz and with less experience or knowledge. “A few peo Rebecca Dawson heard about the Tacoma ple had no clue that a football was oblong," team in the fall of 2001 and were instantly Brisson laughs. intrigued. Although neither had a football Most team members grew up fans of the game, background, they fell in love with the idea of but Brisson says it’s totally different the first time women playing tackle football and decided to you put on the pads. “Some people are as mean as start their own team. (A nd why not?) shit and can go out there and Dawson wears two hel hit someone like no one’s mets— she’s the owner business. Other people and the team’s starting become more timid, and running back. Schwartz they get scared. It’s some calls herself a “girlie vol thing we work through.” leyball player” and leaves Obviously the kinks were the playing to the 47 worked out well before the women who fill the first game. In 2002 the Shockwave roster. Shockwave defense rated Rounding out the among the Top 25 in the ownership team are les country, out of nearly 120 Owners Emily Schwartz (right) and bian partners Megan Megan Townsend keep a sharp eye plays teams. They also finished Townsend and Rebecca G Portland women’s football team tackles its second season eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout second in the league last year, losing to Tacoma in the championship game. Great records aside, unlike their male counterparts, these women play simply for the love of the game. The players are individ ually subcontracted under the condition that until there’s a profit, they don’t get paid. The Shockwave relies on grassroots market ing such as handing out fliers and holding occa sional fund-raisers, including a recent auction at the Egyptian Club. “Financially, I still don’t know how we make it happen every year,” says Schwartz. “W ith almost zero corporate sponsor ship or advertising and banks unwilling to loan money to such a risky business venture, making it all come together is difficult." Most of the team’s support comes from women, their families and the lesbian commu nity. Brisson estimates membership is around 60 percent lesbian. Unlike some professional women’s sports teams that have been criticized for ignoring their lesbian fans and players, the Shockwave wel come all. “We highlight talent and hard work, no matter who is doing it,” Schwartz asserts. “If America doesn’t yet understand or isn’t ready for eatingout eatingout FINE D IN IN G FROM TH E SEA 3520 NE 42ND A T FREM O N T 503-249-8486 the fact that we are a melting pot for a reason, that can’t be helped. There is no shame in acknowledging that part of the reason one of our star players is able to shine on the field is because she has the support of a wife and kids at home.” As for those fans, Townsend sums it up quite simply: “Look at all the people who sup ported the Fire— they have nowhere to go. They need to come to our games.” J H Your next chance to root for the PORTLAND is 6 p.m . May 17, when they take on the Eugene Edge on their home turf at Beaverton High School, 13000 S.W . Second St. Admission is $3-$5; kids 12 and younger are free. 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