Grannies have hoop dreams, too

[dem]

It's a league of their own, started in Iowa and growing in popularity
By Natalie Morales
NBC News
Barb McPherson, 62, started the league two years ago with about a dozen players. Barb wanted to keep herself and her friends active, but thought that the gym was too boring and bicycles hurt her rear end. Instead of prescribing a more conventional geriatric activity, she harkened back to her teenage years as a high school basketball player in rural Iowa, and founded the league.

"Yeah, we decided no rocking chairs for us," Barb says. "We're gonna die on the court!"

...


The rules of the game have been "grannyfied" — their games are based on old-fashioned "girls" rules — six-on-six — three players on offense, three on defense, and the half-court line dividing the game into two. The grannies play a slightly modified version, though. There's no running, jumping or physical contact of any kind. And no showing too much skin — their uniforms are also a throwback.

...

They're also part of a legacy here for many. Basketball has been a family affair, played by generations of Iowa women.

"I think that's what Iowa is known for," Barb says. "I mean, just about as much as corn!"



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18059833/

[LadyBuff]

I wish I still lived in Iowa so I could watch some of these games. I also wish my mother would play on one of these teams.

There must be some kind of league in Colorado for women over 50 or so as a couple of teams played at halftime at a CU game a year ago or so.

[wildcatwomen]

I saw this story when it was on the news. These grannies looked like they were having the time of their lives. I also thought it was neat that the proceeds from their games always go to a charity. They are truly playing for the love of the game. Kind of like our college girls!

My mother grew up in Iowa and played basketball at a time when only a few states offered competitive women's basketball. She tells me all the time how that state pioneered the women's game. When you look at attendance numbers at Iowa State, it is easy to see that it's a state where they still love watching the game. Unfortunately, at that time, Iowa was so far ahead of the nation that there weren't many options for the girls to play ball past high school. Mom always tells me about my aunt, who averaged 37 ppg in high school, and who could have definitely played college ball but didn't have any opportunity to continue. I'm sure some schools were playing at the college level, but it certainly wasn't anything like today.

[hornsofthedillema]

Thanks, Dem for that reminder. With all the hoopla about how much Texas is willing to pay GG and the nay sayers who are fixated on the fact that Duke was losing money on their wbb program, it's great to be reminded of how far women's basketball has come and how important it is to have the opportunities to learn on and off the court at higher and higher levels for women. Young women deserve the chance to keep loving the game!