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Play-by-Play Booth Still Boys-Only Club

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 31, 2009 4:43 PM CST

(Newser) – Andrea Kremer’s done nearly everything in sports journalism: produced, directed, and won Emmys for her stories. But come game time, she—like most women sports journalists—are stuck on the sidelines, the Washington Post reports. The play-by-play booth is reserved almost exclusively for men, who will broadcast the Final Four, the Masters, the World Series, and yes, tomorrow’s Super Bowl.

On record, most women journalists say the sidelines are fine, but privately they seethe. “This is the most misogynist part of society,” said one sideline reporter. “It’s the last bastion of acceptable sexism.” Worse, an unattractive man—sorry, John Madden—can thrive in sports journalism, while women need to be lookers. But "the industry is changing, and this, too, will change," said an ESPN exec.

[Images (6)]

[Videos (1)]

NBC commentator Andrea Kremer reports from the sidelines as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)

Journalist Lesley Visser speaks onstage during the Women's Sports Foundation's 'Billie Awards' held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 15, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Getty Images)

CBS-TV reporter Lesley Visser reports from the sidelines January 4, 2004 at the RCA Dome, Indianapolis, in an AFC Wildcard game. The Colts defeated the Broncos 41 - 10. (Getty Images)

Commentator Erin Andrews of ESPN reports from the sidelines as the University of Miami Hurricanes host the Texas A&M Aggies at the Orange Bowl on September 20, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images)

ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews interviews head coach David Pernoof the Georgia Bulldogs during Game 1 of the 2008 Men's College World Series Championship June 23, 2008. (Getty Images)

ESPN commentator Suzy Kolber during the ESPN Monday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams in St. Louis, Missouri on December 11, 2006. (Getty Images)

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Joe Namath tries to smooch Suzy Kolber on the sidelines. (YouTube)

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