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November 2011 |
neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
MBHS beats Hoover Hooverpg 18
Dana Wolter on holiday decor -pg 10
Volume 2 | Issue 8 | November 2011
There’s no crying in football By ANNE WOOD
Most girls go through a tomboy phase at some point in their lives, but for Evelyn King, the no-nonsense attitude was not just a phase. Evelyn, a third grader at Crestline Elementary, is no stranger to playing organized sports, including youth football. Prior to joining the football team, she had played soccer, softball, and basketball. Evelyn viewed football just like any other sport. Why would it be considered out of the ordinary for her to play football? She had no specific agendas when joining the team, she had no point to prove, she simply loved the sport. “I just love football,” she said. “My older brother has played, and I just wanted to try it.” Evelyn did not show the slightest bit of concern for being the only girl on the team. When asked if she felt comfortable being the only girl on the team, she responded with a simple shrug, grin, and an “I don’t really care.” Evelyn recounts her favorite memory of playing football as she described scoring a touchdown. To a lot of people, this proved that Evelyn did not need any special attention or accommodations. Obviously not much of a girly-girl, she
November Features Editor’s Note City Council MBTV coming soon Paul DeMarco Q&A Kari Kampakis Preschool Partners Village Sports School House Business Spotlight Restaurant Showcase Around the Villages Calendar of Events
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Evelyn King with her coach and teammate at a Crestline football game. Photo courtesy of Langston Hereford.
had to ask her mother repeatedly over the course of six months for permission to play football. The final selling point for Kimberly King, Evelyn’s mother, were questions she carefully crafted with her father’s help: “Mom, can a girl be president?” asked Evelyn.
“Yes,” her mother answered. “Why hasn’t a girl been president yet, then?” “I don’t know.” “Is it because boys are better than girls?” “No.”
“Can a girl really set her mind on doing what she wants to do?” “Yes.” “So, Mom, can I play football?” The reluctant mother changed her no answers to a “we’ll see” and finally told Evelyn the next day that, yes, she could play football. Her mother was not scared of Evelyn getting hurt, though, because of safety rules put into place at Crestline. One of the most effective rules states that if a player is more than 75 pounds, he or she may not run the ball. Kimberly King’s main concern was if Evelyn would be ostracized both on and off the field for being the only girl to play football. Evelyn insists, though, that she has kept the same group of friends that she had before she started playing football. No one has treated her any differently. She also enjoys simply being on the team and having fun. Both she and her mother agree that her coaches and teammates treat her like any other player, and with respect. “I’m so glad we did it,” Kimberly King said. “The reaction has been nothing but positive.” She even says that a few parents
See FOOTBALL | page 20
Macy’s Parade to showcase seniors By MAGGIE CARTER O’CONNOR Libby Hobbs can’t wait to march down the streets of New York City. “When I think about Thanksgiving, I get chill bumps,” said the MBHS Dorians co-captain. “It is going to be the trip of a lifetime and something I will never forget.” Hobbs and three other captains and co-captains of the Cheerleaders and Dorians will be performing in the 85th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Dorian captains and co-captains traditionally receive invitations to perform in the parade, but this will be the MBHS Cheerleaders’ first appearance. “When we realized we were eligible, we decided that very day that we wanted to go and that we would be the first cheerleaders from Mountain Brook,” Cheerleading Captain Morgan Russell said. Russell and fellow captains Allison Ingram and Laine Lidikay will represent the school with Hobbs. Each girl received her invitation based on her leadership position in this summer’s UDA Dance and UCA Cheer camps. These girls are part of a group of 2,200 who will dance in the parade with production company Spirit of America. In late October, each girl participating received a package with their choreography
Macy’s Day Parade participants Morgan Russell, Allison Ingram, Libby Hobbs and Laine Lidikay hold “Big Apple” mailbox decoration. Each year, mailboxes of those going to the parade are decorated prior to the trip. Photo courtesy of Meme Hobbs.
materials and a uniform, including a rain jacket and toe warmers. “Sadly, our green and gold getups aren’t going to make the trip,” Ingram said. The four Mountain Brook girls plan to learn the routines together before leaving for New York, as is expected by the production company.
As a part of its annual community non-profit sponsorship, Spirit of America has asked each girl to donate a sweatshirt for underprivileged New York teens through New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Parade
See MACY’S | page 31
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