1 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: What's up everyone, and welcome to Playmakers. I'm your host, 2 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Haley Allwind and as we continue to highlight Women's History Month, 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: today we will be joined by longtime sports broadcaster Leslie Visser. 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: Leslie's whole professional life has been defined by firsts. She's 5 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: the first woman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 6 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: the first woman to cover the NFL as a beat, 7 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: the first woman to report from a Super Bowl sideline, 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: the first woman on Monday Night Football, as well as 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: broadcasts of the World Series, NCUBAA Final four and NBA Finals. 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: And also she'll become the first woman to receive the 11 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: Emmy Sports Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a true legend 12 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: and pioneer for women in sports media. So, without further ado, 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: let's welcome in Leslie Visser. All right, let's welcome in 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: Leslie Visser. Two playmakers today, Lee, how are you doing? 15 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: Oh god, Dailey, thank you for having me on. You know, 16 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: and the entire world of sports has been such a 17 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: crazy month. I think people made the rights decisions and uh, 18 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: you know with the NFL there they had a travel 19 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: band themselves or the pre draft, so you know, we'll 20 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: just see where it all goes. Yeah, it has been 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 1: a really crazy month. But the cool thing about March 22 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: is that it's Women's History Month and we've been talking 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,639 Speaker 1: to some really great women this month. We're so happy 24 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: you're on. So there's a lot of places to get 25 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: started with you, but I'm gonna start here. If someone 26 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: told ten year old Leslie that, on top of all 27 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: the other accolades and first she's received and will receive 28 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: in her life, and that she'd accomplished that she'd become 29 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: the first woman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 30 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: and the first woman to receive a Sports Lifetime Achievement 31 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: Award from the Emmys, what would she say? She would 32 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: have thought that, you know, legacies like that or for 33 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: well to Cronkite or Peter Jennings or you know, Al Davis, 34 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: Lamar Hunt, Pete Roselle, who would not have thought that 35 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: was for her? But I am deeply, deeply honored. The 36 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: previous recipients of the Emmy are either people I've had 37 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: the privilege to work with or people I idolized. I 38 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: grew up in Boston listening to the great Kirkoudie called 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Red Sox games on whc H radio on my chief transistor. 40 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: So to be listed with some of these men is 41 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: overwhelming to me. It's so cool. But take me back 42 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: to the time when you told your mom that you 43 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: wanted to be a sports writer. Why was that the 44 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: goal for you? Yeah? I think I was blessed, Paley, 45 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: and that I had a passion. You know, a lot 46 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: of people don't, or maybe they don't find one until 47 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: a certain point in life. But I had a passion 48 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: ever since I was very young. I loved sports. I 49 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: loved competition. I respected it. I always thought that the 50 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: great thing about sports is that you know, it doesn't 51 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: matter how much money your mother has. It doesn't matter 52 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: where your father came from. You know, you think the 53 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: put you hit the jumper, it's completely It's such a 54 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: great meritocracy and people come from all backgrounds, all countries. 55 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: And I always loved it. And we were living my 56 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 1: family moved quite a bit when I was young, and 57 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: we were living in Cincinnati. I was about ten years 58 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: old and my mother, who was a teacher, we crossed 59 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: the street in Cincinnati. I'd such a freeze frame in 60 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: my mind and she said, oh, hey, what do you 61 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: think you want to do when you grow up? And 62 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: I said, oh, gosh, I want to be a sports writer, 63 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: which you know, in nineteen sixty three, that was like saying, well, 64 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to go to the moon. Yeah, I'm going 65 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: to go to Mars. At that time there were women. 66 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: It was there were no women even when I started, yeah, 67 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: and we'll get But she didn't dissuade me, which people 68 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: can change the child's mind in one sentence. And instead 69 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: of saying to me, oh, you can't do that. Girls 70 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: don't do that. You have to be a nurse or 71 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: a homemaker or a teacher, she said to me, that's great. 72 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes you have to cross when it said don't walk, 73 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: that's so powerful. It was. And that's the title of 74 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: your book. Yes, yes, I you know, I stilled around 75 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 1: with a lot of titles. And when I thought, to us, 76 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: that's a good one, best advice I ever gone. It 77 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: was really a brilliant way to put it. It wasn't 78 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: just um, It wasn't just oh, have a dream, you know, 79 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: it was dare, dare to do it? And I did. 80 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: It gave me confidence, she said we would get to this, 81 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: and here we are. So when you wrote me to 82 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: kind of first set up this conversation. I reached out 83 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: to you. You replied to me you would mentioned that 84 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: when you started out as the first woman to cover 85 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: an NFL beat, there was a sign that said no 86 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: women or children in the press box. You've talked about 87 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: how there were no women's restrooms in the press area. 88 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: I mean, this really the one. Isn't that long ago 89 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: when you really think about it. But it's crazy how 90 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: back then it was so different. Yeah, people think I'm 91 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: talking about the eighteen seventy's not the nineteen. But it 92 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: was actually on the credential, like you have a credential 93 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,559 Speaker 1: to go cover the Chargers or whatever you're doing, and 94 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: right on the credential as I was going to do 95 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: the job, it said no women or children. So it 96 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: was a true frontier because there had never been women. 97 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: There were no ladies rooms in the press box, and 98 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: now they haven't at field level. I think that's one 99 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: thing I got done. Great, Yeah, thank you, thank you. 100 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: But I used to the team, Well, I covered the Patriots. 101 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: They would have they were not the gold standard Patriots then, 102 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: and they would have the ball first and ten on 103 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: their own twenty And I would think to myself and 104 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,679 Speaker 1: I get down the press box, elevator across the field 105 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: to the one public ladies room and get back before 106 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: they punted, which of course is usually three downs later 107 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: because they were not that great. But um, you know, 108 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: I've always had an attitude of gratitude, and I think 109 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: having to do it all myself made me a much 110 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: better reporter. You know, there was no Google, there were 111 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: no stick your mic into the kind of when everybody 112 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: is asking an athlete something. I had to do it 113 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: one hundred percent myself, So I think I think it 114 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: was good for me. Yeah, and that's something that you 115 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: kind of hear with women in this industry that they 116 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: talk about the need to prepare, the constant preparation and 117 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: having to prepare just that much more than their male counterparts. 118 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: Did you have to do the same, Oh yeah, a 119 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: lot of people, men and women. You know, they'll go 120 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: in post game. Now everybody can go in the locker room. 121 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: I'm so throw for that. But they don't themselves have 122 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: to think of the question. So are the follow up? 123 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: You know, they just put the mic in. But because 124 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: I was there were no provisions for equality. I was 125 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: out in the parking lot for seven years covering the 126 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: NFL by myself, which meant I couldn't rely on anybody 127 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: else who thought nor I mean, there was no Google, 128 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: none of that. So it's in that way, I know 129 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: it made me a really strong, dependable reporter. I felt 130 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: because I was young, I had to prepare more. But 131 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, I'd grown up going to Fendly Park since 132 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: I was eight years old. I could score, so, you know, 133 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: and I knew. I knew that the sports so and 134 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: also the Boston Globe gave made the opportunity to cover 135 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: all kinds of sports I didn't know. I mean I 136 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: covered you know, ice skating, which I later did for 137 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: ABC all around the world. But I was pretty good 138 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: on the baseball, football, basketball, so I didn't feel I 139 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: didn't feel like I had to learn it. I just 140 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: felt in my own mind I was young and had 141 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: to be prepared. When did it hit you, like, okay, 142 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: I'm really kind of breaking barriers here. Oh, pretty early, 143 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: because every town, every city that the Patriots would go to, 144 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, as I always the only woman, so someone 145 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,239 Speaker 1: would send camera crew to talk to the first woman. 146 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, at that time, I didn't I just wanted 147 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: to do the job. I was so grateful for the 148 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: opportunity that I just wanted to be, you know, I'd 149 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: play pick up basketball with the other writers or even 150 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: some of the Patriots, or I really wanted to blend 151 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: in while knowing that i'd help get off the boat 152 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: and clear the land. So you've spent the last thirty 153 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: years at CBS, You've had forty five years total in 154 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: this business. What is the key to having longevity like that? Oh, thanks, Brastin. 155 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I believe there are three elements. 156 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: And maybe you could tell me what you're seeing as 157 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: much younger person in the landscape, because for me, these 158 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: were kind of non negotiable. I'd believe that to succeed 159 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: not just to have a one or two year career, 160 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: but decades, which probably most of the people you admire, 161 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: male or female, have been doing it for for a 162 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: long time. And Um, I felt that you had to 163 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: have passion. Like if you didn't have passion, if you 164 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: don't love it, don't do it. It's it's just too hard, 165 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: and it's that's a lot of time that you're missing 166 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: for certain things, and you know, your personal events and 167 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: things like that. Yeah, and I felt the reverse, Thank goodness, 168 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: I felt like, um, I wasn't missing anything that comes 169 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: from exactly exactly, Yeah, exactly. So I believe you have 170 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: to have passion. I think you have to have knowledge. Um. 171 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: I say this a lot to younger women. Knowledge is unassailable, 172 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: and knowledge comes from doing the work, not you know, 173 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: just reading Twitter, but going out facing people doing the 174 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: work and knowledge. Knowledge gives you confidence because if you 175 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: have confidence in what you're saying, what you're writing, what 176 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: you're doing, then you're so far ahead of the game. 177 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: And the third one I would say is stamina. Like 178 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: you were just preferring it. You know, it's hard out there, 179 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: and I think you have to have stamina, although the 180 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: joys of it for me, the joy of that's so 181 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: outweighed the hurdles that I just I don't know. I 182 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: really only have good memories. I know everybody wants to 183 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: go into the dark days, but I fell privilege. Yeah, well, 184 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: and you've set the course for so many ahead of you. 185 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: And I get kind of your point though, when you 186 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: talk about having good days and having that privilege. You 187 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: were just doing it, like you said, you were just there, 188 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: you were doing your job and it wasn't really like 189 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: a conscious effort of oh, wait, I am the only woman, 190 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: like you said, until they would bring a guy over 191 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: to you and be like, oh, we need to talk 192 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: to her and have that conversation. Yeah, I had. I mean, 193 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: when you're covering, I'll say two thoughts I have on 194 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: at one. John Madden told me years later that when 195 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: I first started, I was caught in a two way 196 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: go that put some Madden expression, And it's because when 197 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: I was out in the parking lot, I had to 198 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: make decisions on which players I was going to try 199 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: to talk to. There was no way for me to 200 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: get over to the other side of the locker room 201 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: and pick up some more soundbys or quose or whatever. 202 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: So I didn't want to complain to the Boston Globe 203 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: who made me the first woman. So I didn't want 204 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: to complain to them and have them say she can't 205 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: do it. And I didn't want to complain to the 206 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: NFL and have them say, we'll see, really, a woman 207 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: can't do it. So I really made my way, but 208 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: has given me such enormous pleasure. Haley. I actually cried 209 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: when I thought was seeing the first all women's NHL 210 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: and all women NHL crew, which was just earlier, and 211 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: I know most of the women, and I know the producer, 212 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 1: and to see it had start to finish. It had 213 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: a woman's post, a woman's play by play, woman analysts, 214 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: woman producers, female director, and all the people in the 215 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: trust were female. And I said, my god, it's come 216 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: from forty years where there wasn't a bath room and 217 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: the credentials said no women or children to this. Yeah, 218 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: I was so appreciative of it. Yeah, it's come a 219 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: long way from interviewing guys and parking lots, for sure. Yes, 220 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: So because you were the only woman doing this job 221 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: for a long time. You've mentioned how you've had really 222 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: great men as mentors in your life, but how can 223 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: men be allies for women in this industry? Opportunity opportunity 224 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: is an enormous one. I had the Boston Globe, you know, 225 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: gave me enormous opportunity. I would go. We had the 226 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: Boston Globe always got voted the best sports section in America, 227 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: and this is when newspapers were really important. And then 228 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: we got the best sports section of all time in 229 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: the years that I was there, because everybody was the 230 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: best of his position. It was Bud Collins on tennis, 231 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 1: it was Peter Gammon's on baseball, Bob Ryan on basketball. 232 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: So I had enormous opportunities from the best, so that 233 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: when I went to television, I only had fear of 234 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: the technology. I had no fear. I'd already covered ten 235 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: final fours and ten US Open tennis and ten Super Bowls, 236 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: so I didn't have fear of that. I just didn't 237 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: know the technology. So men need to give women just 238 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: like you have. You were you hired by a woman 239 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: that hired I actually was hired by a woman. I've 240 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: the bulk of the jobs that I've had in this industry. 241 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: I was thinking about this the other day. I was 242 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: hired by women, and that's something that I'm so proud 243 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: to say. Yeah, and like you say, this is the month, Um, 244 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: you know, we've just come so far. I think women's 245 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: confidence and their ability to say what they know and 246 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: what they've seen in just the last three years. You know, 247 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: this is a real explosion around the world for women. 248 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: And I mean, I'm really grateful that sports has really, 249 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: uh you know, and some ways led the way. You 250 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: know that we have CBS, we have the first and 251 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: I still believe only all women's female sports talk shows. 252 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: Next question. Oh, good, good for you. Yeah, but but yeah, 253 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: talking talking about that show. CBS started it just a 254 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 1: few years ago. What is it like being part of that. 255 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: Oh for me, it's such gratitude I cannot tell you. 256 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 1: And it's uh, it's the same thing. We need to talk. 257 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: CBS had the courage to put it on the air 258 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: six years ago and you know, the respect to keep 259 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: it on the air, and everybody on it is a 260 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: rock star. And we have the woman who directs us, 261 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: Suzanne Smith. She is the only woman to direct the 262 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: NFL games. Only would so that means you know, they're 263 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: only they're only thirty two teams in the league. She 264 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: is one of the people bringing you those games, and 265 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: she's our director. Our producers are great, two women, Julie 266 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: Carrick and Amy Sandelson, and our co executive producers Emily 267 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: Joyce who used to go around the world with Jim 268 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: McKay bring features. She's a rock star and the panelist 269 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: for all people that you know, you know and respect. 270 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: H Dana Jacobson, It's Tracy Wilson, It's Andrew Kramer, It's 271 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: Amy Trask, It's a Swin Cash, It's Layla Ali. So 272 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: I mean we've go in there and we talked ball. Yeah. Yeah, 273 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: I was gonna say, you guys have real conversations about 274 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: not only what's happening in sports, but what's happening off 275 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: of the field, off of the court, out of the 276 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: stadium and things like that too. Yeah, that's the kind 277 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: of thing we talk about, you know. Or do you 278 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: think Kyrie Irving would be good on your team? You know? 279 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: So it's a privilege to work with these women, and 280 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: they are all tough stilts. So female viewership for the 281 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: NFL was up five percent last year. From twenty eighteen 282 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: to nineteen, Female NFL fandom reached an all time high, 283 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: with women making up forty seven percent of the league's 284 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: fan base. Why do you think more women are tuning 285 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: into the game? I think it's the same attitude that 286 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: I had in the beginning, is that men are not 287 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: born recognizing a safety blitz. You know, they love it 288 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: like we love it. So they love it, they learn it. 289 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: I mean a player that's a different animal. But you 290 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: know Al Michael's I've privileged to do Monday night football 291 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: within World Series in Al didn't play football, yet he's 292 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: the best who ever lived. That's calling the NFL. So 293 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: I think it's if you have that desire that you 294 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: really want to follow it. And I think the answer 295 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: for women to see if they do, is to turn 296 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: the sound down, you know, can you see a safety blitz? 297 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: Can you see if it's a running play? Do you 298 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: see the quarterback and go alloud? Who's he looking for? 299 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: What is the defense? And that will mean that you 300 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: do have a fandom for it. And I think I 301 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: was speaking with Jane Goodell earlier and in other women 302 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: and they've said that the game has also people like 303 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: al and other broadcasters have done such a great job 304 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: also explaining it that you can watch the game with 305 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: sound and you can get a really great grasp of 306 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: what is happening and really learn from what you're watching 307 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: as well. Yeah. Absolutely, I think John Madden was a 308 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: leader in that and taught an awful lot of people. 309 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: I had the privilege I wrote John Trust with him 310 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: all across America for five years. You could probably write 311 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: a book on that one. Oh yeah, yeah. Absolutely included 312 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: him in my own book, the whole chapter in my 313 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: own books, you know. And he really he would put 314 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: up tape for me of the old Redskins counter tray 315 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: play that they were very famous for. And he would 316 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: run it and run it and run it. And I 317 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: didn't see what that guard was doing when he pulled 318 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: John would run it again. Yeah. So yeah, when it 319 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: was announced that you would be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Emmy, 320 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: the reaction from other women in the sports broadcasting sphere 321 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: like Laura Oakman and Tracy Wolfson was overwhelming, not just 322 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: praise for your talent, but for you as a mentor. 323 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: So we've talked about men being allies, but why was 324 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: it always important for you to form bonds with other 325 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: women in this industry? Thank you? That is just about 326 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: the most meaningful thing that you've said to me. And 327 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: I did, I mean I heard from I mean just 328 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: actually hundreds of women, hundreds and yeah, really hundreds, and 329 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: I mean Philly and King, who is my idols? You know, 330 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: twouted out a glorious something about me. But I do 331 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: believe from the beginning, I always said, I don't want 332 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: to be the first. I want to be the first 333 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: of many. And that's an attitude. And I always thought, 334 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: I always thought, you know, there isn't one slice of 335 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: the pie. It's a big pie. And Hailey you can 336 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: have a piece, and I can have a piece, and 337 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: Tracey you can have a piece, and Michelle de boy 338 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: if analypiece. So it's better. It's better when we're bigger. 339 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: And then lastly, Leslie, what do you think is next 340 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: for women in sports media? Oh? The great news is Hayley, 341 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: and you need to think this too. It's whatever you 342 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: want to do. I mean it. The entire landscape is 343 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 1: open to you. You can write, you can broadcast, you 344 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: can be an assistant coach. You can own an n 345 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: NBA franchise, a Big Three. You can be any trash 346 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: taught us. You can be the CEO of an NFL team. 347 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: You can be an official. Sarah Thomas Jane Goodell has 348 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: been around for quite a long time now. Amy Pagoula 349 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,400 Speaker 1: really isn't an honorable owner of the Buffalo Bills. So 350 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 1: I think it's fantastic that you can do actually anything 351 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,680 Speaker 1: that you want. It's so fantastic that so many teams 352 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: now are given all of the opportunity. And then the 353 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: fact that you're doing the same thing. I always thought myself, 354 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: you're rooting for each other, and that is that is 355 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: great because honestly, I do believe that having you know, 356 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: at them, I'm going to I have invited all the 357 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: women who've been on this forty five year journey with me, 358 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: who are closest to me, and yeah, and most of 359 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: them are coming. And so it's producers and editors and 360 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: other people on the air that have been really on 361 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: This started, you know, either four years after I did 362 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: or four years ago. But I believe that we all 363 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 1: support the same elements. That is true. As Laura Oakman 364 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: loves to say, girls can peep with women in power, 365 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: and when you get women together to do that, that 366 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: is that's a really really special thing. So congratulations, Leslie, 367 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on. We so appreciate it. 368 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: You sharing your story, you sharing your advice. Is it 369 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: is sage sage stuff there. You know what, Haley, I'm 370 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 1: so proud. I just have to tell you I regard 371 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: all the young women as my young puppies, and so 372 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: check back in with me, would you please? I will 373 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: one hundred percent excellent. Thank you, Haley. And that's a 374 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 1: wrap on this week's episode of Playmakers. So many thanks 375 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: to Leslie Visser for joining me. We've got one more 376 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: very special guest coming on this month to wrap up 377 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: Women's History Month, so stay tuned to Playmakers as well 378 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: as the rest of our Chargers Podcast network shows throughout 379 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: the off season.