Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/951849
T he editor of this magazine, who just happens to be my grandfa- ther, asked me to step in to write the editorial in this special Girls' and Women's Sports issue even though I am only turning one- year-old this month. We have spent a lot of time talking about sports – par- ticularly girls' sports – in my 12 months in this world, so I feel I know a little bit on what I am babbling about. You may recall that last year when I was about to be born my grandfather sent out a warning to the team sports industry that you had better continue to step up your game because his daughter was about to bring another female athlete into this world. Better female-specific products, equal opportunities in all sports and safer products for girls who play as hard as the boys were all on his wish list. I hope all of you were listening, because you most certainly don't want to get on his bad side. I have seen him frustrated, like when he and my dad couldn't figure out how to get my car seat into the back of his new car. Believe me, it would have been easier to crawl home. And for the team sports industry, it would be safer to continue to develop the products and find new opportunities for girls to play sports than it would be to hear him curse. So since apparently I am not old enough to be included in the What Girls Want! interviews on page 12 of this issue, I am going to go ahead and I'll tell you what I want. Right after I am done with my bath. Okay, I'm back … and here's what I want from you. UÊÊÜ>ÌÊÃiÃÊÌ>ÌÊwÌ]ÊLiV>ÕÃiÊiÛiÊÌÕ}ÊÊÃÌÞÊÜ>Ê>ÀÕ`ÊÊÃVÃÊ these days at some point I am going to start shopping for soccer cleats and basketball sneakers — and I am going to buy a new pair every year for the next 18 years. If you get me early with shoes that fit my apparently very big feet, you may have a customer for life. UÊÞÊÊ«VÃÊÕÌÊÃÌÊvÊÞÊVÌiÃÊÜÊqÊ`>`Ê doesn't really have good taste in baby girl clothes – but some day that choice is going to be mine. I am not a big brand name girl yet, so I am going to look for uniforms and apparel that fit my unique shape — today I am long and skinny with fairly chubby legs, but I am told that is going to change. Make clothes that fit me and my girlfriends and they better perform as well as the boys' apparel. And, by the way, pink is NOT my favorite color. UÊ/ÊÕÌÊvÊÌiÊLÝÊÜiÊÌÊViÃÊÌÊÌiÊ sports girls can play. (My grandfather told me not to write that over-used phrase, but I like the sound of playing in a box, so I used it anyway.) I'm pretty sure I'm going to play soccer because that is the favorite sport around here. But I am told my Mum-Mum was quite a baseball player and I like the look of the new two-piece wrestling uniforms, so who knows where I'll end up. Pickleball anyone? That's it for now and I really don't think that's too much to ask of you, is it? I'm sure I'll have more to say once I actually begin to talk, but for now I hope the team sports industry is listening to me and my sister athletes around the country who are the future of team sports. Girls Rule and we are going places. Me? I am going for a nap now, but there better be some progress made by the time I wake up. My Pop-Pop and I know where to find you. O MICHAEL JACOBSEN Kids Say the Darndest Things Guest editorial: A (very) young female athlete tells the world what she wants. 6 Team Insight / March 2018 teaminsightmag.com Team Insight editor Michael Jacobsen talks girls' sports with one-year-old Morgan Courtney. Team dealers better listen up! TI0218 STAHLS.COM | 800.4.STAHLS Learn More About Decorating with Thermo-FILM ® at tinyurl.com/stahls-tfsolutions • Durable • Abrasion-resistant • #1 choice for full-contact sports THERMO-FILM ® WILL OUTLAST THE LIFE OF THE JERSEY. PERIOD. THE TOUGHEST PLAYER ON THE FIELD Stahls' Thermo-FILM ®