Tring- tring- tring, the first bell of the morning rings. The laughter of giddy teenage girls echoes through the corridors. As we enter our registered class the cluttering voices starts to diffuse through the air. "Oh my word have you seen YDE’S new accessory section, and the bags, I swear if I don’t get one soon I mighty just have a hernia," says Amber.
"Guys did anybody watch the tennis last night, Serena had a cracker, it really came down to the wire don’t you think?" There was a sudden silence and glares, it felt as if it was piercing through my skin in an instant. That’s when it became evident; I wasn’t your normal teenage girl.
My name is Carmel Loggenberg I am 22 year old journalism student that found my passion for sports journalism at a young age. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word passion as strong emotion, strong enthusiasm and a dominate display or caused by strong emotion.
My dominate display , of a strong emotion became clear when at the age of 13 I found myself in a room full of men watching Brazil fall to the defeat of the French in a soccer world cup match. I can clearly remember how the tears streamed down my face and how great the disbelief was that such soccer legends could succumb to the French; that was one of my few lessons leant that nothing in life is impossible.
Attending an all girl’s school from grade 1 to grade 12, it wasn’t always easy having such a passion for sports and the commentary involving sports. Like most girls I loved clothes handbags and shoes, but I knew I was different when I found that I preferred staying at home to watch a good tennis , or cricket match rather than getting all dolled up to go to a house party.
My years at high school were spent on the hockey field I excelled in hockey and received my provincial colours throughout my high school career. But I soon found out that my ‘sports talk show’ would have to be left at the supper and breakfast table with my dad, as nobody at school was interested in such talk.
Varsity days dawned and I decided to put my power in the pen and studied journalism. I soon made friends and found girls that had the same interests as me. I found my two "Co-presenters" for my "sports talk show". Sheetal Dullabah and Divinia Pillay has a passion for cricket and would never be caught inside edge when it came to the finer details of the gentlemen’s game.
Soon heated debates were had over the batting and bowling line-ups. Sheetal being a vehement Jacque Kallis fan and me being an even bigger Herschelle Gibbs fan had a copious amount of arguments about their performances. During all these debates it became evident that at last I felt that as I belonged.
One of biggest dreams is to commentate with Jim Courier at Wimbledon. Like most children that came of age you choose or hope to have fulfilled at least one of your dreams at that time. So I went and watched Wimbledon.
Entering the gates a feeling of excitement could be felt. A magical air diffused through the grounds. Anxiousness pulsated through spectators as they entered Centre court and a tingling feeling of ecstatic ness could be seen on the famous Henman Hill.
The 8th of July 2006- Ladies Final belonged- to Amelie Mauresmo, once again the French were victories but this time I didn’t mind because my strawberries and cream together my Pimms Juice provided a feeling of comfort and sheer disbelief that I was actually watching on of the biggest sports events in history.
One of the many aspects that have contributed to my passion for sport is the new policy of gender equality. Women like Billy Jean King fought hard for women to be put on the same pedestal as men.
Last year ATP announced that women would earn the same prize money as men in championships events. This has been huge step for women and has just laid the foundation for more great historic moments in sports
Martina Navratilova once said a woman should never set herself limits and it’s with words like that has enabled her to be a Wimbledon champion for a record 20times. I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and that’s why I can relate to a great idiom- The more you know the better it gets.
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
