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298 WOMEN AND SPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES 36. Clarence Brown, MGM, 1944. 37. Bill Forsyth, Lake Film/National Film Trustee/National Film Finance/Scottish TV, 1980. 38. Richard Loncraine, Working Title/Universal/StudioCanal, 2004. 39. Gurinder Chadha, Kintop/Bend It Films/Road Movies Filmproduktion GmbH/Roc Media, 2002. 40. Gina Prince-Blythewood, New Line/40 Acres and a Mule, 2000. 41. Cynthia Fuchs, “Make You Do Right,” review of Love and Basketball, PopMatters.com, 2000, PopMatters Magazine, 8 February 2006 . 42. Clint Eastwood, Warner Bros./Malpaso/Ruddy/Morgan Productions, 2004. 43. Christopher Cain, Jerry Weintraub Productions, 1994. 44. Kimberly Pierce, 20th Century Fox/Fox Searchlight/Independent Film Channel/Killer Films, 1999. 45. Fran Rubel Kuzui, Sandollar/Kuzui/20th Century Fox, 1992. 46. Robert Sklar and Tania Modleski, “Million Dollar Baby: A Split Decision ,” Cineaste 30:3 (2005) 10. 47. George Cukor, MGM, 1936. 48. Edmund Goulding, Warner Bros./First National, 1939. 49. Arthur Hiller, Paramount, 1970. y IT’S TIME TO TELL THE BLOODY TRUTH Lorie Conway Only 24 years ago the Boston Athletic Association allowed the first woman to run officially in the Boston Marathon. Until then, women were either thrown off the course or elbowed out of the way by male runners. On April 15 of this year, during the running of the 100th Marathon, Uta Pippig, the first woman to cross the finish line, had menstrual blood and diarrhea running down her legs. While the crowd gathered in Copley Square roared their support, male commentators on radio and TV were, uncharacteristically, tongue-tied. Ironically, the only person to graphically describe what was happening on live TV was commentator Katherine Switzer. “Look, there’s been a history of diarrhea in marathons, for any world class competitor knows it happens ,” Switzer said. “You just don’t worry about it. You’ve got a race to run.” There was no mention of bleeding. It was “diarrhea” that surprised From Nieman Reports 50:2 (Summer 1996): 30–32. people and that announcers picked up on. During the 1967 Marathon, it was Switzer who had registered to run as K. Switzer but had her number ripped off her chest while running past a BAA official who discovered she was a woman. During the 100th Marathon, it was apparent to hundreds of thousands of spectators, watching the race on TV and in person, that Pippig, the winner of the last two Boston Marathons, was in trouble. Gone was the playful demeanor she was known for; replacing it was a face wrenched in pain and legs covered with blood. “Physical problems and diarrhea,” said some commentators. Others stopped at the phrase “physical problems,” not wanting to utter the word diarrhea on live television. Meanwhile, at water stops, Pippig had to worry not only about overtaking Kenyan Tegla Loroupe, but also about maintaining her dignity. She explained at the post-race news conference, “I used a lot of water around me so that I look better and also for my legs that I could clean up a bit.” At one point, she shooed the cameraman in the truck ahead of her away and told him to stop filming her. So, how was Pippig’s victorious battle of mind over body, at “that time of the month,” covered in the press the day after? Well, as can be expected of certain sophomoric radio talk show hosts, it was open season for bad taste. For others, even male sportswriters who couldn’t get beyond the description “female problems,” it was the beginning of a discussion on a topic that was long overdue. The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy wrote: “There is no delicate way to put this. Pippig had female issues at the worst possible time. She was in pain. She was a mess. And she thought about dropping out of the race.” He left it to Pippig to say the real reason, which she stated shyly but openly at the post-race press conference. “I had some problems with my period.” Period. A word she could say but few others could. Another Globe sportswriter, Joe Burris, almost got it right. He wrote, “Pippig, who had nearly been forced out of the race by menstrual cramps and diarrhea , stormed past Loroupe at the marker and opened a lead of 200 yards en route to a stunning triumph.” The Boston Herald captioned a frontpage finish-line photo with “. . . overcoming cramps,” while articles inside got a bit more detailed. Michael Gee wrote, “There were few smiles...

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