Play Like a Girl: 9 Legendary Women in Sports History

BAY CITY, Mich. -- "My coach said I run like a girl. And I said, if he ran a little faster, he could too." - Mia Hamm, Professional Soccer Player

When it comes to the struggle for gender equality, breaking the glass ceiling in sports has been historically tough for women, and in many ways continues to be to this day. However, thanks to the nine incredibly talented, persistent, and downright fierce female athletes we're about to discuss in this post, that ceiling has a TON of huge cracks.

Let the games begin!

1. BILLIE JEAN KING

On September 20th, 1973, over 50 million people around the world tuned in to watch Billie Jean King take on Bobby Riggs - both ranked No. 1 in the world in their respective gender brackets at the time - in the sports showdown of the decade famously known as "The Battle of the Sexes". However, this wasn't just a simple tennis match with a corny title, but a major conflict in the fight for gender equality. Up until King straight-up schooled Riggs (not just winning the whole match, but every set decisively), it was widely believed that women had no place in sports due to sexist stereotypes. King effectively annihilated those notions, with the London Sunday Times calling her victory "the drop shot and volley heard around the world", and paved the way for later female athletes in every sport in addition to tennis.

2. ELISSA STEAMER

Despite being a sport that has historically celebrated diversity, skateboarding has long excluded women from that sentiment, often times mercilessly. That was until Elissa Steamer seemingly came out of nowhere in 1996, and upped the ante for female skaters in the modern Street-era with a truly legendary part in one of the most groundbreaking skate videos of all time: Toy Machine's Welcome to Hell. Even more impressive is that she did so while refusing that any focus be placed on her gender at all, and instead preferring to let her skill and ability as a skateboarder speak for itself. She soon made history by becoming the first woman to achieve "professional" status.

3. JANET GUTHRIE

While she wasn't the first woman to get behind the wheel of a stock car, Janet Guthrie was the first to compete in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series today), a milestone for female racers. She didn't stop there, however, also becoming the first woman to run in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 - in the same year - and is only one of just two women to accomplish such a feat, the other being Danica Patrick. Before her racing career, Guthrie was an accomplished aerospace engineer, receiving her education at the University of Michigan!

4. TONI STONE

As the first female professional baseball player in a top-tier men's league, Toni Stone was a trailblazer for women of color in sports. Cutting her teeth in local children's leagues in her native St. Paul, Minnesota, Stone would go on to play semi-pro ball just 15-years-old with the Twin City Colored Giants, a men's traveling team. Upon moving to California in 1949, she joined the San Francisco Sea Lions and, despite having to endure sexist taunts from both fans and teammates alike, gained some much-needed exposure which kickstarted her career.

She capitalized on her newfound fame and joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953, during which she played with the likes of future Hall of Famers such as Willie Mays and Ernie Banks, and even got a hit off of the legendary pitcher, Satchel Paige.

5. MANON RHEAUME

In 1997, goalie Manon Rheaume signed to the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first woman to ever sign an NHL contract. Prior to going pro, she was also the first woman to sign with a top junior division team, the Trios-Rivieres in her native Quebec. During her inaugural exhibition game with the Lightning, she saved seven of the nine shots attempted on her. Shortly after her second game, Rheaume signed with the Tampa Bay's IHL affiliate, the Atlanta Knights, and played on various other teams until her retirement in 1997. Aside from her professional career, she also scored two gold medals in the women's IIHF championships, and silver in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

6. CHYNA

Billed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World" (her colleague Big Show was the eighth), Chyna's impact on the fiercely masculine sport of professional wrestling in undeniable. She lifted the Intercontinental Championship belt twice during her career, was the first woman to compete in the chaotic Royal Rumble, and the first woman to be named a No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. After taking on the likes of legends Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero, she destroyed all the other Divas who dared challenge her at WrestleMania XVII, clinching the Women's Championship and maintaining her title until her retirement in 2001.

7. SERENA WILLIAMS

The Saginaw-born Serena Williams is considered throughout the sports world to be the best tennis player of all time, achieving the rank of No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association a total of six times throughout her career to date. She comes by it honestly, holding a whopping 94 WTA career titles and 22 Grand Slam titles; as well as the distinction of being the only tennis player - of either gender - to have won singles titles at least six times in 3/4 Grand Slam tournaments. To top it all off, Williams holds more Grand Slam victories than anyone else in the Open era, having surpassed Roger Federer with her 308th win in 2016.

8. FLORENCE GRIFFITH-JOYNER

Regarded by many as the First Lady of American Athletics, Florence Griffith-Joyner (aka "Flo-Jo") dominated the realm of track and field, specifically during the Olympics between 1984 and 1996. She is considered to be the fastest woman of all-time, having set the world record for the 100m and 200m dashes, and still holding it to this day now over two decades after her tragically sudden passing. In addition to her incredible racing ability, Flo-Jo had a one-of-a-kind charisma and style (most notably her 5-inch long, decorated nails and eye-catching racing suits) that made her a media darling.

9. MIA HAMM

Leading Team USA to a historic win in 1999. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. The face of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) - the first of its kind in the United States. The mighty Mia Hamm enjoys a long list of accolades that have made her a certified icon and trailblazer for women in the sports world. Most notably young girls and aspiring athletes in the 1990s, who saw Hamm's unapologetically strong physique and hard-playing style, that sent the message that they too could achieve the same level of dominant greatness.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Hear Us Roar: 11 Women Who Shaped Feminism

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Throughout history, there have been many courageous women who have and continues to work tirelessly for the advancement of gender equality. They've shaped the world in positive ways for women everywhere, and this National Women's History Month, we'd like to share with you their stories!

1. THE SUFFRAGETTES

The concept of feminism is widely thought to have been introduced in 1792 when Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men and that both genders are entitled to equal treatment, both socially and politically. Later on, in 1848, the fight officially began in Seneca Falls, NY when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott held the very first Women's Rights Convention; presenting The Declaration of Sentiments and setting in motion the agenda for women's activism around the world for years to come. One of the most famous figures of the movement, Susan B. Anthony, signed on in 1851 and traveled around the United States with Stanton and Mott giving speeches demanding that women be given the right to vote.

Across the pond in the United Kingdom, Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union in 1903. Unsatisfied by anything but action, the English suffragettes were quite radical compared to their American colleagues, often using violence to achieve their ends and frequently being sent to prison. Both movements were ultimately successful and clinched a huge win for women, with the 19th Amendment (US) being passed in 1920 and the Representation of the People Act (UK) being passed in 1918.

2. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

Prior to her tenure as First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was already an outspoken advocate of women's rights, heavily involved with the Women's Trade Union League and the International Congress of Working Women. Two years after taking up residence in the White House, she began writing a weekly newspaper column entitled "My Day" which addressed issues regarding gender equality - all before the term "feminism" even existed and despite her views being considered "controversial" given her station.

Post-presidential, Roosevelt continued her work towards equality as the first US delegate to the United Nations, the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and chair of the President's Commission on the Status of Women under JFK.

3. MARLENE DIETRICH

One of the most glamorous stars of Old Hollywood, Marlene Dietrich might not have been directly involved in the fight for women's rights, but her defiance of traditional gender roles throughout her career made her a feminist icon nonetheless. Most notably through fashion, as she was well-known for wearing pants and suits during a time when it was considered extremely scandalous and taboo for a woman, and in some places even illegal to do so in public! Although this certainly didn't stop Dietrich, who was famously quoted as saying: "I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for men."

4. NAOMI PARKER FRALEY (AKA "ROSIE THE RIVETER")

When the United States entered into World War II, the government encouraged women to enter the workforce and fill the suddenly vacated industrial jobs left by the men who joined the military. As part of a morale-boosting campaign, the character "Rosie the Riveter" was created - clad in her iconic blue jumpsuit and polka-dot bandana flexing her bicep under the headline "We Can Do It!" - and became the wartime personification of a strong, female production worker. While the thousands of women she inspired were promptly sent back to their "traditional" roles upon the soldiers' return, Rosie became a major symbol of the feminist movement, representing capable, working women and female empowerment.

A little known fact is that Rosie the Riveter was actually based on a real person. In the photo on the left, Naomi Parker Fraley is seen leaning over a munitions table at the Naval Air Station machine shop in Alameda, CA. She was photographed by artist J. Howard Miller, who then created the famous poster for Westinghouse Electric on the right, inspired by Fraley.

5. GLORIA STEINEM

Called "The Mother of Feminism", Gloria Steinem led the charge in the women's liberation movements of the 1960s and 1970s. A freelance journalist by trade, she's written extensively on women's issues in various culture, and helped to create both New York and Ms. magazines. Her fierce activism has also helped to form several female groups such as the Women's Action Alliance and Women's Political Caucus and continues her trailblazing work today with her Viceland series, WOMAN, as well as post-election initiatives for young girls and women.

6. ALICE WALKER

A prolific author and critical voice for women of color, Alice Walker's legacy include several groundbreaking works of literature including The Color Purple, for which she won the National Book Award for hardcover fiction as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and was later adapted into a multi-Academy Award-nominated film starring Oprah Winfrey. Her work primarily focuses on the struggles of black women in both a racist and sexist society, and in 1983, she coined the term "womanism" defined as a "black feminist or feminist of color", effectively expanding the culture in terms of inclusiveness.

7. MALALA YOUSAFZAI

In the midst of the Taliban occupation of her native Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northwest Pakistan, the courageous Malala Yousafzai became the voice of every girl and woman also living under the group's extremist thumb. At just 11-years-old, Yousafzai wrote an anonymous blog for the BBC Urdu, which detailed the Taliban's unspeakable acts of violence against the locals and particular cruelty towards women, whom they had banned from receiving an education. Handwriting each blog then passing them off to a reporter who would scan and email them, her work shed a bright light on what was going on to the rest of the world, earning her the distinction as the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and she has since been a tireless activist for education rights for women and children across the globe.

8. EMMA WATSON

One of the newest and undoubtedly the strongest feminist voices today, actress Emma Watson gave the world pause when she delivered her moving speech to the UN as a Women Goodwill Ambassador, launching the HeForShe campaign in an appeal to men to advocate for gender equality. Watson says that she began questioning gender-based assumptions at the age of eight, when she noticed the positive/negative disconnect between words used to describe boys and girls who perform the same behavior, and became strongly invested in her work at 14 after being objectified by the media.

In her speech, she defines feminism as "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities", and subsequently declared that both the practice and perception of "man-hating" is something that "has to stop" in order for any positive change to happen.

9. ANGELINA JOLIE

In addition to her extensive work as a UN diplomat, personally providing aid to people in wartorn nations and donating millions of dollars to several relief efforts, Angelina Jolie is an incredibly strong voice amongst women. In 2013, Jolie chose to share her story of receiving a double-mastectomy - changing the face of breast cancer awareness and empowering countless survivors everywhere by encouraging them to come forward with their own stories of their battle with the disease.

10. RUTH BADER GINSBURG

Even before becoming the second female Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an avid crusader for women's rights, co-founding the Women's Rights Law Reporter in 1970, the first publication of its kind in the United States to focus exclusively on the subject. Two years after that, she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the ACLU, further ensuring that women's' voices be heard in law. Now at the age of 85, she maintains her position in the Supreme Court, and continues to use her platform to further the advancement of gender equality.

11. MAYA ANGELOU

"Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me."

Enough said.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Girls Rock: 13 Influential Women in Music

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Whether it's originating an entire genre, carving a path for other women in fiercely masculine territories, or using their fame as a platform to drive change throughout the world; these girls truly rock. In honor of National Women's History Month, us music lovers here at Graff Bay City would like to share with you some of the most influential female artists in music history!

1. BEYONCE Kicking off our playlist is the one and only Queen B. While she describes herself as a "modern-day feminist", she stresses that, by definition, the concept is not exclusive to women, nor does it equate to female superiority. Rather, it is the belief in equal rights for men and women, and this is the message that she resolves to express through both her music and activism.

2. JANIS JOPLIN While her time here was tragically short, Janis Joplin's impact on the world of rock n' roll is indisputable; widely regarded as paving the way for numerous female rockers after her. A free yet troubled spirit with a natural gift for performance, Joplin's onstage presence was described as "electric" by her fans and fellow musicians alike. As Stevie Nicks put it: "Janis put herself out there completely, and her voice was not only strong and soulful, it was painfully and beautifully real. She sang in the great tradition of the rhythm & blues singers that were her heroes, but she brought her own dangerous, sexy rock & roll edge to every single song. She really gave you a piece of her heart."

3. ARETHA FRANKLIN The late, great Aretha Franklin not only holds the distinction as the "Queen of Soul", but is also arguably the originator of the genre itself as well as the first female inductee to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. One of her most beloved hits, "Respect", was actually written and released by Otis Redding originally; but its the difference in the message that made Franklin's version a long-time feminist anthem. In Redding's version, the narrator is a desperate man who will give the woman in his life anything she wants, regardless of how she treats him, just as long as he gets his due respect as the breadwinner. In Franklin's version, the narrator is a strong, confident woman who is well aware that she has everything her man wants, and she demands that he give her the equal respect she gives him.

4. PATSY CLINE The short-lived yet immensely impactful career of Patsy Cline transformed the influence of women in the largely male-dominated world of country music. After a decade long balancing act of helping support her family and grinding on the local country music circuit in her native Virginia, Cline got her big break on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on CBS with the hit "Walking After Midnight". Her professional life was a series of firsts for a woman in her genre including induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame, headlining her own show, and performing on Nashville's biggest and most coveted stage: the Grand Ole Opry. Throughout her career, Cline was well-known for her staunch empowerment of other females in country music, believing that there was "room enough for everybody", as well as her shrewd business acumen and no-nonsense attitude that enabled her to deal with the toughest power players in the Nashville scene.

5. MADONNA Hailing from our very own Bay City, Madonna is widely credited as an early voice of feminism in music; with revolutionary imagery and lyrics that helped to revitalize the discussion of the concept within the United States. While her hit song, "Material Girl", is commonly taken literally as valuing wealth over love, it is actually written from the perspective of a powerful woman with her pick of anyone she wants - championing values of female self-reliance and determination that were largely unheard of in pop culture even in 1985 when the song was released.

6. MISSY ELLIOT Hip-hop has historically been a boys club. That is until Missy Elliot exploded on the scene in 1997, and helped to pave the way for future female rappers in a genre notorious for its oftentimes misogynistic image and lyrical content. Throughout her career, Missy's extensive musical catalog has included themes of feminism, gender equality, and body positivity; in addition to defying the typical "hip hop girl" appearance in favor of a style more closely resembling that of her male contemporaries.

7. LADY GAGA The incomparable Lady Gaga is difficult to fit in just one box, and that affinity for constant self-reinvention and theatrical mastery is what makes her an artistic and pop culture icon. Since catapulting into stardom in 2008, she is regarded across the globe as one of her generation's most exciting and talented entertainers and is also known for her tireless activism for various causes including LGBTQ+ rights, anti-bullying initiatives, and much more.

8. BILLIE HOLIDAY If you ask any jazz singer today to list their top influences, there's more than a chance that Lady Day is among them. With her lilting voice and limited range of just over an octave, Billie Holiday brought a unique slow style and raw emotional honesty that added a soulful edge to genre staples. In addition, she also wrote many of the songs in her repertoire, including "God Bless the Child" and "Don't Explain", at a time when it was unusual for a woman to do so. Another first in her day as a female songwriter was her courage to make political statements through her music, most notably "Strange Fruit", a haunting tune that speaks to the racially-charged violence in the South at the time, arguably making Holiday an early voice of civil rights.

9. CHER Recognized as one of the best-selling artists of all time and the only one in history to have a No. 1 single in every decade since the 1960s, Cher's distinction as music royalty is indisputable. However, she's never been one to rest on her laurels, having been an innovator since day one, even pioneering the use of auto-tune (later known as the "Cher effect") with her song "Believe". She's also made an immeasurable impact on the fashion world as well with her daring, flamboyant style, in addition to being an outspoken advocate of veterans rights, anti-poverty initiatives, vulnerable children, and improved quality of life for patients.

10. SELENA Regarded as the "Queen of Tejano Music", Selena's contributions to music have immortalized her as not only one of the most prolific entertainers in history but also as a pioneer who arguably blazed the trail for Latinas in mainstream music. In addition to natural vocal talent characterized by perfect pitch and timing, Selena's radiant personality and interactive presence endeared her to every audience she stood before, and her keen eye for aesthetic lent itself to her on-stage costumes - all of which she designed herself.

11. JOAN JETT The original "riot grrl" and founding member of the female revolution in punk rock, Joan Jett remains as fearless and defiant today as she was when performing with the Runaways at the tender age of 15. As a woman in such an aggressively masculine genre, Jett's come-up was one faced by both outright prejudice and brush-offs, but she quickly proved herself a force to be reckoned not only through fierce performing ability and musical talent, but also an uncompromising attitude that's made her a feminist icon in rock n' roll, and earned her the much due respect of the guys.

12. BJÖRK Hailing from the tiny country of Iceland, the eccentric and multifaceted Björk might be a little too out there for some, but her impact on music and the art world at large is undeniable. If you have the time to run the gauntlet of her ten-record discography, you'll hear for yourself just what makes Björk so exciting, each one being as artistically adventurous and ever-evolving as she, yet always hitting the mark and never sounding out of their element.

13. SPICE GIRLS Now 25 years after their meteoric rise to stardom, the Spice Girls are still breaking records, with their debut album still holding the distinction of being the most successful by a female group in music history. More than that, they played an important role in the lives of countless young girls throughout the 1990s, championing the notion of "girl power" and strong messages of gender equality in their lyrics.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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