Lesley Visser in the HOF ??

[bigboydan]

I'm sorry, but i don't think she deserves this honor.

what has she really done that warrrents this honor anyways long gevity ?? ... oh sure she has been around for over 30 years, but that doesn't mean she deserves this.

NEW YORK -- Sports reporter and broadcaster Lesley Visser can add another "first" to her list.

Visser, of CBS Sports, will become the first woman to receive the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

The annual award recognizes "longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football." She will be presented the award Aug. 5 at a dinner on the eve of enshrinement ceremonies.

Visser enters her 34th season covering the NFL on television and in print journalism. She was the first female NFL beat writer, covering the New England Patriots in 1976.

She spent nearly seven years with ABC Sports and was the first female reporter for "Monday Night Football" and first woman assigned to a Super Bowl sideline.

"Recognition by the Pro Football Hall of Fame is beyond any dream I could have imagined for myself or any other woman when I saw my first game, the AFL Patriots against the Raiders in 1964," Visser said Thursday. "It is a tremendous honor to be connected with his great legacy and to the list of honorees that have gone before me."

Visser, who began her career with The Boston Globe in 1974, joined CBS Sports 10 years later. She has covered the Final Four, NBA finals, World Series, Olympics, U.S. Open, World Figure Skating Championships and the Triple Crown.

"Lesley Visser's career has broken many barriers and defined previously unimagined roles for women in professional sports and sports broadcasting," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports.

Previous winners of the Rozelle Award include Don Criqui, John Madden, Roone Arledge, Dick Enberg, Charlie Jones, Jack Buck, Frank Gifford, Pat Summerall, Curt Gowdy and Chris Schenkel.

[Mudcat]

This is just WRONG.


She has been painful to watch for every second of her career. She never belonged in front of a camera.

[Illusion]

She was the first woman to cover the NFL and she has been around the game for 34 years. I see no problem with her getting this award. It's not like they are erecting a bust of her in the hall.

[Willie Bee]

...erecting (her) bust in the hall.

Now there's an idea

[McBa1n]

Uh.... She's done nothing that no other twit could do with a 'creative' sash.
Sideline reporters are about as worthwhile as Steven A Smith in giving depth and not secretly being a frontrunning dork that talks with 'attitude' about it.

With all due respect, gender is irrelevant.
She's contributed as much to football as Barry Bonds.
...That number is 0.

I've listened to her talk for well over a decade and I have more of an idea of what is going on. I can't think of 1 point that made me go 'oh' or 'doh' or 'wow' in my entire life.

I guess if I just talked and said nothing for a few decades, I also, can be paid the same honor...

[kdmfox]

Isn't she married to Dick Stockton?

[Mudcat]

Yes she is.

[Seattle Slew]

Visser is OK at best, but she showed some real sloppy reporting on ABC back in 2000 when covering the Belmont Stakes. Commendable won the race at 19-1 for the owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, who had lost at the Belmont 2 of the prior 3 years going for the Triple Crown with Silver Charm and Charismatic!! Two heart-breakers in 2 of the prior 3 years.

After the race, Visser asked Lewis "how does this compare with your other Belmont wins?" to which he gave her a confused look and said "well, we haven't won this until today." For Visser to cover an event and not know the recent history of the race was inexcusable. She looked like a fool, and that's why these female sideline reporters will never get any respect regardless if they know anything.