well in the beginning of organized sports there was the Olympics Olympics
sports there was the Olympics Olympics
sports there was the Olympics Olympics were a male-dominated sport there was
were a male-dominated sport there was
were a male-dominated sport there was blood there was brute and there was a
blood there was brute and there was a
blood there was brute and there was a little bit of nudity women were not
little bit of nudity women were not
little bit of nudity women were not invited to participate in modern-day
invited to participate in modern-day
invited to participate in modern-day sports they’re still dominated by men
sports they’re still dominated by men
sports they’re still dominated by men have you ever seen a men’s restroom line
have you ever seen a men’s restroom line
have you ever seen a men’s restroom line longer than a woman’s not very often but
longer than a woman’s not very often but
longer than a woman’s not very often but you do at a sporting event at these
you do at a sporting event at these
you do at a sporting event at these sporting events there’s still blood
sporting events there’s still blood
sporting events there’s still blood there’s brute and yes there’s still some
there’s brute and yes there’s still some
there’s brute and yes there’s still some nudity so have you ever been in the
nudity so have you ever been in the
nudity so have you ever been in the conversation and the topic of sport
conversation and the topic of sport
conversation and the topic of sport topic with sports comes up and you kind
topic with sports comes up and you kind
topic with sports comes up and you kind of slowly exit stage left I have so why
of slowly exit stage left I have so why
of slowly exit stage left I have so why am i standing up here with you today
am i standing up here with you today
am i standing up here with you today talking to you about making sports your
talking to you about making sports your
talking to you about making sports your secret weapon well because it works and
secret weapon well because it works and
secret weapon well because it works and how do I know that because in my day job
how do I know that because in my day job
how do I know that because in my day job I help those who don’t know a lot about
I help those who don’t know a lot about
I help those who don’t know a lot about sports join the conversation but let’s
sports join the conversation but let’s
sports join the conversation but let’s be honest I wasn’t always so to sports
be honest I wasn’t always so to sports
be honest I wasn’t always so to sports Abby I grew up in a household with a
Abby I grew up in a household with a
Abby I grew up in a household with a little brother who played every single
little brother who played every single
little brother who played every single sport imaginable I had no choice but to
sport imaginable I had no choice but to
sport imaginable I had no choice but to be supportive and learn about rugby and
be supportive and learn about rugby and
be supportive and learn about rugby and roller hockey and basketball and soccer
roller hockey and basketball and soccer
roller hockey and basketball and soccer and baseball and football and it goes on
and baseball and football and it goes on
and baseball and football and it goes on and on I on the other hand was a dancer
and on I on the other hand was a dancer
and on I on the other hand was a dancer I don’t have an athletic bone in my body
I don’t have an athletic bone in my body
I don’t have an athletic bone in my body my one season of soccer consisted of
my one season of soccer consisted of
my one season of soccer consisted of being kicked in the face and a lot of
being kicked in the face and a lot of
being kicked in the face and a lot of tears but don’t worry all that sports
tears but don’t worry all that sports
tears but don’t worry all that sports knowledge wasn’t learned in vain it came
knowledge wasn’t learned in vain it came
knowledge wasn’t learned in vain it came in handy when I began my career in
in handy when I began my career in
in handy when I began my career in professional sports now I don’t know a
professional sports now I don’t know a
professional sports now I don’t know a lot about every sport but I know a
lot about every sport but I know a
lot about every sport but I know a little about a lot and that gets me
little about a lot and that gets me
little about a lot and that gets me through the day so let me tell you a
through the day so let me tell you a
through the day so let me tell you a little story one of our readers she
little story one of our readers she
little story one of our readers she works in an office with a bunch of guys
works in an office with a bunch of guys
works in an office with a bunch of guys who talk more about sports so they do
who talk more about sports so they do
who talk more about sports so they do about work I’m pretty sure you guys have
about work I’m pretty sure you guys have
about work I’m pretty sure you guys have all been in one of those places before
all been in one of those places before
all been in one of those places before well she felt left out and she wanted to
well she felt left out and she wanted to
well she felt left out and she wanted to join in on the conversation so she
join in on the conversation so she
join in on the conversation so she started paying attention to the
started paying attention to the
started paying attention to the trending topics in sports so one day
trending topics in sports so one day
trending topics in sports so one day they’re sitting around and she says the
they’re sitting around and she says the
they’re sitting around and she says the guys hey did you guys see that big game
guys hey did you guys see that big game
guys hey did you guys see that big game last night and they looked at her like
last night and they looked at her like
last night and they looked at her like she had eight heads they had no idea she
she had eight heads they had no idea she
she had eight heads they had no idea she knew anything about sports and she
knew anything about sports and she
knew anything about sports and she shrugged it off like hey I’ve had this
shrugged it off like hey I’ve had this
shrugged it off like hey I’ve had this sports knowledge the whole time so tell
sports knowledge the whole time so tell
sports knowledge the whole time so tell me why we expect women to know nothing
me why we expect women to know nothing
me why we expect women to know nothing about sports well it’s probably the same
about sports well it’s probably the same
about sports well it’s probably the same reason how people always ask me about
reason how people always ask me about
reason how people always ask me about how having a child will affect my career
how having a child will affect my career
how having a child will affect my career but no one asked my husband the same
but no one asked my husband the same
but no one asked my husband the same question stereotyping now I’m not here
question stereotyping now I’m not here
question stereotyping now I’m not here to pretend that there aren’t women out
to pretend that there aren’t women out
to pretend that there aren’t women out there who know a lot about sports
there who know a lot about sports
there who know a lot about sports because I know there are a lot of men
because I know there are a lot of men
because I know there are a lot of men who don’t but for the sake of today
who don’t but for the sake of today
who don’t but for the sake of today ladies going to talk to you now I’m not
ladies going to talk to you now I’m not
ladies going to talk to you now I’m not here to encourage you to conform to a
here to encourage you to conform to a
here to encourage you to conform to a man’s world but we can’t pretend that
man’s world but we can’t pretend that
man’s world but we can’t pretend that gender bias don’t exist in her book lean
gender bias don’t exist in her book lean
gender bias don’t exist in her book lean in Sheryl Sandberg talks about how we
in Sheryl Sandberg talks about how we
in Sheryl Sandberg talks about how we need to make the best of the current
need to make the best of the current
need to make the best of the current situation instead of trying to change
situation instead of trying to change
situation instead of trying to change its fundamentals so there’s a reason you
its fundamentals so there’s a reason you
its fundamentals so there’s a reason you see women out with their male colleagues
see women out with their male colleagues
see women out with their male colleagues at a bar drinking whiskey and smoking
at a bar drinking whiskey and smoking
at a bar drinking whiskey and smoking cigars well because whether we like it
cigars well because whether we like it
cigars well because whether we like it or not you have to be at the table to
or not you have to be at the table to
or not you have to be at the table to play we’re surrounded by sports in fact
play we’re surrounded by sports in fact
play we’re surrounded by sports in fact in 2016 more people filled out an NCAA
in 2016 more people filled out an NCAA
in 2016 more people filled out an NCAA March Madness bracket then voted for one
March Madness bracket then voted for one
March Madness bracket then voted for one single candidate in US election history
single candidate in US election history
single candidate in US election history now think about that for a second don’t
now think about that for a second don’t
now think about that for a second don’t worry this isn’t where I go on my
worry this isn’t where I go on my
worry this isn’t where I go on my political tirade about the election but
political tirade about the election but
political tirade about the election but just think about that more people can
just think about that more people can
just think about that more people can agree on basketball than they can on a
agree on basketball than they can on a
agree on basketball than they can on a president so why not capitalize on that
president so why not capitalize on that
president so why not capitalize on that conversation I mean we even pay our
conversation I mean we even pay our
conversation I mean we even pay our athletes more than we pay some of the
athletes more than we pay some of the
athletes more than we pay some of the most important people in our country and
most important people in our country and
most important people in our country and think about it sports are everywhere in
think about it sports are everywhere in
think about it sports are everywhere in our world we have Tom and Gisele Justin
our world we have Tom and Gisele Justin
our world we have Tom and Gisele Justin Timberlake owns part of an NBA
Timberlake owns part of an NBA
Timberlake owns part of an NBA basketball team Meryl Streep and Ruth
basketball team Meryl Streep and Ruth
basketball team Meryl Streep and Ruth Bader Ginsburg who is a Supreme Court
Bader Ginsburg who is a Supreme Court
Bader Ginsburg who is a Supreme Court justice well they were cheerleaders and
justice well they were cheerleaders and
justice well they were cheerleaders and a superstar LeBron James well he was in
a superstar LeBron James well he was in
a superstar LeBron James well he was in the movie trainwreck we pay our athletes
the movie trainwreck we pay our athletes
the movie trainwreck we pay our athletes very well in fact sometimes more than
very well in fact sometimes more than
very well in fact sometimes more than what we pay those who are really
what we pay those who are really
what we pay those who are really important in our country NFL rookies
important in our country NFL rookies
important in our country NFL rookies make fifty thousand dollars a year more
make fifty thousand dollars a year more
make fifty thousand dollars a year more than the designated salary for the US
than the designated salary for the US
than the designated salary for the US president New England Patriots
president New England Patriots
president New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady well he makes 202
quarterback Tom Brady well he makes 202
quarterback Tom Brady well he makes 202 times the average Massachusetts teacher
times the average Massachusetts teacher
times the average Massachusetts teacher salary now it’s really great for him
salary now it’s really great for him
salary now it’s really great for him because he’s playing in the Super Bowl
because he’s playing in the Super Bowl
because he’s playing in the Super Bowl next weekend but think about it we’re
next weekend but think about it we’re
next weekend but think about it we’re standing here in an educational
standing here in an educational
standing here in an educational institution so i’m pretty sure that we
institution so i’m pretty sure that we
institution so i’m pretty sure that we can all agree that teachers are kind of
can all agree that teachers are kind of
can all agree that teachers are kind of important so talking about sports isn’t
important so talking about sports isn’t
important so talking about sports isn’t that hard i promise you you don’t have
that hard i promise you you don’t have
that hard i promise you you don’t have to know everything just knowing a little
to know everything just knowing a little
to know everything just knowing a little bit will help you understand and drive
bit will help you understand and drive
bit will help you understand and drive into the conversation I have three tips
into the conversation I have three tips
into the conversation I have three tips for you to help drain the conversation
for you to help drain the conversation
for you to help drain the conversation at the office in the classroom or even
at the office in the classroom or even
at the office in the classroom or even on a date and don’t worry we’re not
on a date and don’t worry we’re not
on a date and don’t worry we’re not going to cover statistics on passing
going to cover statistics on passing
going to cover statistics on passing yards or wins or losses I’m not teaching
yards or wins or losses I’m not teaching
yards or wins or losses I’m not teaching a math class here we’ve all been in that
a math class here we’ve all been in that
a math class here we’ve all been in that conversation where someone goes on a
conversation where someone goes on a
conversation where someone goes on a tirade about the 1972 Super Bowl team or
tirade about the 1972 Super Bowl team or
tirade about the 1972 Super Bowl team or their favorite team the Boston Red Sox
their favorite team the Boston Red Sox
their favorite team the Boston Red Sox and your eyes glaze over and you start
and your eyes glaze over and you start
and your eyes glaze over and you start to think about what am I going to do
to think about what am I going to do
to think about what am I going to do tonight what do i need to pick up from
tonight what do i need to pick up from
tonight what do i need to pick up from the grocery store it’s painful those
the grocery store it’s painful those
the grocery store it’s painful those people are really just showing off their
people are really just showing off their
people are really just showing off their sports knowledge and the trick is to
sports knowledge and the trick is to
sports knowledge and the trick is to know when to chime in did they talk
know when to chime in did they talk
know when to chime in did they talk about a team you know or a team that’s
about a team you know or a team that’s
about a team you know or a team that’s in a city that you love to visit you
in a city that you love to visit you
in a city that you love to visit you don’t have to know about statistics
don’t have to know about statistics
don’t have to know about statistics about passing yards or wins or losses to
about passing yards or wins or losses to
about passing yards or wins or losses to be able to chime in simply saying hey
be able to chime in simply saying hey
be able to chime in simply saying hey who are you rooting for or how’s that
who are you rooting for or how’s that
who are you rooting for or how’s that team doing this year will go a really
team doing this year will go a really
team doing this year will go a really long way following sports doesn’t have
long way following sports doesn’t have
long way following sports doesn’t have to be intimidating get a fun
to be intimidating get a fun
to be intimidating get a fun non-intimidating perspective on sports
non-intimidating perspective on sports
non-intimidating perspective on sports while following a sports network like
while following a sports network like
while following a sports network like ESPN or the bleacher report or a sports
ESPN or the bleacher report or a sports
ESPN or the bleacher report or a sports team or their cheerleaders or their
team or their cheerleaders or their
team or their cheerleaders or their mascots on social media you might learn
mascots on social media you might learn
mascots on social media you might learn a thing or two and besides who doesn’t
a thing or two and besides who doesn’t
a thing or two and besides who doesn’t love an insight to a million-dollar
love an insight to a million-dollar
love an insight to a million-dollar billion dollar in
billion dollar in
billion dollar in mystery as sports follow your boss or
mystery as sports follow your boss or
mystery as sports follow your boss or your co-workers favorite team on
your co-workers favorite team on
your co-workers favorite team on Instagram you’re going to receive
Instagram you’re going to receive
Instagram you’re going to receive brownie points for knowing whether to
brownie points for knowing whether to
brownie points for knowing whether to congratulate them or console them the
congratulate them or console them the
congratulate them or console them the next day after a big game and it may not
next day after a big game and it may not
next day after a big game and it may not seem like it but talking about sports is
seem like it but talking about sports is
seem like it but talking about sports is in fact a team sport have you ever been
in fact a team sport have you ever been
in fact a team sport have you ever been in a sports bar where someone’s team
in a sports bar where someone’s team
in a sports bar where someone’s team wins everybody’s celebrating high fives
wins everybody’s celebrating high fives
wins everybody’s celebrating high fives are everywhere it doesn’t matter who you
are everywhere it doesn’t matter who you
are everywhere it doesn’t matter who you are if you have a hand you get a high
are if you have a hand you get a high
are if you have a hand you get a high five well talking about sports is the
five well talking about sports is the
five well talking about sports is the same way those who know a lot about
same way those who know a lot about
same way those who know a lot about sports are really happy to answer your
sports are really happy to answer your
sports are really happy to answer your questions without judgement I wouldn’t
questions without judgement I wouldn’t
questions without judgement I wouldn’t know what I know today if it wasn’t for
know what I know today if it wasn’t for
know what I know today if it wasn’t for my little brother I still call him all
my little brother I still call him all
my little brother I still call him all the time with questions about what’s
the time with questions about what’s
the time with questions about what’s happening in the wide world of sports
happening in the wide world of sports
happening in the wide world of sports those who know a lot about sports are
those who know a lot about sports are
those who know a lot about sports are really happy to share and if all else
really happy to share and if all else
really happy to share and if all else fails and things get really awkward and
fails and things get really awkward and
fails and things get really awkward and you get in a bind go ahead and break out
you get in a bind go ahead and break out
you get in a bind go ahead and break out your touchdown dance in our careers
your touchdown dance in our careers
your touchdown dance in our careers where office parties and business
where office parties and business
where office parties and business lunches are ever-present it’s really
lunches are ever-present it’s really
lunches are ever-present it’s really important to know a wide variety of
important to know a wide variety of
important to know a wide variety of topics well I understand that you may
topics well I understand that you may
topics well I understand that you may have no desire and may not like sports
have no desire and may not like sports
have no desire and may not like sports just remember knowing that is a little
just remember knowing that is a little
just remember knowing that is a little extra trick up your sleeve expanding
extra trick up your sleeve expanding
extra trick up your sleeve expanding your horizons to the world of sports can
your horizons to the world of sports can
your horizons to the world of sports can really help you fill those awkward
really help you fill those awkward
really help you fill those awkward silences
I’ve had people tell me how just knowing
I’ve had people tell me how just knowing a little bit out sports has helped them
a little bit out sports has helped them
a little bit out sports has helped them join that conversation when they’re
join that conversation when they’re
join that conversation when they’re waiting for a meeting to start or when
waiting for a meeting to start or when
waiting for a meeting to start or when they’re at a networking event it gives
they’re at a networking event it gives
they’re at a networking event it gives them something else to talk to someone
them something else to talk to someone
them something else to talk to someone about but better yet it gives them
about but better yet it gives them
about but better yet it gives them something to talk about at home they now
something to talk about at home they now
something to talk about at home they now have something to talk about the to
have something to talk about the to
have something to talk about the to their roommates their spouse or their
their roommates their spouse or their
their roommates their spouse or their children now let me tell you how sports
children now let me tell you how sports
children now let me tell you how sports has helped me a couple of years ago I
has helped me a couple of years ago I
has helped me a couple of years ago I pitched a client on some marketing work
pitched a client on some marketing work
pitched a client on some marketing work and he wanted to talk about it over
and he wanted to talk about it over
and he wanted to talk about it over lunch well I was really nervous because
lunch well I was really nervous because
lunch well I was really nervous because I didn’t know what we had in common what
I didn’t know what we had in common what
I didn’t know what we had in common what were we going to talk about for an
were we going to talk about for an
were we going to talk about for an entire lunch this could be really
entire lunch this could be really
entire lunch this could be really painful so during our small talk he
painful so during our small talk he
painful so during our small talk he mentioned that he plays golf and i’ll be
mentioned that he plays golf and i’ll be
mentioned that he plays golf and i’ll be honest i don’t know the first thing
honest i don’t know the first thing
honest i don’t know the first thing about golf I’m a terrible golf player
about golf I’m a terrible golf player
about golf I’m a terrible golf player but the one thing I do know is how to
but the one thing I do know is how to
but the one thing I do know is how to yell for when you’re going to hit
yell for when you’re going to hit
yell for when you’re going to hit somebody the head with a golf ball and
somebody the head with a golf ball and
somebody the head with a golf ball and so also luckily that morning we had
so also luckily that morning we had
so also luckily that morning we had written about the masters golf
written about the masters golf
written about the masters golf tournament so I said to him in
tournament so I said to him in
tournament so I said to him in conversation hey did you know that uh
conversation hey did you know that uh
conversation hey did you know that uh they pipe bird music into the broadcast
they pipe bird music into the broadcast
they pipe bird music into the broadcast of the golf tournament so it seems like
of the golf tournament so it seems like
of the golf tournament so it seems like a more natural environment for the
a more natural environment for the
a more natural environment for the viewers but there actually aren’t any
viewers but there actually aren’t any
viewers but there actually aren’t any birds at the golf course and that was a
birds at the golf course and that was a
birds at the golf course and that was a great jumping off point for us in our
great jumping off point for us in our
great jumping off point for us in our conversation I understand that going
conversation I understand that going
conversation I understand that going into a new topic a new topic like sports
into a new topic a new topic like sports
into a new topic a new topic like sports can be really challenging and it could
can be really challenging and it could
can be really challenging and it could be nerve-wracking but try it try it
be nerve-wracking but try it try it
be nerve-wracking but try it try it today during the break or try it tonight
today during the break or try it tonight
today during the break or try it tonight at o cons take risks challenge yourself
at o cons take risks challenge yourself
at o cons take risks challenge yourself join the conversation it’s a choice you
join the conversation it’s a choice you
join the conversation it’s a choice you won’t regret and you’ll hit a home run
won’t regret and you’ll hit a home run
won’t regret and you’ll hit a home run every time thank you
every time thank you
every time thank you [Applause]
”
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