• Professional Athlete – Women’s Basketball Player Ann Meyers Drysdale

    Listen to Podcast of the Show

    ann-meyers-drysdale-book-coverOn Sunday, June 10th, Richard and Joe interviewed Ann Meyers Drysdale who has a long list of ground-breaking athletic accomplishments. She was the second woman to earn a full four-year scholarship to UCLA, and the only woman to ever sign a contract with an NBA team, the Indian Pacers in 1979. Meyers Drysdale is currently the Vice-President and General Manager for the WNBA’s Pheonix Mercury. She also worked as a sports analyst for ESPN, NBC and CBS. She has recently written a book chronicling her experiences, You Let Some Girl Beat You?: The Story of Ann Meyers Drysdale.

    The day after our interview the San Diego Union Tribune published this article that outlines Meyers Drysdale’s quest for equality.

    2012 celebrates the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the groundbreaking federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools that receive federal funding, mandating gender equity in athletics. Meyers Drysdale kicked off the Title IX 40th Anniversary Celebration festivities at her book signing on Monday, June 11th by briefly sharing stories about the impact of Title IX on her life.

    The book description describes Ms. Meyers Drysdale best:

    Annie was one of the best players ever. I didn’t say male or female; I said ever.”—Bill Russell, former Boston Celtics player

    Ann Meyers Drysdale is one of the greatest stars in the history of basketball. But her rise wasn’t without controversy. Her 1979 NBA bid to play with the Indiana Pacers brought a barrage of criticism. But Ann simply wanted to play among the best. She had always competed with the guys, and she never let anyone keep her down. In You Let Some Girl Beat You? she shares her inspirational story for the first time.

    A female first in many categories, Meyers Drysdale was the first woman ever signed to a four-year athletic scholarship to UCLA, where she remains the only four-time Bruin basketball All American, male or female. Ann was also the only woman ever asked to compete in ABC Sports’ Superstars, pitting her against elite athletes like Mark Spitz, Joe Frazier, O.J. Simpson, and Mark Gastineau.

    After her athletic career Meyers Drysdale went on to do color commentary on all the national stations. She also married Don Drysdale, legendary pitcher and announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, making them the first ever married couple enshrined in their respective sport’s Hall of Fame. Today Ann continues to break through barriers. She is the only female vice president in the NBA (she is vice president of the Phoenix Suns), and is also the general manager of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, which has won two WNBA championships since she took over four years ago. The New York Times featured her prominently in a piece in August 2011 called “Pioneers Continue to Shepherd Women’s Basketball.” Time magazine recently named her one of the ten greatest female athletes of all time.

    Listen to a podcast of the show

    podcast

    Read more
  • Spa and Fitness Legend Deborah Szekely

    Rancho La Puerta Named Second Best International Destination Spa for 2016 by Travel and Leisure magazine Read more Richard and Joe welcomed the founding “godmother” of the modern-day spa and fitness resort movement: Deborah Szekely, now in her 90s and always on the go. Despite being a nonagenarian, she happily proclaims that she feels like she’s “still ...
    Read more
  • San Diego Mayoral Candidate Ed Harris

    Richard and Joe welcomed former City Council member, Lifeguard Sergeant, Lifeguard Association leader and spokesman, Ed Harris, who is running against Kevin Faulconer for San Diego Mayor in the June 7th primary. After serving his country as a Marine from 1984 to 1988, Mr. Harris became a lifeguard in 1989 and has been protecting ...
    Read more
  • Donna Frye CalAware President Emerita and Former San Diego Councilmember

    This week Richard and Joe welcomed former San Diego Councilmember Donna Frye. Ms. Frye served as a member of the San Diego City Council from 2001 through 2010. During her tenure, she distinguished herself as an independent thinker who fought continuously for an open and honest government that is accountable to the public. Frye ran ...
    Read more
  • Running for the Perkins School and Zoo New England with Marla Runyan and John Linehan

    This week Richard was joined by Marla Runyan of the Perkins School For The Blind and John Linehan CEO of Zoo New England to elaborate on the great charities Richard and his wife Mari are running for during the Boston Marathon. On April 16th Richard will be running in the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) 5k ...
    Read more