via the New York Times. This article reminds me of a short film I saw at LUNAFEST this week on women’s wrestling in the United States called “Grappling Girls“. Both stories feature bits on the winning over of athlete’s fathers:
At the Kartalspor-Gazi Universitesispor game, a motley mix of curious men and boys gathered in the stadium, a bleak, half-finished cement structure overlooking a busy highway. Standing nearby was Selmin Odabas, the mother of a player named Selin, a speedy 20-year-old striker for the home team.
“In the beginning, we didn’t want our daughter to play,” Odabas said. “We were worried that it would affect her posture, her character, even her sexual orientation. We put her in volleyball, in track, but nothing could stop her.”
As Selin’s skills improved — she was named to the national women’s team — their attitude changed, Odabas said.
She pointed out a wiry man nearby shouting encouragement at Kartalspor’s players and cursing their opponents.
“Now her father is a fanatic fan,” she said.
You’ll have to watch Grappling Girls at LUNAFEST (or however else) to see the now-my-dad-is-my-biggest-fan story that one of the wrestlers tells, but it follows a similar trajectory. Some gender issues are culturally specific, but others are certainly shared.
