I'm referring to:
Woman in Progess: Christine Daniels on Life Changes Big & Small
http://latimesblogs.typepad.com/...
Below the fold, I'll provide a little background on Christine Daniels and why I enjoy her blog.
The final column carried under the byline of veteran L.A. Times sportswriter Mike Penner - in April of this year - was one of the most amazing things I've ever read in a sports section, or perhaps in any section of any newspaper.
Here's the lead:
During my 23 years with The Times' sports department, I have held a wide variety of roles and titles. Tennis writer. Angels beat reporter. Olympics writer. Essayist. Sports media critic. NFL columnist. Recent keeper of the Morning Briefing flame.
Today I leave for a few weeks' vacation, and when I return, I will come back in yet another incarnation.
As Christine.
I am a transsexual sportswriter.
Here's the full column:
Old Mike, new Christine
Christine Daniels debuted her "Woman in Progress" blog for the L.A. Times this summer. She's a huge soccer fan. With David Beckham's recent arrival in L.A., the timing is perfect:
Becks and me
He arrived wearing a silver-gray Burberry suit, surrounded by a phalanx of assistants and yes-people, on his way to a temporary stage assembled on the Home Depot Center soccer pitch, where he would say hello to adoring fans and talk to the media about his new $250-million gig with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
I arrived wearing a golden-hued top from Ross and a multi-colored paisley skirt from Ames and a pair of open-toed tan heels from Aerosoles, surrounded by nobody, just me and my press credential on our way to the far southwest corner of some very uncomfortable and unshaded stadium seats to listen to him talk and write about what he said.
The details are not important. What mattered to me on Friday was: David Beckham arrived. And so did I.
Friday’s Beckham’s "Presentation" to media and Galaxy season-ticket holders (a friend described it best as "Becksapalooza") was the first sporting event (a loose description at best) I ever covered with a credential hanging around my neck reading, "Christine Daniels, L.A. Times."
The blog is focused on sports, but will delve into Christine's personal life and personal interests (notably including music and film).
Here's her bio:
Our Blogger
Christine Daniels is a veteran sportswriter who has worked at the Los Angeles Times for 23 years -- as Mike Penner. Christine shocked many readers on April 27, 2007, when she announced her decision to change gender. She will be blogging about her transition over the days to come.
With her wide variety of interests, eye for interesting details, and knack for humorous stream-of-consciousness observations, Christine is a natural blogger.
Here's her description of a recent encounter with former L.A. Times sportswriter Rick Reilly (now a book author and Sports Illustrated columnist):
Not your ordinary book signing
. . .
Since learning of my transition, Rick had sent me a couple of supportive and very generous emails. I recently appeared on a Sirius talk show and during the interview was told Rick had just been on the same show, was asked about me and had said some nice things. I was thinking about restoring Rick to the music-mix distribution list, though the 21-year-old production known now comes with a different title -- KGAL.
Thursday afternoon, I heard Rick talking on the car radio again. He was in-studio with local ESPN Radio sports-talk hosts Steve Mason and John Ireland, plugging his new book, as well as a book-signing appearance that evening at the Westwood Borders. I know that Borders well. I go there regularly to buy my copies of Pro Football Weekly and In Style.
I thought I'd stop by and say hi to Rick, for the first time in years.
I arrived a few minutes after 7 p.m. Rick and a small audience were clustered in the front second-level corner of the store, Rick on a small stage telling stories about some of the incidents and interactions that led to some of the columns collected in his book.
I quietly took a seat in the back row. Rick talked for another half-hour, answered some question, scanned my side of the room several times -- looking right at me, but never showing any spark of recognition. As I say, it'd been a few years. Also, I just had my hair colored.
When it was time to assemble in the reception line to shake Rick's hand and get his autograph, I waited a few moments, letting the line grow a bit before joining in. For at least 15 minutes, I stood in that line, clutching my copy of "Hate Mail From Cheerleaders" as Rick made breezy conversation with each reader and personalized the third page of every book he was handed.
Soon enough, I handed Rick my copy and he reached out to shake my hand. Still no sign of recognition. Until I smiled and said, "Hi, Rick. I'm Christine."
With that, Rick's eyes widened and his jaw dropped and he leaned back in his chair so abruptly, I feared one of those unfortunate backward stage dives you sometimes read about. Rick looked utterly shocked, but to me, it seemed a happy kind of shock. Breaking into a huge open-mouthed grin, Rick said, "Oh my God!" and sprung up from his chair and hopped down from the stage to greet me with open arms . . . and then he stopped.
"What am I supposed to do with you?" he said with a laugh, figuring that just a handshake might not suffice anymore.
"A hug would be nice," I suggested.
So we hugged. And we laughed. Who knew back in '84, when Rick and his Kareem-era goggles were driving the lane against me and my lumbering brand of Frank Brickowski basketball panache, that we would wind up one day at this strange place -- Rick with a new book, me in a new brown patterned dress?
Almost immediately, Rick looked to his right and called out, "Cynthia! It's Christine!"
Cynthia and Rick, I later learned, have just bought a house in Hermosa Beach. Cynthia hurried over and greeted me like the friendliest new neighbor on the planet. More hugging. More smiling. Lots of instantly animated chatter. Lots of blonde hair bobbing as we laughed like old classmates at a high school reunion. Cynthia could not have been more welcoming.
Rick half-suggested, half-demanded we go out for drinks. Conveniently, there was a wine bar located right across the street, a few doors down from -- as Rick was quick to notice -- "Christine's Nails" salon. It seemed the perfect spot.
For the next two hours, we shared Chardonnay and old yarns and new life directions. Journalist Rick was loaded with questions for me. Those he didn't ask, Cynthia filled in the gaps. I was pleased and excited to answer them all, pleased and excited to finally just be myself for the first time in the nearly 24 years I had known Rick.
Cynthia and I hit it off in grand fashion, especially after I reached into my purse and pulled out my new calling card -- a newly minted copy of "KGAL 2006." As Cynthia scanned the track list, we quickly discovered we had a similar taste in music -- especially when it comes to Chrissie Hynde, "a goddess," as Cynthia described her while I took another sip of wine and I nodded along in agreement.
"We'll have to go to a concert!" Cynthia said. And shopping! Two of my favorite pastimes. I think we are going to have some fun.
That has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my transition -- meeting and making a new friend, as well as renewing a long-time acquaintance and taking that relationship in a satisfying and gratifying different direction.
As Rick put it when he signed the third page of the book I now own:
Your old / new friend,
Riles '07
I'll be adding Woman in Progress to my blogroll. I hope you'll consider doing the same.