Thursday, April 8. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Alumna hopes book will inspire girls
Dixon tells young players to dream big
By Matt James
mjames@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Concepts such as "The point guard is the playmaker," and "Teamwork is the very heart of basketball," may seem elementary to avid basketball fans.
And that's exactly what Tamecka Dixon is shooting for.
Those ideas are the essence of her new book for young girls.
The 1994-97 Jayhawk and current WNBA star for the Los Angeles Sparks has co-written a book with Judith Love Cohen, intended for 8-14 year-old girls.
"You Can Be A Woman Basketball Player" chronicles Dixon's path from wide-eyed eighth-grader to college All-American as professional basketball opportunities for women unfolded before her.
It also explains the basic fundamentals of the game and suggests
specific drills for improving readers' basketball skills.
Anyone who has attended a Kansas women's basketball game knows what an impact the sport has on young women.
With parents, teachers, and even Girl Scout leaders, young women flock by the thousands to Allen Fieldhouse each season to see their idols perform. For two hours, they are riveted to the action, screaming for their favorite Jayhawks, lingering after
Dixon: Dedicated the book to her parents and Kansas coach Marian Washington.
each contest in search of an autograph.
Starting May 22, they will be able to enjoy the influence of Kansas women's basketball at home and in the off season.
the season.
The book, which will be available in soft cover and hard cover, is the 11th in the "You Can Be A..." series Cohen began with her husband, David Katz. It is the first sports-related book in the series, but will
Katz was a teacher in the Los Angeles School District at the time and was discouraged when he asked the girls in his classes what they wanted to be in the future. The stereotypical "secretary" and "nurse" responses were commonplace.
Cohen is a registered electrical engineer with a master's degree in engineering from the University of Southern California. She began writing a monthly column for an engineering magazine in the 1970s. In her columns, she shared stories of female engineers and their triumphs in a male-dominated field.
not be the last. Plans for soccer and softball books already are under way.
In the late '80s, the two created Cascade Pass, Inc. in Marina Del Rey, Calif., which Katz originally used to produce rap songs encouraging students to stay in school. Then in 1991, Cohen wrote the book "You Can Be A Woman Engineer," followed in the ensuing years by "You Can Be A Woman Marine Biologist" and similar titles about other science-related fields.
Cohen's daughter, Rachel Siegel, had little interest in math and science. As an eighth grader in the early '70s, Siegel protested with others at her junior high to have a women's
"She has always loved basketball." Cohen said. "She is a real fan and wanted the same opportunities as males."
basketball team at her school.
While attending a Los Angeles Sparks game in 1998, Siegel suggested to her mother that she should do a basketball book in her series. Cohen contacted the Sparks, who suggested Dixon would be a great feature for the book.
"The book is geared towards young girls, obviously," Dixon said. "It was a great experience. (Cohen) knew what she wanted to bring forth in the book and she did a wonderful job of that."
Dixon, who frequently works with young people through basketball camps, said she had wanted to write a book for some time, and was excited to be able to reach out to young females in a new way. She also has plans to write a book for adults, she said.
"This was definitely a step in that direction," she said.
"You Can Be A Woman Basketball Player" is dedicated to Dixon's parents, Portia Dixon and Russell Bowers, who she said provided the motivation for her basketball career and education.
"I had talked to them lot about writing a book before, and they had
really encouraged me to go forth with it," she said. "When I came to them with the children's book idea, they thought it was great. I have a lot of younger cousins, and they were very excited too."
Dixon also dedicated the book to her former Kansas coach, Marian Washington.
"She has done a great job for every woman basketball player who has been through Kansas," Dixon said. "She is a great role model, and she molded me as a person and a player."
The soft cover version of the book will also come with a compact disc featuring five inspirational songs and with Dixon as a narrator. Katz wrote the lyrics, which encourage concepts such as following your dreams and having team spirit.
"Everyone tells you it can't be done, and to see Tamecka accomplishing her basketball dreams is great." Cohen said. "It's a wonderful feeling to think you could be moving someone in a different direction."
—Edited by Kelli Raybern
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