The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 56

THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS OOO Saturday, March 21, 1998 e-2: A lineup of sports-themed novels for girls People from staff and wire reports by Jay Harvey WIBC appoints Vince Welch to follow Lamey sports such as skateboarding and dirt bike racing to traditional sports like Ice hockey and baseball. Christopher died at age 80 last September. Local school librarians say his novels remain popular with young readers. In These Girls, Hope Is A Muscle, a book about a girls basketball team published by Atlantic Monthly Press In 1995. This Isn't a novel it's a true story about a season of high school basketball In Massachusetts and the players' struggle for respect.

But author Madeleine Bliss uses several techniques associated with novel writing; the book has become widely popular among Junior high school girls, particularly athletes. Winter Olympics; the books are geared for 9- through 12-year-olds. The Saddle Club, also published by Bantam Books. The series includes more than 70 books; a new one Is published about once a month. The plots Involve three girls who enjoy horseback riding.

Novels by Matt Christopher, a former baseball player who wrote more than 120 books (most published by Little Brown and Co.) for young readers. Although most of Christopher's novels have boy athletes as protagonists, some feature girls, Including Supercharged Infield and Red-Hot Hlghtops. His fast-paced books focus on everything from "cutting edge" Vince Welch is taking over Bob Lamey's job at WIBC-AM (1070). Beginning April 6, Welch will anchor the morning sports and be primary reporter for BobLamev the stations dod Lamey colts. Pacers and racing coverage, WIBC officials confirmed.

Lamey resigned from WIBC to take a full-time job as announcer with the Indianapolis Colts. Welch, currently sports director at WNDY QD, will finish his duties there with the high school boys' basketball championship on April 4. He will continue other broadcast jobs for the Indy Racing League and Ball State basketball. Welch felt his days at WNDY werp numbered when Paramount Stations Group purchased the station in January. Many WNDY personnel moved to other Hulman-Gedrge properties or were let go.

"Everyone knew it was one of thoe situations where syndication is Paramount's strength, not DIGITAL PETS Continued from Page 1 Moil transforms into some sort of moftster. "Then you have to hook 'em together to fight 'em," said Lyon's friend Spencer Anderson, 11. r- Darts to dung The pets have contacts where they can be electronically hitched enabling them to engage in players press buttons to hurl "weapons" that fly across one screen and onto the receiving screen. The DigiMon's weapons can be DIFFERENCES Continued from Page 1 your native tongue. If your child does ask questions in public about someone who looks or acts differently from him, just give an answer and try not to act embarrassed, Myers-Walls says.

If you tell your child to hush, she" may think it's not OK to talk about a person with a disability; or she might take your embarrassment as a sign that there is something odd or unusual about the person. "If you're dealing with a disability, I think it's especially important for parents to realize that people with disabilities are used to kids," Myers-Walls says. 'They're Often very willing to talk to the Child about their experience and how they do things." I It's also a good Idea to provide your child with books and videos that show differences In children. The PBS television shows Sesame Street and The Puzzle Place do The mi Her sister, Murlyne Wilcock, 30. filed a similar lawsuit, and the combined complaints go to trial Oct.

6 in California. In a federal suit filed last month, Monson, of Yerington, said Smothers' lawyers. Dale F. Kinsella and Jill Rosenthal of Los Angeles, used hardball methods to make her life miserable, increase her litigation costs and ultimately defeat her claim. Kinsella said he hadn't seen the complaint and couldn't comment.

Monson wants damages in excess of $225,000 on grounds Smothers' lawyers circulated documents containing private and personal Information about her, some of it false, to embarrass and harm her. A year older Actor Al Freeman Jr. is 64. Actress Kathleen Wid-does (As the World Turns) is 59. Actor Timothy Dalton is 54.

Rock musician Conrad Lozano (Los Lobos) is 47. Actor Gary Oldman is 40. Actor Matthew Broderick is 36. Comedian-talk show host Rosie O'Donnell is 36. Actress Cynthia Geary is 32.

seeming inability "to do anything that doesn't involve fighting or blood. We had a (toy) that was dedicated to nurturing, and it had be twisted into a fighting kind thing." Nonetheless he said that in most families, one toy in isolation unlikely to have much impact on a child's development. Lyon's father, Frank Lenk, doesn't see the DigiMon as being terribly different in tone from many other toys and games that children play with and have for years. "They're more competition than really fighting," he said. "It's not much different from people playing chess." you like that smile?" Later, you can talk about hurt feelings and how some people are sensitive about their weight.

If you talk tolerance at home, the child is less likely to criticize In public. He's not going to say: "Look at that ugly dress!" unless he's heard someone close to him say something similar. Still, kids sometimes blurt out hurtful things. Myers-Walls doesn't think punishing the child is the answer. Instead, help the child see something good in what she's criticized.

If she opens up a present and says: "Yuck. I don't like clothes," a parent might respond: "But remember how much you like this color?" Croft will remind Matthew ahead of time that it's important to be thankful for gifts and not say anything unkind because it may hurt someone's feelings. Emphasize the giving rather than the gift, says Myers-Walls. Say to the child: "Isn't It nice that so-and-so remembered your birthday?" in read about advanced medical T111'C Compiled local productions," Welch said. "But it was a great 2Wi-year run certainly the most fun I've had in broadcasting." i Charleston, W.Va., honors a native son Normally you'd have to do a lot of late-night channel-surfing to find Don Knotts, but the comedy actor's hometown of Charleston, W.Va., is putting him on the map.

State Highways Commissioner Sam Beverage said Wednesday that he has given final approval to renaming a section of University Avenue in Morgantown as Don Knotts Boulevard. The 73-year-old actor-comedian is best known as the bumbling sheriffs deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. He also starred in the 1960s movies How to Frame a Figg and The Reluctant Astronaut. Libel accusation added to Tommy abuse charge Tommy Smothers' former stepdaughter, who claims the comedian sexually abused her as a child, is now accusing his lawyers of libel in Reno, Nev. Alana Monson, 27, sued Smothers two years ago, claiming that he touched her inappropriately on at least three occasions when she was about 4 years old.

"anything from missiles to poop," Spencer said. The pet that Is a slug shoots the latter. Spencer said, adding, "That's why I'm glad I don't have the slug." Although a very similar concept lies behind both the DigiMon and the NanoFighter, one difference didn't escape the notice of Lyon's and Spencer's parents. Nano-Fighters duel to the death if any electronic thing can be said to die. DigiMons can die, too, but only as a result of Inadequate caretaking.

Scott Brown, a psychologist who treats many children at his Overland Park, office, said he's dismayed by our culture's this well. Children see people of all colors and characters using wheelchairs. Lisa Croft said Matthew has learned a lot from Sesame Street. He's pretended to be blind himself and learned some sign language. Help Is available Plenty of books explore the topic thoughtfully.

Ask your librarian for suggestions or check out the new book for kids aged 4 to 8 called The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolfe ($12, Random House, 1997). In simple rhyme, it demonstrates the importance of people of all colors working together. Sometimes children will unwittingly say hurtful things. They might say something like: "Look at that fat man, Daddy." Myers-Walls observes that early childhood is a good time to emphasize the good In people, such as by saying "He looks strong" or "He has a neat bathing suit, doesn't he?" or "He's a really friendly person, isn't he? Don't doctor is 0 22. Don't miss your chance to 1 .11 1 The Indiana to of is Staff Report Df sports-themed novels for girls were teams, there wouldn't be much of a league.

But The Broadway Ballplayers, a new series written and published by athlete-turned-author Maureen Holo-han, isn't the only team In town. Kids In elementary school or Junior high who want to read novels about sports-oriented girls also might consider: Silver Blades, published by Bantam Books. This series of more than 20 books focuses on the adventures of six talented figure skaters "who share one special dream competing in the Olympics one day." Bantam began publishing the series in connection with the 1994 GAME PLAN Continued from Page 1 books have boys as central characters," Drew continues. "Novels with girls focus on the traditionally 'female' sports figure skating, horseback riding and gymnastics. And there's not even many of those books." So an elementary or junior high school girl searching for stories with sports-oriented peers usually has to give up on novels and turn to nonfiction books such as recent autobiographies by Olympic figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan and gymnast Dominique Moceanu.

"Girls need their own stories and books, not Just ones that glorify boy athletes," says Becky McNlchols, 43, a Washington Township resident whose daughter Leigh, 13, is a soccer enthusiast. McNichols also chairs the Panther Athletic Club for Girls, a multisport club affiliated with North Central High School. She and other advocates of girls athletics say the frustrating lack of sports-oriented fiction for girls is a symptom of a larger problem: Not only have athletic opportunities for girls been sharply limited until recent years, but marketing of all kinds of related products, including books, has lagged way behind public demand, too. "My daughter would like to buy posters of women athletes for her room, but there are almost none," McNichols said. "You see posters of Michael Jordan everywhere, but nothing of someone like (soccer star) Mia Hamm." Getting books to market Like a basketball player running toward an open part of the court, Holohan Is jumping In with her self-published, five-part series of paperback novels.

The series Is called The Broadway Ballplayers and features recurring characters pursuing an array of sports and grappling with coming-of-age Issues. The first book in the series, Friday Nights, focuses on basketball and was published last Sep REDMOND Continued from Page 1 up, puzzled, from their lawn-mowers and charcoal grills. Up and down the street It echoed: Mom Says HelL Don't repeat after me I was marveling at this newfound power of mine Shouting Boy, could make time stand still when I felt Mom's hand gripping my shoulder and spinning me around, hard. INDIANA FLOWER PATIO SHOW Sponsored by The Indianapolis Star for the 40th Year March 14-22 Indiana State Fairgrounds tember. The other two books published so far are Left Out, dealing with baseball, and Everybody's Fauorite, which is about soccer.

Left Out's Jacket blurb hints at one of the coming-of-age issues that are tackled in the plots: "Rosie Jones is one of the best 11 -year-old baseball players in the city. But will she make the all-star team? No matter how hard she tries, will Rosie ever be good enough for her father?" "Books like these are crucial and long overdue," says Donna Lopiano, executive director for the New York-based Women's Sports Foundation. "Reading is reality for children In some ways. If you don't read about girls like you in books or see them as TV characters, you think something's wrong with you if you like sports Maureen is targeting the right age level with these books." Ever hustling, Holohan has visited elementary schools and Junior highs in nearly 30 U.S. cities in the last five months.

She spent a recent morning with more than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders at Pine Tree Elementary School In Avon to Introduce them to The Broadway Ballplayers. "A lot of kids can't name three professional women athletes, but they know about dozens of men," Holohan said during an interview in the school's gym. As she spoke, about half a dozen curious 10- and 11 -year-olds boys and girls gathered around. "I tell the kids what It feels like to have to pack up, leave your country and play sports wearing a foreign country's uniform and listening to a foreign country's national anthem because there are no opportunities in your homeland," Holohan said. Bitter sojourn abroad The author, who is 5-feet-ll and a native of upstate New York, graduated from Northwestern University in 1995.

That was before the American Basketball League (ABL) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) were organized. During what Holohan describes as a "miserable" period of about "What did you say?" she asked. I was about to answer when Merle mom walked up and started yammering about how her kids didn't talk like that. (This was untrue. It was Merle Jr.

who taught my brother the Dirtiest Joke In History.) "Oh, yeah?" I interrupted. "Well. Mom told me to say It." I guess it was the wrong thing to say to Mrs. Merle Sr. Mom blushed deep and whisked me inside for her famous "I Have Never Been So Humiliated" lecture, subtitled "That's Not What I three months, she pursued a pro basketball career In Israel, Greece and Turkey.

She said her spirit was nearly crushed by promoters who didn't follow through on their promises and friction among teammates from various cultures. Holohan returned to the United States and was injured while try-' ing out for the ABL in 1993. She underwent surgeries on both feet, then switched her focus to writing sports novels. Hence, The Broadway Ballplayers were born. The books and the sports-oriented heroines are being greeted with applause from some Hoosler educators.

"Girls are very Interested In sports books, and the level of Interest Just keeps increasing every year," says Maryann Olson, the librarian at pine Tree Elementary, "Plus, sports makes a wonderful 'hook' to get children to read. Just like adults, children don't want to have to labor over their recreational reading. They want an exciting or entertaining theme." Hard to Interest big firms But major book publishers weren't interested in The Broadway Ballplayers. Holohan said she received about half a dozen rejections before deciding to self-publish. Since September, more than 1 3.000 copies of Friday Nights have been sold.

Maybe that's no surprise considering the level of enthusiasm for sports exhibited by many of the girls at Pine Tree. "I thought it was really neaf when the (U.S.) women's hockey team won at the Olympics," says Bethany Sexson, 11, a fifth grader who enjoys playing basketball, soccer and softball. Bethany and her friends, Leeann Newby, 10, a volleyball and basketball enthusiast, and Jessie Maraldo, 10, a soccer and basketball player, said they were Intrigued by The Broadway Ballplayers novels and their colorful covers. "I definitely want to look at these books," Jessie said. "I love sports, so this kind of book is probably right for me." Meant" and "I Can't Walt Until You Have Kids So I Can Laugh When They Embarrass You." That was 35 years ago.

Mom is still waiting. And hinting. Well, she can hint all she likes. I remember that lecture and I know about payback. I do not wish to experience Shouting Boy from the parental perspective.

As far as I'm concerned, what goes around can Just stay there. Mike Redmond's column appears Wednesdays and Saturdays in The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News, and Sundays in The Star. Treeboy (Channel 13) Sunrise and "It's Your House" Monday at noon and 2 p.m. Thursday-Friday at 2 and 6 p.m. Saturdays at 2 and 6 p.m.

Sundays at 2 p.m. CRUMplex II Dr. Dirt and Mr. Fix-It Dick Crum and Pal Sullivan with special guests and slide presentations Monday-Friday al noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday at noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

Sundays at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Visit The Star Flower Patio Show Booth to register for free gift certificates and to learn more aboul The Star and The News and our new garden feature on our Infoline. I IMHANMMH IS 1 www.Mamcwi.cotn The liulianafxilis Star's proceeds from the Indiana Flower 6 Patio Show go to Slar-Sews Charities. Special Presentations Vatch for the Healthy Directives supplement, comine to vour home in The Star on Sunday, March L11.1 1 1.1 1 DreaKtnrougns ana tecnnoiogy in articles written Dy local experts, for neaitn lniormation you need to know, Healthy Directives is Where To Turn! CRUMplex The Garden Club of Indiana Monday-Friday at 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m.

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fi ft t- Hand Center Advancement in treating conditions and tip r. injuries oj we eioow, including: Pain, Overuse and Tendonitis Fracture Treatment Arthroscopic Surgery Joint Replacement of the plbow Hill Hastings II, M.D. The Indiana Hand Center physicians are: James J. M.D.; James B. Steichen, M.D.; ijeffi-eyA.

Greenburg, M.D.; Alexander D. Mih, M.D.; William B. Kleinman, M.D.; James W. Strickland, M.D.; Thomas J. Fischer, M.D.; Richard S.

Idler, M.D.; Robert M. Baltera, M.D.; and Hill Hastings II, M.D. Sunday, March 22 ft- INDIANAPOLIS www.starnews.com It-.