About “How the Ball Bounced”

How the Ball Bounced is the memoir of a well-meaning but intense, hardheaded tomboy’s quest to plow through gender barriers of the conservative 1950s and the political and social upheaval of the 60s and 70s.

With a chip on her shoulder and driven to prove her worth, she forged forward, invariably careening into cultural curves just a little too early and occasionally crashing into brick walls.

With humor, raw honesty, and unique perspective, the author carries us with her on her unusual journey: from a childhood of not fitting in; to playing semi-pro softball on an adult traveling team at only 14; to quitting college to work with the United Farmworkers at 21 and playing handball with Cesar Chavez; to playing Division I basketball just as Title IX began to change the history of women’s sports; to working out and smoking cocaine with NBA stars; to questioning what she wanted from life and what the hell was she was trying to prove all this time, anyway.