Joan Joyce

When most people hear the word athlete they think of Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, or even Hank Aaron; however, when I hear athlete I think of Joan Joyce. No bright lights, no homerun fences, just a whole lot of scratchy dirt and some determination. Astonished fans may wonder why a woman is on the mound. Little girls gaze at her with eyes full of admiration. This 5 foot 10 inch 160 pound woman was not just a softball pitcher but someone who proved that if you believe you can accomplish anything. Because she always played for the love of the game, revolutionized the way female athletes are viewed, and competed fiercely without being attached to results Joan Joyce is proof of women’s equality.
Joyce’s dedication was stronger than others from day one. Joyce was born August 18, 1940 in Waterbuy, Connecticut. (Gall 1) At age thirteen she started playing top-flight competition softball. (Gall 1)   She did not only start playing sports physically but she started playing mentally. Joyce was always physically advanced when it came to sports but when she hit the court, dirt, or grass she was mentally involved in the game. her sports career began with basketball in the 1960s. (Gall 1) Joyce played basketball in 1961 when she led the amateur athletic union. (Gall 1) To be an athlete one must be willing to fail in order to get better, Joyce was always looking forward to pushing herself to the limits to be the best that she could be.
Because sports took up most of Joyce’s life, she never settled for second best and always succeeded, showing how willing she is. Joyce started concentrating on golf in 1970, she then joined the ladies pro golf association. (Gall 1) she is proud of her accomplishments but “She doesn’t speak of past accomplishments she is just competitive in nature” (Katrina). Joyce played many sports but her best one by far was softball. Joyce knew how to throw many softball pitches but the fastball she threw was clocked at 116 miles per hour.(Gall 1) Joyce’s career...