Bobbie Briefman was forced off the sporting fields in 2001 by a spinal cord injury—a particularly bitter blow since 'sports were my passion,' she said.
Well, she's not playing anymore, but is still quite active in Chicago's women's sports arena. She is the co-founder, with Jean Miller, of the Women Playing Sports Association ( WPSA ) , which offers volleyball, basketball and softball.
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Jean Miller ( left ) and Bobbie Briefman. Photo by Ross Forman
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The WPSA has about 250 members from Chicago and the suburbs, plus participants who travel to the North Side-based association from Wisconsin and Indiana.
'I love seeing people out there doing something that I loved, once enjoyed,' said Briefman, 40, who lives in suburban Burbank. Added Miller, 46, of Park Ridge: 'This [ league ] is a way for her to still participate in sports.'
The WPSA's second softball season, to be played on Sundays at Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose, kicks off May 4. Teams will play twice each Sunday.
'The 2007 softball season went great. We were very pleased. Actually, we were astonished how well it went,' Briefman said.
Last season, teams played 10 games, plus playoffs, from January to March. This season, all teams will play eight games plus playoffs.
'The managers of this league take an active role in organizing the league, making the rules, making sure their teams are abiding by the rules,' Miller said.
Softball players range from 18 to 65, with the average age 35 to 45.
'We wanted to build this into an organization where the women get to know each other, and that really seems to be happening,' Miller said.
In addition to softball, there were six basketball teams 'with a lot of talent out there,' Briefman said. The six volleyball teams last fall each played eight matches plus playoffs.
'We want to provide as many sports as we possibly can,' said Briefman, who confirmed that the WPSA is considering adding floor hockey and dodge ball, among other sports.
'If it was up to Bobbie, we would offer every sport possible,' Miller said. 'Bobbie is the epitome of the WPSA. She tries to get everyone out there playing, regardless of people's talent level.'
Both Briefman and Miller are lesbian, though they are not a couple. They guessed that about 80 percent of the league's participants also are lesbian.
'We don't focus on [ a participant's sexuality ] . We just want them to come out and play. In fact, we don't care about sexuality, physical ability or anything. We just want you out there playing,' Miller said.
The WPSA has featured a deaf basketball team, which is planning to play softball this spring, Miller said.
'We've never touted it as a gay or lesbian league. We're just a league for women to come play,' Miller said.
Men have been WPSA cheerleaders of sorts, not just watchers.
'We want to promote sports and healthiness among women,' Miller said.
The WPSA is not looking to compete with or against CMSA or the Windy City Athletic Association ( WCAA ) . Especially since both Briefman and Miller have played CMSA sports in the past.
'We're not competing with CMSA,' Miller said. 'We have no intention of even thinking about running CMSA out of Chicago. We just provide another venue for women to play in. It's our hope to compliment what they do. They've been a powerhouse and they're excellent at what they do. We're just a small, mom-and-pop organization.'
Added Briefman, 'The first year after my accident, yeah, it was kind of upsetting, but I learned to accept it. I believe God left me here for a purpose, and this is my purpose, to reach out to others and help women do anything they can athletically to enjoy themselves.'
