Eye to Eye
Eye to Eye
SPORTS JOURNALIST CHRISTINE BRENNAN
Julie K. Rubini
BIOGRAPHIES FOR YOUNG READERS
Ohio University Press
Athens
Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio 45701
© 2019 by Julie K. Rubini
All rights reserved
To obtain permission to quote, reprint, or otherwise reproduce or distribute material from Ohio University Press publications, please contact our rights and permissions department at (740) 593-1154 or (740) 593-4536 (fax).
Printed in the United States of America
Ohio University Press books are printed on acid-free paper
29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 5 4 3 2 1
Frontispiece: Christine, rinkside at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Courtesy of Christine Brennan
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Rubini, Julie, author.
Title: Eye to eye : sports journalist Christine Brennan / Julie K. Rubini.
Description: Athens : Ohio University Press, [2019] | Series: Biographies for young readers | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018058621| ISBN 9780821423745 (hc : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780821423752 (pb : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780821446645 (PDF)
Subjects: LCSH: Brennan, Christine--Juvenile literature. | Women sportswriters--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Women sportscasters--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Sportswriters--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Sportscasters--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature.
Classification: LCC GV742.42.B72 R83 2019 | DDC 070.449796092 [B] --dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018058621
Contents
Chapter One: In the Locker Room
Chapter Five: Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Chapter Seven: Live from the Olympics
Chapter Ten: Passing the Baton
Christine’s Awards and Recognitions
Author’s Note
I HAVE KNOWN of Christine Brennan for years. It has been a privilege getting to really know her over the last ten years as our worlds came together in honor of those we loved.
Christine’s memoir, Best Seat in the House, was published in 2006. My husband, Brad, and I invited her to participate in the children’s book festival we founded in memory of our daughter, Claire, that year. Even though we typically feature children’s book authors and illustrators at Claire’s Day, we thought that since Christine’s book was a tribute to her father, we could stretch the requirements. After all, this is Christine Brennan. She signed the copy of the book I bought for my husband: For Brad, A dear friend and a great Dad. Thank you for all you do for the children of Northwest Ohio. Claire would be so proud of her father. Fondly, Chris.
These three sentences sum Christine up perfectly. Kind. Gracious. Grateful. Empathetic. Christine signed books all day, and when the bookseller ran out of copies, she offered some of her own so that everyone who wanted to buy one would get one. Christine also helped give out our special reading awards in Claire’s honor to students. The C.A.R.E. Awards, or Claire’s Awards for Reading Excellence, are given to children nominated as the most improved readers in their schools. Every child nominated receives a personalized certificate and a coupon to choose a book from the collection available at Claire’s Day.
Researching, writing, and sharing her story has been a blessing. Christine’s messages, whether in a note, a phone call, a lecture, or her writings, are consistent. They are always upbeat, down-to-earth, and true to her honest, midwestern roots. She is strong, precise, and humble. Christine is dedicated to her craft, and just as importantly, to students who wish to follow in her footsteps. She gives countless hours of her time mentoring and teaching future journalists. In fact, students can visit Christine’s website and find a section just for them, offering her advice.
I’ve discovered through studying Christine’s life journey and career path that she is not only
