Mary Schmitt Boyer helped pave the way for other women in sports journalism with her excellence and professionalism. Hear about her experiences as a scribe, and why her own career plans changed after a year in Al McGuire’s circus atmosphere at Marquette in the mid-1970s. She recalls his showmanship, his welcoming personality, and how the Hall of Fame basketball coach set her on a path that took her around the world. Mary explains why Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic torch is the top sports moment she covered, and why Kyrie Irving is the most difficult athlete she dealt with. We talk a lot about the NBA, which Mary covered for more than two decades, including 18 years in Cleveland. She offers a front-row perspective on LeBron James after documenting his rise from phenom to immortality.

Mary specialized in the NBA and Olympics at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland from 1996 until she retired from the newspaper business in 2014. She previously worked at the St. Paul Pioneer Press (1989-1995), the Milwaukee Journal (1978-1988), and the Minneapolis Tribune (1977-78).

She was also an intern reporter at the Washington Post, the Kansas City Star, and the Eugene (Oregon) Register-Guard.

In 2008, the Association for Women in Sport’s Media presented Schmitt Boyer with the Mary Garber Pioneer Award. The honor has been given annually since 1999 to those who have distinguished themselves in the field while reflecting and advancing the values and mission of AWSM. Mary served as AWSM president in 1993-94. She was president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association in 2013-14.

Mary has written or co-authored seven sports books:

· “Inside Game: Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA” – written with Wayne Embry and Spike Lee

· “The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly: Cleveland Indians – Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Cleveland Indians History” – written with Terry Pluto

· “The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball” – written with Ron Smith

· “Indians Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan!” – written with Thomas Hamilton

· “Welcome to the Jungle”

· “Browns Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan!” – written with Doug Dieken

· “Kobe Bryant”

Mary graduated from Marquette University in 1977 with a degree in journalism after serving as sports editor of the student newspaper, the Marquette Tribune. She’s a recipient of the Diederich College of Communications Award: the Journalism By-Line Award.

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