On a chilly Wednesday night at Redemption Bar & Grill in Midtown East, 20 anxious women gather in the basement to get an education.
They’ve come to the Second Avenue “women-only cave,” as it’s called, to learn more about football. Adena Andrews, a CBS Sports and ESPNW editorial alum, is their upbeat instructor. Andrews, 28, started offering the NFL tutorials earlier this month, frustrated with how clueless many of her female peers were about sports. She also gives lessons on March Madness and the NBA Finals.
“The whole concept came about when my sister told me one day that she couldn’t talk to her husband anymore on Sundays,” says Andrews, a sports enthusiast.
“She goes to church and he watches the football game. I thought: ‘I should teach my sister how to do this. If she’s one, there have to be so many other women who want to learn.’ ”
Her students at Redemption are certainly eager for an education, watching attentively as Andrews shows a highlight reel of the season’s biggest plays and slides with an animated field marking players and positions. They sip wine and beer and nibble on bar food while jotting down notes on a take-home cheat sheet.
“Everyone needs to know about Peyton Manning,” declares Andrews, speaking to the packed room.
“This guy ages like fine wine. In 2011, we all thought that he would be retiring after his neck injury, but he’s back again and about to go to the Super Bowl.”
Andrews’ classes are free and are held every three months at various bars in New York City. Many of the women who attend aren’t there to impress a new boyfriend — they’re there for professional reasons. The best way to score a seat in the class is to sign up for the mailing list (at sportsnthecity.com) or to follow Andrews on Twitter (@adena_andrews).
“Some of my clients are into sports, so I feel that knowing more can help me in my practice,” says Lavaughnda Taylor, a 29-year-old attorney who has come to several Sports and the City events. Taylor felt it was especially important that she brush up on her football knowledge this year, given that the Super Bowl is in town.
“I’m good with the majority of my calls,” she says, “but I need to work on my knowledge of the positions.”
Rachel Gallagher, a 28-year-old immigration lawyer who lives in Brooklyn, also frequents Andrews’ events for professional reasons. She’s looking to improve her sports knowledge to build stronger relationships with her male colleagues.
“It’s a male-dominated field. They talk about the Mets game and I want to leave the room,” she says.
“Sometimes I feel left out, like I’m missing out on a bonding opportunity. By not being able to participate, you miss out on important career opportunities. I want to be treated as an equal.”
But not all her guests are in it for professional gain.
Mia Hall, a 29-year-old community manager from Brooklyn, went to a Sports and the City event in Brooklyn last week hoping that learning about sports will help her dating life.
“I am going to a Super Bowl party and I want to know the basics of when someone calls out a play. I want to be able to interpret that,” she says.
“If I’m trying to talk to a guy, I can learn things here beforehand and in a safe space.”
TIPS
Adena Andrews’ tips for sports neophytes
Log on: “Sites like ForTheWin.com and Deadspin.com are really good,” says Andrews. “They’ll give you the update about what happened in last night’s game immediately, but they’ll also give you the juice. Women like to know the story behind the player.”
Tune in: “When you’re doing things around the house, leave the TV on a sports channel,” suggests Andrews. “You will innately pick up on the conversations and topics just by having it on in the background. It’s like learning by osmosis.”
Weigh in: Seahawk Richard Sherman set off the Twitterverse when he trash-talked his rival Michael Crabtree after their playoff game. “Jump in the debate,” Andrews advises. “It isn’t going away anytime soon, and will probably live on well after the Super Bowl.”
Just ask: “I’ve been around sports since I was 13 and I don’t know all the answers,” says Andrews. “If you don’t understand something, ask someone you trust who is knowledgeable. And remember: Just because they have a Y chromosome doesn’t mean they know sports. They could be faking it till they make it!”