My older sister, Joann, was the jock in our family. She played field hockey, basketball and softball in high school. She excelled at track at college. By comparison, I was OK at most every sport I tried -- but I was no star. My younger sister really was more of a social student, and didn't do many sports.

Joann came by it naturally. My mother, now 80, was way before her time in this regard. An avid (Phillies) baseball fan, my mom also was a good athlete in a day when women weren't supposed to be. I remember watching her turn a double play during a mother-vs.-son game in Little League. Thank god I wasn't on base.

When Joann was in middle school, she decided to become a phys ed teacher. She still is today, and she turned 51 last year. She's a certified lifeguard instructor too. Like I said, name any sport or physical activity, and Joann is good at it.

My mom had dreams of Joann being a career basketball coach. She had all the makings: She's smart, disciplined, competitive, had a good sports career of her own, and she's firm but nice to her students.

For a few years after college, Joann did coach girls basketball in Pennsylvania, our home state. She was the JV team coach. The head coach of the girls' varsity team and his assistant were both men. The program had moderate success; winning more games than losing, but never threatening to be a state power.

After a handful of years doing this, Joann hung up her whistle. She didn't really like working with male coaches. She wanted to start a family. She now has a son in high school and a daughter in college. If you'd ask her, she'd probably say she's fine with the choice she made.

I couldn't help thinking of Joann when I read Morning Sentinel reporter Matt Difilippo's excellent story on A1 of both newspapers today about the dearth of female basketball coaches in Maine. I'd bet some impressive women in Maine faced some of the same choices my big sister did, and they left coaching for good. I think that's too bad.

You can read Matt's story here.