Her sports journalism career began in 1968, as Johnny's football career was ending. The "Chicago American" newspaper had asked him to write a regular column about football; he, already working for WBBM-TV, suggested his wife write it. However, rather than being published in the sports section, the newspaper put her early contributions in the women's Sunday section, with the byline of "Mrs. Johnny Morris". Her work was gradually moved to the sports section and, later, featured in the "Chicago Daily News", where she also had the freedom to write about other sports. One such feature was on how women weren't allowed in the pit area at the 1970 Indianapolis 500 trials. She bore all credentials, except she "wasn't a man".