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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2006)
Clackamas Print Sports 7 Wednesday, May 31, 2006 ace-off: Mixed gender athletics hank Jordan h Clackamas Print wuality deserved all Mi/nd, mixed gender Miletics should be allowed women have been clamoring for equal kts in just about every facet of exis- L in America for decades now, and [the most part, they have received L rights .that they [ richly deserve. But what about men? h’s rights have not kssarily been taken iy, but they have ¡¡trampled on every- se from the courts he political arena to, ¡¡forbid, the athletic ring fields of this it country. So the stion I pose is this: men have asked for I to some degree jived the opportu- | to engage in ath- t competition with men and I, as a man, all for this. Anyone igreement with me? jymen would not be. lie examples are tee. Billie Jean King taking on soundly whipping Bobby Riggs in a ¡is match in the Houston Astrodome 1973. Annika Sorenstam, Michelle ! and other LPGA pros qualifying playing in men’s golf tournaments, men’s wrestling is now an Olympic sport, and many states recognize women’s wrestling championships in high school athletics. There are even a few fledg ling semi-pro women’s football leagues. Sports that at onfc time were solely the property of men are now being taken to another level by women, and this can only be a good thing. But let us take the argu ment one step further. Why not let men compete in women’s competitions? Sports that have solely been so-called “women- only sports” like field hockey and vol leyball have men’s teams at the collegiate level, but not at the high-school level. So why not let teen boys play volleyball on the all-girls’ teams? If girls are allowed to play football and wrestle in high school, then boys should be allowed to play volleyball. If a male golfer on the Nationwide Tour (the PGA’s minor league) wants to try to qualify for and compete in an LPGA tour event, he should be allowed to. The main moti vation for these guys is not trying to prove a point; it is just that the money is bet ter. All these guys really want to do is make a living, so why not let them try? I know, I know, the manliness card always comes up, but especially at the pro fessional level, it is all about dollars and cents. Men have gotten the shaft for years about equality, let our women now take the lead and let the men have some equality too. 1 Mike Guidice I Sports Edtior Genders were not intended to be mixed in sports, double standard evident In this day in age, society stresses equal ity, acceptance and freedom, while these are all ideals I embrace I do not believe females should be allowed to participate in sports along side male competitors. A recent online poll asked whether or not women should be allowed to play with the men on the PGA tour. Almost half decided against it. There already is a LPGA tour designed specially for women, a tour that gives women the opportu nity to compete with other women. Apparently, this is not enough how ever, and women feel the need to infiltrate the mens’ events. I understand that women want to prove themselves against superior competition but they need to respect that there are two sepa rate leagues and that mixing genders is something that was never meant to occur. The professional level is not the only athletic stage where females are mixing it up with the males. Last year in West Virginia, the home- coming queen also was the varsity football team’s kicker. This story made me crack a smile, but it also made me think back to when I was in junior high and a girl played on the football team with some of my friends. This girl was subjected to insults and dirty looks on the regular, even being the coach’s favorite tacking dummy in drills. It’s understandable when boys don’t accept a female into their sport, but even the coach was mad, bitter and unhappy being forced to accept a girl on his team of boys. I won’t even divulge deep into the obvious issue of the physical makeup of women and how it differs from men. Even the fit test women are not meant to endure the constant abuse that men are inflict ed with while engaged in fierce competition. Also like I stated before, leagues in most of the major sports have been created to accommodate females, i.e. the WNBA. I have to say though - I have never even known a female who remotely fol lowed it. Not saying they don’t exist, just noting the simple fact that they aren’t exactly popular amongst the masses. I’m no sexist or bigot, I love and respect women just as much as the next man, if not more. Not to be overshadowed however is my deep love for sports. I feel adamantly about the fact that males should not be competing against females - men and women should be seen as equals, however, in the world of sports I think they need to be divided. tandout softball players recognized, receive accolades rank Jordan h Clackamas Print Three Clackamas softball players were ted First Team All-NWAACC in vot- by conference coaches last week, as las thfee Second Team selections. Casey Middagh completed her out standing junior college career with her selection to the first team. The sopho more outfielder from Rex Putnam HS in Milwaukie completed her Clackamas career as the school career record holder in home runs and second in career runs scored, just behind her sister Randi. She also set single-season records in hits and runs batted in and had the second-most doubles in a single season in school his tory. Middagh also received her second consecutive selection to the National Fastpitch Softball Association All- American junior college team. She is the first Clackamas softball player to be named a two-time All-American. Erin Snyder, a sophomore from Canby HS, and Caitlin Ooley, a sophomore from Forest Grove HS were also named to the NWAACC first team. Second team selections were fresh man Katie King, from Glencoe HS in Hillsboro, freshman Cotie Howard, from Thurston HS in Springfield and fresh man Janelle Cristofaro, who played at Crater HS in Central Point. A team awards dessert was held last weekend and in the closest vote in team history, Ooley was named Most Valuable Player. The Gold Glove award for best defensive player went to sophomore Tara Angelone, who played high school ball at Newport HS. The Bob Rapp HTDB (Hit The Damn,.-gall) award with to Middagh as the best offensive player. The Most Inspirational Player was freshman Jennah Cowper, from Milwaukie HS, who was by far and away the most vocal player on the team. The Most Improved Player award went to freshman Heather Rightley, from St. Helens HS, who changed her hitting style completely at the beginning of the year and turned in an outstanding performance at the NWAACC tournament, lead ing the team in hitting by going .600 at the plate. Named to the NWAACC Softball All-Academic Team were sophomore Anna Alcala from Gladstone HS, Kelly Stratton, a sophomore from Mark Morris HS and Angelone. Clackamas was the only school in the NWAACC to have three players named to the All Financial aid available Academic Team. for those who qualify The softball team completed a 27-21 season with a second- place finish at the NWAACC tournament, losing 9-1 to Lower Columbia College in the cham pionship final at Delta Park in CollegeofLegalArts.com north Portland on May 21. 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