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
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