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Women may grapple with 2004 Games

October 12, 2000

BY RON RAPOPORT SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Female wrestlers in the Olympics? As soon as 2004, if Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation, is any judge.

"The IOC was very open to adding women's wrestling in Sydney," Lopiano said Wednesday, "but they didn't get an official request. So that's going to come down the line."

As for that other non-traditional Olympic women's sport, weightlifting, Lopiano had nothing but priase.

"She makes you think of all the young girls who don't have slim bodies," Lopiano said of Cheryl Haworth, the young 300-pounder who won a bronze medal in Sydney. "She's saying, `I'm not trying to be small, I'm trying to be strong.' That sends a message."

Lopiano, whose organization holds its 21st annual Salute to Women in Sports awards dinner Monday in New York, also reflected on the state of Title IX, which mandates equal-gender access to college sports. The bad news is 80 percent to 90 percent of schools are not in compliance; the good news is change is taking place everywhere you look.

"The first reaction is always anger, resentment and bitterness," she said of the institutional response. "Then comes acceptance, and finally there's celebration. I see a lot more universities celebrating their women athletes' achievements. That's a great thing."

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Female Kicker Awarded $2M In Suit Vs. Duke

10/12/2000
John Q. Public

Yes, you read it right. A former Duke University female student, Heather Mercer, was recently awarded two million dollars because, according to her, she was treated unfairly when she was cut from the Duke University football team.

Mercer claimed that she was not cut due to her inability to perform and that she was able to kick field goals from up to 48 yards, though she was more comfortable in the 43 yard range. Her former coach and most of her fellow kickers disagreed, saying she just wasn't good enough to kick against teams like Florida State and Clemson.

Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation, said the ruling will make schools take female athletes seriously when they try out for male teams, "and that's only right." "This court decision is consistent with federal court decisions in that girls need to be allowed to play on boys teams, especially when there is not a team for the girls," she said.

Now, legally speaking, the courts have indeed decided over and over again that schools are responsible for ensuring that women have the right to compete or at least try out for men's teams.

But should they? And, should men be able to compete in women's sports?

Certainly, men should be able to if the opposite is true. But what is the point? Why is this necessary?

Frankly, in my book, it isn't. In fact, it's just plain stupid and, in this case, seemingly an outright plea for attention and for the right to later complain of unfair treatment and to sue for damages.

I'm so sick of hearing about things like men suing Hooters because they aren't hired as Hooter Girls or boys who want to be Brownies or girls who want to be Boy Scouts, women who want to play football, men who want to be cheerleaders and the list goes on and on. Say what you will but the fact is, all of these instances are simply misguided farces premeditated to garner attention for sad individuals who can't get it any other way.

One thing is for sure, Heather Mercer sure has Duke's attention.