Comments on: And now college athletics ‘reform’ season begins http://www.wendyparker.org/2012/01/and-now-college-athletics-reform-season-begins/ Discoveries, rants and comfort-food cravings of a sports omnivore. Tue, 21 May 2013 10:38:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bern http://www.wendyparker.org/2012/01/and-now-college-athletics-reform-season-begins/#comment-7801 Bern Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:56:22 +0000 http://www.wendyparker.org/?p=3831#comment-7801 My understanding of Wushanley's analysis is that the AIAW had abandoned their original sports educational model for the men's competitive model well before they went broke. It was particularly interesting to see that they abandoned their "no athletic scholarship" and "no championship competition" policies primarily due to pressure from AIAW member institutions, not evil outside forces. Point being, when folks like LaVoi harken back to the supposed golden days of the AIAW the truth is that they had abandoned their original sports model and were commercializing their competitions as quickly as they could because they were tired of trying to run their programs without funding which was how the educational model was originally set up. It was also interesting to me how the demise of the AIAW was at least partially an unintended consequence of Title IX because the NCAA was concerned that if they didn't offer women comparable competitive opportunities to the men's programs they'd be sued under Title IX. The Gender Feminist / sexuality issue in this context is interesting. It continues to be the 800 pound gorilla in the room relative to women's sports. I have been following WTS contributor Pat Griffin's blog for a while and just finished reading her book, "Strong Women, Deep Closets" which I also found to be an eye opener. No point in commenting on that here other than to say that there are many involved in women's athletics that are less concerned with the actual sports than they are with their collective social agendas. My understanding of Wushanley’s analysis is that the AIAW had abandoned their original sports educational model for the men’s competitive model well before they went broke. It was particularly interesting to see that they abandoned their “no athletic scholarship” and “no championship competition” policies primarily due to pressure from AIAW member institutions, not evil outside forces.

Point being, when folks like LaVoi harken back to the supposed golden days of the AIAW the truth is that they had abandoned their original sports model and were commercializing their competitions as quickly as they could because they were tired of trying to run their programs without funding which was how the educational model was originally set up.

It was also interesting to me how the demise of the AIAW was at least partially an unintended consequence of Title IX because the NCAA was concerned that if they didn’t offer women comparable competitive opportunities to the men’s programs they’d be sued under Title IX.

The Gender Feminist / sexuality issue in this context is interesting. It continues to be the 800 pound gorilla in the room relative to women’s sports. I have been following WTS contributor Pat Griffin’s blog for a while and just finished reading her book, “Strong Women, Deep Closets” which I also found to be an eye opener. No point in commenting on that here other than to say that there are many involved in women’s athletics that are less concerned with the actual sports than they are with their collective social agendas.

]]> By: Wendy Parker http://www.wendyparker.org/2012/01/and-now-college-athletics-reform-season-begins/#comment-7786 Wendy Parker Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:38:25 +0000 http://www.wendyparker.org/?p=3831#comment-7786 As for those who "wanted the AIAW to remain in place," I would say that it wasn't about anyone's sexuality as much as it was a certain feminist viewpoint about how college athletics should be organized and governed. As for those who “wanted the AIAW to remain in place,” I would say that it wasn’t about anyone’s sexuality as much as it was a certain feminist viewpoint about how college athletics should be organized and governed.

]]> By: Bern http://www.wendyparker.org/2012/01/and-now-college-athletics-reform-season-begins/#comment-7647 Bern Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:15:30 +0000 http://www.wendyparker.org/?p=3831#comment-7647 Lopiano has certainly always hated on football. Maybe it comes from all those years at Texas. I think it's very frustrating for her and her kindred spirits to understand that football isn't going anywhere and it's popularity continues to increase. Based upon a reference in one of your prior blogposts I picked up a copy of Ying Wushanley's excellent book "Playing Nice and Losing". I didn't realize that Lopiano had been so deeply involved in the AIAW. The book helped me understand better why lesbian athletes in particular wanted the AIAW to remain in place. As one of the most senior out lesbians associated with women's sports here in the states I'm sure the football thing drives her crazy. In any case, thanks for the recommendation. Great Book! Lopiano has certainly always hated on football. Maybe it comes from all those years at Texas. I think it’s very frustrating for her and her kindred spirits to understand that football isn’t going anywhere and it’s popularity continues to increase.

Based upon a reference in one of your prior blogposts I picked up a copy of Ying Wushanley’s excellent book “Playing Nice and Losing”. I didn’t realize that Lopiano had been so deeply involved in the AIAW. The book helped me understand better why lesbian athletes in particular wanted the AIAW to remain in place. As one of the most senior out lesbians associated with women’s sports here in the states I’m sure the football thing drives her crazy.

In any case, thanks for the recommendation. Great Book!

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