Point Loma Nazarene University Update

The top fundraiser for PLNU has resigned in protest of last month's sports cuts. Read more here.

“It troubles me deeply how this was originally handled,” said Daryl Nicholson, a longtime benefactor of PLNU. “We have always kept the student as the No. 1 priority. I don’t think the students’ needs were understood.”

The school is losing not only a top fund-raiser, but also a big-time contributor.

Nicholson Commons on campus is named after Nicholson, who donated $1 million to the $13 million facility. He said he knows of other donors whose donations might be affected by the Title IX decision. However, he said he does not want to hurt the university.

Learn more about Nicholson, the athlete, here.

Football Bashing

There was plenty of that as a panel discussed Title IX at Vanderbilt University last week. They managed to get in a few digs at wrestling as well.

Read a recap here.

"There are more men participating now today than there were at the beginning of Title IX," said Bayh, who represented Indiana in the Senate between 1963-81. "I don't know how you can say it's discrimination."

Yo, Birch! Our country's population was about a hundred million less back then.

I gotta do all the thinkin' 'round here?

Bayh said help could come from the NCAA if another president comes through like the late Myles Brand...

Now you're really scaring me, Birch!

Quick, is there a straitjacket in the house?!?!

Quote of the Day

Take your life in your own hands and what
happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.



Erica Jong

Quote of the Day

I'm an idealist. I don't know where
I'm going, but I'm on my way.



Carl Sandburg

Weakly Demotivator

Title IX Works...

...for about half the population.

Read the Women in Intercollegiate Sport annual report here.

The report points out areas where female representation has either increased or remained relatively stable. They also focus on large disparities in other areas.

Since we're looking into inequities, maybe it's time to impose Title IX-ish quotas everywhere.

Am I the only one who's concerned that 100% of college synchronized swimming coaches are female? When will Title IX work for the men who want to break through that glass ceiling?

Also, why are only 3.9% of the field hockey coaches male?

Outside athletics, there are other areas where men are grossly underrepresented.

Why isn't there an outcry over the lack of male pharmacy majors, nursing school students, and future veterinarians.

When will there be opportunities for undergrads wishing to major in men's studies? Think I'm the only one asking that question? Read more here.

A gathering of academicians drawn from a range of disciplines will meet on April 7, 2010, at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York, to examine the declining state of the male, stemming from cataclysmic changes in today’s culture, environment and global economy. The live teleconferenced colloquium will be chaired by Lionel Tiger, PhD, Rutgers University Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology. It will encompass a broad range of topics relevant to the study of boys and men in contemporary society ranging from their roles in the family and workforce, as well as their physical and emotional health, to the growing problem of misandry—the hatred of males, an unacknowledged but underlying socio-cultural, economic, political and legal phenomenon endangering the well-being of both genders.

Quote of the Day

I simply had the same kind of determination
back from the time I was a boy of seven or
eight. I just wanted to win all the time,
I had no goal other than to score goals.
That was all I ever had on my mind.

Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Sr.

More State Meet Vids

Some championship finals vids from the 2010 UIL State meet:

Boys' 4A 200 Free:



Girls' 5A 100 Breast:



Boys' 5A 400 Free Relay:



Bonus video from Granbury - Casey gets a haircut:

Quote of the Day

A tough lesson in life that one has to learn
is that not everybody wishes you well.

Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr.

Quote of the Day

Sure I played. Did you think I was born
at the age of 70, sitting in a dugout,
trying to manage guys like you?



Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel

Quote of the Day

I never cease being dumbfounded by the

unbelievable things people believe.



Leo Calvin Rosten

Quote of the Day

My job is to push him as far as I can
and you only know what the limit
is when you go past it sometimes.



Bob Bowman

Quote of the Day

Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with
frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard
is worthier exercise for men.



Marcus Valerius Martialis

Quote of the Day

Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically
on their environment and especially on their
children than the unlived life of a parent.



Karle Gustav Jung II, a.k.a. Carl Jung

Quote of the Day

The mystery of government is not how
Washington works, but how to make it stop.



Patrick Jake "P.J." O'Rourke

Quote of the Day

It is often merely for an excuse
that we say things are impossible.





François de La Rochefoucauld

Spring?

Get ready for summer!



FCST First Time for Everything Masters

LAC B/C Champs

If Title IX quotas are being skewed by football, why not let the women play? Read more here.

"Flag football has become real popular,'' Stranahan coach Bennett Wyche said. "We've been taking some girls away from the track programs.''

So, track coaches, we can count on your support, right?





Andrew May is hearing it from soccer parents in Port Angeles, Washington. Their season's on hold while they sort out a Title IX complaint. Read the comments below the original article here. A poll at another article shows most voters favor allowing Spencer May to play with the girls. Read it here.

Posted by Ken Spencer on Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 8:29 pm Pacific

There are so many ways that this could have been handled better by Mr. May. To go to the practice field and demand that his son play is ridiculous. That coach is following rules handed down to him. Furthermore to disrupt and then have practice time cancelled or postponed is harmful to all the other kids involved. All of whom had nothing to do with his issue. If Mr May wants to do something to benefit everyone he should be stepping up to find another player or two for the boys team. Or maybe even give of his time to coach and look to find teams they could play against. Did he think of that? If this is truly about letting the kids play why is he not doing anything for the other boys too. This a girls team, find a mature way around the issue!

We've been seeing a lot of that in recent years...using Title IX in ways it was never intended. A few parents used Title IX to ruin girls' soccer in New York City. One parent used Title IX to thrwart an attempt to unify the girls' seasons in Nevada. Mr. May's complaint is just another example of why Title IX reform is needed...

The Sun Devil Swimming Association is having their third annual golf tournament. If you'd like to play - and support ASU swimming - you'll need to sign up by April 7. Info is here. The amount of time and effort Simon Percy has put into saving that program is incredible!



Annie Chandler (S.A. Churchill, '08) set a new NCAA record last night in the 100 breast. The Arizona star went :58.06!! Read more here.



Remember that Title IX petition? Folks are still signing. You can sign it here. You can see who's already signed here.

Here are a few comments:

6588. Sarah Cardey

Loosing the softball field was enough hurt for Point Loma. Taking away the boy's Cross Country, Track, and Golf teams is only cutting the wound deeper. I don't believe we have weighed out all of our options and I feel for all the students it has affected.

6591. Pati Jones

Reinstate PLNU's men's cross-country & track

6620. Sarah Laine

DONT CRUSH OUR DREAMS! WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD!!!

6626. Kristina Schwartz

I'm all for gender equality, but as an athlete I can sympathize with the men not being able to compete.



Brainiac Aggie Ella Doerge has the highest GPA among swimmers in the women's NCAA D-I meet. Read more here. The freestyle standout didn't get that GPA - cubed root of 64 - by taking blowoff classes, either. She's a genetics major.

Here's one I'm pretty sure y'all have never heard. It's called Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can.

Here it comes again,

drivin' me nuts!

Can't control my feet,

or stop shakin' my butt!

Want data on NCAA student-athletes? The data archive is here.

Think Congress is doing nothing but wasting their time on a health care reform bill most of us don't want? Think again! There's some real "work" going on in Washington and here's a perfect example:



Read more here.

Next week, the men's D-I results are supposed to be in the same place you're finding the women's: here.

Quote of the Day

You can be pleased with nothing when
you are not pleased with yourself.



Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Not Part of the Plan

This site was originally supposed to be about Texas swimming (club, high school, college), Title IX reform, and a few other odds and ends.

I hadn't planned to post about the topic that's resulted in the greatest number of readers, comments, and news tips - that of swimmer abuse at the hands of a coach.

A few posts on Don King and his history of abuse can be read here, here, here, and here.

This sort of story needs to be told - I'm just not sure I'm the one to tell it. As y'all know, I really love our sport. It pains me to delve into ugly stories like King's.

If someone out there has the desire to tell these stories, it might be time for you to start a site.

On that note, here's the latest on the subject. A San Jose attorney is going after USA Swimming. B. Robert Allard represented one of the girls Andrew King was found guilty of abusing at SJA. He's alleging widespread abuse within USA Swimming. Read more here.

Deena Deardurff Schmidt will be working with Allard.

According to the complaint, gold medal winner Schmidt was continuously and repeatedly molested by a former swimming coach, who is not named but is described as a "legendary USA swimming coach."

When she tried to complain about the abuse in the 1980s, Schmidt said she was told she'd have to have another coach file the complaint for her, to "vouch" for her, which she was unable to do, the lawsuit says. Years later, Schmidt said she was contacted by a top official at USA Swimming about her former swim coach being considered for the International Swimming Hall of Fame. At that time, Schmidt reiterated her allegations of sexual abuse against the coach, according to the lawsuit. Even so he was elected to the Hall of Fame.

That's about it for me, folks. That's all I can stands...I can't stands no more!!

Quote of the Day

Consience is a mother-in-law
whose visit never ends.



Henry Louis "H.L." Mencken

Quote of the Day

You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid
the consequences of avoiding reality.



Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum, a.k.a Ayn Rand

Quote of the Day

A paranoid is someone who
knows a little of what's going on.



William Seward Burroughs II

The "R" Word is Back

For some folks, it's all about REVENGE!

Take the opening line of one comment posted on Lax Feels Our Pain:

So, how does it feel to be discriminated against, boys?

Ummmm...not so good. Is your desire for revenge the real issue here?

FYI:

This generation hasn't lived in the pre-Title IX world. They're going off to college thinking they'll have equal opportunities in life. Young women find that to be the case, while young men are getting a rude wake-up call.

Girls on my teams have always had the same opportunities as the boys. Same pool, same equipment, same budget, same travel, same coaching...same everything! If you look around, this is not the exception, but the rule. Our sport is one of the most gender-equitable around.

Two wonderful nuggets:

Title IX is not to blame. America's obsession and priority for football, basketball, and baseball is the reason boys in other sports don't get the funding they want/need.

and

Instead of harping on Title IX, take off the gloves and go after the real culprit...men's football. They have scarfed away scholarships from men's 'minor' sports for decades. No rocket science needed to figure that one out.

Sounds like someone needs to enroll in Logic 101.

Anonymous, where do you think the money to pay for pseudo-sports like sand volleyball comes from? Do you think it's from all that equestrian revenue?

In case you're wondering, I didn't plant these comments. It might be useful to post highly illogical and vengeful comments to make Title IX activists look bad, but there's no need to go to all that trouble. I simply post a piece on the facts of the matter, and they come in with their tirades that help make the case for me.

The Title IX quota crowd is hoping to have it both ways. They demand proportionality based on undergrad population numbers, not on undergrad population interests. As undergrad numbers start to even out, they'll go berserk if women's sports are cut to maintain the quota system they themselves have set up.

The budget crunch group says it's just an insurmountable budget problem when men's sports are cut, but can't wait to line up the lawyers when money troubles mean a women's sport feels the budget ax.

Finally, the revenge folks say it's only fair that today's young males should feel the pain yesterday's young females felt. They don't want equality, they want "justice".

These groups seem to have no problem with universities fielding half a swim team, half a lacrosse team, half a tennis team, etc.

It's supposed to be all about equality, right?

What a bunch of hypocrites!

Today's young women aren't buying into the revenge thing. They understand what a joke the quota system is. They know what's really happening when men's swimming gets cut and administrators cite money problems.

They're doubting the garbage Title IX extremists have been spouting. They're standing up to the radicals that are intent on turning college swimming into a "ladies only" club.

Quote of the Day

The most deceitful persons spend their lives in

blaming deceit, so as to use it on some great

occasion to promote some great interest.



François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld

Lax Feels Our Pain

Women's lacrosse is growing by leaps and bounds, as well it should. Lax is a great game/team sport.

Why are there so danged many opportunities for the ladies, but so few for the gentlemen?

Y'all know the answer to that one, right?

What? You're new to the site?

Okay, here's a hint: pick a number between eight and ten and put the word "title" in front.

Read more here.

Welcome to the wacky world of D-I athletics, where despite a national explosion of youth and high school lacrosse participation only 60 teams compete at the men’s level.

"It is really frustrating to see the tremendous growth at the high school level," Urick said. "We’re seeing kids from Minnesota, Texas, California and Colorado playing our sport at the highest level, yet the growth has been painstakingly slow at the college level."

The reason is Title IX, or gender-equity ammendment mandating that if a college wants to maintain its federal funding it must offer athletic scholarships based on the proportion of male and female students enrolled. It is basically impossible for a college that fields a Division I-A football team and its 85 scholarships to be in compliance.

p.s. That's lax All-American Jim Brown. He didn't just carry the football for Syracuse...

Quote of the Day

Assert your right to make a few mistakes.
If people can't accept your imperfections,
that's their fault.



Dr. David M. Burns

Quote of the Day

But let me tell you, this gender thing is
history. You're looking at a guy who sat
down with Margaret Thatcher across the
table and talked about serious issues.



George Herbert Walker Bush

Quote of the Day

A quota is always something artificial that
can only last for a certain period of time.



Jacques Santer

Quote of the Day

Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not
only the truth, but supreme beauty - a beauty
cold and austere, like that of sculpture.



Bertrand Arthur William Russell

Quote of the Day

If writers stopped writing about what happened to
them, then there would be a lot of empty pages.



Elaine Liner

Okay, fans...

...it's time for another mammoth post.

You know how it goes by now: the big build-up, followed by that huge let-down.

At least I'm consistent...

Kind of depressed? You may want to skip the vid.

Wake - work - drink - sleep - retire...


Lyrics here.

Aggie diver suspended! No, it's not what you think. Funny, actually. Ever see a diver hoisted up in the harness, only to have the rope tied to the rail? They let her down a few minutes later.

Speaking of Aggie diving, the timing of this next item is pretty danged suspect if you asked me. You did ask, didn't you?

Last week, The Battalion posted an update on former A&M diving coach Kevin Wright's lawsuit. Read it here.

Regardless (or "irregardless" if you want to irritate your English-teacher friends) of the case Wright may (or may not) have, it's the timing that bothers me most.

The Aggie women are coming off a great Big XII meet and are prepping for the NCAA's. They don't need this sort of distraction and it's surprising that this kind of thing would come from their own campus newspaper.

Kind of reminds me of the way they timed the campaign against Skip Kenney out in Stanford a few years back - just in time for NCAA's. Steve Bultman's done a fantastic job in College Station and this certainly can wait until the season's completed.

After he fed The Battalion just what he wanted to see printed, you know what Wright's lawyer followed up with, right?

Joe Crews, Wright’s attorney, said only that Wright would not be “litigating this case publicly.”

Back to the Big XII meet for a second. Ask one of the Longhorn gals how that return bus trip went. Sounded memorable!

High school coaches should check the All State lists Ron's posted on the TISCA site. Please get him corrections right away. The lists will become official on April 1. 4A, 5A, and Private School lists are here.



Also on the TISCA site is info on the Theron L. Pickle Memorial Scholarship. View it here. Get your applications to Toni Schramme by April 1.



Wondering about the latest on the Bay City pool renovation? You've just been on pins-n-needles, haven't you? Latest promise to Coach Terri (she was Junior's 6 & under coach a few years - make that a lot of years - back) is that they'll be under a roof by the time the season starts this fall. Start holding your breath..............now! Seriously, they need to follow through with those promises they made...five years ago!


Did you read about Matt Biondi's pool record?

If you asked "Matt who?", you're too danged young to be up this late, bambino!!

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Biondi. Read the Austin American-Statesman article (via GWG) about the 100 free pool record here.

Income tax is overdue, and I think she is too...


Lyrics here.

Toyota speeding out of control? Turn the danged key to "off"!!! I gotta do all the thinkin' 'round here???



'66 Chevy's had motor mount issues. Okay, it wasn't just an "issue" - the motor mounts broke easily, giving your V-8 free rein to jump up into the hood! Got recalled after all was said and done. Unfortunately, many people didn't bother to take them in and get the extra safety cables installed.

Seems when you put your foot into that four barrel carb, the whole engine would rotate (if motor mounts had finally failed) and linkage would then be stuck - wide open! Had an exciting little ride in my old Impala (327) back in '77. No, that's not what scarred me for life. Leon took a screamin' trip in his Bel Air (283) a few years back. You'll have to ask him if he has nightmares...

Ready for a surprise? Don't look here, then. You didn't have to be NostraButton to predict the gals at Delaware State would sue when equestrian was dropped...



Eric McErlain over at Saving Sports looked into the Point Loma situation and has a great post here. Softball players led a protest. The field they use is being dismantled in a "back-to-nature" move by the city.



Some carried signs that said “Title IX sucks” and “Save our sports.” Others said federal gender equity regulations “backfired” on them and called it “reverse discrimination” against male sports."

So, the Point Loma Nazarene University softball team - an NAIA powerhouse - is being dropped because of the environmental-wacko-Title IX-radical crowd. Nice going, folks...

Congrats to 500 free 3A state champ Grant Koudelka of Gilmer. Okay, he was second at the 4A meet. Grant swims for Clark Wilson at Champion. Read more here.

Sectional Time Trials

South Texas JO's (N)

South Texas JO's (S)

Quote of the Day

The one common experience of all
humanity is the challenge of problems.



Richard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller

Quote of the Day

Nothing focuses the mind better than
the constant sight of a competitor
who wants to wipe you off the map.



Wayne Calloway

Quote of the Day

Our words reveal our thoughts;
our manners mirror our self-esteem;
our actions reflect our character;
our habits predict the future.



William Arthur Ward

Quote of the Day

He attacked everything in life with a mix of
extraordinary genius and naive incompetence,
and it was often difficult to tell which was which.



Douglas Noël Adams

Quote of the Day

Rogues are preferable to imbeciles
because they sometimes take a rest.



Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie,
a.k.a. Alexandre Dumas

Quote of the Day

Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
when life flows along like a song,
but the person worth while
is the one who will smile
when everything goes dead wrong.



Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Boys

Junior had some excellent short course swims last year. He went :21.30/:46.64 at the high school state meet and 1:45.13 at sectionals. Those were swum in the BlueSeventy.

Fast-forward through a year of tough training, but take away the tech suit. :46.05/1:39.81 at this year's state meet. Both swims are below.




Earlier this year, Leon took his second trip to Costa Rica and it was fantastic. Check out Costa Rica Sailfish Adventure at The Waterman's Journal here. His buddy put together highlights of the trip. Very well done!

Quote of the Day (thanks RA)

The most difficult thing for individuals to do
when they become part of a team is to
sacrifice - it is much easier to be selfish.



Patrick James "Pat" Riley

Mega-Monster-Super-Duper-All-In-One Post

That was some build-up, wasn't it? Talk about pressure - never should have added that "duper"...

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it's no match for a 300 pound lineman. Read more here.

This part's priceless:

According to Bone’s police report, Athletic Director Carlton Cooper said the football team could not have stolen the papers without the aid of outside help.

“I don’t think they are smart enough to do this on their own,” he said.

Give me some news I can use...




Lyrics here.

Real time results for this week's Sectional meet at A&M will be here.

Border Short Course Champs

KATY 12 & Under Spring Champs and Time Trials

PACK 12 & Under Spring Champs and Time Trials

TRS BB Champs

AAAA C Champs

Kevin Murphy makes some good points on the subject of relays on the state meet results post here. I wasn't at the 5A meet, so I didn't see the swim in question. I'll post a link to the video once I get it.

See the latest CSCAA D-I polls at College Swimming here.

Psych sheet for the Austin Grand Prix is here.

This too shall pass:



via Geekologie

Sexism? In the Olympics? Read more here. It's too bad they won't let the women swim the mile in 2012...

Read Female Athletes Don't Need Title IX here.

Read Title IX a great success story here.

We know the 2012 Olympic Trials will be held in Omaha. Guess who wants to host the 2016 Trials? Hint: He's at home in the Death Star and his name isn't Darth Vader. Read more here.




...so I fixed up the basement...

Okay, you knew it was coming. Here's a video Don S. shot at this year's state meet. 1:39.81 in the 200 free for a new 4A record. This was such a tough field, it was going to take a state record to win this year. Junior was 5th at the 50, but managed to storm back for the win. Credit a very tough, hard-working swimmer and a very tough, hard-working club coach in Cody Huckabay.

Bobby was later named the Lanny Landtroop 4A Swimmer of the Year.

Quota System Strikes Again

Another athletic department is in Title IX trouble and male athletes are being sent packing. At Point Loma, track/cross country took a big hit. Read more here.

This one has a couple of twists to it.

Vice President for Student Development Caye Smith and Athletic Director Ethan Hamilton called the meeting to inform the team, along with the women’s softball and men’s golf teams, that their programs will be cut after this year, and a women’s golf team will be added due to Title IX compliance issues.

Athlete gender ratios were cited as the main reason for cutting the programs. The issue began when the softball team lost use of the field in Sunset Cliffs Natural Park last May. Because the team doesn’t have an on-campus facility, the program, one of PLNU’s most successful, is being cut, which upsets the male-female ratio.

According to Smith and Hamilton, the male-female athlete ratio must reflect the male-female ratio of the student body, resulting in men’s programs needing to be cut in order to meet Title IX.

Title IX was passed in 1972 to ensure gender and racial equality in all areas of education, including college athletics. While the federal act covers only schools that receive government funding, California has since passed a similar law, which applies to both public and private institutions, regardless of funding.

The law requires institutions to provide equal opportunities, scholarships, funding and facilities for men’s and women’s sports.

But in recent years, controversy has sparked as to whether the requirements help or hinder college athletic programs.

The issue is not isolated to PLNU. Schools across the nation have made similar program-cutting decisions.

Quote of the Day (thanks BB)

Nothing is more expensive
than a missed opportunity.



H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Quote of the Day

Nobody speaks the truth when
there's something they must have.



Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen