Page 12 University Daily Kansan, September 9, 1981
Press box fosters prejudices, sexism
Since I've been a sports writer, I've collected a repertoire of party stories about the predicaments I've found myself in. They make great ice-breakers.
Recently, I overheard someone at a party ask to "see the girl who does the sports page." The word "see" should have tipped me off, but it didn't. One of my friends eagerly pointed me out, and this person—a man—said, "Oh, wow, that's neat. You must be a P.E. major."
WHEN THE JAYHAWKS were practicing at Arrowhead Stadium, I was approached by a man who wanted to know how long practice would last. I am familiar with the routine, I answered him.
"Oh, are you a team trainer?" he asked
Another shake, this one a bit out of control.
"A girlfriend of one of the players?" he pressed.
northman.
Great stuff. I look about as much like a jock or a football trainer as Eviliana George.
Sure, many situations I've encountered as a woman covering men's sports have been real. But few are as common.
I laughed about it for a while. But Saturday in Tulsa, I stopped laughing. Maybe the jokes and remarks just built up to where I couldn't take them any more. Perhaps I just wised up.
As sports官员 of the opponent's campus paper, I was barred from the KU locker room and
Don'ts isn't shock a lot of you, does it? But if you stop to think about it, maybe it should.
AT KU HOME games, I am allowed to go as far as a small coaches' room, where I sit in on Head Coach Don Fambrough's post-game comments. Then I stay sitting, while the rest of the writers go into the locker room and interview the
Oh, I can request to interview certain people if I choose. I get them when they've showered, changed, calmed down and are ready to leave the stadium and meet their family or friends. I don't have to come, the post-game excitement has drained from them; they are no longer a good interview.
I am the only woman who regularly covers KU football. I am also one of the few people who regularly covers the team. I attend practice almost every night, more than any of the other women can do. I am cared for of my appearance and can help me with dressing to try to dress nicely, but not flashy or dressed up.
to have a good time without attracting attention.
I try to fit in.
I've worked hard to develop a rapport with the coaches and the players. And I'm proud that I have.
Why, then, don't I get the same opportunities as the men in the press box?
THE COACHES TRY to accommodate me, and are willing to go out of their way to talk with me. The players always treat me with respect; they never try to talk down to me or embarrass me. The sports information department, too, has special solutions as special rooms and personal interviews.
I'm not asking for special treatment, just equal treatment.
Even among my colleagues on the Kansan,
there have been misunderstandings. When I first
covered football, and then basketball, I was told
that time to put up with the inequalities period.
It is among fellow writers that I feel most apart. The press box, I think, is the breeding
ground for the whole problem. If things were better there, perhaps it would carry over into other areas. The media, reputedly a liberal body, told me that it was the acceptance of women in traditionally male fields.
TRACEE
HAMILTON
DREAM ON. I'M given passes like everyone else, to be sure, but I am also forced to tolerate the idiosyncrasies of freeble-sucking Nean-mats who would like to drag me out by my hair.
I'm used to the silence that falls when I walk in, the looks and the whispers and to the teasing and insults. Of the writers think they are right, and of the writers that they are is degrading and, sometimes, cruel.
"Why aren't you in the locker room with all the naked bodies?" they ask. I've been offered a job the day before.
I don't talk back. I am already enough of a pariah. But folks, the press box is pre-adjusted
Okay, in similar circumstances, what would you do?
clique as you'll find anywhere -fraternities, sorceries and the Moral Majority included.
Barge into the locker room and be bodily removed, causing a scene and making every sports page from here to the Mississippi and back again?
QUIT? GIVE UP the job you worked four semesters for, and let one of your subordinates handle it?
Sue? Make a name for yourself, but never work in the field again?
Pilod along the fringe of what's happening,
letting someone else shag quotes for your stories,
never quite getting what you want, being
thankful for what you do get?
The problem is worse when I travel to away games. Oklahoma and Nebraska have only given me one writers' pass for their games. I have two options: Go to the game but don't go into the locker room and miss the story, or stay home and listen to the radio while someone else goes, someone who hasn't followed the team for two seasons as I have.
For some, the choice is obvious. Let someone else handle the chores.
But I've never been a quitter.
The problem will have to be solved soon, if not in my time on the Kanan, then soon. Women are entering this field rapidly, and they are being encouraged by affirmative action-minded newspapers.
But once women have made the move into sports, where will they go? Will they be forced, because of their sex, to cover high school football games? If so, what should women don't choose to cover those areas. What then?
I didn't break down in Tulsa when insulted and barred from the locker room; I've grown accustomed to it. The man who really brought it all home wasn't a sports writer, or a coach. I don't know his name; I'll probably never see him again.
He and his two young sons, around 8 and 10 years old, approached me and asked why I wasn't in the locker room. I said, in monotones, that I wasn't allowed.
"You're kidding," he said. "I can't believe it."
He turned to his sons and said, "Remember that. When women do the same job as men, they should be treated the same."
I couldn't say it better myself.
Aikens, Washington boost Kansas City past Angels
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo.-U. L. Washington stroked a two-run double and Willek Ahlens had a solo home run to carry Dennis Leonard to the lead in the game, winning victory last night over the California Angels.
Leonard acattered nine hits over 7 ½ innings, including a two-run hit by Don Baylor in the eighth, to boost his record to 8-10 with his second home victory in 10 decisions. Dan Quisenberry pitched the final 1 ½ innings to pick up his 51th save.
Akens opened the fifth with a single- Kansas City's first hit of the game off
California starter Geoff Zahn, 9-8—and then beat the throw to second on a sacrifice bunt by John Wathan as Wathan reached first. Darryl Motley advanced both runners with a sacrifice fly and Washington doubled both home for a 20 lead.
Willie Wilson extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single, scoring 18 points. He brett打 a hoop double to center field that pumped out of Fred Lynn's lymn to score 100.
Alkens closed out the Kansas City scoring and gave the Royals a 5-0 lead with a solo homer in the sixth, his 13th and second in two nights.
Softball team wins first doubleheader
The Jayhawk softball team defeated Johnson County Community College in a doubleheader yesterday afternoon, 5-0 and 13-0, in its season opener.
- Clarke went the distance, recording 13 strikeouts.
KU scored its final two runs in the sixth inning when Pam Cox doubled to score Liz Commino and Clarke hit into a fielder's choice to score Cox.
In the opener, KU scored all the runs they needed in the third innning. Shawn Mytek's two-run double scored Tampa Hoffman and pitcher Matt Nolting. On Becky Craft's飞 ball that fell for an error.
In the second game, KU opened the scoring in the second inning with three runs. Cox scored the only run the Jayhawks needed on an error. The Jays went on to win the second and the second run and scored the final run herself.
The Jayhawks added six runs in the eighth on four hits and four errors. In the inning, Kel May, Kai Huey, Sue Sherman and Cox all singled. Cot *x* hit two times and run as the other five came as a result results.
KU added four more runs in the ninth
etc.
Rugby Football Club
SATURDAY'S RESULTS KU vs. Columbia Outlaws
A-ide
KU 19, Columbia 14
Columbia 18 KI16
SUNDAY'S RESULTS KU vs. Jefferson City
Intramurals
Jefferson City 12, KU 3
Jefferson City 18, KU 6
B-side
Football
YESTERDAY RESULTS
Independent Men
Rec A
Big Mac 6, Fella Tha 10,
CR Changers 7, Byrmes 0
Power 20, The Mac Game
Crusher
Rec A
Fjg No 27, Tadeoels 0
The Madnett Haters 27, No Respect 0
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