Editorial
Atlanta Journal and Constitution

"The wrestlers' argument that they have suffered pales in comparison to the good Title IX has done for so many women and girls. It may be easier for a university to say Title IX required the cut, but there is nothing in the law or the enforcement guidelines that would require cutting men's teams. In fact, while Title IX helped increase the number of female athletes by more than 400 percent, the number of male athletes also rose by more than 20 percent.

"Female athletes still represent only 70 percent of the number of male athletes, and for every dollar spent on women's athletics, $3 is spent on men's. Those colleges cutting male athletes are blaming high-level budget decisions on Title IX. The simple truth is, however, that those athletics departments are often funneling more and more money into big men's sports such as football and basketball.

"Only 6 percent of high-school athletes of either gender will get those precious spots on collegiate teams, those scholarships that so often make a college education possible. No reason is compelling enough to challenge the right of women to have an equal shot at those gems.

"And if the president's commission comes back with a recommendation otherwise, he may find himself dealing with the fury of 52 percent of the voting public. Title IX helped many women play on high-school teams and go to college; their daughters are now playing high-school sports. Weakening support of this landmark law will not escape their notice."

Christine Brennan, columnist
USA Today

"At first glance, it sounds innocent enough: The Education Department decides to set up a commission of famous and important men and women in sports, scheduling four town hall meetings to look into Title IX. Spokesmen at the White House and Education Department then remind you that President Bush and Secretary of Education Rod Paige say they support Title IX and the opportunities it gives to women and girls, and you nod your head and say that makes sense, especially with the midterm congressional elections coming and all those millions of soccer moms out there who definitely know how to drive their minivans to the polls in November.

"But then something doesn't quite click. You know that funding is not equal or even proportional for college women's sports as compared to men's. This is a law that by all accounts still has not reached its zenith. Male athletes still get more opportunities than female athletes -- and male sports still get more funding than female sports. It comes as no surprise then that lawsuits are still being filed in U.S. courts on behalf of female athletes -- and being won by female athletes. ...

"So into this world comes the Bush Administration's Title IX commission and its town hall meetings. Which leads, logically enough, to this question: If the administration supports Title IX, why is it holding these hearings?

"And, a corollary: If it believes so strongly in the law, why not just tell naysayers to take a hike and beef up enforcement of the law? ...

"Is the president trying to please the right wing of the Republican Party by angering everyone else? Perhaps he is trying to go after the wrestling vote. Just by eyeballing it, I'd have to say there are many more soccer moms and dads than there are wrestling parents, but maybe that's just me.

"If Bush weakens Title IX, there undoubtedly will be lawsuits and hearings, and Mia Hamm, Lisa Leslie, Dot Richardson and their friends will walk the halls of Congress. I'm not sure what legislators will do first: ask questions, or request an autograph."

Leadership in football

Blair Kerkhoff, columnist
Kansas City Star

"A day after the September 11, 2001, attacks, a Missouri football player said the team would respect the NCAA's decision about playing games that weekend. The problem was the decision was not the NCAA's to make. As the sports world pauses to reflect on the tragic events, college football would do itself a valuable service by reconstructing its scattered reaction, come up with an emergency playbook and think about establishing a leadership position.

"The game's power brokers, namely major conference commissioners, did not distinguish themselves in the September 11 aftermath. While major-league baseball quickly turned out its lights and the NFL acted with authority by postponing its games, most of college football floated rudderless. ...

"Why (college football) didn't present a unified front earlier (after the attacks) is a matter of structure. The NCAA is not college football's authority in most matters. Executive Director Cedric Dempsey had no power to postpone games. That's how college football chooses to operate, and it's primarily a financial arrangement. The schools and conferences keep all the television and bowl money, which is the lifeblood of college athletics. ...

"The last thing college football officials want is to turn their operations over the NCAA. But a leader could facilitate and speak for the Bowl Championship Series, the game's annual dance with controversy that begs for annual clarification.

"And when a once-in-a-generation event occurs, college football would have somebody to survey the landscape, take a quick measure of the game and not come off as disrespectful."