SORORITY luncheon, Sports Illustrated for women and Sunday baseball. One of these things
just doesn’t belongExcept for alliteration, these three seem to have very little in common. But they share a common thread that weaves the continuing story of breaking the stereotypes when it comes to women and sports.
A fashion show at a country club Saturday seems an unlikely place to find diehard volleyball fans. And had the NCAA men's volleyball championship been televised live from Ohio, these women might not have been there, preferring to watch sets and spikes, instead of concentrating on salads and scarves.
"It makes me so mad that they didn't broadcast the matches, except on ESP-whatever they call it," said one grandmother. "I love the sport and I wonder what my neighbors think of me when I'm home, watching the games on TV, and cheering right along.
"I wish some local station had brought in the games. There is so much interest here."
No one yet has been able to completely understand or explain the phenomena of collegiate volleyball in Hawaii. Much like outrigger canoe paddling, which can bring together three generations of family during a Sunday regatta, volleyball has crossed age and gender barriers.
At the recent Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship in Los Angeles, tournament organizers were bemoaning the fact that the Rainbows had not advanced as far this season. UCLA officials had hoped that Hawaii would again help fill up the seats in Pauley Pavilion, as they had a year ago when about half of the 8,000 fans had island ties.
"I wish we could find the same formula that works in Hawaii," one official said. "What is it that they do that get a whole state watching?"
Good question. Maybe it should be directed at the older women fans. But just don't do it during a match.
GENDER equity may have gone a little too far. A separate but equal Sports Illustrated?
SI debuted its version for women two weeks ago. "Women/Sport" asks the question: "I think we're ready, don't you?"
Maybe not. Not if it turns into a magazine version of ESPN2, where trash and trivial pursuits are deemed not worthy of prime-time play.
The inaugural trial issue seems more like a Cosmopolitan/Glamour edition for jockettes. Editor Sandra Bailey said women readers want it all from a sports magazine: personalities, workout tips, competition as well as fashion.
But, really, a "Dear Diary: Why I fell for Grant Hill" confession? I don't think so.
It's almost as insulting as the network Olympic coverage last summer that gave us what they presumed we wanted. They assumed women only wanted to see gymnastics and swimming and diving.
As my mother-in-law asked, "What happened to the rowing?"
As my mother asked, "What happened to the softball?"
I hope this doesn't mean that Sports Illustrated will again start covering women's sports as it does its swimsuit models -- briefly. But it does raise a legitimate equity question: Can a male swimsuit issue be far behind?
HOW do you really spell equity? Try F-E-N-C-E.
What began as a casual Sunday clinic with one Little League, his dad and coach Bill Muse, has turned into quite a youth pickup game in Kailua. Yesterday's informational session was no different, with enough players to field two complete teams.
The ages ranged from 6 to 12, with just one girl in the bunch. She is 12, is in her second year of organized softball and can swing.
The end result of her first at-bat echoed across the suddenly silent ball field. It rattled the chain-link fence in left field as well as some young egos.
The next time she came to the plate, they had just two words. "Back up!"
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.