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Full-Court Press
THESE days, gender equity are two words that can ignite a debate worthy of police protection. Gender equity argument
has two valid sidesOn one side, you have pioneering women battling the good-old-boys every step of the way for a quarter-century to achieve an athletic balance that never would have come about had the federal government not held colleges and universities to a higher standard.
Outside a few football and basketball coaches who predate Susan B. Anthony, most people agree that equal opportunity is a good thing for campuses nationwide. It teaches the proper principles Americans aspire to, but don't always reach without a little nudging first.
But there are those on the other side who would beg to differ with this interpretation of fair play. In their eyes, gender equity will be the death of collegiate athletics.
Granted, they say, something needed to be done two decades ago. But we're way past that now. Cutting men's programs, or even worse, not providing enough scholarships to keep them competitive all in the name of gender equity is like taking a wrong turn and then keep on going.
This contingent believes correlating athletic scholarships to percentages of men and women attending the university is a convenient barometer for those favoring gender equity.
INSTEAD, let's use the same principle that America's major corporation use when deciding what does and doesn't get done -- money. If it's a money-maker, go with it. If it isn't, then hit the road Jack, and never come back no more.
If you heard Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano speak about the new women's track program at Monday's Quarterback Club luncheon, you couldn't help but notice the assistant athletic director's sense of pride as the University of Hawaii marches ever closer to gender equity.
Granted, the Cooke Field track looks like the Munster's driveway and the support staff for the Rainbows is spread thinner than poor man's paint, but fear not, we shall overcome.
As a Title IX baby boomer, I prefer to view this subject from a safe distance. My dad once told me, "Son, never discuss religion and politics." Well, you can add gender equity to the list. If asked what you think, politely excuse yourself from the room and say, "I think they just called my Powerball numbers."
Interestingly enough, the women aren't that far behind the men at UH. And if you remove the 85 football scholarships from the equation -- and really, you should -- the women are ahead, 92-48.
The women have one more scholarship than the men in basketball. They also have more in softball than baseball, and more in volleyball, tennis, golf and swimming.
HAWAII doing so well in men's and women's volleyball is a tribute to athletic department officials, but it's hardly a cash cow when compared to football and men's basketball.
Without these two engines, the train never leaves the station. Which makes you wonder sometimes why so many believers in gender equity want to ride the coat tails one minute and cut them off the next.
Hawaii did an admirable job of hosting the women's Final Four in volleyball last year. The sellout crowds made $50,000 for the UH program. But by comparison, the Oahu Bowl will add $350,000 to the budget.
Athletic director Hugh Yoshida was so pleased with June Jones' turnaround in football, he ticketed that Oahu Bowl money to fund the women's track program. It's like winning a million bucks and giving it to your mother-in-law.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, but perhaps Hawaii should strengthen the programs and facilities in place before adding any more sports to the gender equity equation.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.