Posted by travlr423 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 2:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

careful what you say you might get erased from this forum, its ok to joke around, but dont give a legitimate opinion, they dont like it.

Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on February 4, 2009 at 6:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe the city can shorten the length of the proposed sidewalks and have enough money to upgrade the ball field.

Posted by bree (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This was not my full rant, they cut alot out. But thats okay. The truth hurts, and alot of people don't like to nor do they want to hear the real truth.

Posted by UAEng (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No offense, but it's all about the money. The sports that bring in the money generally get to reap the benefits of said money. It wasn't too long ago that certain sports were in danger of being cut because of the BOE's financial situation and these sports couldn’t make enough to support themselves.

Posted by getbizi (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a little bit of a tough pill to swallow with me having a daughter, but athletics is and should be a male-dominated endeavor. It's a hard line to define, sometimes, but maybe we shouldnt put some much emphasis on female athletics, strength conditioning, pumping the iron. Say whatever you want, but maybe we should put a little more emphasis on home-making skills and the like for the girls.

Posted by bree (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well if more people would show up to watch the girls play then we would generate more money. The fans that do show up for basketball are there to watch the boys play, they sit quietly or gossip with each other completely ignoring the girl’s game, until the varsity boys come out. The cheerleaders do not even lead the girls onto the court like they do the boys, instead they sit there applying makeup and talking till the game starts.

And as far as sports generating money, every kid in Jemison High School was told they had to sell one coupon book with all the money going to the Football Stadium. I don't feel the girl athletes should have to sell anything that benefits the boys.

Posted by mom23 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How in the world, in this day and time can you make a statement like "athletics is and should be a male-dominated endeavor" and then go on to say "we should put more emphasis on homemaking skills and the like for girls" ? Do you live in the real world? I have a girl and a boy. They are all very athletic, and , my daughter is very athletic and more competitive than my boy. I support both of them, and I agree that the girls get treated like lesser beings, when it comes to these local cities supporting them. For example, look at the facilities in Clanton for softball and baseball. The girls fields are pitiful, as is the concession stand, and the bathrooms. Can you imagine how our little girls feel playing there, when they have to see the big facility right next door for the boys? On top of that, the girls have won a state championship in the last couple of years, which the boys have not.
IN this day and time, I think that everyone should be treated equally, isn't that what we are striving for? That doesn't just mean racially. As to the the girls needing more homemaking skills, we are no longer in the fifties. These days, both parents work in the majority of our households. It would make much more sense for both girls and boys to get the same amount of education for these homemaking skills that you are speaking of. I myself am trying to teach my kids the same things around our house. I can assure you that my son will know how to wash his own clothes, clean the house, and cook basic meals, as well as my daughter. I can also assure you that I take the time to do things in my house, as well as cut the grass in our yard. My husband and I share these chores, as it should be. I do not plan on sending my children out in the world unprepared to be able to survive on their own. As for my daughter, I am thrilled that she is so athletic. I praise her cut throat competitiveness , as I know that will push her forward, and make her a successful woman, in what unfortunately , is still a man's world. I do wish our local governments, and parents for that matter, would show their support for our girls in something other than pageants.

Posted by bmwsbabe23 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Getbizi,
WOW! I find that to be a little sexist. I have 2 sons and a daughter and could not imagine asking my son "Do you want to play soccer or baseball this year?" and then telling my daughter "You cant play soccer you have to stay home and learn how to bake a ham." To me my children being involved in sports has many advantages to them as growing people. They are learning not only the skills and cordination that go along with sports they are learning the organizational skills of working with others and following directions. They are also building confidance and learning good health habits. I mean why would a girl not deserve to learn these good habits as much as a boy? And then I also believe that my sons should learn "homemaking" skills just as well as my daughter because whose to say they will not need these skills for themselves.

Posted by UAEng (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

bree I agree that no one should be forced to sell anything in order to support something that they do not want to. However, money from football games help to fund all other sports as well which may be one reason they asked everyone to pitch in and help with the stadium renovation. You mentioned the cheerleaders not leading the girls team out for basketball games, but do they lead the JV squad out before their games?

Posted by getbizi (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I actually expected a harsh response. All I'm saying is that girls sports are what they are. Dunks, bone-crushing tackles, and such are what draw the fans. These are not associated with female athletics. And by the way, thanks for bringing up the 1950's. That's when divorce rates were half of what they are today, men tipped their hats to the "ladys", and out-of-wedlock births were one third of today's.

Posted by bree (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Home making skills? This is not the 50's anymore. I do not want my daughter sitting at home cleaning and cooking and waiting on her husband hand and foot.
My daughter is an honor student, is in several different clubs at school, and plays three (3) sports and plays them well.
She can cook as well as any woman I know and she also can do her own laundry. My daughter has the skills needed to survive anything and any situation. My daughter will go to college and have a career, never having to depend on anyone or any man to do anything for her. Sports keep all kids active, healthy and motivated, boosting their confidence and giving them confidence in themselves and pride in their accomplishments.

Posted by bree (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

“UAEng You mentioned the cheerleaders not leading the girls team out for basketball games, but do they lead the JV squad out before their games?”

? Do they lead the JV boys out? I don't know I don't normally get there till the JV boys have already started. I just know that the JV cheerleaders cheer for the JV boys, then after their game the Varsity cheerleaders, talk, take pics of each other and put on make up while the Varsity girls are coming out. Then when the Varsity Boys come out the Varsity cheerleaders line up and cheer for them to come out onto the court.

Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If there is any advantage to the girls getting this second class treatment it is that it will open their eyes to the real world and what they need to succeed. Sadly it is still very much a man's world, especially in the south. This type of adversity always instills strength. So this generations daughters will grow stronger and build a better future for their daughters and sons.

Posted by bree (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NoSugar I completely agree 100%, my daughter sees if first hand, and the experience has only made her stronger and wiser.

By the way,I also have a son, that plays multiple sports, but can also cook and do his own laundry, and knows better than to degrade a woman to the level of she needs to stay at home and do the "house wife" thing. He sits in the stands and cheers for his sister just as hard as I do and she and I do the same when he plays.

Posted by mom23 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I made a reference to this not being the fifties, and the response was "That's when divorce rates were half of what they are today, men tipped their hats to the "ladys", and out-of-wedlock births were one third of today's." So are you to tell me that because our daughters play sports , this is causing out of wedlock births and divorces? Spare me. I actually think your statement supports my idea that both girls and boys need more home making skills. I am bringing my son up to respect women, I do not allow any sexist remarks, and his sister is more than happy to show him that she can do whatever he can do. No she is not as physically strong as he is, but she can take care of herself. I do not believe this is leading them down the road to divorce and out of wedlock babies.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're right, getbizi. kw has an article on the "opinion's" page about taxing fast food restaurants to help pay for the pick-up of trash that is thrown on the roadsides. The reason people eat out so much at fast food places is because it's cheap and the wives don't know how to cook. Instead of having to clean up dishes after eating that slop at home, they can just chunk the leftovers and trash out the window into somebody's yard after goin' through the drive-thru.

Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! I was going to... wow. But, wow.

[DANGER, Will Robinson!]

Or more appropriately...

Beam me up Scotty; there's no intelligent life here.

Posted by ladypanther4 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok.... the majority of athletes now are females!
Boys do not run the show!
Girls have to make a living and have a life
not sit at home and bake cookies!
Girls may not be phisically as strong as boys,
but, they are constantly discrimainated against!
It makes them stronger, mentally and emotionally!

Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on February 5, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

kw, have you ever really looked at the man and woman on that commercial? They look like brother and sister. GROSS!

Posted by Machelle (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! This has become a big topic. I agree with bree to an extent. I have 2 daughters, but neither of them are in big sports. One is a gymast, the other is in to archery, and baton. But, when they were little leaque cheerleaders, it was the exact same thing. The girls had to buy their own uniforms, pom poms, shoes, socks, flowers for homecoming, and even the end of the year trophy. But the girls and boys paid the same amount for registration, and the boys did not have to buy nearly as much. This all starts early. I do have a neice and nephew that are both in basketball at a small school in the county. I went to their games, and I did notice that when the varsity boys come out, they have the cheerleaders line up, and play loud music like they are stars. This did not happen for the varsity girls nor the jv boys. The cheerleaders socialized during all 3 games. However, I did attend a varsity girls and boys game at Clanton. The cheerleaders were very attentive at both games. They were not socializing. My point is, we start these kids out early with the girls vs boys issue. It is not right at all as far as the money is concerned. But, as far as the cheerleaders are concerned, it has a lot to do with what their sponsor teaches them. Maybe they should try a little harder to make the girls cheer instead of socialize at all of the events.