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That's Sports
Let her play!!!
Tuesday, November 5, 2002
The days of burning bras are over and the days of men treating women like second class citizens are hopefully by the way side. Equality is something that we should all cherish. I say the best person for the job is the best person for the job. Sex, race or religious beliefs should not be a factor in whether you get a job.If you are a 70-year-old chinese, female buddhist and are more qualified for the job than a 25-year-old white Christian male, you should get the job. I think that we as Canadians have made progress in leaps and bounds over the last 50 years – I'm not sure that Europe is ready to admit the same thing. Some people think that we have gone too far the other way. These people say that underqualified people are getting jobs because we are trying to square up racial boundaries. I don't think this is right either. As I said earlier, the best person for the job is the best person for the job.
The wonderful world of sports is no exception.
Hayley Wickenheiser of the Canadian women's gold medal hockey team is looking to try out somewhere in Europe for a men's professional hockey team and I think she should get the chance. Wickenheiser has proven herself time and time again at the highest level's of women's hockey and should get a crack at the men's game.
I know a lot of guys are saying "come on gimme a break." I say give her a break. I don't think that she should make the team because she is a woman but I think she should get the opportunity to try out. Wickenheiser knows that the men's game is a lot different. It is much rougher and much quicker but she is ready to take her knocks and push herself to the limit.
She is a grown woman and is very intelligent. I think that she should be able to make this decision for herself. She's no kid and she will be prepared for whatever the boys give her. I don't agree with lawsuits that make it so a woman should be on the team because I think that anybody should earn their way aboard and not get a free ride.
The story about the girl who wanted to be on a boys' football team in Indiana a few years back still haunts me. She went to court to prove that she shouldn't be excluded just because she was female but the coach said that she didn't make the team because she was too small and wasn't good enough. A judge saw that this might be an opportunity to boost up women's rights said that she must be on the team. It only took two games before her football career and the ability to walk properly came to a crashing halt with a sickening snap when she was hit on the field and broke her collarbone and her left leg in two places.
The judge that made that ruling should have been held accountable. People who know the game of football said that she shouldn't be there because she might get hurt and she did. Contact sports are not just something you do on a whim to prove a point. You have to be physically able to perform or you will get hurt.
Wickenheiser doesn't want a free ride, she wants to earn her way and that's what's great about this story. She is not a dainty little whaff of a woman. She is built like an athlete and should get her chance. Many people involved with international hockey say that she could probably do well if she can weather out the rough stuff. She will get hit and hit again because the guys she will play against will want to see if she is tough enough to endure.
Make no mistake about it, she will pay a price for trying out for a men's team. The boys will give her the gears and she probbably won't get much help from her teammates until she earns their respect on the ice. When she does earn that respect, the world will be her oyster.
She doesn't want to be a publicity stunt, she wants to be a hockey player. I think that she should be given the chance to prove what she can do. Manon Rheaume was given the opportunity to play goal in professional hockey and I think it's time a woman skater should be given a shot if she can take one.
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Gary Patterson was born and raised in Chatham-Kent. He grew up in Thamesville and now lives in Chatham. Patterson was Sports Director at Beaver Communications an Blackburn Radio for over 15 years. Gary is also the track announcer at Dresden Raceway as well as some appearances at Windsor Raceway. He has played all sports inclduing being a mermber of three OBA Championship baseball teams in Thamesville and has also played hockey and football. Gary still plays golf, slo-pitch and ball hockey and well as the odd game of pick up hockey. Patterson is a passionate Miami Dolphin and Michigan Wolverine football fan. Here are few other details about Gary Patterson: Favourite food: steak, chicken wings, chili or Kenny Tharp\'s famous meatloaf; Favourite non alcoholic drink : Diet Coke; Favourite drink: Scotch, Coor\'s Light; Favourite Sports team : Miami Dolphins/Michigan Wolverines/New York Yankees; Favourite Bar : Bru\'s Room Margate Florida/Pompano Beach Florida; Favourite Bartender : Tanya (Margate), Sarah (Pompano); Favourie Vacataion spot : Pompano Beach Florida; Marital Staus : married with chilren Hockey player : Curtis Jospeh/Todd Bertuzzi; Favourite Football player : Retired Dan Marino, Anthony Thomas; Favourite Basketball player : Steve Nash Favourite Baseball player : Derek Jeter; Favourite colour : Blue; Favourite TV Show : CSI Favourite movie : The Sting, Blue Brothers and Field of Dreams; Favourite song Life Been Good To Me ( Joe Walsh); Favourite Band : Tom Petty/Eagles; Favourite type of Dog: Springer Spaniel; Favourite type of Cat : NONE
