Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Reaction from Listeners
Monday, April 28th, 2008
No sooner was the “High School Show” over for another week, and I decided to check my computer for e-mails.
Yikes. An e-mail from a woman, I won’t mention her name, very upset that we devoted an entire show to male sports. Well, for the record, there was a female in-studio guest, and I know we had at least one female listener - her.
The show focussed on newsmakers and newsy items in football, baseball as well as track and field.
It’s not that we avoid female guests. If this woman was a regular listener, she’d understand that we have a fair number of female coaches, teachers, administrators - and, yes, athletes.
In fact, I would wager, we have more female high school sports guests than any other radio station.
Then, an e-mail from a male listener. He wants me to avoid criticizing coaches and that they all do a marvellous job. He is entitled to his opinion and many coaches do a very good job volunteering their time - and, by the way, with very little recognition from the Boards of Education. However, there does come a time when questionable things surface and we have a responsibility to ask - questions. Some people understand that to be criticism - which it’s not.
Moving along, an e-mail from a regular listener who liked the variety of guests but felt the show was too short. “More time” - he asked. Well, that’s the decision of the management at the FAN 590 and those requests should be addressed to Nelson Millman and Doug Farraway.
Then came an e-mail from an individual, who wouldn’t provide a name. Gosh, I really enjoy those mysterious people. The person was fuming that we are wasting time covering sports like field hockey, Ultimate frisbee, badminton and judo. Not sure where this person is coming from…..The High School Show hasn’t had any guests on these sports - and judo isn’t even a high school sport.
Finally, an e-mail from a man who objected to me “bashing” - those were his words - the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations. He claims they haven’t done anything. That’s his exact words. And there are many people who would agree - that OFSAA hasn’t done anything.
I believe he’s a past or present member of the organization. His blood pressure went above normal levels after hearing me offer my opinion about OFSAA deciding to ban certain female teenagers from playing for their high school hockey team. It’s true. OFSAA believes girls chosen to play for Canada’s Under-18 team don’t belong on school teams. We’re talking about a dozen kids in Ontario.
Yet, OFSAA refuses to say anything about students chosen to National teams in basketball, rugby, track, etc. who are allowed to compete for their schools. Something wrong here, eh?
Keep listening. Was there a full moon the other day?
Ultimate Frisbee
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Got this e-mail from someone who believes high school Ultimate Frisbee does wonders for certain athletes.
You have to be kidding me.
Ultimate Frisbee belongs in the same package of whatever as badminton. They are games for a summer BBQ visiting grandparents.
Whoever brought Ultimate Frisbee to high schools had far too much time on their plate and also forgot one thing.
Guess?
Yup, some dogs to go chase the darn plastic dish.
I can just see an OFSAA Ultimate Frisbee championship.
What’s next ball-room dancing?
Baseball
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
High school baseball is big stuff in the Greater Toronto Area.
More teams than ever. So far, so good.
But a mixture of wet fields from the long winter, also municipal bureaucrats calling the shots on availability of ball diamonds and the various Boards of Education reluctant to turn just one corner of an all-purpose field in to a baseball diamond, is hurting.
Short season becomes even shorter. When inclement weather hits, and exams too, the season gets even shorter. And let’s not forget summer league rep coaches worried that their special players - who might get hurt by playing for school teams.
Not far off, I believe, are leagues thinking of cancelling games and contemplating some kind of tournament format as a replacement.
And it’s nice to see that the folks responsible for a provincial final - they call it the “Prentice Cup” - got serious and returned to the Rogers Centre nurturing a long relationship with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Having the high school final at the home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is a nice idea - but doesn’t compare to playing in a professional park.
High School Girls’ Hockey
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Lots of chatter these days about the decision by the provincial organization responsible for school sports to prevent girls - those chosen to Canadian National Junior hockey teams (i.e. Under-18) - from playing for their high school.
Hmm.
They say “parity” is important.
OK.
But if that’s the case, then why isn’t the same organization - the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations - doing the same for other school sports?
I won’t mention the word hypocrisy.
Some high schools have a handful of National Junior players on their basketball team. No problem. Others have National players on their rugby school team. I guess that’s OK too. And OFSAA didn’t say anything about runners, who are on school teams - and also competing at international events.
This is high school sports. Female hockey players are role models for others. Apparently, some folks at OFSAA don’t think so.



