MIC Jill Li: PAl I.MAN
Women athletes lack chances
I
I
I
I
I'm still kicking myself.
I changed the channel on the
television just in time to see Arantxa
Sanchez Vicario kiss her trophy
after winning the U.S. Open.
I inadvertently missed the biggest
women's tennis match of the year to
watch a cheesy movie about a 12
ycar-old boy who gets to pitch for
ihc Chicago Cubs.
Deep down, I must miss baseball
more than 1 thought.
The movie wasn't that bnd.just
far-fclchcd. Henry, the kid. breaks
his arm in the middle of Little
League season, but when the cast
comes off. some freak of nature
allows him to hurl a fastball at the
speed of sound. The Cubs, behind in
the pennant race and needing to sell
some tickets (OK. so the movie's
not TOO far-fetched), sign the half
pint as a pitcher.
In a sharp turn ofTReality Road,
the Cubs not only sell out every
game but also make it to the
divisional championship. It's the
ninth inning. Cubs leading 2-1. two
men out. Henry is pitching for the
save, and the rivals' star slugger
comes up to bat. I won't give away
the ending, because I know you're
all dying to see this chccscball. but
our hero finds himself in big trouble.
In a 180-degree flip over the
embankment on Reality Road.
Henry looks for guidance not from
his coach or his manager, but from
his mother.
If I were pitching for the Cubs —
an idea not too far-fetched if this
strike continues — my mother
would be the last person I'd consult
for advice. Mother Teresa knows
more about baseball than my
mother. In fact, my mother doesn't
know a whole lot about any sport.
When 1 told her "love” means
"nothing” in tennis, she said. "Well,
maybe they wouldn't feel that way if
they weren't so wrapped up in their
careers''
in fact, my mother doesn t know a
whole lot about any sport. When / |
told her lllove ” means “nothing ” in \
tennis, she said, “ Well, maybe they \
wouldn 'tfeel that way if they weren t \
so wrapped up in their careers. ” |
i
Sorry. Mom. I shouldn't poke fun
at you. I, too. used to know nothing
about tennis. To me. the only sport
more worthless than two people
hitting a ball back and forth was one
person hitting a ball across a big
lawn with holes in it.
The only sports I knew were
volleyball, basketball and track,
because that was all my small school
offered for girls’ athletics. I stunk at
all of them.
Then 1 was forced to play tennis
in my high school physical educa
tion class. I picked up a cruddy little
wooden racquet, and for the first
time in my life. 1 started winning at
a sport.
Years later. I stink at tennis, too.
but I still love it. Steffi and Gabby f
and Martina have become my idols,
and I no longer groan when tennis is
on TV.
Besides the Olympics, tennis
tournaments arc about the only time
I see women athletes on TV.
Reebok once had a magazine ad I
liked so much. I put it on my wall —
four full-page photos of women
athletes. Each had some inspira
tional and insightful quote about
athletics and life that boiled down to
“Get off your butt and go for it. you
weenie.”
I put the ad on my wall in the
first place because I thought the
photos were colorful and artistic.
But the more I saw those quotes, the
more I realized how little inspiration
there was for girls to get off their
butts and go for it.
For students, going to a Nebraska
football game costs money. The
same goes for men's basketball
games. Women's basketball and
volleyball games are free.
Across the nation, universities
give less money and fewer scholar
ships for women's athletics. And
once they're done with college
sports, women have nowhere to go
except coaching if they want to stay
in the game.
Meanwhile, the bo/.os in the
ballpark arc on strike, because they .
want to make more money than the
entire state of New Jersey.
You've heard of the glass ceiling.
Let's call this the glass scoreboard.
Women play just as tough as men
for less pay and less glory. Our
daughters should be able to bask in
the glory of the game just as much
as our sons and still make a living.
And they should have more avenues
open to them than tennis.
My future daughter could win the
U.S. Open. Maybe she could pilch
for the Cubs. But she'll probably be
part of the 99 percent of Americans
who don't have a snowball's chance
in hell of playing professional
sports.
And when she asks me about
love. I'll tell her to work on her
backhand so she won't have to
worry about it.
Paulman la a senior news-editorial and
history major and a Dally Nebraskan colum
nist.
Ml( II M l .11 Ml( I
Murder destroys childhood
When I was 4 years old. I lived in
a small community in Northern
Kentucky. I spent many days and
evenings running amok in my
neighborhood. I probably didn't
know that I was safe, but I knew I
wasn't scared. It was home.
More than likely, that's what 4
year-old Derrick Robic thought
about his neighborhood in Savona,
N Y. (pop 930). It was home, and it
was safe.
Unfortunately, that was not the
ease.
Derrick was murdered last
summer, just 300 yards from his
house. He disappeared while on his
way to a summer recreation pro
gram. His body was found in the
afternoon, at the back of a vacant lot
at the end of his street. He had been
sodomized with a stick, choked and
fatally beaten with rocks.
When I was 4 years old. I played
in my friend’s sandbox with my
Tonka trucks and Hot Wheels cars.
My friends and I raced our
Bigwheeisdown the giant hill that
ended in my front yard. And 1
walked the 15 or so blocks to
kindergarten alone.
Derrick will never again do these
things that he should be doing. No
more birthday parties. Saturday
morning cartoons, hugs from Dad or
kisses from Mom.
As for his killer, well, he's still
alive and will be for quite some
lime. He recently was convicted of
murdering Derrick. He even
confessed to slaying him. But unlike
the circumstances revolving around
here two weeks ago. Derrick's killer
most assuredly will not make it to
death row for execution. The reason:
He’s 14
Eric Smith, who was 13 when the
Something is happening in our
society, and it transcends racial,
political and socioeconomic
boundaries. Children are dying
senselessly everywhere, and we cat it
seem to get hold of it — much less
stop it.
murder look place, lived close lo
Derrick. I am not certain if he knew
him. but that makes no difference.
No one. especially children, should
have to fear for their lives. And no
one should have to go through what
Derrick did that morning.
Apparently. Erie previously had
shown a sadistic side. In 1989. he
strangled a neighbor's Siamese cat.
A child psychiatrist that the defense
hired said Eric could not control
himself because of developmental
abnormalities caused by
trimcthadionc. the drug his mother
took for epilepsy while she was
pregnant with him.
That is no excuse for his actions.
The state agrees
My mother never took
trimcthadionc when she was
pregnant with me. so I cannot say it
would cause things like breath
holding spells or head-banging. All I
know is that when I was 13. murder
was the furthest thing from my
mind. I was too busy playing
Wiffleball. Risk and street football.
I still raced my friends, but on bikes
instead of Bigwhcels. And I spent a
lot of time thinking about girls.
It s natural to look for who's to
blame when something goes wrong.
That’s the American way: Lay the
blame on somebody, crucify them
and forget it ever happened. But it 's
not that easy.
What happened inside Eric's
mind that day? Was it the drug his
mother took? Could it be that all the
violence on television influenced
him? Or the violence in the streets?
Were his parents lazy or disinter
ested in him? Were they bad parents
who didn't bother to teach Eric the
difference between right and wrong?
And what about Derrick's
parents? Didn't they think it a bit
dangerous to send a 4-ycar-old out
on his own? Why couldn't they
drive him to the program? Wasn’t
he told to stay away from strangers?
I ask these questions because I
just can't believe a 14-year-old
could commit murder. I am fully
aware of all the young people killing
and being killed in the inner cities,
but that's different, isn’t it? Or is it?
Something is happening in our
society, and it transcends racial,
political and socioeconomic
boundaries. Children arc dying
senselessly everywhere, and we
can't seem to get hold of it — much
less stop it.
Erie Smith faces a lifetime
behind bars, countless psychological
tests and no freedom. But he will
see his 15th birthday. Derrick didn't
even make it to 5.
.lustier U a news-editorial and broad
casting major and a Dally Nebraskan colum
nist.
Motriir
Wfgxt&
SOCtfS
(T*
50-count box
$4.49
e2*j
vb—^JiEgmipcwrihuiimii
Savings So Big You Need
A Shopping Cart
271 IS.48th I
Exp. October 31.1994J
A Shopping Cart ^P °c,ober 31 •1 ^
With Coupon
PfTQER or
Expires: 9/20/
One Coupon Per
Every
Wednesda
FRI. & SAT.
LIVE MUSIC
Mon-Sl.75 fqipops
Tiies-Sl Rails, Pints &
'Rolling Rock
WedjlOtf Buffalo Wings
Thure-25^ Tacos
Fri-Gutbuster & Fries for S2 Comer of 9th & ’O' Street
Buffalo Wings
Plug Into the
| World with FREE
E-Mail Classes
Now that you have your computer account you can tind out
how to communicate with professors, friends, and people
accross the country using E-Mail. These classes are free and
no reservations are required.
Introduction to E-Mail
Wednesday, September 14 2:30 - 3:20 Bancroft Hall, 239
Thursday, September 15 10:00- 11:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
2:30 - 4:00 Bancroft Hall, 239
2:00 - 3:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
10:00 - 11:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
Wednesday, September 21 11:00 -12:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
Wednesday, September 21 2:00 - 3:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
Thursday, September 22 2:00 - 3:30 Bancroft Hall, 239
Learn how to use Electronic Mail on Herbie or
UNLCLASS1
Thursday, September 15
Monday, September 19
Tuesday, September 20
Big Red Special
^Drive-thru ■
open LATE
on weekends
14th&Q location onto ^ ^
5 Regular Roast Beef
Sandwiches for $5.55
Limited time offer
