By NFRW President Eileen Sobjack

I grew up in a time when women athletes had minimal opportunity. The girls’ basketball team was intramural, while the guys competed with other schools, gained plenty of practice and were seen by college scouts. Sports were funded for boys first and foremost.  

On June 23, 1972, Title IX was enacted to give equal educational opportunities for both sexes. For 50 years these opportunities have continued to grow, until now.

What’s happening today is taking us backward!

Women deserve fairness in competition, and that means women competing against women.

I have a granddaughter who is one awesome fast pitch player and another who is a budding track star. My hope is that they keep it up in college. I certainly don’t want them competing with the boys, though.

Women athletes are committed to training to be the best they can be. It will be a travesty if all the time and effort they put forth means they must compete against men.

What has happened to common sense? Women can be strong, and they are, but they aren’t men.

I enjoy watching athletes -- both men and women – compete, but in their respective arenas.

We all must rally against the direction women’s sports is heading and for keeping what has worked so well for years. We need to support equal opportunities for men and women.

Let’s move forward and let’s be fair!

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