Thanks, John, for framing this mess and the issue around it. Aside from my feeling annoyed with Clara’s Dad for providing the extinguisher, overreaction by power inflated adults is rampant in kids’ sports. You’ve documented this really well in past articles. And we can’t overlook the fact that kids watch adult sports icons overcelebrate on TV all the time. We shouldn’t punish kids for what we ignore in ourselves. But we do—all the time.
I read the essay title and thought we might get The Bald Face Truth on how the adults in this state have ruined competitive sports for biological women, by allowing biological males to take the top titles. That occurred this week in women’s 6A track. I noticed the Oregonian also hasn’t touched the story of Tigard HS Alexa Anderson and Sherwood HS Reese Eckard refusing to take 2nd and 3rd place medal podium because a biological male came in 1st. Taking of 1st place by biological males competing in women’s HS events also occurred in California and Washington State this past month, too. Indeed the adults allowing this are ruining women’s athletics.
Matt - You are showing a bit of bigotry, as did those young ladies. The fact is the transgender athlete came in 5th, not 1st. Also, the two ladies came in 3rd and 4th, not 2nd and 3rd. The transgender athlete was below them in the medal standings. They refused to take the podium next to her due to their bigotry. The false flag that they are ruining women's sports is simply bigotry being pushed by conservative extremists. They cannot attack the gays anymore so their new way to have us argrue amonst ourselves is the transgenders. They want us to argue with each other instead of asking them why they are not helping us and simply enriching themselves at our expense. You are making things worse by spreading their lies. If you insist on spreading your bigotry, at least try to get your facts straight. My guess is you read the lie somewhere else and did not look up the facts yourself. That is one large problem nowadays—the laziness of bigots spreading lies.
Biological males do not belong in women sports. That said some type of arrangement should be enacted that allows Trans athletes to compete in sports such as creating a third category. With the first advent of the modern Olympics began it was male only but slowly women were allowed to compete. I believe that athletic competition at all levels is generally good and should be available for all those who wish to compete.
Why create a third category? These athletes are biological males and a category already exists for biological males.
Remember around turn of the century when MLB players were found to be juicing performance enhancing drugs? I do. My beloved Mariner’s won 116 games in 2001 season and ‘broke’ a record that stood since 1906 (Chicago Cubs). But many of those players (here’s looking at you Brett Boone!) were competing on an uneven playing field. There’s a mental asterisk now on that season, at least for me. As are there asterisks on home run tally’s of Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa (1998) in the minds of many sports fans.
My point is if we start creating different categories carve out’s to ‘solve’ unrealities like boys being able to compete in women’s sports, what then would be the objection to creating a 4th category for those juiced on performance enhancing drugs and those who are not?
Why fight something when the genie’s already out of the bottle?
At least a third, let’s call it “open” division will allow kids to see how they really stack up. And like all good competition, the wheat will separate from the chaff and it will become a non-issue.
And by the way, they already are starting to carve that 4th division out. It’s called the “Enhanced Games”.
That, God willing, will never take hold because I don’t think even administrators would stand for outright juicing, even though you might think it’s not as bad as males against females.
I don’t see it as bigotry and lies. You are free to paint me that way if you would like. I see it as speaking truth. And that truth is if those biological boys competed in biological boy events, they would not get anywhere near the medal stand. But those biological males compete in women’s sports and they take top spots. The adults are the ones allowing this. Title IX is getting violated on the daily now.
Here’s the case last week in California where biological male took several 1st place track titles in women’s meet:
Add Minnesota to the list. Girl's HS softball team there just made it to State tournament on back of biological male pitching and hitting. It seems to be all blue states allowing this?
I'm certainly not in favor of stripping the athlete of her title, but there was another chance for an adult to get it right here. Dad. He was obviously in on the pre-planned celebration as he had the fire extinguisher at the ready. How about helping your daughter towards a level of humility, by suggesting that the state track meet is not the place for a TikTok viral moment.
It is a cluster-F, but thank you for the pick up game memories as a kid. Workup, over the line, and other depending upon the number that showed. You are so right. We put it together and we worked it out..
The question for me is, when are the adults going to act like adults and tell the kids, that's probably not a good idea, instead of handing them the fire extinguisher? Stop trying to be their "cool friend" and be their parent or coach!
I loved to play and watch sporting events, but if most parents spent as much time advancing their son's or daughter's academic skills as they spend on athletics what a world this would be. When was the last time a math or science teacher got chewed out for not calling on your son or daughter enough in class?
I see the comments have turned political. Why not chose another forum for this topic? The issue was adults ruining kids sports. I have lived three eras. Playing sports in late 50s and 60s. (Yes very old) Coaching my boys in the 80s and now watching my kids/grandkids. Yes it has changed dramatically from back in the day but then what hasn’t. I do watch a lot of interaction with parents and coaches that I question but really not that much worse than back in my coaching days. 90% of parents are great but the few can really create havoc. I told myself I never want to turn into old grumpy guy complaining about”kids today” and I will stand on that.
Personally it sickens me that everyone is looking for a way to get noticed or famous on internet.
The fire extinguisher was a pre planned gimmick to gain national attention! We see it all the time and more and more. I have no problem with the stripping.far more injustices are being done than this. The stripping of title in fact accomplished exactly what Dad and daughter wanted.
The young lady whom lost her medal should have been given a talking to about etiquette and humility rather than being disqualified for her harmless actions.
Spending money on sports camps and private coaching is expensive. Especially if the child may have little chance of parlaying it into a scholarship. Private academic tutoring would be a better way of spending that money. With a better chance of at least being accepted into a university. Just sayin’.
Attended our grandson's last little league game this past Saturday. The assistant coach on his team complained that the other team was using a wooden (rather than aluminum) bat. These are 9- and 10-year-old kids who can barely launch it out of the infield even if they used a bazooka lol.
This idiot coach then took the argument post-game and nearly initiated a fight. IN LITTLE LEAGUE! THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON! IN FRONT OF HIS DAUGHTER!
John I too grew up with unorganized sports in our neighborhood and loved it! Sad that many of our grandkids won't have that same wonderful experience. Suggest everyone listen to the song "Right Field" by Peter, Paul, and Mary for the daily dose of humor and nostalgia.
JC, we see the fire extinguisher as a harmless celebration, but how many stories have we seen/heard about retaliation because some youth athlete felt "disrespected"? Sometimes the adults need to be the "stick in the mud" to perhaps prevent something down the road. I'm not sure it is a big deal in HS track, but one never can be sure.
Thanks, John, for framing this mess and the issue around it. Aside from my feeling annoyed with Clara’s Dad for providing the extinguisher, overreaction by power inflated adults is rampant in kids’ sports. You’ve documented this really well in past articles. And we can’t overlook the fact that kids watch adult sports icons overcelebrate on TV all the time. We shouldn’t punish kids for what we ignore in ourselves. But we do—all the time.
"Or, just let her be a kid."
I read the essay title and thought we might get The Bald Face Truth on how the adults in this state have ruined competitive sports for biological women, by allowing biological males to take the top titles. That occurred this week in women’s 6A track. I noticed the Oregonian also hasn’t touched the story of Tigard HS Alexa Anderson and Sherwood HS Reese Eckard refusing to take 2nd and 3rd place medal podium because a biological male came in 1st. Taking of 1st place by biological males competing in women’s HS events also occurred in California and Washington State this past month, too. Indeed the adults allowing this are ruining women’s athletics.
Matt - You are showing a bit of bigotry, as did those young ladies. The fact is the transgender athlete came in 5th, not 1st. Also, the two ladies came in 3rd and 4th, not 2nd and 3rd. The transgender athlete was below them in the medal standings. They refused to take the podium next to her due to their bigotry. The false flag that they are ruining women's sports is simply bigotry being pushed by conservative extremists. They cannot attack the gays anymore so their new way to have us argrue amonst ourselves is the transgenders. They want us to argue with each other instead of asking them why they are not helping us and simply enriching themselves at our expense. You are making things worse by spreading their lies. If you insist on spreading your bigotry, at least try to get your facts straight. My guess is you read the lie somewhere else and did not look up the facts yourself. That is one large problem nowadays—the laziness of bigots spreading lies.
Biological males do not belong in women sports. That said some type of arrangement should be enacted that allows Trans athletes to compete in sports such as creating a third category. With the first advent of the modern Olympics began it was male only but slowly women were allowed to compete. I believe that athletic competition at all levels is generally good and should be available for all those who wish to compete.
Why create a third category? These athletes are biological males and a category already exists for biological males.
Remember around turn of the century when MLB players were found to be juicing performance enhancing drugs? I do. My beloved Mariner’s won 116 games in 2001 season and ‘broke’ a record that stood since 1906 (Chicago Cubs). But many of those players (here’s looking at you Brett Boone!) were competing on an uneven playing field. There’s a mental asterisk now on that season, at least for me. As are there asterisks on home run tally’s of Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa (1998) in the minds of many sports fans.
My point is if we start creating different categories carve out’s to ‘solve’ unrealities like boys being able to compete in women’s sports, what then would be the objection to creating a 4th category for those juiced on performance enhancing drugs and those who are not?
There is such a category in weight lifting.
Interesting did not know about the category.
Why fight something when the genie’s already out of the bottle?
At least a third, let’s call it “open” division will allow kids to see how they really stack up. And like all good competition, the wheat will separate from the chaff and it will become a non-issue.
And by the way, they already are starting to carve that 4th division out. It’s called the “Enhanced Games”.
That, God willing, will never take hold because I don’t think even administrators would stand for outright juicing, even though you might think it’s not as bad as males against females.
I don’t see it as bigotry and lies. You are free to paint me that way if you would like. I see it as speaking truth. And that truth is if those biological boys competed in biological boy events, they would not get anywhere near the medal stand. But those biological males compete in women’s sports and they take top spots. The adults are the ones allowing this. Title IX is getting violated on the daily now.
Here’s the case last week in California where biological male took several 1st place track titles in women’s meet:
https://edsource.org/2025/transgender-athlete-wins-shares-state-honors-creating-questions-about-inclusion/733725
And here is case last week where Washington State biological male took 1st place in a women’s track event:
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/wa-now-center-national-debate-after-transgender-athletes-victory-track-event/XLUDSXCNVJDR7IP2JBPXLHHBQM/
Here is story of a different Oregon biological male blowing away biological women in women’s track events, and setting ‘women’s’ state records:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3303926/who-ada-gallagher-transgender-teen-setting-school-track-records-oregon-students-participation-recent
You are absolutely correct, Matt. OR, CA & WA are falling off the left side of the planet.
Add Minnesota to the list. Girl's HS softball team there just made it to State tournament on back of biological male pitching and hitting. It seems to be all blue states allowing this?
https://www.totalprosports.com/ncaa/trans-pitcher-record-breaking-performance-earns-school-spot-minnesota-state-championship/
Bigotry being pushed I might add, by adults, passing it on down to their children.
Bigotry? How about Biology. If you possess XY chromosomes you are a male no matter how much estrogen you pump in your system. It’s quite simple.
That's right, come out with the labels when the truth is displayed. Biological males need to compete against biological males. Common sense.
Five "bigots" in one paragraph makes my head hurt a little.
As they say in Britain, John Stone, what a load of rubbish.
I'm certainly not in favor of stripping the athlete of her title, but there was another chance for an adult to get it right here. Dad. He was obviously in on the pre-planned celebration as he had the fire extinguisher at the ready. How about helping your daughter towards a level of humility, by suggesting that the state track meet is not the place for a TikTok viral moment.
It is a cluster-F, but thank you for the pick up game memories as a kid. Workup, over the line, and other depending upon the number that showed. You are so right. We put it together and we worked it out..
Well written John. Makes me wonder how I’m going to approach parenting my kids in sports.
The FB coach in me will have some ideas. And then I’m sure my wife will walk me off the ledge 😅
The question for me is, when are the adults going to act like adults and tell the kids, that's probably not a good idea, instead of handing them the fire extinguisher? Stop trying to be their "cool friend" and be their parent or coach!
You are so right John. I love it when my kids start a pick up basketball game in my back yard😍
Magic.
I loved to play and watch sporting events, but if most parents spent as much time advancing their son's or daughter's academic skills as they spend on athletics what a world this would be. When was the last time a math or science teacher got chewed out for not calling on your son or daughter enough in class?
Punishment didn’t unfortunately match the offense. “Officials” should have spent a couple of minutes contemplating the issue before reacting!
I see the comments have turned political. Why not chose another forum for this topic? The issue was adults ruining kids sports. I have lived three eras. Playing sports in late 50s and 60s. (Yes very old) Coaching my boys in the 80s and now watching my kids/grandkids. Yes it has changed dramatically from back in the day but then what hasn’t. I do watch a lot of interaction with parents and coaches that I question but really not that much worse than back in my coaching days. 90% of parents are great but the few can really create havoc. I told myself I never want to turn into old grumpy guy complaining about”kids today” and I will stand on that.
Another great article. And the volleyball coach closing was perfect.
Thanks.
Personally it sickens me that everyone is looking for a way to get noticed or famous on internet.
The fire extinguisher was a pre planned gimmick to gain national attention! We see it all the time and more and more. I have no problem with the stripping.far more injustices are being done than this. The stripping of title in fact accomplished exactly what Dad and daughter wanted.
They in fact won
The young lady whom lost her medal should have been given a talking to about etiquette and humility rather than being disqualified for her harmless actions.
Spending money on sports camps and private coaching is expensive. Especially if the child may have little chance of parlaying it into a scholarship. Private academic tutoring would be a better way of spending that money. With a better chance of at least being accepted into a university. Just sayin’.
Teachable moment there.
Attended our grandson's last little league game this past Saturday. The assistant coach on his team complained that the other team was using a wooden (rather than aluminum) bat. These are 9- and 10-year-old kids who can barely launch it out of the infield even if they used a bazooka lol.
This idiot coach then took the argument post-game and nearly initiated a fight. IN LITTLE LEAGUE! THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON! IN FRONT OF HIS DAUGHTER!
John I too grew up with unorganized sports in our neighborhood and loved it! Sad that many of our grandkids won't have that same wonderful experience. Suggest everyone listen to the song "Right Field" by Peter, Paul, and Mary for the daily dose of humor and nostalgia.
“…even if they used a bazooka.”
Hilarious!
One cannot fix stupid 🤯
JC, we see the fire extinguisher as a harmless celebration, but how many stories have we seen/heard about retaliation because some youth athlete felt "disrespected"? Sometimes the adults need to be the "stick in the mud" to perhaps prevent something down the road. I'm not sure it is a big deal in HS track, but one never can be sure.