THERE’S NOTHING NEW about the clamorous wider world with its trends and controversies pushing unpleasantly into the purity that is our beloved sport at its center.
However, last weekend, as I write, two doozies, each fraught with negativity in one way or another, washed into the competition space and national headlines. They involved a meet for which I have great and long-standing affection, the California high school state meet.
• The politics of division hammered down from on high ahead of California’s CIF Championships — its form a Presidential threat to withhold federal funding generally for the state over the prospective participation of a transgender athlete in the girls State Meet.
CIF (the state’s HS federation), caught between state law, and the brandished federal big stick, adjusted by adding to the fields in three events the athletes who finished just out of State qualifying because transgender competitor AB Hernandez had advanced from their regional.
The transgender athlete tied for 1st in two events and placed 2nd in a third. Her competitors stood respectfully alongside her on the podium. Protesters not on the field shouted angrily and waved picket signs. There’s a lot of feeling around this issue.
After a similar result at the Oregon State Meet, two cisgender competitors stood behind their podium in a protest they said was rooted in concern for fairness, not hate. Officials asked them to step away.
• Also at the California State Meet, soph Clara Adams won the 400. Then prompted by her father, Adams channeled a flourish of Maurice Greene-style entertainment. At the televised 2004 Home Depot Invitational, sprint star Greene ripped a 9.86w in the 100 then threw his spikes to the track and teammate Larry Wade ran in with a fire extinguisher to “put out” the hot shoes. The fans ate it up. Wade was detained briefly by police. No arrest was made. Greene’s result stood.
Fast-forward 21 years. On the infield 40 seconds after the race, Adams doused her own hot feet with an extinguisher provided by her dad. Officials rushed to intervene. Adams’ father ran onto the field and his daughter drew a DQ — from the meet, including the later 200 final. Ire like fire erupted on two sides.
My brief reactions to each:
• Transgender controversy: Into this one I dip my toes well aware they’ll meet gnashing teeth. I applaud CIF officials for crafting an athlete-sensitive compromise. Every competitor involved was a kid out to do their best and bask in the growth and joy of being part of a track team. Shame on the adults who’ve seized upon this as a cudgel for the politics of division.
Where competitive fairness comes into play, I side with the interests of women athletes. Their road through prejudice and historical inequity toward deserved equal respect and reward has been long and grueling. As such, for the elite level, my head and heart are with the World Athletics stance that allowing transgender women who have undergone male puberty to compete in the female category harms the hopes, dreams and livelihoods of too many.
Just the way it is: 99.9999% of us are not blessed with the talent to win Olympic golds or even State titles, no matter our gender. We learn to accept that and mature emotionally through the lesson. At the same time, 99.9999% of sport is about play and each participant striving to be his/her/their best — not the best.
Inclusivity need not be sacrificed. Optimist me believes wise heads can find balance fair to all given time. Keep at it, officials. You, too, can be like Solomon.
• Fire Extinguisher-gate: I’ve mused on this one like a ping-pong ball. Should a hard-working prep soph’s antic be treated differently from Mo Greene’s?
I’ve pored through the high school rule on unsportsmanlike conduct and find no clear peg. The words “flagrant violation”? A stretch. Adams blew the fire extinguisher with no competitors nearby and not at the finish line. I’d call that a celebration, not a taunt. Wasn’t a stern reprimand an option?
Yet fire retardant chemicals may represent a health hazard to others. A valid concern. Ditto precedent and a slippery slope viz comportment. I checked with a fire marshall (not the marshall for meet site Clovis). It is not at all clear state law was violated.
Conclusion: Adams’ dad/coach, the adult in the scenario, made a poor decision and bears responsibility. Sad sign of the times, stadium bag checks should be instituted or made more thorough.
I’m glad, though, that Adams will have two more seasons in which to chase state titles.
