A Bay Area parent’s call to end a high school baseball season after reports of anti-Asian taunts highlights a disturbing pattern of racism, demanding a serious response that goes beyond simple condemnation. The severity of the situation necessitates a response that addresses the root causes of the hateful behavior, not just its immediate manifestation.
The incident underscores a critical need for accountability within the school’s athletic program. The suggestion that coaches bear a significant responsibility in fostering a team culture that tolerates, or even encourages, such behavior is a valid one. Coaches are role models and should actively intervene to prevent and punish any form of racism or discrimination among their players.… Continue reading
At least 7 American football players in middle and high school have tragically lost their lives in August alone. The statistics from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research are chilling – 16 football-related deaths in all of last year, with 9 occurring in middle and high school programs. The fact that these deaths cannot be solely attributed to the physicality of the sport, with 10 out of 16 being indirectly related, highlights a deeper issue within the culture of high school football.
The pressure to “be tough” or “man up” in the scorching heat of summer practices is a narrative that plays out across the country.… Continue reading
The recent news about the Florida school board suspending an employee who allowed her transgender daughter to play girls volleyball has sparked a heated debate. It’s disheartening to see how, once again, the marginalized are being punished for simply wanting to live authentically. The fact that the mother is facing consequences for supporting her daughter’s participation in a high school sport is a clear indication of the systemic transphobia and discrimination that still exists in our society.
The school board’s decision to suspend the employee and restrict her job responsibilities is not only discriminatory but also sends a dangerous message. The fact that the board is more concerned about enforcing outdated laws and punishing a mother and her daughter, rather than supporting and protecting them, is truly distressing.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker