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Today's Poll: Will a woman ever play major league baseball?

By Howard B. Owens
Peter O'Brien

The media is fawning over this girl. Its sad to watch. Their constant portrayal of her is sickening.

6 hits over 2 and a third innings is not good, 3 runs over 2 and a third is not good. 6 strikeouts are. A 70 mph fastball at her age is.

She is only being portrayed this way because of two factors that have nothing to do with baseball. Sex and Race.

If this country truly wants to eliminate racism and sexism, stop making it the conversation every chance you get.

When she does something no other person has done (not no other girl or no other black skinned person) then I will be impressed. Until then she is just another person in Williamsport trying to be a champion.

Aug 21, 2014, 9:52am Permalink
Jack Dorf

The main reason the press made a big deal about this girl is she threw a shutout and only allowed 3 hits in a previous World Series game. She throws a 70 mph fastball which equals a 91 mph fastball on major league size field. If a white girl did this they would have made the same big deal. Remember she is pitching to the best kids in the world. I watched her pitch last night because you don't often see a girl her age pitch at this level not because she's black. By the way Peter she did do something no other girl has ever done. Shutout in a Little League World Series Game. They also betrayed her is a role model for what other girls can accomplish. You can always change the channel.

Aug 21, 2014, 1:02pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

I don't think it is so much a question of "if" as it is "when." The introduction of a female player is on par with the introduction of players of non-traditional race, ethnicity and nationality. Whether for novelty or skill-level, professional sport thrives on controversial choices that fuel arena attendance. It doesn't matter much to owners whether the attendees arrive to support or jeer as long as the gate profits roll in. Also the national press will feed off the controversy to complete the symbiotic relationship. I don't mean to sound totally cynical about the subject. Although it is beneficial to female athletics in general to have leagues of their own, some of the barriers that are established on gender, race and other subjective basis should fall away as our culture matures and recognizes the folly of perpetuating such nonsense.

Aug 21, 2014, 2:30pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I said person, not no other girl. You don't hear about a boy who can do that same thing even though girls at this age are generally more physically mature.

Aug 21, 2014, 5:11pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Its the same reason I hate lowered standards for women in the military and firefighting. If you can't do what the minimum of what is expected of a man, then the standards should not be lowered for you. You should have to live to the same standard because in the field, the obstacles won't care what you have between your legs.

Aug 21, 2014, 5:13pm Permalink

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