Title IX issue isn't about to go away

Now that all those thorny Title IX issues have been resolved, what do we tackle next, something easy like spiraling health care or energy independence?

Joking aside, events this month muddled the picture of equality in sports more than ever. Uintah High wrestler Candace Workman, competing with the boys, finished sixth in the state tournament Feb. 10 — highest ever by a female. She was covered widely by the media, proclaimed in headlines and touted on TV, which in some cases featured live updates from the UVSC campus in Orem.

In all honesty, it was a fairly interesting story — a girl competing against boys. But in reality she didn't do much to warrant the coverage. She won her first match, lost the second, won two more and lost her final two to finish sixth.

There were good things that came from Workman's, well, workmanlike effort. She competed respectably and showed that high goals can be met. At the same time, the entire event was overshadowed by her presence. Though coaches and athletes weren't saying anything controversial, some of her opponents seemed squeamish about employing certain wrestling holds on a girl, or having her put the same moves put on them. Some appeared more interested in getting out of the spotlight than winning. That's not Workman's fault. But being a female probably worked in her favor.

While competing was clearly a good thing for the 103-pound Workman's confidence and self-esteem, it couldn't have done much for her opponents'. Equality is about fairness, but there isn't anything fair about being a villain based on gender.

I'm not entirely opposed to women competing against men, as long as they honestly can compete. But I cringe when it's done for show.

(Anyone remember Lucy Harris? She was the ballplayer the Jazz drafted while pregnant.) If golfers Michelle Wie or Annika Sorenstam can compete consistently against men, let them prove it. If Lisa Leslie can show she belongs in the NBA, fine. If there's a female baseball player who can throw a 95-mph fastball, bring her on.

To Workman's credit, she did earn a spot in the state tournament and she did win three matches. But how fair is it that two boys became four-time state champions, yet received only moderate coverage thanks to the Workman story?

For some, it was an issue of Title IX, which requires equal opportunity, regardless of gender. What it doesn't require is that males and females compete directly against one another. In male-dominated sports such as wrestling, some high schools around the country have created their own matching female programs.