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Just when you thought political correctness couldn’t get more bizarre, something else pops up that leaves you shaking your head even more.
This time it’s the California High administration that collectively said, “Hold our, uh, soda”.
Last week, the California High Lady Grizzlies flag football team had a home game and at the microphone in the press box was Lenard Matthews, where he has been for girls’ athletics at Cal for many years.
For the longest time he has been announcing girls’ basketball, with the occasional girls’ volleyball playoffs mixed in. Last season when flag football debuted, Matthews slid into the press box and took on the announcing duties.
The one constant as the girls’ athletics have grown is that Matthews, as well as the athletes, their parents and coaches, refer to the team as the “Lady Grizzlies”. Not anymore.
A Cal administrator walked into the P.E. office last week and informed Matthews there was at that time an anonymous complaint and no longer would he be allowed to use the term “Lady”.
It took Matthews by surprise.
“We’ve always been the Lady Grizzlies,” Matthews said. “My response — this is not what I was taught as I was growing up by females. This is the female version of a sport — the term ‘Lady’ is empowering for females. It lessens the impact to take it out.”
Ah, but according to administrators, it’s not an inclusive term and in this day …
“To me, it lessens the sport to take it out,” Matthews said.
When it became clear he was not going to be calling any Cal girls’ team by “Lady Grizzlies”, he reached a decision.
“I said it is taking the game backwards and I will not be participating,” said Matthews, who is now stepping away from announcing.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District issued a statement to me on Sunday afternoon.
“Due to the late Friday discussions with California High School, we were unable to reach a conclusion about the situation before the end of the day. Please be assured this has our attention. Discussions will continue on Monday, and we will have more information to share then,” said Tammy Herley, coordinator, communications and public information for SRVUSD.
By Sunday night, others in the district contacted me that a directive had been sent out telling the other three high schools in the district to follow suit.
Around 10 a.m. Monday, SRVUSD Communications responded by saying “No directive was sent by the district in regard to the use of ‘Lady’ with a mascot.”
Finally, Monday afternoon a letter was sent to the families of the flag football team. Following are the three central paragraphs from the letter to the families from principal Demetrius Ball and athletic director Chad Ross:
“In recent weeks, our school received multiple messages from members of our community, in addition to concerns shared by opposing teams, regarding the designation of our student athletes as ‘Lady Grizzlies’.
“It is important to emphasize that all student athletes at Cal High are proudly known as Grizzlies, representing California High School with pride and distinction in their respective sports. Our sports, in alignment with CIF/NCS designations (‘boys’ and ‘girls’) are referred to as ‘mens’ and ‘womens’ teams. However, when engaged in the competition of their respective sport(s), our student athletes are all Grizzlies.
“I also wanted to clarify that our public address announcer for our flag football team has voluntarily decided to step down from his role at flag football games. We are grateful for his past contributions to the team.”
Matthews did not give up, asking for a sit down with the administrators to find a common ground, but it was made clear there would be no compromise.
“My main takeaway: They were not willing to sit down and negotiate,” Matthews said. “Why do you feel so entitled to not show up to the table — you just want to dictate?”
As someone who has three daughters (and four granddaughters), I feel this is an affront to all female athletes. It is a time where all it takes is a person to complain and everyone panics, and in this case, overreacts.
You’re right that it’s not inclusive, it’s girls’ flag football. When did calling a female a “Lady” become offensive? There are boys’ and girls’ sports in high school — at least for now.
In the time where it’s supposedly about equality, the reality is it couldn’t be further apart. Taking something that empowers female athletes and stripping it away to take their individualism away.
Instead of promoting women equally with men, as Matthews points out, they are taking away from something that sets them apart. Denying individualism seems more important.
The worst part? Instead of SRVUSD seeing the light, the other school districts — Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore — could possibly jump on board soon.
Since news has been trickling out about this, I have heard from many people from all over the political spectrum that are infuriated.
And all because they got an anonymous complaint. Instead of taking a stand, the school rushes to a decision. Initially I heard from several people it was an anonymous complaint, but now it appears it was weeks of complaints from a variety of people.
Where does the truth lie? The general public will never know what the facts are for sure. For me, one thing for sure is that it is a bad decision, and one that should be rethought.
It is probably an age thing, as I grew up in a time when it was cool to have the girls’ team warrant their own designation — to provide them recognition.
But those days are disappearing daily. It’s not about the masses any longer, but rather the enlightened.
Here is hoping at some point in the conversation common sense enters the equation and we return to how things were before last week.
Hoping, but not counting on it.
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for the Pleasanton Weekly. This column originally appeared in Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, a weekly sports e-newsletter published by Embarcadero Media Foundation.
Couldn’t agree with you more! Beyond ridiculous. #formerladygrizzly
Dennis,
I’m on the other side of this naming issue.
While I believe athletes should be competing according to their chromosomes, not their chosen identities, I also know sexist labels keep women from enjoying true equality. We don’t want to be “ladies” locked in a castle turret. We want to be heroic Valkyries, guiding and working alongside warrior men. Thankfully, Golden State figured that out and avoided “Lady” Warriors.
It’s just that I came of age in sports at a time when athletic departments were navigating what Title IX meant in term of high school sports equity. Our Boys’ gym and Girls’ gym were renamed Large and Small gyms. Our Lady Longhorns became united with all Longhorns, and we were happy. This was in 1978.
I find it hard to believe, in 2024, that the women playing sports at Cal High want to be called “lady” anything. And, I’m saddened that a talented broadcaster and respected journalist aren’t willing to talk to these athletes themselves. Wouldn’t this be the more common sense approach? When an uncomfortable community has to send anonymous letters expressing displeasure with a name they find to be offensive, we know there’s a problem.
When the men affected by this request cry foul, we must wonder why they want to “return to how things were last week.” We’re moving forward, men, one label at a time. And we’d like to walk with you, not against you.