All this time, I've assumed YogurtCup was a woman. It's pretty girly for a screen name, but no way would a woman ever insult hardworking high school girl athletes like YC did in a recent post in the chat room sponsored by my sworn rival, The Santa Clarita Signal.
YC is one of a dozen or so anonymous posters on the Tell it to the Signal thread critiquing the sports staff's decision last week to name Canyon High's football team the top team of the 2006-07 school year over the No. 1 softball team in the nation, the Valencia Vikings. For the record, I find anonymous posts as valuable as the signatures on them. And for the record, my husband Dick is VikingDad.
Before I go on, in the interest of full disclosure, my daughter Kristen was a starter for the Vikings for four years, capping her high school career last month with a CIF ring, incredible memories, lessons only athletes learn and a collection of lifelong friends. And for the record, I'm the Santa Clarita editor for the Daily News, in direct competition with The Signal.
That said, this is what YogurtHead, I mean YogurtCup, has to say about Kris and her team.
"If the Valencia team matters so much, why is it only their parents defending them on this thread?"
Hold on... is YC saying these 16 girls don't matter? These amazing athletes who practice and play year round, who run miles, lift weights and train, train, train while keeping up their grades don't matter?
These girls finished the year with a CIF title to crown their 32-1 season. Their star pitcher was backed up by stellar defense and cushioned by one of the best hitting teams around. So successful with a tough schedule, one that included wins over numerous nationally ranked teams, a coalition of fast-pitch coaches ranked the Vikings the No. 1 team in the nation.
College coaches from high-profile softball programs have hand-picked each of the Vikings who is eligible for a scholarship to play softball at the next level. We're talking high-quality programs at major universities. The younger girls are being watched, but rules prevent any commitments until they're juniors. These girls matter big time.
Kristen, who I like to think matters, worked her tail off for four years as the starting rightfielder for Valencia. Michigan State is going to pay her to play for them, just like University of Michigan is paying pitcher Jordan Taylor; Cal Lutheran, April Rosas; North Carolina State, Alyssa Ishibashi; Cal State Fullerton, Torrie Anderson; University of the Pacific, Nicole Matson; Tennessee, Jesi Spigner; and Memphis, Lani Bernardino. How's that for a starting lineup, YogurtCup?
Now, the question of whether the Canyon High football team or Valencia's softball team was the best this school year is a stupid one in my eyes. Apple and oranges. You can't compare unless you look at overall stats, percentages, success determined by scholarship offers, all of which point to Valencia.
But I have to say I was proud as could be when Canyon beat No. 1 ranked De La Salle High School last season for the state championship. My husband and I watched the game on TV with my sister and her husband and cheered the green-and-gold as if they were our own. What they did was fabulous and they deserve praise.
Seems to me we should let each and every team enjoy its glory and not rate who's better than whom.
But then I read garbage like this on Tell it to the Signal from Fuggetaboutit.
"Girls high school softball has no where near the interest of high school football and their accomplishments will never rise to the same level in attracting interest, fans, or support. Don't blame the Signal, go raise more interest and support for women's athletics, softball, or go burn some bras and stand up for women's rights. ...The fact remains that no one really cares about the girls softball accomplishments unless you know someone on the team.''
No wonder he (?) hides behind a pseudonym. I'm guessing this is an adult talking. Who under 35 knows what bra burning is? And the kids I know involved in sports show far more intellect.
A few Valencia moms joined my husband in the online fray, arguing back-and-forth that the popularity of one sport over another means zip, and the size of the audience even less.
And then I was jolted. Kris put it all together as VikingAlumni5.
"For those who still think a girls' team can never be better than a boys' team, I feel sorry for you and the fact that you are so closed-minded even in this day and age," VA5 wrote. "I feel even more sorry for your daughters.''