GOOD SPORTS / BAD SPORTS

League of Fans - August 6, 2003
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1. Title IX
2. Problems at the Eagles' new stadium
3. End to the Eagles' "hoagie ban"
4. Redskins and racism
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* GOOD SPORTS *

Great news in the fight to preserve Title IX athletic policies. On Friday, July 11, the Department of Education released a three-page letter upholding Title IX's standards of compliance now in use.

Title IX, one of the most important and successful civil rights laws in U.S. history, bars sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding, including athletics.

This action puts to rest a year long review of Title IX that included the appointment, by President Bush, of a blue-ribbon commission that energized millions of supporters of the 30-year-old law. It was widely believed that the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics was a vehicle to push a pre-determined Bush Administration agenda to weaken Title IX.

League of Fans would like to thank everyone who took the time to voice their support for Title IX. We encourage your continued support for this vital law by asking the Department of Education to fully enforce Title IX.

Until women have the same opportunities as men to enjoy the psychological, physiological and sociological benefits that sports participation can provide, we must push to preserve and vigorously strengthen the enforcement of Title IX.

Sex Bias Ban Upheld For School Athletics
Washington Post - July 12, 2003
..."Analysts said the administration's final decision on the sensitive issue appears to be the result of a combination of factors, including the popularity of Title IX a year before the 2004 presidential election, division over reform within the commission and a growing realization that the law is, in large measure, working."

Statement by NCAA President Myles Brand on Title IX (7/11/03)

A Huge Win for American Girls and Women - Statement by the National Women's Law Center (7/11/03)

Dear Colleague letter on Title IX from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Gerald Reynolds (7/11/03)

League of Fans joins with over 100 other organizations in urging Congress to reject efforts to roll-back 30 years of progress for women and girls in sports (5/21/03)

Senate resolution urging Department of Education to maintain current Title IX regulations: S.Res. 153 - PDF file (5/22/03)

Myles Brand, NCAA president, speaks out in support of Title IX (4/28/03)

Ralph Nader and League of Fans' letter to Secretary of Education Rod Paige opposing changes that would undermine Title IX (3/5/03)

Minority Views on the Report of the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics - PDF file (2/03)

Ralph Nader's "In the Public Interest" column on protecting and enforcing Title IX (1/29/03)

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* BAD SPORTS *

The Philadelphia Eagles' brand new taxpayer funded football stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, isn't exactly producing the ink the Eagles expected surrounding its opening. The corporation that purchased naming rights is slashing jobs, drinking fountains for fans in the stadium are nonexistent, and the Eagles banned food from being brought in by fans at Eagles' games (a policy which has since been overturned as you will see below under "GOOD SPORTS").

Lincoln Financial: Job cuts not tied to stadium naming deal
Philadelphia Daily News - August 5, 2003
"This is not the way Lincoln Financial Group wanted to be in the headlines this week. The Philadelphia-based financial-services company said yesterday it will cut 800 to 1,000 jobs, mostly in Hartford, Conn., and Fort Wayne, Ind. That news came one day after the successful opening of Lincoln Financial Field. Lincoln has agreed to pay $140 million over 20 years to have the new, luxe Eagles stadium bear its name."...

Dry run has Eagles scrambling for a fix
Philadelphia Inquirer - July 31, 2003
"During the open houses at Lincoln Financial Field last weekend, Eagles officials became painfully aware of one basic amenity the new stadium lacks. Drinking fountains. In the main concourses, upper and lower levels, there aren't any. The only ones available to fans are in the club lounges, which are off-limits to all but premium ticket holders."...

Eagles fans boo ban on bringing food into stadium
Associated Press - July 17, 2003
..."In a city that loves its food and its professional football team in equal measure, Eagles fans are reacting with outrage to the team's announcement that they will not be allowed to bring their own food into Lincoln Financial Field, the new stadium set to open next month."...

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* GOOD SPORTS *

The Philadelphia Eagles' fans, and some government officials, expressed outrage and rose up against the Eagles' new food policy. They were especially angered that the Eagles used the post-Sept. 11 environment and security measures as the excuse for the ban instead of admitting they were just seeking higher concessions profit. The fans have succeeded in overturning the ban.

Fans Win Food Fight
Philadelphia Inquirer - August 1, 2003
"The Eagles yesterday made a one-word change in the list of items fans can't bring to the new Lincoln Financial Field. They dropped the word ‘food.' And so the much-criticized "hoagie ban" was history without ever going into effect."...

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* BAD SPORTS *

The Washington Redskins are appealing a 1999 ruling that revoked the franchise's federal trademark protection for their racist team name. Here's hoping that ruling is upheld, and that team owner Dan Snyder decides to show Native Americans the respect and dignity they deserve by dropping the "Redskins" nickname that has supported and maintained stereotypes of a race of people for too long.

Redskins, American Indians continue fight over name
Associated Press - July 23, 2003
"The Washington Redskins, again facing off against American Indians who find the team's name offensive, asked a judge to overturn a ruling that revoked the team's federal trademark protection."...

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GOOD SPORTS / BAD SPORTS is an email bulletin of recent news items and suggested actions regarding issues in the world of sports. It goes out regularly to League of Fans "Alerts" listserv subscribers.

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