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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
From the Kerosene Cowboy’s SPORTS PAGE
By: Charles W. Boatright
The NCAA was formed for Safety of the Players: Pres. Theodore Roosevelt helped to form what became the NCAA after his son’s injury in 1905. Modern-day College Football is a far cry from its early days of severe injuries/even 18 deaths
With recent incidents with biological males seeking to play in NCAA women’s sports you would wonder why the NCAA hadn’t banned men playing and entering women’s locker rooms. That would be the most logical decision for the NCAA. The NCAA primary mission in 1905 wasn’t DEI, but the athlete’s SAFETY and REGULATION of Collegiate Sports.
Title IV of June of 1972 was a landmark bill that would give women equal funding and opportunity to participate in Collegiate Sports. We just witness Title IV impact where the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship drew more viewers than did the men’s Basketball Championship did.
A Question for the NCAA and Charlie Baker
Here the question for the NCAA and President Charlie Baker that are gutless in my humble opinion, Why would the NCAA allow women’s sports to be devastated in this abhorrence. One of the first women to have the courage to speak out against men playing in women’s NCAA Sports is Riley Gaines who was threatened and criticized for her stance, I am a man and I stand with Riley Gaines. Women have worked too hard to achieve the gains they have achieved to be dismantled now with liberal policies being pushed mainly by Democrats.
What is surprising to me is where are the feminist that have remained silent on men entering women’s locker rooms and participating in women’s sports. That would be like not having a women’s category for either the New York or Boston Marathons; and just have one winner.
The Reason for the Formation of the NCAA was Athlete’s Safety
There are several reasons that I place President Theodore Roosevelt as one of our greatest and most impactful presidents in U.S. History. This honor in addition to his contribution to the Panama Canal being built, establishing our National Parks, like Yellowstone, and his work in civil rights, in addition, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt pushed for more safety in Collegiate Football.
Injuries and Fatalities from Football where the Public Demanded Change
Besides serious injuries being incurred in college football, there were 18 fatalities from games being played in the early 1900’s due to the lack of any governance that also included recruiting. Some college presidents and faculty wanted to ban the game of football altogether.
It was due to the efforts of President Theodore Roosevelt’s love of sports and his own emphasis on fitness that led to what would become the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1905. The NCAA was formed to provide regulations that would include recruiting and safety of the players.
This was the first time a sitting President of the United States intervened into sports not only to provide regulations and safety of the players, but also to save the sport of football that is America’s favorite sport. There were calls by college presidents and faculty to ban football due to injuries and fatalities that were incurring on the field. What led to change was the public voicing their concerns that led to needed action for safety of the players. We need the same now for the integrity of Women’s Sports by the American public.
Why would any Sane Person Think Men Playing in Women’s Sport would be a ever be good thing, unless you are a Democrat?
This is why I’m wondering now, why the NCAA is letting men participate in various women’s sports mainly for their (women) safety on the field or court and dignity in the locker room.
This was echoed by one of my favorite Senators, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, questioning NCAA President Charlie Baker during a Congressional Hearing, during this week. I agree totally with Senator John Kennedy that Pres. Charlie Baker needs to go to an orthopedic surgeon and have a spinal implant surgery done; because Baker doesn’t have a backbone to stand up for what women have been fighting for over 150- years. Even the Democrats want to gut Title IV.
Another reason President Teddy Roosevelt got involved during the debate over the safety of athletes was his own son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., incurred an injury to his nose that required reconstructive surgery. This pushed President Teddy Roosevelt to push for rules regulating the game of football to improve the safety of the game. Remember Roosevelt was a big proponent of sports and fitness.
Paradigm Shifts in the Sport of College Football
Some of the paradigm shifts that occurred as a result of Roosevelt’s intervention was including the passing game instead of relying on just the ground game that added to the excitement and reduced the brutality that caused injuries. Other rule changes to improve athlete’s safety was the neutral zone, using a line of scrimmage, and TR suggested the the first down be changed from 5- yards to 10- yards in the distance for a first down. It wasn’t enacted by the new NCAA until 1912.
The changes that were led by President Teddy Roosevelt improved the draw of viewership to the game and instituted integrity of the game with uniform regulations that include recruiting. President Roosevelt was credited with phrases like- “Don’t flinch, don’t foul, hit the line hard,” was “a good rule for life.
President TR view on the game of football was captured in a magazine article in Harper’s Weekly stating that the risk of injury was worthwhile because football—played honestly—cultivated important masculine qualities.
We owe President Theodore Roosevelt with saving Football that we will be watching in the coming weeks with the 12- Team NCAA College Football Playoff (CFP). NOTE to CFP Committee, Strength of Schedule should be the primary category for selecting teams.
But with the same convictions of 1905 and enthusiasm, we as Americans need to show our support now to protect Women’s Sports and preserve the various sports for Women that we love watching.
Just another footnote to President Theodore Roosevelt contribution he made:
1. Charged up San Juan Hill.
2. First and only President to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
3. Invited Booker T. Washington to dine with him at the White House that was highly criticized by our media.
4. Added the West Wing that included the Oval Office onto the White House that was the name TR coined.
5. Improved our Navy
6. Refused to shoot a tethered bear in Onward, Mississippi.
7. Refuse racism toward a Postmaster, Mrs. Minnie Cox, where some of the town’s people wanted her fired. TR instead closed the Post Office in Indianola, Mississippi, and moved it to Greenville, Mississippi and continued to pay Mrs. Cox.
8. First U.S. President to take flight in Saint Louis, MO just after the Wright Brothers first flight. This is why I not only admire President Theodore Roosevelt but enjoy aviation going on now for over 35- years.
9. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 proposed taking control of land in Panama, in Central America, for the construction of a canal to reduce shipping time between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. In 1903, U.S.A. signed the Hay-Bunua-Varilla Treaty giving U.S.A. control of the canal for $10 Million. The Panama Canal was opened in 1914. The construction of the canal was only possible with the development of dynamite for earthwork. In 1977, Carter signed treaty giving Panama control of the Canal. This was controversial at the time because of the America engineering and construction that made the Canal possible.
Personal NOTE: Being a high school senior in 1977 and going into the field of Engineering and the U.S. ARMY (12-Bravo), this dumb ass decision was another among several reason that I thought Cater was one of the worst Presidents we ever had until Biden came along. Now Carter can be relieve that at least he isn’t the worst President of the U.S.A. Both are Democrats.
President Donald J. Trump reminds me a lot of President Theodore Roosevelt in many ways especial in his charismatic personality of both.
Below was a pencil drawing of me at age 27 in 1984, after my first solo flight.
For more information on Theodore Roosevelt, please read THEODORE REX by Edmund Morris.
My List of Books on Kindle under my name, Charles W. Boatright:
01-THE QATSPY® MELIORA Health & Fitness Program Turbocharged DIET w/ Age-Defying Results!