What is the most pressing issue facing the State of Michigan? Is it the on again, off again tariffs that have been proposed which could push Michigan’s auto industry into a deep recession? Is it budget cuts and employee terminations to the Veteran’s and Social Security Administrations, and other areas of government? Is it the fact that the “damn roads” still are not fixed and the legislature in Lansing and Governor Whitmer have yet to produce a long-term fix? Maybe the wars in Ukraine or Gaza?
If you ask Congressman Tim Walberg, he might say that it is the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Huh?
A little background is in order. At the end of my senior year in high school and in June 1972, Title IX was signed into law. According to a Google search, Title IX “prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding, ensuring equal opportunities for male and female students and employees.”
That is a good thing. Before Title IX girls’ sports in Michigan schools and other states were not equal. Title IX and the MHSAA started to require a balance in the number of sports for girls and boys. As a result, young ladies were granted greater opportunities to participate in sports and the physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and competition that sports entail.
A year after the passage of Title IX in September 1973, one of the most infamous sports competitions of all time took place. Labeled the Battle of the Sexes, Bobby Riggs challenged Billie Jean King to a tennis match. Riggs was 55 years old. King was in her athletic prime at age 29. King won in three straight sets.
A few months before the Battle of the Sexes, Martina Navratilova faced Chris Evert for the first time in what would become competition between two of the greatest tennis players of all time. Evert is a native born American. Navratilova is a Czech/American citizen, like my maternal grandparents. I think one of the reasons that I am a tennis fan has to do with their matches. Navratilova’s similar background to my maternal ancestors, also gives me an affinity. To this day, I highly respect and enjoy the expert commentary of both during matches but especially the tennis Grand Slam tournaments.
Ok, ok, but what does Navratilova have to do with Congressman Walberg and MHSAA? Not much, really. Navratilova is liberal on most issues. Walberg is the opposite. There is an exception. Both are virulently anti-transgender girls playing in girls’ sports.
Congressman Walberg recently stated in a syndicated radio interview, “The President issued an Executive Order banning trans girls from participating in women’s athletics. The Michigan High School Athletic Association has decided to uphold it’s (sic) policy allowing them to take part…The next step will be enacting a punishment on (MHSAA).”
Walberg has recommended cutting all federal funds to the MHSAA. This is problematic. One main reason is that MHSAA apparently receives no federal funds. According to MHSAA, their revenues come from fan ticket sales during tournaments, fees paid by officials at events, interest income, etc. Schools do not fund the MHSAA.
Per the MHSAA, there were TWO transgender girls in fall 2024, or less than 0.002 percent (two thousandths of one percent) out of 112,377 girls who played Michigan High School sports in 2022-23, per the MHSAA. In fact, the MHSAA says that ZERO received waivers to play in winter or spring 2024-25.
Now, I do not know what the rules should be allowing trans kids to participate in sports. I am not that smart. Seems to me that the MHSAA rules are about as fair as can be. I just wish Walberg and others like him would pick on someone other than two vulnerable kids.
Yes, I am one hundred percent supportive of Title IX and girls and women sports. Watching Kailin Clark shoot threes is spectacular. Madison Keys winning the Australian Open this year with her powerful serves was cool. And if I ever get the chance to get an autograph from soccer great Mia Hamm, I will proudly post it on my den wall. (Martina’s autograph too.)
Navratilova once said “And what I think I have come to realize, the biggest thing for me, is just that the level of difficulty that trans people go through cannot be underestimated. The fight for equality and recognition is just huge. Still, for me, the most important thing in sports...”
Girls’ sports are important. As are vulnerable kids.
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