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Show LYNN MINTON REPORTS: FRE SH VOICES’ Angry athletes speak frankly The column “Athletes talkfrankly”—whichfeatured male athletes who talked about playing while injured and in pain, and their girlfriends’ responsesto their devotion to the game—madea lot offemale athletes angry. Here are excerptsfrom someof theletters we received: “T am a high school student, I am a woman, and I friends were at all of my games, cheering me on.” am an athlete. By interviewing only males, your column carried on the stereotype that holds men as the only ‘true’ athletes. “At my high school, I play soccer and run track. In soccer, I am a goalie, and I have had to play with countless injuries. WhenI read aboutthe boy with a sore ankle, I wasn’t impressed. This year, I played a complete game with a severely sprained hand, a mild concussion and a badly bruised shin. Mind you, it was raining, and I had a cold. I didn’t —Jvackie Ostler, 14, Hamilton, Mont. “T injured my ankle playing basketballin the fall of "91, and I too felt that I had to ‘toughit out.’ I thought that if I ignored the pain, it would go away. I played 10 more days. It is 2’ years and three surgeries later—andthe pain has yet to go away. I didn’t want to miss a few weeks ofplaying. So far, I’ve missed three seasons. Determination is desirable in an athlete, but it can be dangerous whenanathlete is injured. “Athletes play injured becauseofthe desire to play. But often there is also another reason: I know of athletes with injuries being strongly encouraged to continue playing by their coaches. If the coach says, “Toughen up,’ if the coach says, “Play through the pain,’ the athlete haslittle choice. If the athlete complains, the coach can makeherout to be a ‘wimp’ in front of her teammates. “It’s not easyto stand up to yourcoach. Orto face the season from the bench. Butthe alternative can be much worse.” —Dana Soetaert, 16, Salina, Kan. TEENAGERS: HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHEN TO TOUGHIT OUT AND WHEN TO STOP—AND NOT JUST IN SPORTS? Write Lynn Minton, Box 5103, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5103. Include daytime phone number. Every letter is read, but personal replies are not possible. complain, and I toughed outtherest of the season in similar fashion—taking myhits and keeping quiet. “Womentrain and work and sweatjust as hard as menbutare rarely recognized. Things have to change.” ‘Summer Fun With Peanuts.” —Marie Rivello, 16, San Ramon, Calif. “T play field hockey, and I’ve had several injuries. Once,this girl Now playingat Travelodge. decided to hurt me so she could score. There was only one minute left in the game. She tookherstick With our "Summer Fun With Peanuts” offer, you stay 7 and nailed meright on my lower back. My breath left me, and —# I started to see double, but I kept playing. I knew that if I let her beat me, she could beat my whole team.” any 5 nights from May15 through August 31, 1994 and —Kimberly Griffen, 14, Huntington Beach, Calif. get two free Paramount Peanuts HomeVideos notyet “T run two seasons oftrack, play girls’ basketball and work out more than two hours a day. In mytown,girls’ sports are taken just as seriously as boys’. We have been Virginia AA league state championsingirls’ basketball, track and cross-country for two years now. “You have hurt the feelings of manygirl athletes by that one column. This is the ’90s! Not every girl wearsdresses, paints her nails and cooks. Start treating us as more thanthe girlfriends of ‘great’ male athletes. We are athletes too.” aboutsports. WhenI play, I play with everything, and I play hard— including diving head-first onto a hardwoodfloor for a looseball. I play mostly with guys—andI available at retail stores — you buy Paramount Peanuts Home Videos at yourlocalretailer.” It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown Great Summer Rates | From and You. Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown — plus, a free cuddly Travelodge —Erin James, 16, Blacksburg, Va. “I feel the same wayguys do Lookfor $28in savings| from Travelodge when | | Sleepy Bear plush toy. And that's on top of our low summerrates, comfortable rooms, and special services like free usually beat them. Yet every time I step on the court, I have to prove fresh-brewed in-room coffee, free lobby news- I am everybit as serious as they are.” —Carolyn Moore, 16, Augusta, Ga. “I am a varsitytrack and cross-country runner. I run SIX Or seven days a week, and I get shin splints so videos and a cuddly* Sleepy Bear bad at timesthat it hurts to walk. Not that I am complaining..." —Channie Wallace, 17, Kokomo,Ind. distance access charges, and more. “Your column sounded as if a woman's sole role in high school athletics is to stand by her man and sympathize when her athlete guy gets hurt. Thatis So hurryin. Call for reservations now. totally untrue. This is the "90s! I am repulsed bythe 1-800-578-7878 thought that I can’t get my hands dirty and should be left in the stands. In San Diego, whereI used to live, I was on the regional winning soccer team and averaged twogoals a game. And myparents and | PARADE MAGAZINE « JUNE 5, 1994 : PAGE 17 STAY SATISFIED Travelodge offer, Blackout penocs muy appiy Iformwnon about rates Your nights dont have to be in a row or at the mane Traveodge Adva ¢ reervabor equred Not vali wath other Yer good S ad Carech Off) Vow where profetetied Oller recteerutie fy Te Pr © vanes Dy cat Trevelodges parhopatng at avalabie detars other anc Offer toy free wdeowpius” 4ARACTERS © 1950 958 (965 Urvted Fesnues Syndicate. Inc Peanuts Home Video lngo 6 4 traderruark PEANLTS T™™ & Copyngt © 19% by Paramount Pictures, AP ngrts reserve Jnaed Features Syndicate. x eem Bear © Al Rages Reserved t y Forte Motes rx 989 *Or pecaly marked Peanuts Mome Videos |