Deron Treadwell wrote: <<It isn't the softball team's fault (or women's hockey, or women's basketball, etc.) that the COLLEGE chose to cut sports, rather than find other ways to move into compliance. Don't wish them ill. > Many of us males (or at least male sports fans) may be distressed that our > teams or favorite sports are cut because of Title IX, but it is not the > fault of the female athletes. The fact that whole men's sports teams must > be cut to me shows that if we didn't have Title IX female athletes would > have far less opportunities available. > > When a school chooses to cut sports to move into Title IX compliance, you > have to ask why. Many times the answer is simply that they don't want to > cut money from other sports (the fat cats, so-to-speak).>> > I've gotta admit that I don't understand Title IX, but I don't see what Providence's problem is. A quick check of their website shows three male-only sports (baseball, golf, and lacrosse), and three female-only sports (field hockey, softball, and volleyball). As for numbers, I'd guess that they would more or less balance, or if anything, there would be more women, since golf teams are typically pretty small. Financial considerations aside, I wonder why not add women's golf and/or lacrosse, or add another women's sport, such as gymnastics. Another odd thing is that the problem that many schools have is football, since football teams are so large relative to other sports. But Providence doesn't have football. I note that women outnumber men in their student body by about 3:2, so perhaps that's the problem. Maybe it's too bad they already have a women's hockey team, because starting one up may have saved the men's baseball team. Joe Lacour said: From watching the NHL, I think the 2 ref system DOES work, but it is sure strange to see an off the play call. I agree. The other thing I think is strange (and IMO good to see) is when something outrageous happens right in front of a referee and I think "He's not gonna call that!?" and the OTHER ref makes the call. My fear -- that the ice would get cluttered -- doesn't seem to have happened. Possibly because NHL refs are pretty skilled at positioning and getting out of the way, and possibly because the extra ref is stationed in an area that isn't too crowded anyway. Clay HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.