To the editor

In response to your editor and others who are brandishing the idea of a new women’s basketball coach, well here’s some news: It’s tough to be a women’s basketball fan in this town. For that matter, it’s nearly impossible to find the front page support, photos and human interest stories on anything other than Roy’s boys. Articles supporting Marian Washington’s team are featured in the Topeka and Kansas City paper. But fans are discouraged by radio telecasts that are delayed or pre-empted by the men’s pre-game, post-game or no-game show.

Season altering NEWS stories covering injuries, recruits, and opponents are ignored in favor of news supporting the gambling and millionaire fantasies of the men’s program. No games on TV, no press box privileges, no golf games, schmoozing clients, or battlefield strategizing.

The women athletes come here to play ball in a program that is providing opportunities for growth and development that were not available just a few short years ago. All over the United States, women are trying to make up some ground and have gained great popularity when supported by an unbiased media.

Washington and her team should and could be the solution to some of the budget woes, if the Journal-World would just stop trying to “keep them in their place.” How about telling the community what some of us already know, that OUR Jayhawks are a proud team, and they are playing their hearts out? I will go to the women’s Final Four this year, just like I have for six of the last eight years, and I will see the respect that thousands of people have for Washington, and women’s college basketball, and I will know what is possible here. If I were Washington, I would have left this situation long ago, but she has too much class for that.

Kris Hicks,

Lawrence