instant replay Kevin 11 Page 12 A New Kind of Flying Page 14 Austin’s Move to MLS Page 20 Fairness on the Fairway Page 26
08
Letter From the Editors 06
Marco Garza
Looking at Athletes in a New Way
Braden Rosen
Kevin Durant ii 12
Braden Rosen
A New Kind of Flying 14 18Aerial Personality Quiz Austin’s move to MLS 20
Chloe Lein
Contents
Chloe Lein
24
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Marco Garza
Five Things a Soccer Player Needs
26
Marco Garza
Fairness on the Fairway Mary-Sophia Shakespeare
First on the Tee 32
Mary-Sophia Shakespeare
The group strikes one of their favorite sports poses on a hill. Read more about their love of sports on page 6! Photo Credit: Marianna Tijerina Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 5
meet the Braden
braden is a freshman at lasa high school. basketball is his favorite sport and has played it for 5 years. he plays point guard and enjoys playing there because he likes to score.
chloe
Chloe is a freshman at lasa high school. she did competitive gymnastics for 10 years and is learning aerial arts. she enjoys doing aerial arts because she likes to fly!
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e editors Marco
Marco is a freshman at lasa high school. marco’s favorite sport is soccer and has played it for 11 years. he plays defender and enjoys taking the ball from the attackers.
Mary-Sophia Mary - sophia is a freshman at lasa high school. mary’s favorite sport is golf and she has played for 10 years and hopes to play golf in college.
Photos Courtesy of: Marco Garza and Tracey Ramsey Abbott
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Looking At Athletes In A New Way Using The Mind To Carry Athletes To Greatness By Braden Rosen
Photo by Amazon Athletes are known for their ability to do great things with their bodies, but the one muscle people rarely celebrate is their brain. That’s unfortunate, because it’s the one muscle they will need to carry them through their athletic efforts and beyond. The statistics show how hard it is to become a recognized athlete. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the governing body for collegiate athletics, the likelihood of transitioning from high school sports to college sports and then to professional sports is very slim. 8 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
In basketball, for example, only 2.9% of high school basketball players end up playing basketball in college, and of those select athletes only 1.3% will have a chance to play in the professional National Basketball Association (NBA). That means that .03% of high school players will one day play in the NBA. And what about the athletes we hear about? In basketball, one sign a player has “made it” is when he has his own line of sneakers with a famous label, like Nike or Under Armour. But as professional basketball manager
Mo Bamba and agent, Greer Love, are taking a picture by an ESPN sign after a conference. Phot Courtesy of Lenox
Greer Love points out, “How many professional basketball players are there? 450. How many players have their own shoes? 18. It’s a tough road.”
Texas is that he could develop his interests in business and accounting, which are strengths at UT. Love supported that choice So how can athletes maximize their because he knew a chances of success? strong education would sharpen Bamba’s According to athletes who have ability to handle the made it and those who help them get pressures of pro sports. there: use your brain. Bamba maintains that desire to work outside of sports to this day Mohamed Bamba is the starting center for the NBA’s Orlando Magic and enjoys playing and attended The University of Texas chess in his spare time. at Austin between 2017 and 2018. “It all starts with the academics,” That desire to go above says Bamba, “You have your whole and beyond the game life to make money with your brain, is a key ingredient and only a few years to make money in all great athletes, with your body. Invest in your brain according to Daron above all else.” Roberts, founder of the Center for Love, Bamba’s former coach and Sports Leadership and Education current manager, explains that at The University of Texas. Before Bamba was always a gifted athlete: becoming a teacher at UT, Roberts Basketball was his sport, and he attended Harvard Law School and “played tennis and a little football, also coached football in college and lacrosse when he was in middle the pros. When asked what athletes school.” But part of the reason he were memorable, Roberts could only wanted to attend The University of identify a few, and what they have in common is the understanding that they needed to go beyond their athletic talent and to develop a strong work ethic. One athlete, for example, was Tony Gonzalez, an All-American football player from The Kevin Durant looks at the scoreboard, University of determined to win the game for the Golden California at State Warriors. Berkeley (who also played Photo Courtesy of CBS News basketball) and
Mo Bamba runs down the court after an amazing free throw for the Orlando Magic. Photo Courtesy Yahoo Sports
who went on to play pro football with the Kansas City Chiefs. As a professional football coach with the Cleveland Browns, Roberts saw first-hand how seriously Gonzalez approached his game: his work ethic “was something very unique.” Even when his team was on track to a losing season and long after other players and even coaches checked out of a season, Gonzalez would be practicing on his catching technique, catching hundreds of balls off a throwing machine before practice would even begin. Roberts would see that self-discipline and will to succeed in other great players, such as Calvin Johnson with the Detroit Lions(where Roberts was also a coach).
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The Lions were rarely successful as a team, but that did not deter Johnson’s work ethic. Roberts would watch Johnson run imaginary pass routes on the practice field when no one else was present, three hours before practice would start. Players have to realize and appreciate the importance of work ethic, Roberts explains, if they are to make the most of their physical talents. Another important way players need to use their brain as athletes, says Roberts, is to develop a strong but resilient memory. The best players, Robert points out, have a well-trained ability to use their short- and long-term memory where they can get over a bad play quickly but internalize their lessons to avoid the same mistake in the future. That’s a “rare” and difficult skill to learn, he says. “A lot guys, if it doesn’t go
their way this time, it’s hard for them to recover.” The athletes with the greatest chance for success were those who could think carefully about their skills “and have a sort of selfforgiveness but also can teach themselves on the run from what they just experienced.” Developing an athlete’s intellect is supposed to be one of the purposes of participating in college sports. Chris Plonsky is Chief of Staff in the Department of Athletics at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked in college athletics since 1976. She explains that the role of athletic administrators in colleges has changed a lot over the years and now includes areas as diverse as classroom support (such as tutors), nutritional guidance, applied sports science (for sports psychology) and medical assistance. She said that while
athletes are attracted to Texas for the big name brand in sports, the university takes seriously its role in developing the athletes as students. For example, the athletes are expected to participate in the same kinds of extracurricular activities as other students, such as internships and community service. Plonsky also notes the university resists the increasing pressure to turn its students into young professionals. She describes a current lawsuit to pay college athletes on a scale similar to professionals, but “we [UT Austin] firmly disagree with that,” she says. UT Austin does not want to be a semi-professional league or have an employer-employee relationship with its student athletes, she says. The lawsuit to force universities to pay college athletes is still in court.
Daron Roberts is in a team huddle with the Detroit Lions to discuss the next play of the game. Photo Courtesy of Harvard Law
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University of Texas’ Chris Plonsky is the Women’s Athletic Director and makes her voice heard on topics she feels passionately about. Photo Courtesy of The University of Texas
One way some colleges help athletes to continue to develop their thinking off the field is to invite them to return to college when they are done with their professional sports. UT Austin allows its athletes to “return at any time” to complete their degrees, and many famous athletes have accepted that offer, she explains. These athletes include Ricky Williams (Heisman Award winner, football), Michael Griffin (football), and TJ Form (basketball). But some college administrators don’t want to wait for the athletes to return to complete their education. One of the reasons
Roberts came to UT Austin to develop his sports leadership program is that he thought his curriculum needed to be taught more immediately - as the athletes entered school. Roberts teaches college athletes life lessons with “A Gameplan for Winning at Life” class, and he teaches hundreds of students The University of Texas every year. He helps student-athletes navigate life transitions and to teach them skills outside of sports. His class includes lessons on financial management, effective studying, mindfulness, social media awareness and professional and personal interactions.
Roberts has also set up a football training camp for high school coaches which is the first training camp in North America to help coaches teach not only football, but also life lessons and important tips to help these athletes transition to college and into the real world. With these camps and classes, Roberts is busy helping athletes prepare for the future. Roberts hopes that these students can remember this knowledge and use it whenever they need it, especially after their career in sports is over. In other words, Roberts is helping athletes make the most of the strongest muscle they have: their brains.
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11
Kevin Durant Ever wanted to know about the components that are thought about before making a basketball shoe? Here they are...
COLORS
Color is very important when viewing a shoe. The colors change on this model but the prominant red and white is their main model because of the trendy colors. Colors in this model go in grey, black, white, blue, and the red shown above. The shoes always contrast to show an attacking and calming playing style as well as a cool color match.
TRACTION
Traction is important for any sports player that play on a court. To be able to run up and down the court as well as play defense you need to be able to stay attached to the court and be able stay where you want to be. It is always good to stay in front of the player you are guarding and be able to successfully cross another player. 12 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
HIGH-TOP
LOGO
The KD logo is very popular and shown on each shoe. In this model the logo is on the front flap. This is a very obvious sign and shows the brand. The Nike sign is also present on each side which shows a popular brand collabing with a popular player to create a cool design for a shoe and also color matches with the red fabric.
Photo Provided By Time, The Sole Bros, East Bay and BallzBeatz
Shoes can either have extra ankle support at the top, a high-top, or having no ankle protection, a low-top. Most players play with high-tops for the ankle support and comfortability. These shoes have a little ankle support so you have more room to move while also having ankle support so you can combine to strong playing styles and become a better player altogether.
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A New Kind of Flying
Aerial arts are increasing in popularity, moving from an act to amaze in the circus to a sport accessible to all. Sky Candy is helping it on this journey with lots of different classes every day. By Chloe Lein
Students, staff, and fans gather for the opening of the newest studio at Springdale General. The event took place in late 2018, with lots of music and festivities in the large space. Photo Credit: Sky Candy Austin
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to learn and train on aerial apparatuses. Sky Candy began in July of 2010 with one aerial point in the backyard of The Vortex, a theater in East Austin. Two teachers, Andy Agne and Chelsea Laumen, and a business manager, Winnie Hsia, ran the brand new aerial arts studio with only a few classes a week.
Winnie Hsia, CEO of Sky Candy, hangs from a trapeze in the new studio. Photo Credit: Chloe Lein
T
he music guides you to flow through every motion. You’ve practiced this a hundred times, but this one is different. When it comes time for your big drop, the audience holds their breath. You pause for dramatic effect, ready to fold at the waist. Your catch lands and you end hanging from your outstretched arms with a large smile on your face. It feels like flying. Aerial arts are most commonly found in circus shows such as Cirque du Soleil, but many places provide classes for everyday people. A relatively new institution, Sky Candy’s mission is to provide a safe space for people of all ages, sizes, and athletic backgrounds
“Eight and a half years later, we have 28 teachers, we have a 6500-square-foot, huge indoor space,” Hsia said about Sky Candy’s newest location at Springdale General. “It’s the largest circus space in Austin.” Aerial apparatuses consist of silks, hammock, trapeze, lyra and more, but Sky Candy hasn’t always offered so many circus opportunities.
“We had one silk, one lyra and I think that was it,” Hsia said. “Then over time, we met Xochitl Sosa who ended up being our first trapeze teacher. She introduced trapeze to our community. Then Marian Torchich from Louisiana who introduced hammock to our community… So as we found other people who are interested in teaching things, we found more apparatuses to incorporate.” Since then, Sky Candy has also begun to teach drop-in ballet, conditioning, and flexibility classes, as well as offering private lessons, series classes, and open studios. One thing that makes them unique from other aerial studios is the close community of aerialists in and outside of Austin.
At Sky Candy’s Main Studio, which closed in preparation for the opening of Springdale General, students in a lyra class practice new skills. Photo Credit: Sky Candy Austin Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 15
“I’m not a particularly religious person, but I think what a lot of people get out of their churches is a lot of the things that I get out of Sky Candy,” Hsia said. “I want to build a community center where people can hang out and feel connected to each other and discover positive
Cohan said. Most of Sky Candy’s faithful students who return every week to learn something new and exciting have forgotten what it’s like to be in the air for the first time, but Cohan, who started only seven months ago, has not. “I really like drops,” Cohan said. “I’ve gotten to do like a little bit of salto stuff, but you know the gymnastics stuff, that’s what I really want to do.” This anticipation, for Amie Urban, a silks instructor at Sky Candy, hasn’t gone away. The most thrilling experience for her comes in the form of Duo Silks, where one
person holds a stable position on the fabrics, “basing” the other while they perform more graceful tricks, “flying.” Urban’s favorite part of this style of aerial arts is changing up the traditional man as base and woman as flyer. “In one performance,] we took turns basing each other, and I based him, and people could not stop screaming and clapping, because I’m holding this dude up with one arm,” Urban said. “That was really, really fun.” This feeling of turning the world upside down is consistent throughout circus arts. Hsia also
Amie Urban shows off her muscles as she demonstrates a knee climb in one of her Silks 4 classes. Photo Credit: Chloe Lein
things about themselves.” This idea of community has even led newcomers to Sky Candy’s inclusive environment. Katie Cohan, a teenaged ex-gymnast at Anderson High School looking for a way to stay in shape chose to take classes at Sky Candy for a few reasons, but mainly she was looking for a friendly change from her 12 years of dance and gymnastics. “I also just really like the atmosphere here. It’s really welcoming and kind,” 16 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
The new studio at Springdale General has taller ceilings and room for lots of points. Photo Credit: Sky Candy Austin
appreciates the feeling of basing someone larger than her. “I loved being a person who was like, ‘I’m basing someone who’s [almost] twice my size and look at how strong I am!’” Hsia said. One of the biggest challenges for aerialists is the constant risk of injury when learning and experimenting with new skills. Urban has experience dealing with various injuries from which she has created a regimen for recovery. “Rest is super important,” Urban said. “I usually take a bunch of bone broth and collagen, and branch chain amino acids, which help
muscle repair. I do a lot of self care at home; I usually tape it up, [but] still teach class if I can, and that helps me monitor where I’m at.” Sky Candy gives students, teachers and visitors many opportunities to share their favorite aspects of performing with other aerial lovers. The weekend of August 30 through September 2, 2018, Sky Candy, hosted the Capital of Texas Aerial Championships (COTAC). This event is not only a competition, but a place for circus artists from all over the world in novice to elite experience levels to share their skills on their favorite apparatuses. COTAC hosted by both Sky Candy and Brass Ovaries, another aerials studio in Austin, this year, but the work that went into this weekend definitely wasn’t straightforward. Hsia, cofounder, owner, and now the CEO at Sky Candy spoke about some of these obstacles. “It was really challenging in a lot of ways,” Hsia said. “We were in the middle of opening a new studio and it was this really difficult timing thing where my attentions were split amongst a lot of different things.” COTAC was a very exciting competition that Sky Candy hosted, but they also put on themed performances for aerialists by aerialists, teach a variety of classes for kids and adults from all aerial and athletic backgrounds, and also offer open studios for students to perfect their skills. Urban feels restricted even in such an open environment by the themes of these
Urban shows her students the motion of the skill she explains. Photo Credit: Chloe Lein
performances. “I want to have a bit more of a crazy art style… we’ve grown so much, so much has changed for the better.” Urban said. Hsia only wants for more people to experience the community she and the other founders and employees at Sky Candy have built. “When I think about the people we work with, and just how beautiful and awesome our space is and just how good things really feel, there’s not really much I’d change about that,” Hsia said. “I just wish more people, even more people, were here.” Sky Candy offers a close and supportive environment for all aerialists and acrobats. Their series classes include multiple levels of silks, hammock, lyra, trapeze, pole, rope, and harness. Aerial arts have spread from large scale circus shows to small student showcases, and Sky Candy is just one step in the right direction towards inclusion.For more information, look at Sky Candy’s website www. skycandyaustin.com. Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 17
Which Circus Apparatus
A guiding quiz to the world’s most unusual sport. Have you ever though popularity, and the new studios that are opening everywhere are makin journey by figuring out the best apparatus for you. By Chloe Lein
NO
YES
YES
Do you like to help out your peers? YES
NO
Do you always finish the things you’ve started? YES
Do you believe what people say without much thought?
NO
Are you open to trying new things?
Do you think inner beauty is more important than outer beauty?
NO
YES
NO
NO
Do you think about your actions’ consequences ahead of time?
Information Courtesy of Sky Candy, Zen Arts, and Aerial Fit
YES
Silks You are adaptable, adventurous, courageous, inventive and diligent. You are good at planning ahead, but when things change, you can become flustered. Eventually, you can accept the change. 18 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
Hammock You are cautious, affectionate, sincere, unassuming and empathetic. You find it easy to open up because you like the safety of companionship. However, you sometimes get hurt because you can be gullable.
You Should Try Based On Your Personality
ht about running off to join the circus? Aerial arts are growing in ng it even easier to achieve that goal. Take the first step in your aerial
Harness
NO
YES
NO
Are you good at making the most of your situation?
Trapeze You are organized, frank, reliable, resourceful and explorative. You normally don’t choose change, but come around to new challenges. Though you can be stiff, your closest friends trust you very much.
YE
Do you get attached to others easily?
S
You may not fit into any of the other categories, in which case you should try harness. You like the safety of your inner circles of close friends and family. Sometimes you are willing to experiment as long as you stay within your comfort zone.
Do you like to outwardly express NO yourself? YES See Hammock
Lyra You are graceful, courteous, passionate, amiable, exuberant and playful. You like to stick to a strict schedule, but also try out new techniques and ways to be more efficient. You always tell people what you are thinking. Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 19
Austin’s Move to MLS Austin gets the go to have their first professional team in soccer. By: Marco Garza
I
t’s the 90th minute. You wipe off the sweat that falls from your head. Straight ahead of you is the goalkeeper telling you he already knows where you’re shooting. You run up to the ball and score to win 2-1. Being called one of the busiest cities in America, Austin is about to get 10 times busier. On January 15, 2019, MLS (Major League Soccer) added another franchise to their league, Austin FC. However, many people believe this isn’t the best move for the city.
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Austin has always struggled to bring a sport to their city. For such a big city, they can’t seem to have that little piece of sports integrated in their culture. That all changed when Mayor Steve Adler and the Commissioner of MLS, Don Garber, agreed to make Austin the 27th franchise in their league. Some people enjoy and approve of the move while other people have mixed feelings and don’t agree with it as much.
All Photo Courtesy of: Marco Garza Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 21
FC. In 2015, Austin had major flooding during Memorial Day Weekend leaving them to be in a hiatus. Austin did have a seconddivision team, Austin Aztex, but they were forced to move due to the flooding. For a couple of years following that, Austin had yet to do anything to bring sports back over. Powell recalls those days being on the team and talking about the downfall of them and how it may be like this for the Austin Bold FC. Jacob Powell instructs Jayton Nelson privately as he helps him improve. Jayton listens attentively.
Sure Austin has been known as a business city where you come to work, but the City of Austin decided that it’s time for a switch to welcome sports into the city. In 2017, Austin unveiled their second team, Austin Bold FC. However, that team wouldn’t be given much attention due to the fact that they are a second-division team. Jacob Powell, an Austin soccer player & coach, gave his thoughts about what this move would do to the city. He talked about how from a business standpoint, it’s kind of a battle as to who makes more profit from their games.
to them showing their talent to a professional team and getting the experience as a professional player would. He also added how trying out for Austin FC or Austin Bold FC would help you in learning how a professional coach actually coaches. “I think at the end of the day it will help Austin to be motivated,” Gutierrez said. Austin’s move won’t be official until the start of the 2021 MLS season, but they have many ways to come.
In 2017, one of the MLS teams; Columbus Crew, CEO had announced that he had intentions to be giving the MLS rights to
“I think that’s exactly what it would be if they don’t go about it the right way because no one really talks about the Aztexs anymore.” Powell said.
There has been a lot of history behind the creation of Austin
“It’s going to take some adjusting because we’ve never had [a team].” Powell Said. Austin is now put on the map as a city that has a sports team. Soccer players in Austin now have a chance at showcasing their talent and making a name for themselves. Marco Gutierrez, soccer coach for Liverpool FC, talked about how it’s good for kids in the youth age and how it will benefit them as 22 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
Jacob Powell practices with his student on a passing drill to help him improve his skills.
Austin and for them to play in the 2019 MLS season. Everyone was all for this because Austin would now have their first professional team. However, in October of 2018, the owners of the NFL team Cleveland Browns, Jimmy, and Dee Haslam, announced that they were going to acquire the Columbus Crew and keep them in Ohio. Columbus Crew’s sponsor, Precourt Sports Ventures, still announced that they had a deal with Austin and were Marco Gutierrez talks to his player about what he can improve on for the upcoming game.
With these two teams, youth is something that’s big in soccer, especially here in Austin. Powell gave his thoughts about youth in the community and how it might help them. He went in more as to talking about that even though for not having the money to be a part of a club, that doesn’t mean that your talents in soccer aren’t good. “Before it used to be really, really hard to get into these youth clubs with no money. But now, people are understanding that not everybody has the money, but they’re still good players that deserve to be at that level” Powell said. He also added about how he feels that Austin FC should inquire more into experienced players due to the fact that the team is in the highest part of the league here in America.
willing to keep it going, so they got an agreement and Austin FC would become the first professional team in the city by 2021.
“I think when you’re starting out, you probably want to go with experience because you don’t want it to just be a bunch of young kids right from the beginning. But you definitely set that foundation to welcome in young kids eventually.”
Powell said. Along with trying out for a professional team, you’re not always guaranteed a spot on the final roster. There’s going to be times when you don’t get into the team and don’t have a chance to play. Gutierrez said for you not to think of it as a poor thing, but also a positive thing. You’ve been given the chance to showcase and work out with some very high-profile players from around the world. “It would help the soccer community grow of course it’s going to help and make kids inspired to be there an inspired to get there and you know you have a professional team that you can go see but for you for anybody to say you have a chance. I think everybody has a chance or I also believe everybody has a chance at a certain time,” Gutierrez stated. The only question is when and how they’ll get everyone to approve and change their mind about having two soccer teams in a really busy city.
Marco Gutierrez encourages his players on the field as they play a scrimage in practice.
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5 things a soccer player needs By: Marco Garza soccer players always have the best gear on them at all times. but, they need to have stuff with them in order to play the sport. it comes to cleats, gear, clothing, etc. below are 5 things that a soccer player needs in order for them to be the best out on the field! The soccer Ball is the most vital piece of equipment. Without a soccer ball, there is no game. Although you can play with any ball, the soccer ball was designed specially for This Game. just Go out with some friends and a ball and kick it around.
Shinguards are a big part in playing soccer as it is the only thing of protection for you. people are still fine without them but they will really support you when playing and will lower the risk of you getting hurt. 24 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
cleats are something that’s pretty important when playing soccer. due to running a lot in grass, cleats are shoes that will help you in running and also kicking the ball better. cleats are a big thing in soccer as they are built for playing in grass.
when you play, you have to be sure you and your friends are all matching. a uniform is something you need for knowing who’s on your team and not having confusion for the other team.
last but not least, you have to have something to score in. a soccer goal is a must for you to score goals in and to also have a goalie in for. a soccer goal helps as it will be the target when playing.
courtesy of: baden sports, soccer equipment, soccer corner, the team factory, net world sports, easten michigan university Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 25 athletics
Golf can give us insight into how our society treats people who are different from us. The past was messy, the present is changing and the future already looks brighter. By Mary-Sophia Shakespeare
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L
ike the moment when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in tennis’ Battle of the Sexes, or when first baseman Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, every sport has had its touchstone moment of looking oppression and inequality squarely in the eye and making a bold move to shift the path of the game. The game of golf is no
exception. From Lee Elder being the first black golfer to play at Augusta National to Tiger Woods winning the first Masters championship there, to Annika Sorenstam facing criticism for her participation in a men’s PGA tournament in Dallas, golf has served as a backdrop for both clinging to traditions and changing attitudes about gender, race and age.
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People hint that the social barriers in the game of golf are crumbling, and while great change has accelerated in recent decades, there remains nuanced nods toward racism and sexism still. The oppressive barriers that stand in the way of people every day in society exist in golf too. As the outside world addresses the problems of racism, sexism and ableism, the golf world is evolving in ways to do the same. Golf can be a huge catalyst for change, but can also pinpoint the bigger issues that our community faces. The 2018 incident where five black women were inexplicably asked to leave Grandview Golf Club is a perfect example of how, despite the benchmark moments of change, there remains work to be done by shapers of the sport. Although the game has come a long way since the first black player was able to participate in a USGA tournament in 1896, the face of professional golf still looks much the same as it did when Tiger Woods joined the PGA Tour a hundred years later in 1996, suggesting that golf on a professional level may still be hanging on to some long rooted beliefs and customs. Importantly, the golf community can acknowledge the sometimes dark history of golf while also creating a path for the game to move forward. The game of golf is a microcosm that reflects the values of the culture that we live in, so it would only make sense that golf ’s past carried the same division. “[Golf] used to be a lot worse [with] a lot more male only golf clubs, primarily private clubs [where] women were only able to 28 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
tee off at certain times.” Coach Jennifer MacCurrach, Executive Director of The First Tee said. Historically, women’s tee times were in the middle of the week because they didn’t have jobs. They were expected to stay home and take care of the kids and house, but as women’s presence started to change in the workplace, their tee times did not. They were not allowed to play on the weekends, and when their golf clubs didn’t adjust this rule, women started to sue. Initially the club rules may have been a well intentioned idea that would allow women to play at times separate from working men, but it ended up only further oppressing them because they were forced to comply with the societal norms that wanted them to stay in domesticated roles.
the golf business makes it offputting for someone that wants to start a career as a golfer. “Even now when I go to these big events, meetings and seminars, I'm usually like one of maybe five [women],” Longoria-Potts said. Sure it
may
A similar attitude towards women can be seen in Marti LongoriaPotts’ experience as a woman in the industry today. Longoria-Potts was the former director of instruction at a Texas-based driving range and is the head professional at Harvey Golf Campus. “The year I started the PGA program, it was super new. That was in ‘97. To have women in the business of golf-- I was one of the few” Marti LongoriaPotts said. Even though this was many years after women had to fight for their rights to have equal access to a course, the same undertones are present. The lack of women in
to
be progress to have any women working there at all, but it highlights the fact that women have to work harder than men to have equal representation in this field. When Longoria-Potts won the PGA award, she had already built her driving range from the ground up and worked meticulously do so, but for some reason people were still doubtful of her abilities.
Sarah Robertson from The First Tee tees off on the nineth hole at Harvey Penick Golf Campus. Photo Credit: Mary Sophia Shakespeare
A man that worked for the PGA “had to fight to make them change their mindset because typically they would pick a man or a facility like Augusta [that’s] always going to win stuff because it's Augusta” Longoria-Potts said. Discrimination in the game isn’t always glaringly obvious. The stares from male golfers or the polite, but not so polite, characterization as “sweetheart” or “honey” are a prime example of how men don’t approach women the same as their male peers. They should be asking "How are you playing? Are you looking forward to playing today? What's the best score you've shot lately?" Scotty Sayers, golfer Ben Crenshaw’s agent and childhood friend, said, but that is just inherent in the culture we live in. “The fact that they're talking to you, and acknowledging that you're out on the golf course, that's one good thing.” As Sayers noted, there has been an improvement in the interactions between male and females golfers, which partially can be attributed to more opportunities that are popping up in the amateur world of golf. It is the easiest it has ever been for women to get scholarships. “You could shoot 85 and go to pretty much any school and play golf,” Longoria-Potts said. After Title IX in 1972, higher education institutions were forced to “have equal access for female
athletes [and it] was an absolute game changer for everyone because it's all about having the opportunity,” MacCurrach said. If it weren’t for Title IX, “I wouldn't have traveled all over the world,” Longoria-Potts said. In addition to changes in the law, youth programs such as The First Tee have helped people from all walks of life to hone their golf skills, meet new people, get a good education and so much more. “Access and affordability are... the two biggest challenges for families for any activities,” MacCurrach said. The First Tee helps families overcome both of these barriers by providing them with golf equipment and allowing them access to a golf course. First Tee has been a huge reason that diversity has grown in golf. They “create the opportunity,” but do not “do the work for you” MacCurrach said. In doing this, people are able to prove that they belong in the game of golf. Similar to The First Tee, Lions Municipal Golf Course (Muny) brings opportunity to the game. Right now, the city of Austin is trying to tear down Muny, but “There's a million other different
Mary Sophia Shakespaare as she gets to meet Jason Dufner through the First Tee program. Photo Credit: JC Shakespeare places you can put another condominium or retail space, I don't think it has to be there,” MacCurrach argued. An essential part of the culture of Austin, Muny was the “first place where African-American golfers were allowed to play to the west of the Mississippi River” Sayers said which is why they are “fighting down at city hall right now, trying to save this golf course.” Even though Lions Municipal Golf Course is located in the affluent Austin neighborhood of Tarrytown, “it's a blue collar course, and only 12% of the play on this course is from the 03 zip code” Sayers said. Scotty Sayers explained that there was anReplay African-American Instant -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 29
Coach Jennifer MacCurrach shows a volunteer what needs to be done around the office. Photo Credit: JC Shakespeare
community in Clarksville down the street, and they used to caddy at Muny. One day, in 1950, some of the kids decided to sneak on and play a round. Someone saw them and called the mayor, but instead of kicking them out, he said "Let them play!" This course was built on inclusivity, so to tear it down would be to tear down what black people had to fight for. Golf is a beautiful sport that has an abundance of opportunities, and it is important to acknowledge that. It is also important to discuss the past, so the game and its players can move forward. “Golf is a very inclusive sport, so people of different abilities can play together. People of different generations can play together,” MacCurrach said. She shares stories of her 76-year-old mother and 24-year-old nephew going out and playing together for hours, transcending their obvious differences to find a commonality inherent in the game. No other activity could bring people together like this. Golf is a lifetime sport and the values that are learned in the game stay with a person forever. “It's great if you shoot a good score, but the important part of golf, culturally, is to have those manners… and respect for each other when you're playing.” Because of how people treat each other, “everybody plays golf,” Sayers said. When someone overlooks you on the golf course, there is still work to be done, but the fact that you can turn on the golf channel and see faces that resemble yours is something that wouldn’t be possible in the past. It is important to debunk the statement that golf is a rich, white man sport, so that people feel they are able to walk onto any course and shoot the best score possible. “If you have the opportunity… you need to embrace it and go prove that you belong,” MacCurrach said.
Marti Longoria-Potts as she instructs a student. 30 | Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019
Photo Credit: JC Shakespeare
At the UT Golf Campus, Mary Sophia Shakespeare hits an approach shot to the green. Photo Credit: Mary Sophia Shakespeare
Young Gun, Willa Mae Shakespeare anxiously awaits the start of her class. Photo Credit: JC Shakespeare Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 31
First On The Tee...
Historically, golf has been a very exclusive sport with very little room for diversity. But as it began to evolve, kids from any background can dream of being a professional golfer. By Mary Sophia Shakespeare
Lions Municipal Golf Course
Image Courtesy of Wallpaper Disk
In the late 1950s, Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, Texas, quietly desegregated. While the rest of the deep South was amist the Civil Rights movement, they were the first course, west of the Mississippi River to allow black members.
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USGA When, in 1896, John Shippen was able to play in the USGA championship, people everywhere received some semblance of hope. Then in 1925, the United Golfers Association, or UGA, popped up to try to combat the oppressive ways of the South. Then in 1961, the PGA finally removed its “Caucasian-Only Clause.”
Information Provided by Reuters Sports News, USGA It’s About the Game and African-American Achievements
Title IX On of the most considerable advancements for women athletes was Title Nine in 1972. Title IX states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program.”
Ladies Professional Golf Association In 1950, the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association was founded, propelling women’s opportunities in golf forward. However, it wasn’t until Althea Gibson, that an African-American woman played golf in the LPGA. She then inspired girls, such as Renee Powell, who, in 1962, became the first black golfer to play in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, and the second in the LPGA.
Augusta National Augusta National has historically been a very exclusive golf course. Rooted in the deep south and segregation, it did not allow its first African American member, Ron Townsend, until 1990. But, still there were no women. It wasn’t until 2012 that Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore were allowed. the same access as a man.
The Masters In 1975, Lee Elder became the first ever black person to participate in the Masters-- still a very small step in the grand scheme of things. It was because of this precedent that Tiger Woods had a platform to go and win in 1997. He was the first ever black person to win the Masters. Because of him, African Americans feel they are able to tune into a once thought to be white sport. Instant Replay -- Spring Ezine 2019 | 33