No gurlz allowed

By Carol Gralia
Posted: February 6, 2010

A year after County Executive Ken Ulman hosted a signing day/photo op for four Division I-bound football players, I thought I would have cooled down.

But I haven’t, because he’s done it again.

Friday, Feb. 5, Ulman hosted his second Signing Day Ceremony at the county government offices. This time three football players were honored – Howard’s Trey Jackson will play at Towson University, Atholton’s Matt Robinson is headed to Maryland and River Hill’s Kevin Johnson is off to Wake Forest.

Robinson and Johnson were co-Players of the Year in football last fall.

I have no problem with these young men being honored by our county executive. They are fine athletes who have worked hard for their Division I scholarships and deserve recognition, and Ulman is working equally hard to keep connected with the community.

What annoys me, and gets my ire up, is that this football only.

Howard County’s female athletes also receive Division I scholarships, and probably in greater numbers than the boys. For example, Wilde Lake’s Beth Glaros (lacrosse, University of Maryland), Howard’s Nicole Clark (soccer, UMBC), Howard’s Alyssa Kozlowski (soccer, Bryant University) and Chapelgate’s Kelly Stambaugh (soccer, Air Force Academy) have also accepted Division I college scholarships.

I suspect that they, too, might have enjoyed a face-to-face meeting with the county executive.

One of the founding concepts of Columbia was openness and equal treatment for all – that should include girls and players from sports other than the traditional “big three” – football, boys basketball and baseball.

Ten or 15 years from now, when Ken Ulman has a different job should one of his daughters earn a Division I college athletic scholarship, I wonder how he’ll feel if the county executive only recognizes football players at the annual meet-and-greet signing day celebration.

Come on, Ken, girls vote, too.

Comment on this entry • View all 8 responses

user coacht says...

Carol, You might want to check into how this whole signing day ceremony came about. Mr. Ullman was asked by me, to attend both times. He loves events like this and I have no doubt he would attend a ceremony that is being held by a "gurlz" parent or even a boy of another sport. This was not a County event, this is a private event that I invited Mr. Ullman to attend and also Andrew from your news paper. It always makes me chuckle when people have to criticize pro-active people as opposed to stepping up and doing the same..... Sincerly, Attilio Campanaro

Posted 1:06 PM, 02.07.10 | Permalink

user coacht says...

For example......maybe the Howard County Times could host a fall, winter, spring signing day ceremony for boys and "gurlz" and invite Mr. Ullman to attend. Im sure he would love to do that. And if the Howard County Times did that then a parent like myself would not feel the need to set up an event like this to recognize the kids that have worked so hard to receive the offers. Now that would be a pro-active move on the HOCO Times part......

Posted 1:27 PM, 02.07.10 | Permalink

user commonsenseplease says...

Sounds like this reporter should have checked her facts a bit before writing a whole story with what now seems to be no basis. Or maybe the editors should have checked into it. More weak reporting from Patuxent.

Posted 5:46 PM, 02.07.10 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Football is the biggest sport in America. Maybe that's why this occured. This is not sexism. Male athletes in other sports aren't honored. Also, you spelled "girls" wrong.

Posted 7:31 AM, 02.08.10 | Permalink

user soccermom says...

If this was a private event, why was a newspaper reporter invited? Should the Times be sending reporters to such "events." And since Mr. Ulman (note the spelling) was invited, I guess my tax dollars were used somehow. As a taxpayer and the mother of a female athlete who got a soccer scholarship, I object. This county has prided itself on equal opportunities for boys AND girls. Why does Mr. Ulman approve of such signing events for football players only? Maybe he should weigh in on this discussion. Oh, one more thing. Football may be the biggest sport in America, but Howard County football doesn't fare so well state wide. Compare the number of state titles local football teams have won to the number of state tiles won by boys and girls soccer and lacrosse teams, for example. Mr. Ulman, given the opportunity to recognize these football players -- last year and this year -- missed an opportunity to reach out and recognize all athletes, not just those who play football. I'm disappointed, Mr. Ulman, that you didn't set a better example.

Posted 2:44 PM, 02.08.10 | Permalink

user says...

Soccermom...Are you serious? Are you so jaded that you do not think reporters should be invited to cover private events? Do you think murders and carjackings are the only things our newspapers should report on and most importantly our kids read about? Are positive role models and pro active community activists not "event" worthy enough for you? As opposed to having your tax dollars used for such a worthwhile cause as promoting positive, enriching community activities as these, I'm sure you think your prorata share (less than one lousy penny!) of the staggering $100.00 in tax money spent on this event should be saved to fight the crime that would otherwise be running rampant in our communities if you had it your way. And don't blame the County or accuse them of sexism, look in the mirror and recognize this was a caring citizen who took the time to do something positive for some kids he cared about, that were not even his! If you cared enough you too could be such a proactive positive influence in your daughter's life or even some kids that are not your own. Your comparison of football popularity and success to soccer is well documented. And it is because of people like the one that hosted and paid for this signing day event, that howard county football has produced 7 division one scholarships in the past 2 years, because of 10+ years of dedicated service he has put into Howard County youth football. Once again you miss the point entirely...It is because of this Howard County effort that the state of Maryland is now becoming nationally recognized in the recruiting arena. Isn't this what we want? This was not a choice Mr. Ulman made, but a choice a caring parent made. Mr. Ulman did exactly what he should have, and what we elected him to do. Soccermom, I'm disappinted you have not set a better example for those around you. You could start a step in the right direction by sending Mr Campanaro an apology! PS - Football just happens to have a national signing day....guess you should email Obama next. Keepin it real

Posted 5:45 PM, 02.08.10 | Permalink

user commonsenseplease says...

reporters cover private events all the time. soccermom needs to read the paper once in a while.

Posted 8:44 PM, 02.08.10 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

The real victim here is spellcheck.

Posted 7:36 AM, 02.09.10 | Permalink