Sports
Women golfers rejoice after LPGA bars post-puberty males from female competition: 'No more!'
Multiple women’s golfers came forward to praise and celebrate the LPGA’s rule change on Wednesday that bars post-pubescent males from competing against females in pro competition.
The organization said in a news release that male players who have gone through male puberty are barred from competing in the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA competitions. The new rule will go into effect for the 2025 season.
“Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events,” the organization said. “The policies governing the LPGA’s recreational programs and non-elite events utilize different criteria to provide opportunities for participation in the broader LPGA community.”
The International Women’s Forum (IWF) released a press release in which several women golfers spoke in favor of the ruling later on Wednesday. These golfers include Lauren Miller, Hannah Arnold, Dana Fall, and Amy Olson.
Miller said that she and female colleagues in pro golf have said “no more” to the issues of competing against biological males with the statement.
“This announcement from the LPGA and USGA gives me hope for the future of women’s golf,” Miller said. “The movement of female professional golfers was essential and has been heard — we’ve stood up and said, ‘No more’. By acknowledging the distinctions between men and women, golf leadership is uniting with us in their desire to champion women and girls by restoring a space that prioritizes fair competition. Today, women have won.”
Olson, meanwhile, insisted that the biological differences between men and women should be acknowledged in sports.
“This is a positive step forward, recognizing that an individual’s chromosomes affect their physical development in ways that are irreversible,” Olson said.
SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT
Fall said that Wednesday’s announcement indicates that “women do matter” in sports.
“Today’s policy announcement is a huge win for women and girls in sports. The LPGA and USGA, the premiere bodies which dictate the rules of women’s golf, are standing up for fairness and the integrity of our sport. Today, the message sent to women is that we do matter, and they are working to return equal opportunity and protect fair sport for female athletes,” Fall said.
Still, the announcement was not meant with unanimous praise. Liberals and trans rights activists have criticized the new rule.
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson spoke out against the new rule, as it will likely prevent Davidson from competing in the LPGA moving forward.
“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and LPGA,” Davidson wrote in an Instagram Stories post. “All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.
“And somehow people are surprised the suicide rate for transgender people is around 50%. Situations just like this are part of the reason.”
A female golfer who competed against Davidson, Olivia Schmidt, made a plea to the LPGA to ban trans athletes like Davidson during an appearance at the Independent Women’s Forum in November.
“The bottom line is we can fight this all we want, but the true change comes from the LPGA. They are the only ones with the power to stop it. It’s up to them to protect us,” she said.
“I want my kids one day to chase their dreams and not have these distractions in their way. I’m just praying that [the policy] gets changed, and I’m praying that we can find a way to kind of find some common ground in that and hopefully for the next generation of golfers.”
Now, the LPGA has fulfilled that wish for all of its female competitors and fans.
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Sports
Oregon rolls through rugged schedule in first Big Ten season. Now, it wants to win it all
INDIANAPOLIS — From the moment a giant inflatable duck floated along the White River within a few blocks of Lucas Oil Stadium, the Oregon football program had the Big Ten within its sights.
It was at football media days back in July when the Ducks preceded their formal Big Ten introduction with that humorous sight. But it also was symbolic. The Ducks had no plans to meekly waddle into their new conference. Nobody was going to overlook them, and with their dazzling excellence, nobody could.
By midnight Saturday, confetti fell, swirled and stirred among the No. 1 Ducks after a 45-37 win against No. 3 Penn State in the Big Ten title game. The victory was both electrifying and consequential. It ensures Oregon of the No. 1 overall spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and a national quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl.
And it’s not done yet. Not by a long shot. The Big Ten invited Oregon to join the conference barely 16 months and the school took it hostage. Now, the Ducks have eyes on winning it all.
“That’s something we started at the beginning of the season, talking about how you get an opportunity to invade a new environment and somewhere maybe you didn’t belong and get the opportunity to take over that environment,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “We said this is the last step for us to become that. I’m really proud of our guys buying into that thought and building off of it.”
“It all adds up to this moment,” said quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who threw four touchdown passes and 283 yards. “We have a lot more to go, but we are going to enjoy this one.”
GO DEEPER
College Football Playoff 2024 projections: SMU favored over Alabama for final spot
No expansion team in the Big Ten’s previous 128 football seasons won an outright league championship in its inaugural campaign. Only in 1900 (Iowa) and 1953 (Michigan State) did an expansion team tie for the league championship in Year 1 but neither were unblemished. In fact, no power-conference team ever had gone wire-to-wire unbeaten in their first season in a new conference.
But this Oregon team is different, and now it owns that piece of history all to itself. The Ducks did it with swagger, which they displayed on that hot day in July. As Oregon has demonstrated many times over the years, it has speed and efficiency on offense. Against the Nittany Lions, the Ducks brandished enough power when required. Most importantly, they showed they can win in any style necessary.
TEZ JOHNSON IS HAVING HIMSELF A GAME 🔥 🔥
A 48-YARD RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN TO PUT OREGON UP 14 😤 pic.twitter.com/SilvAkyZMt
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2024
Wide receiver Tez Johnson was a difference-maker against the Nittany Lions with both his elusiveness and speed. He caught 11 passes for 181 yards, and his 48-yard touchdown reception pushed the Ducks to a 38-24 lead early in the third quarter. Gabriel scrambled to his left and found Johnson at the 26-yard line. Johnson spun to his left, split Penn State defensive backs Zakee Wheatley and Elliot Washington II and raced untouched to the end zone.
“They do a really good job of making it a space game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “They got three wide receivers that are challenging; 15 (Johnson) is really challenging in space. They’ve got a really good running back. And they’ve got a quarterback that is poised and confident.”
In what became the game’s most important drive, the Ducks started on their own 25 leading by eight points early in the fourth quarter. Twice they converted on third down, once with Gabriel connecting with running back Jordan James in the flat for 11 yards, then on third-and-9 when Gabriel hit Johnson a 15-yard crossing route. When facing fourth-and-2 at the Penn State 35, Lanning gambled. Gabriel dropped back and found tight end Terrance Ferguson on an in route for 30 yards. Two plays later, Oregon was in the end zone on James’ second touchdown run to stretch its lead to 45-30.
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“To be quite frank, they sped up our defense,” Penn State defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas said. “That’s a credit to their offensive coordinator. They did an incredible job of speeding us up.”
What Oregon was asked to do in the Big Ten and still come through unscathed was extraordinary. This was a good Big Ten season, especially at the top, and Oregon was given a gauntlet of a schedule. The Ducks played both of last year’s CFP finalists and beat both by a combined seven touchdowns. They faced Ohio State at home and survived by a point, and beat a ranked Illinois team, which finished 9-3, by 29 points. They held on for dear life in a night game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium and topped No. 3 Penn State for the Big Ten title. Even in nonconference action, Oregon played its instate rival and won by five touchdowns, and used a last-second field goal to beat Boise State, which is likely to receive a Playoff bye.
“I’m just so proud of our team.”
Dan Lanning joins @jennydell_ after @oregonfootball capped off its first @bigten season as champions. pic.twitter.com/lmcCz1WIkc
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 8, 2024
After handing Lanning the Big Ten championship trophy, commissioner Tony Petitti left the stage, walked around to the side and took pictures of the celebration with his cell phone. Players and staffers shed tears while donning Big Ten championship T-shirts and hats. Fans chanted “Let’s Go Ducks” as Lanning, Gabriel and Johnson each took turns on the Big Ten Network set.
“As you just take a step back and look at the moments we’ve had this season, our big-time players made big-time plays in these moments,” Lanning said. “I love that part about it.”
They survived. They thrived. And they’re not done yet.
(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
Sports
2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket revealed: How does the 12-team field shake out?
The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff bracket was revealed on Sunday after an incredible slate conference championship games and one of the most interesting regular-seasons in recent memory.
The College Football Playoff field was expanded from four teammates to 12 before the start of the 2024 season. The success of the playoff format, which started in 2024, allowed for the expansion.
The Oregon Ducks, who won the Big Ten Championship for the first time, were selected as the No. 1 seed. The Georgia Bulldogs, who won the SEC Championship in overtime against Texas, were selected as the No. 2 seed. Boise State were seeded No. 3 after winning the Mountain West Championship. Arizona State, who won the Big 12 Championship, was seeded No. 4.
No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State each received byes into the quarterfinals.
In the first round, Clemson, who won the ACC Championship, was seeded No. 12. They will play No. 5 seed Texas. The winner will play Arizona State.
Penn State received the No. 6 seed in the bracket and will play No. 11 SMU. The winner will play Boise State.
Notre Dame was given the No. 7 seed and will play No. 10 Indiana. The winner will play Georgia.
Ohio State was given the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Tennessee. The winner will play Oregon.
The first-round matchups will be played at the home field of the higher seed.
Alabama was left out of the bracket.
The national championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Sports
Column: Damien High's Nate Garcia is latest 7-foot basketball star in Southland
Standing next to 7-foot center Nate Garcia of Damien High is like reaching the top of a mountain. You feel in awe, especially when you are 5-4. But what’s really intimidating is looking at his size-21 shoes. Two of my shoes could fit in one of his.
In 51 years of coaching, Mike LeDuc never had a 7-footer until last June when he and Garcia went into his office for the annual player measurements. Garcia was listed at 6-11 as a junior, so this was the big moment.
“It was me and him,” Garcia said. “We’re both humble guys. It was, ‘Hey, you’re 7 feet.’”
There was no screaming, no yelling, no band playing music. And yet it was a big moment, since supposedly fewer than 3,000 people in the world are 7-footers.
“It was cool I got to 7 feet but I’m happy wherever I end up,” Garcia said.
Officially, he’s 7 feet ½ inch and possibly still growing since he’s 18 and it’s been months since the last measurement. He’s certainly gotten much better as a basketball player over four seasons and has signed with UC Riverside.
“He’s been coachable and gotten better every year. It’s been a great thing,” LeDuc said.
It’s exciting for LeDuc to work with a big man since he’s been known for working with shooters such as Tracy Murray and Casey Jacobsen. Every basketball coach dreams of a 7-footer walking into the enrollment office.
The funny thing is Garcia came to Damien as a baseball player. He was a pitcher and first baseman. Only after freshman year did he switch his focus to basketball. Imagine if he were playing first base now. Every shortstop who throws the ball high would appreciate his height and reach.
Garcia said he’s always been the tallest member of his classes. As far as the genes in the family, his father is 6-5 and his mother is 5-11. The doctor told his mom from birth he had a chance to reach 7 feet.
No one gave him a talk on how to react when people stare at him walking through an airport or dropping his head to get through a doorway.
“I learned it on my own,” he said. “At first it kind of weirded me out. People would look, then look away and stare out of the corner of their eye. Now I’m used to it.”
LeDuc has appreciated Garcia’s arrival and development. It’s like a breath of fresh air for a veteran coach.
“I feel real lucky,” he said. “It’s the first time my best player has been a center. We had to make a lot of changes and adjustments.”
One priority for LeDuc was getting Garcia to work on free throws, since he was getting fouled a lot and not taking advantage. He’s improved. It’s still pure comedy or just unfair for everyone else on the court when his feet don’t leave the floor while he makes a layup.
He’s gotten so strong that teams guarding him in the post face a decision of whether to play from behind or try to deny him the ball. His improving post moves make him effective and dangerous.
Southern California has had its share of 7-footers. There were three in 2022 — Jazz Gardner of Los Altos, Dennis Evans of Riverside Hillcrest and Sidy Diallo of St. Paul. The influx of players from Africa and China is adding to the list. St. John Bosco’s Howie Wu is listed at 7 feet this season.
Other 7-footers from the past have included Tyson Chandler from Dominguez, Stuart Gray from Granada Hills Kennedy, Paul Mokeski from Crespi, Thomas Welsh from Loyola, Bol Bol from Mater Dei and Christian Koloko and Harold Yu from Sierra Canyon.
Being a 7-footer is rare, and shoes that fit can be rarer.
For LeDuc, whenever Damien takes a flight, the airport walk is always memorable and fun.
“When you’re walking one way, everyone walking the other way gives the look and double take. It’s entertaining,” he said.
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