Barb/Bouquet

I watched the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament in town earlier this month. I loved seeing all the young players with their fancy new court shoes and sense of excitement.

However, I was thoroughly disappointed in the manner in which the brackets were formed. After all the national hoopla (no pun intended) regarding males playing on female sports teams, Gus Macker apparently didn’t get that memo.

I watched numerous games where boys were pitted against girls. Please tell me why the Gus Macker organization thought this was acceptable? There were plenty of boys and girls where a match-up between sexes was not needed. I’m not complaining about winning or losing, but I am taking exception as to the male/female issue.

Hello, Gus Macker! Haven’t you heard of Title IX? I remember when my niece was 5 years old and her team played against 8-year-old boys. If you want to ruin a girl’s dream of becoming a good athlete, this is a good way to begin. I hope next year, if there is a next year, the Gus Macker organization will return to boys vs. boys and girls vs. girls.

In addition, I would like to thank all the volunteers, especially referees and scorekeepers, for giving of their time. You made this basketball tournament fun for the players, parents and grandparents. Without you, there would be no Gus Macker.