03-26-2010
| By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian |
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"Tammy Stockman, a 5-foot-4-inch guard, drives the lane - she scores!"
First of all, I'm not 5-4 by any stretch of the imagination, but that's how I was listed when I played basketball at Marshfield High School. Secondly, there were no announcers at girls' games back in the '70s in Coos Bay.
Even though it's been 32 years since I last donned a purple and gold uniform, I got a big dose of Pirate pride earlier this month when I received my varsity letter.
Back in the day, we received letter certificates that stated, "Marshfield High School Athletic Department awards this 'M' certificate to Tammy Stockman in recognition of his (note: HIS) participation in basketball." However, we didn't actually receive a physical letter.
Basketball wasn't even a Oregon School Activities Association-sanctioned sport for girls until 1976, which might explain why I had to buy a T-shirt when I played junior varsity as a freshman. Not only did the guys have spiffy-looking uniforms, but they also had practice shorts and jerseys.
That's just the way things were. I remember thinking it wasn't right, but how does a teenager challenge a system that clearly overlooks the achievements of female athletes?
I ran hurdles and sprints on the varsity track team my freshman year and played three seasons of basketball, "lettering" for two years. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. We were doing what we loved - playing a game, but the lack of getting a physical letter nagged at me from time to time.
When my husband talked about the possibility of awarding letters to his drama students at Umatilla High School this year, I asked him what about last year's group of thespians? The program had been revived after a 12-year hiatus, so don't the drama students of more than a decade ago equally deserve a letter?
The events leading up to my bright gold chenille and felt 'M' with purple outlining arriving in the mail several weeks ago began just before Christmas.
During a night of insomnia-driven Web surfing, I happened upon a site chronicling the Feb. 4, 2006, event when female athletes of yesteryear were recognized as Pioneer Women and received their long-awaited letters.
I sent an e-mail to Principal Greg Mulkey, who was the athletic director at the time. The letter stated in part, "I will turn 50 in February and can think of no better gift than a varsity letter for my birthday."
I didn't hear from him and got busy with the holidays and then vacation. When I found out the Marshfield boys team was playing a state playoff game in Pendleton, I headed to Warberg Court with a copy of the e-mail. Just as I headed up the bleachers behind the Pirate bench, I spotted a man wearing a Marshfield jacket.
"Do you know if the Marshfield principal is here?" I asked.
"I am," he responded.
Since I didn't want take up his time during the game, I handed him the e-mail and said it was about the Pioneer Women. After the game, I ran into him and Bryan Trendell, the school's athletic director. Greg handed my note to Bryan and said, "When you get back to Coos Bay, you need to send her a letter."
Although it came a month after I turned 50, it truly is a gift I cherish - probably even more than if I had received it when I actually earned it.
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Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my shoes, appears twice a month. You can reach her attmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.
First of all, I'm not 5-4 by any stretch of the imagination, but that's how I was listed when I played basketball at Marshfield High School. Secondly, there were no announcers at girls' games back in the '70s in Coos Bay.
Even though it's been 32 years since I last donned a purple and gold uniform, I got a big dose of Pirate pride earlier this month when I received my varsity letter.
Back in the day, we received letter certificates that stated, "Marshfield High School Athletic Department awards this 'M' certificate to Tammy Stockman in recognition of his (note: HIS) participation in basketball." However, we didn't actually receive a physical letter.
Basketball wasn't even a Oregon School Activities Association-sanctioned sport for girls until 1976, which might explain why I had to buy a T-shirt when I played junior varsity as a freshman. Not only did the guys have spiffy-looking uniforms, but they also had practice shorts and jerseys.
That's just the way things were. I remember thinking it wasn't right, but how does a teenager challenge a system that clearly overlooks the achievements of female athletes?
I ran hurdles and sprints on the varsity track team my freshman year and played three seasons of basketball, "lettering" for two years. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. We were doing what we loved - playing a game, but the lack of getting a physical letter nagged at me from time to time.
When my husband talked about the possibility of awarding letters to his drama students at Umatilla High School this year, I asked him what about last year's group of thespians? The program had been revived after a 12-year hiatus, so don't the drama students of more than a decade ago equally deserve a letter?
The events leading up to my bright gold chenille and felt 'M' with purple outlining arriving in the mail several weeks ago began just before Christmas.
During a night of insomnia-driven Web surfing, I happened upon a site chronicling the Feb. 4, 2006, event when female athletes of yesteryear were recognized as Pioneer Women and received their long-awaited letters.
I sent an e-mail to Principal Greg Mulkey, who was the athletic director at the time. The letter stated in part, "I will turn 50 in February and can think of no better gift than a varsity letter for my birthday."
I didn't hear from him and got busy with the holidays and then vacation. When I found out the Marshfield boys team was playing a state playoff game in Pendleton, I headed to Warberg Court with a copy of the e-mail. Just as I headed up the bleachers behind the Pirate bench, I spotted a man wearing a Marshfield jacket.
"Do you know if the Marshfield principal is here?" I asked.
"I am," he responded.
Since I didn't want take up his time during the game, I handed him the e-mail and said it was about the Pioneer Women. After the game, I ran into him and Bryan Trendell, the school's athletic director. Greg handed my note to Bryan and said, "When you get back to Coos Bay, you need to send her a letter."
Although it came a month after I turned 50, it truly is a gift I cherish - probably even more than if I had received it when I actually earned it.
-
Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my shoes, appears twice a month. You can reach her attmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.
