20/20 Television Special on Title IX

NATIONAL COALITION FOR ATHLETICS EQUITY PRESS/MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: A 20/20 SPECIAL WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME MOST MOM's AND DAD'S WILL FIND OUT THAT A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP IS WORKING WITH BUREAUCRATS TO DESTROY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN

WHO: JOHN STOSSEL OF ABC's 20/20

WHEN: MAY 29th, 1898 AT 10:00 PM ET (check you TV listing)

WHERE: YOUR FAMILY ROOM TV SET MAIN STREET, USA

WHY: MOST MOM'S AND DAD'S WHO'S KIDS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT A GOOD LAW HAS BEEN USED UNFAIRLY TO PROVIDE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONE GROUP OF KIDS WHILE TAKING AWAY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. THIS WILL BE A SHOW THAT DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX AND ITS EFFECT ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND OTHER AREAS OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

NCAE IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING FAIR SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR ALL ATHLETES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, GENDER OR ECONOMIC STATUS. THIS BIPARTISAN COALITION WILL WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THE CURRENT CRISIS IN AMATEUR SPORTS. OUR SUPPORT AND INPUT COMES FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES (NGBS) AND FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF STUDENT ATHLETES WILL REALIZE THE TRUE DEVASTATING EFFECTS THAT THE CURRENT PROPORTIONALITY TESTS ARE HAVING ON KIDS - - AND MOVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US AT OUR NATIONAL OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, DC (202) 496-1298.

FOR MORE INFORMANTION, BACKGROUND, AND TO SCHEUDLE INTERVIEWS WITH THE GUEST ON THE SHOW PLEASE CALL MIKE COPPERTHITE AT NCAE'S OFFICE 202.496-1298.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY LEO KOCHER FOR WIN MAGAZINE LEO IS FEATURED IN THE 20/20 PROGRAM

The buzz at this year's NCAA Tourney in Cleveland was that the newsmagazine television shows ABC 20/20 was doing a story on Title IX. It appears that there will be a 20/20 segment, which looks at the controversy surrounding the regulatory, and judicial actions involved in the policy interpretation and enforcement of Title IX.

There is some great news here.

1) It will be the first time an effort has been made by a national network show to present a side other than that of NOW, the Women's Sports Foundation and the other gender quota advocates. Anytime we get equal-time with that crowd we come out ahead because they have had a virtual monopoly on television exposure up until now.

2) John Stossel (you may remember this 20/20 correspondent as the good-looking guy with the mustache) is doing the piece. He is hugely popular and known for stories, which challenge politically correct assaults on common sense.

3) Wrestling could have a strong presence in the story. You never know what is going to end up on the cutting room floor, but they did film NCAA Champ Stephen Neal of Bakersfield and his coach TJ Kerr. They also interviewed Mark Martel, the Bakersfield Wrestling Team attorney, and yours truly.

For the last two months I have been in contact with the 20/20 producer, a wonderful lady by the name of Judy Tygard. She has been talking to people all over the United States. Our angels in Washington DC, Barbara Ledeen and Kimberly Schuld of the Independent Women's Forum, also provided some background and statistics to the 20/20 people. So did Michael Copperthite of our National Coalition for Athletics Equity.

When Ms. Tygard asked me if I would be willing to be interviewed for the story, my reply was that she should interview Kimberly Schuld of the IWF instead. It is my position that in today's political environment, the truth coming from Kimberly would be more effective than the truth coming from some white male wrestling coach. Besides, although I have been on TV and radio a few times on this issue, it is nerve racking to do this stuff and not all that much fun. The producer apparently had her reasons for wanting me to interview - and I will never say no to bringing this issue before the public - so I agreed to let Stossel interview me.

They did treat me well. On the day of the interview I parked my car at Chicago Midway Airport, walked up to the counter and was given the electronic ticket 20/20 had reserved. We landed at Newark Airport and I walked up to the gentleman in the suit who was holding a sign that said - Mr. Kocher. (I felt like that guy in the Bud Light commercial - "Mr. Kocher?" "YES I AM!"). It was a twenty-minute ride to the studio. When we walked in they were interviewing Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation and "gender quotas in sports" goddess.

When they finished with Ms. Lopiano, they broke for lunch and although I was in no condition to eat, we talked and I learned that John Stossel is a pretty nice guy. I am a fan of Stossel's work and he was great, but the interview itself was intense. These shows thrive on conflict and he was asking some pretty tough questions. The fact that I am obsessed with this topic paid off, and I believe my answers were solid, honest, and persuasive. After a half-hour of interviewing I was driven to the airport and it was back to sweet home Chicago.

The show should air sometime in late May. 20/20 is on Mondays and Fridays. It might be during sweeps week, in which case they could promote it with advertisements before the broadcast. When we have a broadcast date, we will try to get a posted on every web site we can. I have a good feeling about this. Set your VCR.

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