Difficult to Determine Enthusiasm for County Section

You’ve been dreaming of this all your life. Hoping it would happen. And now it’s about to come true.

It’s an all-expenses paid trip to . . .

A Southern Section council meeting!

OK. So it’s not a cruise to Bermuda. Not even a bus ride to Barstow. It’s just last Thursday’s council meeting at the Sequoia Athletic Club in Buena Park. Hey, at least you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home.

First, let’s fill in the scenery. It’s a large conference room, lined with tables and chairs. Just like fourth grade, but you get to chew gum. Over there is the coffee and muffin table--the mover-shaker hot spot. Want to exchange Blue Book trivia? Over by the creamer. Ineligible transfer rumors? Hang a right at the Sweet ‘n Low. Greater political power for small, private schools? End of the table.

Up front are the executive committee officers. They’re sort of like team captains. They get to sit in the spotlight, on an elevated stage, facing the masses.

Thursday’s meeting started with the usual pleasantries and Pledge of Allegiance. Then it was time for the tough stuff.

Time for Friends of Golf.

This peppy little organization was formed to serve and protect that esteemed institute of higher learning and ethics, high school golf. (That’s the way the Friends seem to describe it, anyway). Thursday, FOG awarded cash grants to golf programs around the section. Those receiving the grants--some worth hundreds of dollars--looked pretty darn pleased. Those who didn’t, didn’t.

On to Item 2: Sex Equity.

Barbara Wilson, consultant for the California Interscholastic Federation (more on her soon), briefed the council on the progress of State Assembly Bill 1868, the dreaded proposal--dreaded by Wilson, at least--that could turn high school athletics into a war of the sexes. Its passing could, in part, require schools to have a boys’ and girls’ team for every sport the school plays. This would mean girls’ football and wrestling and boys’ field hockey and gymnastics.

Costly? Most likely. Fair? Most certainly. But consider: If you were a female version of Billy Blanton, would you like to play that powder puff stuff? Tell the truth.

Moving on to Item 3--The Orange County Section.

Hot item, this proposed separation of Orange County from the rest of the Southern Section. Or is it? Difficult to say.

When Wilson, hired by a group of Orange County superintendents to explore the possibility, stepped to the lectern to discuss the progress of a proposed OC Section, some council members seemed eager to listen.

Others--especially the out-of-Orange County council members--didn’t look so sure. The entire issue seemed to take some completely by surprise.

Such as that woman who was biting her fingernails. She looked downright panicked. Did the thought of an Orange County Section freak her out? Maybe she was just late for her manicure?

And that man who was a couple of rows ahead. Every time Wilson said something, he stared at the floor and mumbled. Did he agree? Did he disagree? Or was he merely bored and translating everything she said into Croatian?

Hard to say.

In fact, it’s hard to say what--if anything--came out of the entire hour-long discussion. Twenty minutes, at least, were spent trying to determine whether Orange County is indeed attempting to go ahead with its own section or whether it’s just thinking of attempting to go ahead with its own section.

We’re not exactly sure, but we think the final outcome--according to Wilson--is that Orange County is attempting to think about attempting to think about pursuing its own section.

In other words, it’s plowing ahead, full speed--maybe.

We think.

Rigmarole and confusion aside, certain key issues were brought forth. For the most part, those in attendance seemed bent on taking this OC Section business slowly and cautiously. Safe section, or no section at all.

Newport Harbor Principal Dennis Evans warned the council of the dangers of an OC Section. Ever so eloquently, Evans said an OC Section would be costly, unfair . . . a disaster!

Other than that, no problem.

Gary Norton, Irvine High principal, stepped to the podium, asked the No. 1 question of the day--”I just need a little clarification”--then demanded to know who these county superintendents were whom Wilson kept citing as the proponents of the section.

No one really had any answers. Especially Wilson, who skates around questions better than Katarina Witt does around ice.

Then finally, after at least an hour of getting nowhere, the committee managed to reach a unanimous decision:

More discussion soon.

Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626, or calling (714) 966-5847.