Letter to the Editor: Why isn’t someone broadcasting tonight’s QHS vs. QND girls basketball game?

I was watching TV last night and had just made my hotel reservation in Bloomington-Normal for the 50th anniversary celebration of Title IX at Illinois State University in June. 

I played softball at ISU and graduated in 1988. I played volleyball, basketball and softball at Quincy Notre Dame and graduated in 1984. I thought about all the women who came before me and the doors that were opened because they fought so hard for equality in women’s athletics. I received a full ride scholarship to play for four years at ISU. There weren’t many of those at that time. I was lucky!

Then a commercial came on the TV for the fourth time, encouraging people to tune in on the radio to listen to the QND vs Payson boys basketball game Wednesday night. 

Good for them. It’s great that the game will be broadcast on the radio. Not many high school teams can say that. 

However, a flood of thoughts and memories went through my mind as I also got mad. The QND girls vs Quincy High School girls game is Tuesday night. Why isn’t someone broadcasting that game? 

Title IX is a federal law prohibiting sex based discrimination in any school or educational program that receives federal funding. But what about the rest of it? No law requires the same media coverage for boys and girls sports, and I’m not here to debate that issue. I just don’t understand why it’s not done. 

(All my experiences that will be referenced are in Quincy, because that is where I grew up and currently live. I work in Quincy, and I coach softball at QND.)

I played softball for Quincy Jets organization in the summer of 1981. Our team was leaving for the national tournament, and someone called a local TV station to see if they would do a story about us at our sendoff. The sports director at the time told us girls sports was not news, and they wouldn’t be sending anyone. This was only 41 years ago. 

While playing three sports in high school at QND, the only real fans we had were our family and a few friends. We went to state in every sport for four years (except volleyball in 1981) and brought home 11 state trophies. The continued success in female athletics has gone on for years through the present day, not only at QND but the entire tri-state area. And the number of fans coming to girls’ games continues to grow — not to the size of the crowds for the boys, but it’s still growing. 

So as I sat there listening to commercials to tune in to the boys’ basketball game, I got angry. Why is the girls game between QND and QHS girls not being broadcast? Why is it never done? Two local media outlets broadcast every single boys game and have for years. It’s even more frustrating at QND when the girls are playing before the boys, and I can see radio broadcasters setting up their equipment for the boys game — but they remain silent during the girls game. 

I’ve contacted both media outlets several times through the years, and it’s always the same answer. “We don’t have the advertising” and “This is the way we have always done it” are the typical responses. Is it you don’t have the advertising, or have you just never made it a priority? My belief is neither of them have never tried. 

I believe Quincy has local businesses who would support the promotion of a community event such as this game. The QND girls are ranked No. 2 in the state, and QHS has a very good team. Girls sports is news. Do better, Quincy. It’s 2022.

Changing culture is work. It’s time for change. I’m asking these media outlets to please consider marketing girls sports. Trust me, you will be able to sell the advertising. You’re missing out on a huge fan base. 

Lori Vogel
Quincy, Illinois
1984 QND graduate
1988 ISU graduate