Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Ted Kennedy died of brain cancer on Tuesday night at age 77. While most of the talk today will focus in the political career of the liberal lion, Kennedy did have one gigantic tie to the world of sports: Title IX.
I'm not here to debate the effectiveness of Title IX or its fairness, but either way you view the issue its impact has been wide-reaching on college sports. Without it, it's unlikely college sports are shaped the way we seem them today.
Kennedy, first and foremost, was a champion of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. But he also followed his initial work by helping overturn the Supreme Court's Grove City case, which "found that Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Act only applied to a private college’s financial aid department, not the school as a whole." He continued to be a supporter of Title IX throughout his political career, appearing at Save Title IX events and more.
Aside from the whole Title IX connection, Kennedy also declined a shot to play with the Green Bay Packers in the mid 1950s.
(H/T to SBB on the Packers note)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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It is amazing how many ultra liberal garbage laws we live with today because of this idiot. I am sure there is a reserved spot in he!! for this killer who got away with it.
by theeyeshaveit on Aug 26, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah theeyeshaveit I hate those "ultra liberal garbage laws" that Kennedy helped turn into law also…like Voting rights (what idiot could be for that?), civil rights, laws to help the disabled, OSHA laws that improved on the job saftey, education and health laws….man was he ever evil. The world would be so much better without liberal garbage laws. Kennedy helped Reagan get much of his legislation through and he also worked closely with George W Bush to help get No Child Left Behind through….horrible record.
by Stonehand on Aug 26, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Millions of people are not sorry that it took brain cancer to do what the voters and justice system would not.
by GreatBlueHeron on Aug 26, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions
ted was a great swimmer….
by dwb on Aug 26, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions
Murdering drunk from a family of criminals and philanderers.
by robbiedog on Aug 26, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions
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