UCLA Denies Baseball Program in Danger
Late last night, we passed along a report from an LA sports blog that the school’s storied baseball program — the one that produced the legendary Jackie Robinson — might be dropped because of Title IX concerns. A few minutes ago, I got a call from Marc Dellins, the SID at the school, who denied the report.
Said Dellins: “There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that UCLA is considering discontinuing its baseball program. It’s disturbing that a rumor like this can even get started.”
While it might be disturbing that rumors like this can get started, the reason why it happens is because all too often men’s athletic programs are on the chopping block these days because of budgetary concerns. And, as we’ve discussed too many times to count, when budgets get squeezed, the vast majority of athletes left on the outside looking in are male. Stay tuned.