Women Belong in the Kitchen

Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez was reprimanded by the team's television network for sexist remarks he made during a broadcast over the weekend. To me, his actions are deplorable. As a longtime defender of women's rights, I think I need to step up and say what Hernandez doesn't have the integrity to say: women belong in the kitchen.

After a San Diego home run, Hernandez remarked about a female trainer in the Padres dugout and then proceeded to rant about how women shouldn't be allowed in the dugout. He also said, "I'm not going to say women belong in the kitchen." After hearing a remark like this, I have two questions. Does he really believe that women don't belong in the kitchen? And is he serious? I have news for you, Keith, it is the year 2006, and women belong in the kitchen more now than ever before.

I'm a firm believer that women can do anything they put their minds to (I'm not the only one who thinks that, just look at that adorable TV show where a female is president). Last time I checked, they don't need Keith Hernandez to tell them what they are allowed to do and where they are allowed to be. He may not think they belong in the kitchen, but women can go wherever they please, whether it is the kitchen, the business world, or even in professional sports. And they aren't limited to playing the spectator role — they deserve to belong just as much as anyone else in this world.

Part of me feels that Hernandez doesn't really believe in the banishment of women from the kitchen (what's next, women don't belong in unisex bathrooms?), but that this is just his way to attack feminists and slow the advancements women have made in professional sports.

The media attention garnered by people like Annika Sorenstam and Maria Sharapova must drive him crazy. He must avoid the WNBA like it was the avian flu. He probably wakes up in a cold sweat at the thought of someone like Michelle Wie actually defeating men in head-to-head competition. A sexist like Hernandez is not going to sit idly by while women continue to make great advancements in the sporting world.

He knows that he can't stop Michelle Wie from playing against men. He knows that he has no legitimate argument to keep Danica Patrick from racing against the big boys. Yet, he feels like he has to do something to hold women back. What can he do? To Hernandez, it appears the best defense is a good offense. He must believe that women won't be able to keep making the strides they have in the sports world if they are forced to spend their time defending areas where they have already established their legitimacy.

It seems that he's taken a page out of George Bush's playbook in the war on terror — the opposition can't mount much of an offensive if they are constantly on the run. The only difference here is that W doesn't hide his intentions — he's made it clear that he wants Osama Bin Laden and company dead. On the other hand, Hernandez tries to make it seem like he's woman's best friend.

"You know I am only teasing," he said during the broadcast. "You know I love you gals out there — always have." What he meant to say was "You know I love you gals out there — always have, well, until we taught you how to read and gave you the right to vote."

When the Padres' trainer was contacted by the press, she said she was shocked at his comments. "He not only discredited me as a person, but he discredited women," she said. Damn right he discredited women. So was she going to step up on behalf of women everywhere and fight for their rights? No, instead she treated the situation like a comedy hour. She was walking to the training room when she joked, "Should I go in the kitchen now?" As a defender of the rights of people everywhere, however, I don't see this as much of a joke.

Did Rosa Parks merely "joke" about refusing to leave her seat on the bus? No, she did something about it, and I think it's time all women and those that support them everywhere do the same. I simply refuse to tolerate blatant sexism, and I think it's time that we unite against it. I'm calling on all Sports Gospel readers to e-mail pictures of women in kitchens to me, and then I will make a collage to send to Hernandez that will prove to him once and for all what the rest of the country knows — women belong.

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].