Some people angry after a white sorority wins "step" competition

[npk]

ATLANTA -- After days of controversy over a white group's win in a step competition, sponsor Coca-Cola says the second-place team will share top honors.

Coca-Cola said in a statement Thursday that a review of the scoring from Saturday's national contest revealed a "scoring discrepancy" that it declined to explain. This is the first year of the Sprite Step Off competition, but step contests are typically dominated by black sororities.

Step is a historically black art form of rhythmic stepping and clapping. A YouTube video of the winning performance by a group of white Zeta Tau Alphas from the University of Arkansas generated hundreds of comments, some of them inflammatory.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/22675635/detail.html

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I guess some people did not like the judges decision. I did not see the comments that were posted, but I did find the video of the winning performance pretty good.

[timeforpeace]

1. Racist?

[npk]

2. No idea

I could not find a link to the comments. I think some people were upset with the scoring decision, while others were upset that the sorority had entered the contest.

[Igel]

15. More than a few.

Not most.

I learned a new word tonight: "wigga-boo".

[kctim]

122. Without a doubt.

[LostInAnomie]

3. Did they deserve to win?

If they did they shouldn't have to share the top spot.

[Bitwit1234]

4. Some times I think the cry "racism" is taken too far.

either they won or they lost. Why make them share. I don't get it. If I didn't win, I would be embarrassed to have to raise a fuss to get shared honors. Would make me think I was a wimp.

[Bluebear]

41. What other times are the "cry" of racism taken too far?

[fishwax]

51. heh. I think the "people are too quick to cry racism" cry is much more tired, myself

[Bluebear]

59. Thank you.

[Skip Intro]

104. nah... nt

[TorchTheWitch]

19. I think so

Comparing them to the other performances they should have won and apparently the crowd agreed by giving them a standing ovation.

[Name removed]

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[bemildred]

6. WGAS?

This is fake "controversy" for the purpose of selling sugar water.

[XemaSab]

7. If a black sorority had won a waltzing contest

would there be the same outcry?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

67. If this thread is any evidence, then yes.

There's no shortage of white people ready to cry reverse racism.

[Dr. Strange]

73. Yes.

Not because a black sorority won, but just because of the existence of a waltzing contest.

[Number23]

8. Stepping is an integral part of the black fraternity/sorority tradition

Its roots and traditions can be traced back to traditional dance is parts of Western Africa. It's as much a part of the black college experience as homecoming or pledging.

The outcry over this is very similar to that of white football teams in New Zealand doing the "haka," which is a Maori traditional dance or the complaints from Aboriginals in Australia re: that weird Russian skating routine at the Olympics or even when Nicole Kidman blew the dijirido on television. Sometimes folks just want to keep their traditions to themselves and within their own culture and are offended when it is appropriated by outsiders.

Granted, it's been many,many moons since I last stepped in a step show, but after seeing that video and seeing how out of sync those girls from ZTA were, the other teams must have fallen into the first row in order for them to have won first place. And considering that most sororities have traditional steps (for instance, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha will do some version of the Ivy Stance at step shows all over the country) -- some of which are decades old -- it's also very obvious that they took steps from other sororities in order to comprise their routine. Wonder if they bothered to ask first?? Not impressive.

[Name removed]

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[Number23]

10. lol As if you have the first clue about any of this.

[Fire1]

11. You said a mouth full!!! Slam dunk!!! n/t

[Number23]

12. Thanks, girl! For those who know, it's really not that hard to understand

[Raineyb]

14. Not having stepped myself but having been to a few step shows in my time

I wouldn't be in any position to know if steps were ripped off. However, I know a team that's coordinated when I see one and that team. Not so much.

:shrug:

[Number23]

17. I agree. The girls were certainly not bad, I'll give them that.

Perhaps a 6.5-7 on a 1-10 scale. But their routine was so unoriginal as well as not being that well executed. I hate to say it, but if that had been a black team that had performed that way, they probably wouldn't have won. But I'm sort of an old head and used to seeing routines so tight you can bounce a quarter off of them.

Here's video that I found of a few of the participants. http://bossip.com/218408/a-white-sorority-from-arkansas-wins-the-sprite-step-off-challenge/

I wasn't all that impressed with the Delta routine either, to be honest so I can't understand why they were the team that was making the most noise about the ZTA team winning. Didn't watch the Alpha routine. But the AKA's should have won hands down. I can understand why there was so much controversy a bit better now.

[Raineyb]

20. Just watched the Delta and AKA routines.

I didn't much care for the Delta routine either. The AKA routine is more in line with what I would be looking for if I were to show up at a step show. In fact, I don't know why AKA should be behind either the Delta or the ZTA teams quite frankly. I think I'm inclined to agree with one of the comments from the link you provided. I would have scored AKA first ZTA second and Delta third based on what I've seen.

I rather enjoyed the Alpha's routine although I thought the lead guy (not the guy who shows up later in the purple sweater) to be a bit loose with his arms.

[Number23]

21. Yeah. I have no doubt that the "standing ovation" they got from some attendees

was shock and joy that they were much, MUCH better than the crowd anticipated them to be even though they were okay at best.

Notice how loud the cheers are at the beginning of their routine and when people see that they're not going to be out there bs'ing but notice how it gets quieter and quieter as they go along?? Right or wrong, I've seen that exact same condescension thrown at the Iotas. :)

[Raineyb]

27. Yeah I did notice.

I'm starting to wonder who the hell the judges are and if they have any clue as to what a good step routine looks like. I still think the AKA routine was the best of three videos shown.

[MattBaggins]

135. And sometimes they just have to learn to deal with it

Being offended by Nicole Kidman blowing a wooden pipe is a good example of "so sad, too bad".

[alphafemale]

13. It seemed like the audience was into it

It's really hard to tell from that snippet of video.

Since the other acts weren't shown especially.

Graciousness in defeat is an asset, though.

We're Co-WINNERS!

Cause we whined!

Co-WINNERs. Whoop da fukin WEE

Hope you don't miss that last shred of dignity.

[Igel]

16. Youtube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016C4sUj5_8

[readmoreoften]

18. But they sucked. They were totally uncoordinated.

Maybe they won because all the judges felt sorry for them and assumed the other judges would give them low scores? :shrug:

[Tim01]

22. People are mad because the white girls won. 'nuff said. nt

[Mudoria]

23. That's it in a nutshell

[proteus_lives]

24. Yep.

[Raineyb]

26. Only they weren't the best team. I watched the video and the AKA team

kicked both the "co-winners" asses.

[Tim01]

28. A lot of people don't agree with you on that.

There are opinions all over the map on who was the best team.

But there is a pretty good consensus that the problem is that they are white.

[Raineyb]

32. I think the problem is they won because they are white.

It looks like some people were shocked that a group of white girls could do a decent job and over scored them. But having watched a good number of the routines, I have to say that the AKA Tau chapter ought to have won that competition. Their routine was on point and tight, coordinated. The ZTAs were not coordinated.

I'm starting to wonder who the hell these judges are and if they have ANY idea about the history behind stepping and what is to be expected.

[Name removed]

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[Obamanaut]

70. How did the judges rule? That should be it. Otherwise, why have judges? nt

[LostInAnomie]

84. If the judges gave them the highest scores, they were the best team.

That's the standard every participant agrees to when they enter a contest.

[vadawg]

29. yup seems that way.....

[fishwax]

43. or maybe they're mad because a different team deserved to win

I thought the AKA routine was better and was more in keeping with my understanding of what a step routine ought to be (though I'm no expert).

[Tim01]

44. Well, somebody drug race into this. nt

[fishwax]

49. and you've apparently run with it n/t

[proteus_lives]

25. The other team has no dignity.

If they were proud of their performance they would refuse to be "co-winners".

[fishwax]

48. I don't see why turning down thousands of dollars in scholarships would indicate dignity

Particularly if they felt they deserved to win :shrug:

[BigErnMcCracken]

30. Let's face a few probabilities here

One, there are a ton of race issues involved. The black people don't appreciate the white girls invading something that has been almost exclusively the territory of black college students for years and years.

Coca-Cola's sponsorship of this event guarantees that the decision to name the white team the winner COULD be tainted. Why? Political correctness. Problem is, it's just political correctness in a different direction for a change. People aren't used to that.....

[Tim01]

31. Well, they could ban white people from competing or

they could allow white people to compete, and just not allow them to actually win.

[Raineyb]

33. Or they could hold the white girls to the same standard.

If a black sorority competed with that routine they would not have won. No way.

[BigErnMcCracken]

35. See what I mean?

It's just a bit of "tables turned"...

Of course the only standard should be ability, execution, and well I guess it should end there. But I feel in my heart like the corporation that ran this contest wanted to see diversity in the winners of this contest so that it could grow in the future.

We've never seen the application of that mindset in any other way anywhere else have we?

[Raineyb]

36. Tables turned?

When the hell did black people get a leg up in this country merely for being the right skin color?

Never!

Although for some reason the stigma of inferiority seems to cover us even when we've proven to be superior in any given endeavor. Black people have never been given anything without having to be twice as good to be seen as half as competent so I have no idea what you're trying to say about the tables being turned. It's not black people in this country who have been given passes for being half assed and incompetent for having the right skin color.

[Tim01]

39. "When the hell did black people get a leg up in this country merely for being the right skin color?"

It happens a lot now. And everybody notices it when it happens.

I'm not going to remotely suggest that black people are on the winning side of the race issue because of these relatively isolated incidents.Because that is the opposite of the truth.

I'll be glad when we get to the point where everybody is just judged on ability, but we are far far from that as a country.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[CBR]

46. When does it happen? Just curious because I haven't noticed. nt

[Tim01]

52. It does happen.

It isn't much different from the worker who happens to be the son of the company owner, and he pulls that shit out every time he fucks something up that anybody else would be fired for.

It isn't actually about race so much as it is the attitude of a shit worker who will use whatever tool is available to get what they want without having to do the same job as everybody else.

I worked with a guy who we found asleep, and lying about where he was, when he was supposed to be working.If he'd had a tool to use to continue picking up a paycheck he would have used it. He didn't have family connections so he couldn't use that. He's white so he couldn't play the race card. He STILL threatened to sue the company. If he'd had a tool at his disposal, the management would have been pretty nervous. And the management might have folded in order to avoid a fight in court.

[vadawg]

53. dude that is the one tool in my box that im hoping saves my ass one day :)

but seriously from personal experience having ones ethnicity in hand can help when you get accused of shit, kinda like being accused of hating mexicans and in trouble at work because of accusations against you and your wife is from mexico and your kids where born there and your grandad was mexican etc etc....

[Tim01]

56. Are you in management? nt

[vadawg]

57. nah, just a front line worker....

[Tim01]

66. Law enforcement? nt

[vadawg]

68. yup... so you can imagine the accusations i get daily..

[Tim01]

71. Yeah, I'm sure.

You need all the tool you can get. It's probably just a matter of time until somebody pulls some bullshit with you.

[Ignis]

79. "You need all the tool you can get." You said it, honey!

Oh, you meant...oh.

;)

[Tim01]

83. Typo.

But I'd be eager to continue the discussion in private.:P

[vadawg]

131. rofl well played

[Brewman_Jax]

47. It's never happened

on every index, employment, loans, etc. :eyes:

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

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[BigErnMcCracken]

82. excuse me?

I work in an office where in the past five years we have been told directly and repeatedly during job searches that we are to ONLY consider hiring minority candidates regardless of how many people we interview and their qualifications. And I work for a large and highly respected academic institution that has black and other minorities in the very highest positions. I'm not bitter about that in the least, because I'm a highly competent white person who is never going to be judged on anything but my merit so i have nothing to fear. But to say that in today's society that the playing field is being leveled at times by circumstances other than competency is absolutely blind. Do I wish for a color blind world? Absolutely. Do I think that forcing anyone to make hires based on skin color is a good idea? Absolutely not. The only criteria that should ever matter is one's ability, experience, and work ethic. Any half wit knows that using any other criteria is inane - and doesn't do a thing to foster better race relations. By the same token, any half wit should realize fully that racism does exist in this country. I do. But I also see the growing hysteria and political correctness that doesn't do one damned thing to actually FIX the problem, just cover it with a lovely layer of crap that makes it look good so people can feel good about it all.

If you say that the white team was not as good as the black team at step, I believe you. I know nothing of it and my rhythm rivals that of a bull elephant. What I was trying to say is that if you expect in today's world - where advertisers go out of their way to maintain political correctness, where television network executives sit around and make sure that they have token blacks or token whites or token women on their shows - that a company like Coca-Cola isn't going to try and inject diversity in to a competition that was created to push their product then you are simply not very bright. Again, I don't doubt that is precisely what Coca-Cola did.

So, I ask you, do you think that a qualified white person has ever been passed over for a job in the name of racial quotas and diversity? Because I sure think that qualified black, asian and latinos have been passed over because of the color of their skin. Sure do. And you see, therein lies the problem. The outrage here isn't that a team won a competition that APPEARED to not be as good to the eyes of some - it's that the team was white. had they been black, it would have just been terrible judging. My point was deeper I guess than "tables turned", it was that now everything on earth is being judged through the prism of race - even a stupid made up competition like this. But it surely is funny to me to hear black people screaming about how unfair it was, it was just a freaking step competition. Try looking a young woman in the eye some time when she applied for a research job that she was ultimately the most qualified for as you pay her for a cup of coffee on your way to work with someone who was hired because they were not white. I have had to do that very thing and it made me sick. I'm not angry at the person I hired who was also a wonderful human being and not lacking talent, they simply weren't AS talented as the best candidate in this case. I'm angry at the system and the world we live in that forced me to do that. That girl in the coffee shop who was working there part-time to supplement her income and pay off her loans while she toiled at a much less lucrative position has a beef just as legitimate as any minority who has ever been wronged. Period. End of story. THAT is true equality isn't it? Don't like it? I don't much care.

Finally, let me ask you, what color were the judges of a step competition being hosted by Coca-Cola?

[Raineyb]

102. Excuse you.

I am not at all surprised that Coca-Cola tried to interject some "diversity" into the step competition, it's not unheard of when a corporation tries to co-op something that was originally something that is known far in wide in a minority community. And having Coca-cola interject itself into such a competition is a completely different discussion. I would argue that bringing white people who have up until this time have shown no interest in such competition into it was a mistake in the first place as the implication is that it can't hold any interest unless you bring some blonde women into it. That notwithstanding, if you're going to have white people in the competition they'd better be up to standard otherwise you have the mess like this particular competition where a white sorority gets the prize for a performance that no black sorority would put up in competition.

I'm sure your new co-worker must really appreciate you deciding that he or she wasn't nearly as talented as the woman you went out of your way to buy a cup of coffee for. And how many people of color do you buy cups of coffee for while telling them that they were the most talented but didn't get the job? Or is it only white candidates who you feed this swill to?

As to the judges I have no idea who they were. It's something that I would be most interested in finding out quite frankly.

[Tim01]

38. You know, I hadn't thought of that.

But I could totally see a corporation skewing the results in order to make it fit their agenda of diversity.

[TwilightGardener]

37. I thought their routine was pretty neat. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that important

that they won. I can cheer on white steppers AND Jamaican bobsledders and it's all good.

[vadawg]

42. bravo, the best mindset to have,

[Brewman_Jax]

40. I saw the video

and having seen more than my share of step shows (without a white face in the crowd, mind you), that was actually a poor performance. No black greek organization would have let that be seen in public. If that performance won an award, then I can see the controversy.

[Tim01]

54. What do you make of the crowd reaction? nt

[Brewman_Jax]

55. So? What of it?

[Tim01]

58. They seemed really impressed with the performance.

I know they are the crowd, and not the judges. But I would think the crowd reaction would be an indicator.

[Brewman_Jax]

60. They don't pick the winner

and crowd reaction is no indication of quality of performance.

[Tim01]

63. 'k thanks.

I don't have any experience in this area at all. I wouldn't know a good step performance from a good clogging performance. It sounds like you know what you are talking about.
It also sounds like the corporation running this show has an agenda to sell their product.

[LostInAnomie]

85. Are the judges' scores an indication of the quality of the performance?

Because apparently they thought they deserved to win also.

[Brewman_Jax]

86. Judges can be wrong

nt

[LostInAnomie]

87. So, the cheers and ovation from the crowd and the winning scores from the judges aren't enough...

... to indicate that they had a high quality performance? How does that even make sense?

[Brewman_Jax]

88. That's not a quality performance

see above posts.

[LostInAnomie]

89. So, I'm supposed to take the opinion of 3-4 people over that of an entire audience...

... and judges hired to judge the competition? Everyone in that auditorium was impressed with the performance. They deserved to win.

[Brewman_Jax]

90. I'm supposed to take the opinion

by a bunch of know-nothings that have never seen a step show or competition? A loud crowd means that they have a lot of fans, it doesn't indicate quality of performance.

Just because they won doesn't mean they deserved it.

[Raineyb]

91. Funny how that happens.

We've got a bunch of people who've NEVER seen a step show, don't know what's expected yet will insist on telling people who have that they who've never seen a show know what is or is not a winning performance.

Bloody typical when it comes to these things isn't it? Can't have black people knowing more about a subject it'll ruin their sense of superiority. Nope, can't have that at all.

[LostInAnomie]

94. Do you think the judges, crowd, and announcer had never seen a step show?

Because they seemed impressed by the performance.

[Raineyb]

97. Well you damn sure haven't yet you're talking as though YOU know how good the performance is.

Did you bother to look at the other performances to compare? No. I'm so sure you didn't bother. I have no idea who the hell the judges are. It's one of the questions I have about this competition in the first place. Of course had you bothered to read above you might have seen that. I suppose it's easier to talk out of your ass but it doesn't make you come off as less ignorant.

[LostInAnomie]

110. That's cute. I'm the one coming off as ignorant and talking out of my ass...

... but you are the one that somehow magically knows more than the majority of this thread, the judges, the audience, and the announcer as to who had the better routine. :rofl:

I watched the AKA performance. It was dull and routine, especially for a nationwide competition. The better team won and they are being forced to share with a team that didn't deserve it.

[Raineyb]

120. Yes you are ignorant. But it has never stopped you from talking out of your ass why should this

be any different?

Now tell me WHICH AKA performance did you watch?

On edit:

So far ONE judge has been revealed and they have to my knowledge no actual experience with stepping. This is NOT looking good for the whole "the judges know all" argument.

[booley]

129. Question

How do you know no one in the crowd or any of the judges had never seen a stepping contest?

I mean, you are saying your opinion is worth more then everybody else's based on what you think they know.

That has nothing to do with race. (unless we count the fact that you are prejudging people)

[LostInAnomie]

92. You're assuming a lot to try to delegitimize their win.

1. The audience that had probably seen numerous step competitions didn't know what they were applauding.

2. The announcer that was visibly impressed didn't know what he was talking about.

3. The judges that had also probably seen enough step competitions to be hired as judges, and gave them the winning scores didn't know what they were doing.

4. That no DUers except for small handful have seen a step show or can form valid opinions about what they are seeing.

The bottom line is that if all the participants agreed to let the judges scores be the standard by which a winner is named, they are bound to follow the judges' decision. The arguments about black culture and tradition that I have seen in this thread are completely invalid. This is a competition and the white girls were allowed to participate. If they weren't going to be allowed to win outright, they shouldn't have been allowed to compete.

[Brewman_Jax]

95. You're spending a lot of time trying to legitimize a weak performance

If they were that good, they would have won hands down, no "co-winners".

[LostInAnomie]

96. That "weak" performance received the winning score until Coke changed its mind.

If AKA had any self respect they wouldn't accept "co-winners" because by every standard they lost.

[Brewman_Jax]

98. Why should AKA refuse?

They were better. Let ZTA refuse if they feel so cheated.

As for the judges and judging system, we know nothing about them.

[LostInAnomie]

105. They should refuse because they didn't win legitimately.

If they received the lower scores, they lost. They shouldn't accept a victory that is just handed to them. There's no pride in a victory like that.

ZTA had the better routine and they received the higher scores. They shouldn't have to share.

[Brewman_Jax]

107. Agree, they shouldn't have to share

AKA had the better routine and should've won. How do we know that the judging was legit in the first place? That seems to be all you have.

[LostInAnomie]

115. That's all that counts in a judged competition.

AKA's routine was dull and ordinary. If you're going to throw out the only standard of awarding a winner because you don't like the result you might as well not have a competition.

ZTA won because ZTA was better in the only opinions that mattered.

[Brewman_Jax]

Who says the judging is legit?

ZTA was out-of-sync and uncoordinated. AKA's routine was tight and together. There shouldn't have been any controversy because AKA was better. Since there was a "scoring controversy", ZTA obviously didn't have enough opinions that mattered. I agree, if you're going to throw out the only standard of awarding a winner because you don't like the result you might as well not have a competition.

[tammywammy]

112. They're only sharing a title

Each team is getting the same rewards $100,000 for scholarships. I don't think the other team should decline that, and it doesn't seem like they were the ones that instigated this whole matter either.

[fishwax]

113. sure they won legitimately

:shrug:

[LostInAnomie]

116. How?

If the ZTA team had the higher score, but the winning score is dismissed in order to share a victory with the second place AKA team, how is that a legitimate victory for AKA?

It would be the same as giving the silver medalist a gold and claiming that they tied.

[fishwax]

123. well, it's happened at the Olympics as well, as a result of judging discrepancies

It happened here as a result of a judging discrepancy.

Not the first controversy in this particular competition, either. Apparently something similar happened at the Chicago regional, with a team initially not named among those who placed and then later told that they had actually finished second.

[Number23]

117. Of course! Don't you know, watching one step show on Youtube makes one an

expert on stepping now!

I just watched a Youtube video on Inuit mating rituals. I'm all set and ready to give it a try! I'll let you know how it goes!!

[Number23]

99. "The arguments about black culture and tradition that I have seen in this thread are completely

invalid."

Aren't they always?? Black folks are so used to hearing that our opinion on issues are irrelevant, no matter what the issue or topic is.

There are white (and Asian and Hispanic) members of historically black fraternities and sororities. Eleanor Roosevelt was made an honorary member of my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, in the 1930s and there are lots of white members. The race of these women is not the issue, at least not for me. The issue is the quality of their stepping.

It was the (alleged) outcry from the judges that led Coke to the discovery of the "scoring discrepancy" and caused them to change their mind and share the title. If the ZTA's were as great as you'd like to believe, there would have been no need for co-winners. The AKA's were not the ones who complained about the ZTA's wining.

Apparently, even the ZTAs are very understanding of this and are not surprised or particularly upset to have to share the title with the AKA's, who apparently, were the ones who introduced them to stepping and taught them how to step several years ago.

"Zeta Tau Alpha national spokeswoman Christy Barber said the University of Arkansas chapter started stepping 16 years ago and participants were originally mentored by the school's Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter.

Arkansas senior Alexandra Kosmitis said she and her teammates had worked hard and were very excited when they heard they had won Saturday. They didn't feel their title was diminished when Coca-Cola told them they'd have to share it.

"We feel truly blessed to have been part of the competition and to have gotten scholarship money to further our educations," the 21-year-old Pine Bluff, Ark., native said. "The AKA chapter from Indiana University were really nice girls throughout the competition, and we're glad they are also getting scholarship money too." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022603894_2.html

They sound like very nice, Southern girls. I wish them all of the best. And it's good to know that my concern about them stealing steps was not altogether true as it seems that members of AKA were willing participants in teaching them how to step.

[Raineyb]

106. So it was the judges who said something. Yet you've got people

going on as though it was one of the other sororities making a stink.

I will admit though, that ZTA chapter is probably the only white GLO that I'd even heard of having any interest in stepping. Up where I went to school there wasn't a lot of mixing between black and white GLO that I could see. That may have changed but somehow I suspect it hasn't.

[Number23]

108. ALLEGEDLY, Rainey. You know how stuff has a life of its own on the Internet

There are rumors a'flying all over the place that judges were "told" to vote for the ZTA's. Chilli from TLC was apparently one of the judges and she (allegedly) said this though I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if this was not true.

This also goes to show you; I love Chilli and I will forever worship at the altar of TLC. But Chilli did not go to college, is not a member of a sorority, and I'm guessing she has never stepped. This whole show seems to have been an exercise in publicity and had very little to do with actual skill.

[Raineyb]

118. Funny you should mention publicity.

I'd been going through the performances on You Tube (I've always enjoyed watching them but frankly I don't think I have enough rhythm to actually pull it off myself) and I'd saw mention of MTV. I did a Tivo search and there is what appears to be a series called Step Off on MTV following around a couple of these teams the ZTA team being one of them. I'm going to record the upcoming shows to verify but I suspect that this show documents the lead up to this competition which of course this controversy is quite the PR for it if my suspicions are correct.

[tammywammy]

111. I've seen nothing but positive remarks from any of the women involved.

I think this may have just been an internet scandal, but not coming from any of the participants. Hey, another $100k in scholarship money is being given out, and during these economic times with higher education being so costly, that's nothing to sneeze at. Anything that helps more people (and in my bias, more women) being able to afford college is always a bonus.

[dustbunnie]

114. Agree. It doesn't seem like the competition is going to make or break careers.

So, the sharing thing is no biggie. They probably all had a blast preparing and competing, and from all the reports the girls all seem like great people. I'm happy Coke dished out double the money so more people could benefit... and yeah, especially since they're women. Every bit of help is a good thing.

I admit, I did laugh at the Matrix theme though. :)

[Number23]

119. COMPLETELY agree. I don't know how all of this got started but it's a shame

The ZTA girls seem lovely and genuine, the AKA's got their well-deserved scholarship money and hopefully if Coke is going to continue sponsoring this show in the future, this type of thing will NEVER happen again.

But anything related to race is such a complicated, painful, easily twistable issue in this country.

[tammywammy]

100. I've read a lot of comments on other stories

By people who have attended step shows (like you've said you have) and plenty said that ZTAs were the better performers. There's also comments saying the KAKs were better. Just because you don't believe the ZTAs deserved to win doesn't mean other people who've seen step shows and participated in them agree.

Also, from one story they said the ZTAs have been doing step competitions for 16 years, this was just their first "national" competition. Here's that story with more background on them http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/scoring-discrepancy-changes-results-329103.html

BTW, the ZTAs seem to have a great positive outlook on this and aren't upset with the co-winner status
"After learning they would be co-winners in the competition, Kosmitis said the nine-member step team remained grateful. “We are just keeping a positive attitude about it," she said. "We are excited to still have $100,000 for our scholarships and we are excited that someone else can have some money to help them out as well.""

[Number23]

75. lol As usual, Brew the black people in this thread who have actually BEEN to step shows

and PARTICIPATED in them are being minimized if not being called "haters" who are jealous that these uncoordinated, stepping neophytes won something that black people have been doing for damn near 50 years and is an integral part of black college culture.

I've been going to step shows since the late 1980's, but according to some here, I'm just a "hater" and the ZTA team won because they were "simply better" than those black girls and that's why people are mad! Never mind that "scoring discrepancy!" Pretend to not see the number of times the girls were off-sync and clumsy! Forget the well-made point up thread that because this was a corporate event, the corporation in charge more than likely did this to try to increase future support or gin up controversy which of course = publicity.

When will I learn to keep my educated opinion to myself and not just go with the flow which is that white people will ALWAYS know better than me, even when they have ABSOLUTELY no idea what they are talking about??! Dammit 23, you should KNOW this by now!! :banghead:

[Brewman_Jax]

81. I know!

what were we thinking? :crazy:

[vadawg]

132. WTF so if some dude from another culture beats me at a sport that my culture has done for 100's of

years and is a integral part of my culture then the refs must have made a mistake or been biased. Seems you are saying in your first paragraph that the white girls had no right to win the competition due to it being a black thing...

[Number23]

133. As usual, you have misinterpreted EVERYTHING and have absolutely no damn idea

what you are talking about.

[vadawg]

134. no i understand that you are saying stepping is someting no one who isnt black would understand

and have no right to judge...

[TexasObserver]

61. "Bring it On - Stepping Back." - the film script writes itself.

See, the white, stuck up girls from Ronald Reagan High go steal the steps of the girls at MLK High, and then it is on!

I wonder (Bring It On) if this has been done before.

[crazyjoe]

62. racist judges, the white girls won....boo friggin hoo

give me a break, they were the best. That's why they won

[tammywammy]

65. Either they won or they didn't

I'd like to hear what the "scoring discrepancy" was. Unless there was some rigging involved by the judges it's pretty BS they'd have to split the prize. :shrug:


edited to add: I'm reading another version of this story and see it's not "splitting" the prize as the AKA's will get the same prize. That's a more acceptable solution they each get the same, not split down the middle.

[-..__...]

74. Someone needs to tell ZTA girls...

that the "Trinity" look (from the Matrix), is sooo last decade.

[dustbunnie]

76. Hee! That's what I was thinking exactly! :-D

[petronius]

77. I think a lot of the complaints would have more credibility if they were aimed

at the sponsorship itself, or if they'd come before the event. Once an activity is commercialized by a multinational, and when participants are OK with that (sensibly so, scholarship $$$ are pretty nice), then the 'cultural preserve' claim is substantially diluted.

I also don't think it's right to assume that complaints about the outcome are all rooted in race - how many judged events don't end in arguments that the winners were not actually the best?

It does seem that the organizers did not handle the outcry correctly. Either stick up for your judging, or be totally transparent about the reason for the change, but a feel-good co-winner thing based on a vague discrepancy sounds like BS. Still, if twice as many women get scholarships it's hard to be too upset...

[burning rain]

78. The black sororities could solve the issue by insisting that stepping belongs to blacks.

They could refuse to participate in stepping competitions that admit non-black sororities. If the black sororities are too cowardly to do so, they expose themselves to defeat in competitions at the hands (or stepping feet) of non-blacks.

[reflection]

93. That's really what it boils down to.

If no whites need apply, that's cool. That shoe's certainly been on the other foot for a long time. But let's not kid ourselves and pretend it's fair to penalize a winning team for their skin color. Just let the competition be all black next time and everything will be fine. :shrug:

[fishwax]

101. that assumes, of course, that the winning team somehow *was* penalized for their skin color

There's no real evidence to that effect. :shrug:

[reflection]

109. Really?

Seems pretty obvious to me. I can't imagine any other reason for a two-day uproar over who won a step competition.

In the end, though, the winning team got to keep the entirety of their prize. The only thing they shared was the stage. So maybe 'penalized' is the wrong word. 'Marginalized' might be a better descriptor. :shrug:

[fishwax]

124. you can't imagine people thought AKA should have won b/c they thought AKA did better job?

"Seems pretty obvious to me. I can't imagine any other reason for a two-day uproar over who won a step competition."

:shrug:

[reflection]

128. Yeah, I can imagine that.

I'm just not seeing it here. As has been pointed out elsewhere, the crowd clearly enjoyed the routine and it was solid.

Uproars after post-sporting events usually occur (in my opinion) when one team has *dominated* the other and lost. And that's not the impression I got after checking out the links. Has there been a definitive statement on how disparate the two teams' scores were after the correction? I haven't obsessed over the story so I might have missed it.

[burning rain]

125. It's not just a black/white thing.

If, say, a sorority of Asian girls had won, the self-pitying grievancemongers on this thread would still be pissed, though I suppose they'd express it more cautiously.

[fishwax]

126. "self-pitying grievancemongers"

I'd say that's an apt description for the posters who are upset that the winning white team has to share the title with the winning black team.

[burning rain]

127. Perhaps some of them, too.

Maybe there needs to be a prize for every racial group with a team.

[Stevenmarc]

80. They Vanilla Ice'd the competition.

[timeforpeace]

103. Reading the posts in this thread suggests that achieving a post-racial society may not be possible.

[deaniac21]

121. I can't bring myself to give a flying fuck at a rolling donut about

anything any sorority or fraternity has done since the beginning of time.Viva, non-conformity!!

[johnnie]

130. Kick

I don't really care about this, but I was getting a kick out of reading the replies.