In all my 30-some years of loving sports and working in a male-dominated world, only once did I ever barge into to a club where I wasn't wanted.

I was in the sixth grade, and my brothers had built a "BOYS ONLY" clubhouse in a tree on the edge of our yard. I waited until they weren't home, and I barreled my way up the tree. I was so hurt and blinded by my anger at being excluded that I was careless. As I got close, I made one final power move. But the branch I jumped on was weak and it broke.

	Martha Burk's pursuit of equality has hit a speed bump.

I fell all the way to the ground and suffered a concussion. It's been a joke in my family ever since I got out of the hospital. But now that joke is the perfect analogy for Martha Burk and her blinding desire to see women members in the Augusta clubhouse.

The branches under Burk are bending and breaking.

She's headed for a painful fall.

Of course I believe women should not be discriminated against. The way I've lived my life is proof of my strong conviction. As I've said all along concerning Augusta, until sex discrimination is treated as seriously as race discrimination, progress will be slow. I understand that Augusta National Golf Club, a private club, is well within its legal rights. But I do believe it is morally wrong.

That being said, when it comes to Burk's case against Augusta, my interest is waning.

Preserving Title IX (which is a law too many federally funded institutions break) carries far more weight and affects far more women. Especially now when the Bush administration is reviewing it, Title IX could use the heat and publicity that Burk's National Council of Women's Organizations is pouring on Augusta.

Okay, let's give Burk her due -- and her due criticism. She embarrassed enough members of Augusta to eventually force change. Congratulations. Someday a few token women (likely widows of deceased male members) will gain membership. But then, this past week, Burk made such a rank and tasteless attempt to keep her case in the spotlight that she instead cheapened her cause. And she appeared so out of touch that she is now easier to dismiss.

In pushing her case against Augusta National Golf Club, Burk cited the role of women in the military. "It's an insult to the 250,000 women serving in the United States military," she said at a news conference in New York City. "It's appalling that the women who are willing to lay down their lives for democratic ideals should be shut out of this club."

By connecting the Augusta and women fighting in Iraq, Burk said she's trying to make a statement that "discrimination is wrong wherever you find it." In making that connection, Burk did acknowledge that the National Council of Women's Organizations (which she now seems to totally identify with herself) "runs the risk of trivializing itself."

It does and it has. She did and she has.

In response to Burk's latest claim, Augusta spokesman Glenn Greenspan said three words apply to Burk: "Shame on you." I couldn't agree with him more.

I have to question whether Burk has the support of the 250,000 women in the military. She sure made it sound like she does. More important, though, as the war with Iraq progresses and we hear the horrible stories of combat, we gain perspective. I, for one, now see elite clubs like Augusta as more trivial than ever.

	A candlelight vigil in Lynch's hometown in West Virgina adds perspective to Burk's argument.

The day after Burk's speech in New York, a grief-stricken father was on "The Today Show" telling Katie Couric about his daughter, Jessica.

Jessica Lynch is just 19 years old. She joined the Army two years ago as a way to earn college money. It's her dream to go to school and become an elementary school teacher. At the time of the interview she was MIA somewhere in Iraq. Fortunately, Jessica, who was suffering from multiple wounds, was rescued Tuesday in a daring raid on an Iraqi hospital. Stories like Jessica's will haunt Burk. What does Augusta mean to Jessica? To her family? Attaching Burk's cause to Jessica Lynch and other women serving in the military is abusive. It's taking advantage of a shockingly sad situation. No matter how worthy the cause -- and fighting against gender discrimination is a worthy cause -- all media attention is not good media attention.

In less than two weeks, Burk will gather several hundred supporters to protest outside Augusta National during the Masters. She will get all the attention she wants. Too bad her argument, in my eyes, is damaged beyond repair.

The National Council of Women's Organizations speaks for women who can't be heard. Burk's voice can be one of the most powerful in the country. But, in this case, I'd rather speak for myself.

Burk made her one final power move. And I won't follow her. I learned a long time ago that going out on a limb can be dangerous. No clubhouse is worth the fall.

SportsCenter anchor Chris McKendry is a regular columnist for Page 2.