Women's Hoops Blog

Inane commentary on a game that deserves far better


Saturday, September 27, 2008

More about what's going on between SMU and former player Jennifer Colli: Ex-player alleges SMU coach challenged her sex life
The former SMU player is suing the school and head coach Rhonda Rompola for revoking her scholarship after Colli complained to the athletic director about what Colli said she considered to be inappropriate questions and comments regarding her sex life and other gay relationships on the team.

"We're alleging that they are retaliating against her," Michael Kelly, one of Colli's attorneys, said in an interview.
Pat Griffin blogs about SMU, saying that, whatever the facts of the case may be...
The tragic part of this lawsuit is that it will be read by some schools as justification for avoiding lesbians coaches and athletes or going on a witch hunt against lesbian coaches and athletes as a way to prevent being caught in the legal and public relations nightmare into which SMU is now descending. Ironically, many of these same schools continue to hire, recruit and defend male coaches and athletes who are charged with rape, drug offenses, other felonies as well as NCAA violations as long as they are contributing to the win column. While these offenses are tolerated, all a lesbian coach or athlete needs to do is get caught being who she is and having the nerve to demand respect and fairness.

It would make so much more sense to educate athletic staff about effective, fair policies that are not based on discrimination or fear. I invite readers to check out resources we have on the It Takes A Team web site that address these issues and provide policies recommendations for athletic administrators and coaches.
It still stuns me that so many universities, public school systems and summer leagues don have such policies in place.