NCAA

Strange Fruit: Kentucky Schools Unsafe for LGBTQ Students

Laura Ellis — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Did you feel safe in middle and high school? Were you ever physically harassed, or even assaulted, because of your LGBTQ identity? A report released last month by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) confirms what many of us already knew: Kentucky schools are often hostile and unsafe for LGBTQ students.

The study is called School Climate in Kentucky (PDF), and the results show lots of work still needs to be done. For example, 9 out of 10 students in the Commonwealth say they regularly hear anti-gay slurs in school. 36% report regularly hearing that language from school staff members.

Nearly 6 in 1o students were physically harassed (like being pushed or shoved), and 3 in 10 were physically assaulted (like being punched, kicked, or injured with a weapon) because of their LGBTQ status or gender presentation.

So instead of just rattling off numbers and feeling disheartened, we decided to speak to the folks who compiled the research. Mark Bartkiewicz is a GLSEN researcher who worked on the state reports, and he joined us by phone this week to talk about the results, how Kentucky's numbers compare to other states, and what can be done to help (spoiler alert: it's gay/straight student alliances and enlightened faculty members).

We also spoke more this week about the closet door in professional sports (for people who know next to nothing about them, we sure do talk about them a lot). This week, NCAA breakout star & top WNBA draft pick Brittney Griner came out of the closet. "I wouldn't say I was hiding or anything like that," she told Sports Illustrated in an interview. "I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality. So it wasn't hard at all. If I can show that I'm out and I'm fine and everything's ok, then hopefully the younger generation will definitely feel the same way."

Who doesn't feel the same way? Male professional athletes, it would seem. In fact, this same week, NFL player and University of Louisville alumnus Kerry Rhodes has been the target of gay rumors after MediaTakeOut.com released pictures of him looking affectionate with another man while on vacation (they helpfully illustrated the story with an NFL logo in which the football has been covered in pink sequins).

Rhodes told The Advocate that he's not gay, but he's an ally. "I know a lot of people are recently talking about athletes struggling to come out to their fans right now," he said, "and I support them, as well as wish those individuals comfort." It seems like the world is waiting for an actively-playing male athlete to come out, so in our Juicy Fruit and closing thoughts segments this week, we did some unpacking of the situation. How do sexual politics play out in the hyper-masculine culture of pro sports (especially football), and why is it so very different for women athletes than men?

Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Joseph Lord — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday, Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware spoke at news conference attended by every local media outlet and several national news outlets. They all were curious about Ware's right leg, which he broke in Sunday's Elite Eight game before a national televised audience.

Ware's injury was the news peg used by many writers to discuss how the NCAA treats its athletes. Among those was David Sirota, who wrote in Salon.com:

U of L's Jurich: Hurtt Will Remain On The Job While Answering NCAA Charges

Rick Howlett — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:45:24 +0000

University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich says there will be no change in status for assistant football coach Clint Hurtt while he responds to allegations that he broke NCAA rules in his previous job.

Hurtt received a notice of allegations from the NCAA yesterday and has 90 days to respond.

Source: Clint Hurtt, Others Misled NCAA Investigators

Associated Press and Rick Howlett — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:01:02 +0000

A person familiar with the situation says that the NCAA believes former Miami assistant coaches Clint Hurtt, Aubrey Hill and Jorge Fernandez provided false or misleading information during the probe into the university's athletic programs.

Report: NCAA to Cite U of L Assistant Hurtt

Rick Howlett — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:06:37 +0000

University of Louisville assistant football coach Clint Hurtt could be accused this week of violating NCAA rules when he was an assistant at the University of Miami.

A source tells CBS Sports that Hurtt, who’s U of L’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, will be cited for unethical conduct for alleged recruiting violations at Miami, where he was on staff from 2007 to 2009.

NCAA Celebrating 75 Years of March Madness

Rick Howlett — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Voting begins this month for the top players, teams and moments from the history of the NCAA basketball tournament.

It’s part of the March Madness 75th anniversary celebration.

The NCAA has compiled a list of 75 players, 25 teams and 35 tournament moments for fans to consider. Voters will trim the list to 15 players, one team and one moment.

McConnell Declines Obama Invite to Celebrate Kentucky Wildcats

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:04:36 +0000

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., turned down an invitation from President Obama to join the University of Kentucky men's basketball team at the White House on Friday. The Wildcats are visiting the president to celebrate their 2012 NCAA championship after defeating Kansas last month to obtain the university's eighth national title. According to McConnell's office, the Senator will be taking part in Kentucky Derby festivities. But state GOP sources are questioning if Mr.