Lez Keep It Real

Sounds like we’re talking about cartoon characters here. But, really we’re talking about Sheryl Swoopes and Pokey Chapman. Swoopes is the first prominent figure in women’s basketball to really comment on the allegations still in question:

Espn.com - Allegations that former LSU coach Pokey Chatman had an affair with one or more of her players will hurt women’s basketball, WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes said Friday.

Swoopes shared her thoughts on Pokey Chatman in an interview session during her first visit to the Texas Tech campus since coming out in 2005.
Swoopes, who made headlines two years ago by announcing that she was a lesbian, said she hasn’t spoken with Chatman since her resignation in early March.

“If it happened, ethically it’s probably not good,” Swoopes said. “To see something like that happen, whether it’s true or not, I think it’s just very damaging to women’s basketball.”

Swoopes said she feels she understands the challenge Chatman is facing after leaving LSU amid the allegations. The ripple effect, particularly on black female coaches, is difficult to quantify, she said. READ MORE

I have to say that I am glad that someone who is a visble figure, both as a lesbian and as a women’s basketball player, stepped up to weigh in on the Pokey situation. No one else, outside of the coaching staff at LSU, has cared to comment either way. I agree with Swoopes about the fact that this could have an impact of sorts regarding female coaches. However, she seems to think that it will directly impact African American female coaches. I disagree with this. What Pokey has achieved as a coach and what other coaches like Vivian Stringer, Coquese Washington and Dawn Staley have achieved in their respective careers will not be discounted. Who I think this will affect most, are lesbian coaches. This incident, whether true or not, will make it more difficult for women to come out of the closet as coaches because of the implications involved. And with women’s basketball already suffering from a high degree of in-the-closet syndrome, it won’t be any easier to break down that door now. In fact, more lesbian coaches might use this as reinforcement as to why they should stay in the closet.

I’m glad that Swoopes had enough moxie to voice her opinion, but I’m still patiently waiting for Pokey to shed some light on exactly what happened. Maybe if more people like Swoopes start a dialogue about this instead of sweeping it under the rug, Pokey might feel that she has a platform to speak out on her own behalf.

Either way, Swoopes is right: a situation like this, no matter what the outcome, is damaging to women’s basketball.

More information on Pokey and LSU

We’re still playing, “Where’s Pokey.” You’ve played “Where’s Waldo” before, haven’t you? Well, the same rules apply here. If you happen to stumble upon an article or an announcement of Pokey’s whereabouts, heck, if you happen to actually see her somewhere -contact me! Maybe I’ll even throw in a prize!

basketball, women’s basketball, lsu, pokey chapman, espn, sheryl swoopes, allegations, dawn staley, vivian stringer, texas tech, female coaches, lesbian coaches, lesbian, coming out, coming out of the closet, closet