Lez Keep It Real

Are you out there looking? I am!

Other’s may have simply forgotten about Pokey Chatman and the supposed scandal at LSU but I haven’t. Now that the women’s Final Four is over, I’m waiting for Pokey to pop back into the public eye so that she might be able to clarify a thing or two about what really happened. Unless you follow women’s college basket ball or accidentally stumbled upon one of the two articles that were actually written about this issue, then you probably need a little reminder about what happened.

Apparently, Pokey had a little something something going on with one of her former players. It’s unclear as to whether this player had been on the team when the steamy affair took place. But once the relationship became public knowledge (Chatman was turned in by a close friend and confidant who also happens to be an assistant coach for the LSU Lady Tigers), Pokey stepped down as head coach with out giving any reason or explanation.

The Lady Tigers carried on, turning their focus from the scandal to the competition on the court. In a brilliant display of determination and pride for their program, they made it the Final Four in Cleveland before losing to Rutgers in the semi-final game. Still their resolve has to be admired. Admist the controversy that surrounded their school, they were able to rise above it.

Outside of the sporting world, hardly anyone even knew what had happened or even who Pokey was. It wasn’t covered in the national media and ESPN ran a few columns that weren’t even shown on the front page of their website. I think part of the reason it was so poorly covered or publicized is because no one really knew how to approach it or even what to say about it. Was it a gay issue? Was it an abuse of power? Was it easier to overlook because it involved women instead of men?

There’s a double standard here that’s unfortunate. I pose this question to you. What if this had been a male coach instead? What then? Would the story have been front page news on Yahoo? Would ESPN have led with it on their radio programs? SoCalSportsFan thinks so. And so do I. If Geno Auriemma had done the same thing, there would have been public outrage beyond belief, a nationwide call for his head on a platter and endless media coverage. Dare I say it would have been as big of a story as Don Imus’ racial slurs against the Rutgers women’s basketball team? Ok, that’s a stretch. But it would have at least made the national news and been analyzed on every talk show from O’Reilly to Olbermann and back again.

I personally don’t think it’s right for any coach, be it male, female, gay or straight, to sleep with one of their players. Bottom line.

Women’s basketball is a sport that has often begged for recognition and respect.But this isn’t the kind of recognition they seek, nor does it bring the sport any respect. What a situation like this does is bring the gay issue into the spotlight. Whether they want to admit it or not, players, staff and coaches alike can’t deny the fact that sexual orientation is often brought into question whenever women’s basketball is concerned. And rather than comment on it, they’d rather not even touch it.

The thing about this whole situation is that it isn’t really a gay issue at all. Yes, that is one facet of what happened. But it shouldn’t be the shock in this shocking situation. I’ve read a billion and one comments on this subject and many of them are absolutely appaling. One man wrote about how he was concerned about sending his daughter off to play college basketball, for fear that the coach might make a move. Another man said that this proves the case in point about how homosexuals on a sports team can’t control their attractions. Are you kidding me? When did lesbians become such predators? As a lesbian myself, one who has played on many sports teams, I have never had the overwhelming urge to jump one of my teammates or hypnotize them to come to my over to my “side.” It doesn’t work that way. These comments are one thing and one thing only: the result of ignorance.

The main point is that Pokey made a serious mistake if she did, in fact, sleep with one of her players. That was wrong. Same if Gino had slept with one of his players. WRONG. There are certain lines you shouldn’t cross and unwritten rules that exist on every sports team. The player/coach relationship is a sacred one and should be respected by its particants in the highest regard. I understand, however, that things do and can happen — people make mistakes. But that doesn’t make it right.

The “formal” investigation at LSU has ended, with no new news to report. It seems as if the university stuffed the whole situation back into the closet. Pun fully intended.

I’ve often wondered where Pokey was during the Final Four, if she were off somewhere in a trench coat and sunglasses, sitting on a cushy stool at the end of the bar at some pub in a small town where no one even thought to look at her twice. I wondered if she sat there, hands wrapped around a bottle of Bud, with a proud smile on her face as she watched her former players compete on the biggest stage in women’s college basketball. I’m also wondering if she regretted stepping away from the game she loved so deeply, in the manner that she did.

At the moment, I’m simply wondering where she is now.

It’s time to play “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!

gay, lesbian, pokey chatman, lsu, women’s basketball, final four