The Shorthorn - Love and Basketball

Love and Basketball

Written by Princess Mcdowell

Wednesday, 08 October 2008 08:40 PM

Congratulations women’s basketball, you’ve just received another black eye that will be hard to erase.

On Sept. 22, former Southern Methodist University women’s basketball player Jennifer Colli filed a $2 million lawsuit against the athletic department, contending that her scholarship was wrongfully pulled.

The story starts with Colli’s arrival at SMU, where her sister Juli played. Colli told local media that at the team’s first meeting, head coach Rhonda Rompola informed the players she wouldn’t tolerate relationships between players.

Several players on the team were gay.

Colli said that Rompola asked players about their relationships with each other several times, including during postseason player meetings where ways to improve play are usually discussed. Colli kept a running diary of the program’s problems, including alleged drug use and academic cheating. She collected affidavits from fellow players that bolstered her claims.

When she presented the information to the administration, nothing happened.

Then, in fall 2006, SMU stripped Colli of her scholarship, saying she lied about the charges and violated school rules.

Her appeals were denied without being funneled through the proper channels.

Colli’s story eerily mirrors the one former Louisiana State University coach Dana “Pokey” Chatman found herself in a few years ago. Chatman stepped down as coach with her team on their way to the National Championship game after allegations arose that she had improper relationships with some of her players.

The situation effectively blackballed Chatman from women’s basketball in America. She’s now an assistant coach of Moscow’s Spartak. Yeah, she had to go to Russia to escape everything.

My problem with all this is simple: What’s so inappropriate about people dating within an organization?

This issue, which seems to pop up every few years, does nothing but help perpetuate stereotypes in women’s basketball. If it’s true, Rompola’s insistence on her players not dating is ridiculous and, frankly, none of her business.

Sure, she may have been burned in the past by this situation and now cautions against it, but that’s something no one can control. If the relationship is legal – not potential statutory rape – it should be left to the participants and no one else.

I’ve seen several instances of teams succeeding despite players dating.

My varsity high school basketball team had players in relationships with teammates and others in the department – varsity dating junior varsity, for example. Every time they stepped on the court, it was nothing but business. Our varsity squad went undefeated in district play four years in a row and had several deep trips to the playoffs.

I understand the old adage “Don’t date people at work,” but I’ve never heard of it being so harshly enforced.

If these people want to carry on relationships – homosexual or heterosexual – they should be allowed to without fear of reprieve. Scholarships and coaching contracts do not equate to ownership.

— Princess McDowell is a journalism senior and a sports columnist for The Shorthorn.
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