Female columnist questions antics and attire of reporter at center of Jets sexual harassment investigation.
Jemele Hill, a columnist with ESPN.com, isn't defending Jets coach Rex Ryan and one of his assistants, defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman, who reportedly behaved in ways toward an attractive television reporter in ways that could most charitably called boorish.But Hill said the nature of stories reported by Azteca television's Ines Sainz -- she once previewed the Super Bowl by measuring players' biceps in a "strongest arms" contest -- cast a pall on female professionals in the industry.
It's taken a long time for women to be taken seriously in sports media. It was 20 years ago this week that Lisa Olson, currently a sports columnist for AOL Fanhouse, was subjected to humiliating treatment by members of the New England Patriots in their locker room, an incident that many acknowledge as a turning point for female media members in their struggle to gain respect in the sports industry. At the time, many dismissed Olson's claims of harassment, and she received an avalanche of public scorn.But at the risk of sounding insensitive to Sainz, I would never group her situation with the Jets with Olson's treatment by the Pats. I'm having a hard time feeling sympathetic for someone who at times carries herself in a manner that insults some women in this business.
... Then there's the matter of the attire she's worn on the job around professional football. A quick Google search turns up numerous images of Sainz standing on a football field in clothing that seems better suited for a nightclub.
...In no way am I saying Sainz deserved to be disrespected because of what she wore or that she doesn't bring a hard-hitting, Barbara Walters-type approach to her job.It isn't fair, but female sports journalists have to adhere to unspoken rules that our male counterparts never have to consider. Otherwise, the door is left open for comments such as the ones Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis made when he was asked on a D.C. radio show about Sainz's situation.
"You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she's going to want somebody. I don't know what kind of woman won't, if you get to go and look at 53 men's [bodies]," Portis said. "I know you're doing a job, but at the same time, the same way I'm going to cut my eye if I see somebody worth talking to, I'm sure they do the same thing."
Portis -- or more likely, someone on the Redskins publicity staff, writing for him -- quickly issued an apology for the remarks, as well he should. But those comments and the Sainz incident show two things: How far the NFL has come from Olson's time ... and sadly, how far it still has to go.
The league itself has sent a memo to all 32 teams "reminding them of the media relations policy for equal access and its rules for general conduct toward media," said the Associated Press.
Those rules stress that “women are a common part of the sports media. By law, women must be granted the same rights to perform their jobs as men. Please remember that women reporters are professionals and should be treated as such, “ AP reported.
League spokesman Greg Aiello also sent an email to the Association of Women in Sports Media restating league policy, AP said.