Baylor Asked Griner Not to Discuss Sexuality

[Wbbfan1]

Hurt Recruiting - Link

Probably happens at many universities.

Have to wonder how the Baylor Administration feels about Kim and others hiding the fact that Brittney was gay. Goes against their written beliefs and policies.

 

[EricLA]

Well, on one hand "don't ask don't tell" is passe and archaic, but on the other hand, Griner went there knowing the universities policy on homosexuality. I find it a tad disturbing that Mukley told Griner not to discuss her sexuality...

Kim Mulkey, her college head coach, told players not to be open publicly about their sexuality because it would hurt recruiting and look bad for the program.

But I still go back to the thought that Brit chose to attend that school. How she ever got Griner to attend - "don't be yourself because it will reflect badly on our program and hurt recruiting, but come here and play for me..." just doesn't sit well with me, BUT... it was Griner's choice...

 

[pauliewalnuts]

THAT HAPPENS SO MUCH EVERYWHERE THAT IT'S BASICALLY A OLD, BORING STORY, SO NO COMMENT FROM ME. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT PRACTICES THIS?

 

[EricLA]

THAT HAPPENS SO MUCH EVERYWHERE THAT IT'S BASICALLY A OLD, BORING STORY, SO NO COMMENT FROM ME. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT PRACTICES THIS?

Well, Rene Portland at PSU went MUCH further in her "policies" and ended up getting run out of town in short order when it all came to light. Kudos to the university for getting rid of that particular cancer...

And it does NOT "happen so much everywhere". In fact, I'd go so far as to say more schools celebrate diversity on their women's athletic teams than are restrictive like Baylor. Obviously any deeply religious school will have policies probably similar to Baylor, but (and this is just my opinion as I have no concrete information) my feeling is more schools take a more accepting, encouraging, and positive approach...

 

[alexrgct]

THAT HAPPENS SO MUCH EVERYWHERE THAT IT'S BASICALLY A OLD, BORING STORY, SO NO COMMENT FROM ME. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT PRACTICES THIS?

It's not a story that a school that has won two national championships on the backs of lesbian players actively discouraged the kids from discussing their sexuality? Yeah, nothing to see here.

If you don't type in all caps it draws less attention to your post, which in this case would probably be to the benefit of all concerned.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Well, Rene Portland at PSU went MUCH further in her "policies" and ended up getting run out of town in short order when it all came to light. Kudos to the university for getting rid of that particular cancer...

And it does NOT "happen so much everywhere". In fact, I'd go so far as to say more schools celebrate diversity on their women's athletic teams than are restrictive like Baylor. Obviously any deeply religious school will have policies probably similar to Baylor, but (and this is just my opinion as I have no concrete information) my feeling is more schools take a more accepting, encouraging, and positive approach...

Um, exactly how many schools do you know advertising the fact that they have gay players on the team? Exactly how many coaches are "out"?

Sadly, and I wish it wasn't so, it does happen. There are players who don't want to play for a lesbian coach and others who might prefer to have at least some teammate be gay to share the unique challenges they face. In the same way, there are players that don't want to play for a male coach (or, more rarely, a female) and there are players that don't want to play for a black coach (or a white coach) etc.

And this IS used in recruiting. Even in a "non-negative" way, it can be used. Such a shame.

 

[alexrgct]

I, for one, have lost what little respect I had for Kim Mulkey. "Yeah, it's totally cool that you're gay. Win me a national championship. Just don't talk about it so that I can say whatever some other kid and her family want to hear."

Mods, delete this if you want, but I'd think it'd be difficult to talk out of both sides of your mouth with Bell's Palsy.

 

[pap49cba]

The title of this thread is a bit misleading. It sounds as though "Baylor" didn't ask Griner to be quiet, Mulkey did. "It was a recruiting thing...."

I'm with Alex on this one. I have lost all respect for Mulkey given the shenanigans surrounding the recruitment of Griner, her courtside histrionics and her behavior following the loss to Louisville. At least she won one NC during Griner's career. I hope she's happy.

 

[easttexastrash]

I am not sure how many players in NCAA history have talked about their sexuality to the press. I am pretty certain that UCONN has had a gay player or two over the years and I can't say that I have heard any of them discuss their sexuality.

I have no problem with Mulkey asking BG not to speak publicly about her sexuality, as long as she did not ask BG to live her private life as something she wasn't. BG was obviously allowed to live her life at Baylor as a gay person without any repercussions.

 

[easttexastrash]

Having said that, this is going to hurt Baylor recruiting more than it would have if Mulkey had not asked BG to stay tight lipped (no pun intended) while at Baylor. And if that is the case, then Mulkey deserves whatever repercussions come from that.

Coaching at a private school that is so Christian oriented is very different than public universities. Mulkey really has to walk a tight rope between upholding the university code of conduct and supporting her players.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I am not sure how many players in NCAA history have talked about their sexuality to the press. I am pretty certain that UCONN has had a gay player or two over the years and I can't say that I have heard any of them discuss their sexuality.

I have no problem with Mulkey asking BG not to speak publicly about her sexuality, as long as she did not ask BG to live her private life as something she wasn't. BG was obviously allowed to live her life at Baylor as a gay person without any repercussions.

reporters should be asking about basketball and nothing else... Griner's "appearance" and sexuality has always been a distraction for her, Mulkey, the Team and Baylor. cool that Kim made it a non-issue.

btw UConn has and had a number of gay players, I wonder if they feel uncomfortable being forced to wear dresses and heels

 

[EricLA]

Um, exactly how many schools do you know advertising the fact that they have gay players on the team? Exactly how many coaches are "out"?

Sadly, and I wish it wasn't so, it does happen. There are players who don't want to play for a lesbian coach and others who might prefer to have at least some teammate be gay to share the unique challenges they face. In the same way, there are players that don't want to play for a male coach (or, more rarely, a female) and there are players that don't want to play for a black coach (or a white coach) etc.

And this IS used in recruiting. Even in a "non-negative" way, it can be used. Such a shame.

By that I mean coaches encourage players to be themselves. You don't hear Geno advertising "if you are gay, you will need to keep it to your self". I know for a fact many of the UCONN players who have gone through the program who are gay. It's not something coaches jump up and down about and say "yay we have gays on our team".

I never said schools "advertise" the fact that they have gay players, but i'd bet you a ton of money at schools like UCONN, if it gets discussed between a player and the coaches, they are not told to "keep it hidden and don't discuss it".

 

[RadyLady]

btw UConn has and had a number of gay players, I wonder if they feel uncomfortable being forced to wear dresses and heels

Why, what a silly thing to say! I have a number of gay friends who are very comfortable dressed in female attire....and some of them are even women.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Why, what a silly thing to say! I have a number of gay friends who are very comfortable dressed in female attire....and some of them are even women.

your friends aren't being recruited by Geno or Kim

 

[RadyLady]

your friends aren't being recruited by Geno or Kim

I still say it is a silly thing to say, based upon a generalization you made.

 

[meyers7]

Why, what a silly thing to say! I have a number of gay friends who are very comfortable dressed in female attire....and some of them are even women.

Well played Rady, well played.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I still say it is a silly thing to say, based upon a generalization you made.

ok... and, its said and I'm not changing it for you

 

[RadyLady]

Well played Rady, well played.

man, it was the perfect pitch...I had to swing...guaranteed home run

 

[RadyLady]

ok... and, its said and I'm not changing it for you

not asking you to do so, dude. chill

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I was radio channel hopping while driving earlier today and caught :"Brittany Griner was asked by her Coach not to reveal her gender orientation while at Baylor." In what context did this come out? I have not gone internet surfing for same. Gender orientation/sexual proclivities etc is such an irrelevancy, useless distraction, who cares type of noise.

On edit: O'kay. Saw the ESPN article and the interview snippet and Brittany said she told Mulkey in recruiting and Mulkey said no problem. Griner said she tweted a couple of things and a University "office" called her a recommended she take those things down. She said she went to Baylor knowing that openly talking your homosexuality was "an unwritten" nono, then she found out it was a written no no. She obviously was not crazy about the policy.

 

[pppggg]

Griner's comments confirm what I said in an earlier topic. Baylor was worried about recruiting. They didn't want an openly gay player to influence future players coming to the school. Baylor and Mulkey were dishonest not just with Brit but themselves. Don't ask don't tell no longer applies to the military but it is still in place at Baylor.

Future players and parents will have that on their mind when considering Baylor.

 

[pauliewalnuts]

It's not a story that a school that has won two national championships on the backs of lesbian players actively discouraged the kids from discussing their sexuality? Yeah, nothing to see here.

If you don't type in all caps it draws less attention to your post, which in this case would probably be to the benefit of all concerned.

OPEN YOUR EYES, EARS, AND MIND.

 

[pap49cba]

Too often, it seems, university codes of conduct, student handbook rules, etc. seem only to apply to non-athletes.

That said, my problem with this news is that Mulkey knowingly recruited a young lady whose lifestyle choice was going to put her (Griner) in a very difficult position given the written policies of a private Baptist university. But all Kim seemed to be worried about was how it might hurt recruiting and the program's image.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Too often, it seems, university codes of conduct, student handbook rules, etc. seem only to apply to non-athletes.

That said, my problem with this news is that Mulkey knowingly recruited a young lady whose lifestyle choice was going to put her (Griner) in a very difficult position given the written policies of a private Baptist university. But all Kim seemed to be worried about was how it might hurt recruiting and the program's image.

I think the reporting of the information is too limited and cryptic to draw any firm conclusions. That being said, it seems that Griner was aware her orientation could be an issue at Baylor and raised the issue with Mulkey in the recruiting process and Mulkey told her it would not be an issue if she did not wear it on her sleeve. Guess what: that approach worked. That being said I imagine that Griner chaffed at the constraints imposed by being at Baylor from time to time. Perhaps there was some payback for her in her public announcement so soon after the end of her senior season at Baylor.

 

[Icebear]

Griner's comments confirm what I said in an earlier topic. Baylor was worried about recruiting. They didn't want an openly gay player to influence future players coming to the school. Baylor and Mulkey were dishonest not just with Brit but themselves. Don't ask don't tell no longer applies to the military but it is still in place at Baylor.

Future players and parents will have that on their mind when considering Baylor.

Baylor was probably worried about more than recruiting. They were probably worried about the impact on alumni fundraising, as well, because of the perception her presence betrayed "Chrisitian" policies and the undermining of "Christian" values. The entire story smacks of tremendous hypocrisy.