ESPN analyst says Missouri AD’s accusations against Dawn Staley are ‘slander’
BY GREG HADLEY
January 31, 2018 09:49 AM
A heated rivalry took a nasty turn into a war of words Tuesday, as Missouri athletics director Jim Sterk accused South Carolina women’s basketball fans of spitting on Mizzou players and using racial slurs during the teams’ game this Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.
Sterk also said USC head coach Dawn Staley was responsible for “promoting” the hostile and “unhealthy” environment in which the alleged misconduct took place.
South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner issued a statement soon after saying the university had investigated the claims and uncovered no confirmed reports of them.
Meanwhile, others in the women’s college basketball world came powerfully to the defense of Staley and fought back against the assertion that she would encourage a violent atmosphere.
Leading the charge, ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson ripped Sterk for his comments, calling them “beyond belief” and “ridiculous.” She also accused Sterk of slandering Staley and predicted that investigations would be launched into his comments, resulting in a public apology “at the very least.”
In legal terms this is called slander. To say that Dawn Staley promoted this type of environment is beyond belief, in fact it's ridiculous. I am sure that there will be "investigations" into this & once Dawn's name is cleared AD Sterk owes her a public apology, at the very least. https://t.co/fDHYy7NRBq
— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) January 31, 2018
Robinson has had Staley for her ESPN podcast “Around the Rim” earlier this season.
One of Robinson’s colleagues at ESPN, writer Mechelle Voepel, added that Sterk “just made things much worse” by attacking Staley and compared his actions to pouring gasoline on a fire. She also complimented the more measured response of Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton.
The right way to try to put out a fire is NOT to pour more gasoline on it. Which is what Missouri AD Jim Sterk did with his remarks about Dawn Staley. Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton, in my estimation, tried to handle things correctly. But her AD just made things much worse.
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) January 31, 2018
I don't think either side - nor the SEC - has handled things perfectly in regard to the animosity that's developed between Mizzou and South Carolina WBB. But an AD calling out an opposing coach and putting all the blame on her is not leadership, nor does it help in any way.
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) January 31, 2018
Longtime women’s basketball writer Mel Greenberg, who founded the Associated Press poll, wrote on Twitter that Sterk should “watch a video of Dawn Staley’s visit with the Gamecocks to Philly last month and the love shown for one of the greatest athletes in the city’s history.”
Somebody needs to put the Missouri AD in a room and make him watch a video of Dawn Staley’s visit with the Gamecocks to Philly last month and the love shown for one of the greatest athletes in the city’s history.
— Mel Greenberg (@womhoopsguru) January 31, 2018
It's ignorant of Dawn Staley's legacy as a player, and now a coach, to suggest she incited a hostile environment.
— womenshoopsworld (@hoopism) January 31, 2018
Greg Hadley: @GregHadley9
High intensity game has USC, Missouri players scuffling on the court
The University of South Carolina Gamecocks beat Missouri, 64-54 in the Colonial Life Arena.
Tracy Glantztglantz@thestate.com
USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
‘I love what Dawn Staley stands for.’ Frank Martin defends fellow Gamecocks coach
This is an Accelerated Mobile Page ⚡. See standard version.
BY GREG HADLEY
January 31, 2018 09:49 AM
A heated rivalry took a nasty turn into a war of words Tuesday, as Missouri athletics director Jim Sterk accused South Carolina women’s basketball fans of spitting on Mizzou players and using racial slurs during the teams’ game this Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.
Sterk also said USC head coach Dawn Staley was responsible for “promoting” the hostile and “unhealthy” environment in which the alleged misconduct took place.
South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner issued a statement soon after saying the university had investigated the claims and uncovered no confirmed reports of them.
Meanwhile, others in the women’s college basketball world came powerfully to the defense of Staley and fought back against the assertion that she would encourage a violent atmosphere.
Leading the charge, ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson ripped Sterk for his comments, calling them “beyond belief” and “ridiculous.” She also accused Sterk of slandering Staley and predicted that investigations would be launched into his comments, resulting in a public apology “at the very least.”
In legal terms this is called slander. To say that Dawn Staley promoted this type of environment is beyond belief, in fact it's ridiculous. I am sure that there will be "investigations" into this & once Dawn's name is cleared AD Sterk owes her a public apology, at the very least. https://t.co/fDHYy7NRBq
— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) January 31, 2018
Robinson has had Staley for her ESPN podcast “Around the Rim” earlier this season.
One of Robinson’s colleagues at ESPN, writer Mechelle Voepel, added that Sterk “just made things much worse” by attacking Staley and compared his actions to pouring gasoline on a fire. She also complimented the more measured response of Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton.
The right way to try to put out a fire is NOT to pour more gasoline on it. Which is what Missouri AD Jim Sterk did with his remarks about Dawn Staley. Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton, in my estimation, tried to handle things correctly. But her AD just made things much worse.
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) January 31, 2018
I don't think either side - nor the SEC - has handled things perfectly in regard to the animosity that's developed between Mizzou and South Carolina WBB. But an AD calling out an opposing coach and putting all the blame on her is not leadership, nor does it help in any way.
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) January 31, 2018
Longtime women’s basketball writer Mel Greenberg, who founded the Associated Press poll, wrote on Twitter that Sterk should “watch a video of Dawn Staley’s visit with the Gamecocks to Philly last month and the love shown for one of the greatest athletes in the city’s history.”
Somebody needs to put the Missouri AD in a room and make him watch a video of Dawn Staley’s visit with the Gamecocks to Philly last month and the love shown for one of the greatest athletes in the city’s history.
— Mel Greenberg (@womhoopsguru) January 31, 2018
It's ignorant of Dawn Staley's legacy as a player, and now a coach, to suggest she incited a hostile environment.
— womenshoopsworld (@hoopism) January 31, 2018
Greg Hadley: @GregHadley9
High intensity game has USC, Missouri players scuffling on the court
The University of South Carolina Gamecocks beat Missouri, 64-54 in the Colonial Life Arena.
Tracy Glantztglantz@thestate.com
USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
‘I love what Dawn Staley stands for.’ Frank Martin defends fellow Gamecocks coach
This is an Accelerated Mobile Page ⚡. See standard version.
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