Bob CollinsThe NFL is investigating complaints that members of the New York Jets harassed a female sports reporter in the locker room last week.
It happened, allegedly, to Inez Sainz, a sports reporter for TV Azteca. She told her story this morning on the CBS Early Show. (And, yes, let’s get it out of the way now: That is quite a plunging neckline for morning TV. Does that make her point invalid? Absolutely not. )
Today, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis did his profession’s image no favor by invoking a version of the “she wanted it” defense.
“You put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody got to be appealing to her,” Portis said. “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). … 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.”
The NFL reacted immediately to Portis, calling his comments “inappropriate and offensive.” An NFL spokesman said his comments “have no place in the NFL,” even though it appears they clearly exist there. They have for decades.
