Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

gia · Guest

Not for the fainted hearted................it's very very ugly

http://www.nbc4.tv/sports/2402764/detail.html

mb · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:18 pm Post subject:

Man, this is so sick and tragic. It will cast a bad light over the entire league. The scars on the person involved will be lifelong. It is dumbfounding and leaves one somewhat speechless.

kharris · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:19 pm Post subject:

Oh...my.....gosh! :shock: :shock:

That story makes Brandy Reed look like a girl scout.

mb · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:21 pm Post subject:

posted by GoMystics on the ESPN board:

Quote: This is truly horrific. My heart really goes out to the player who was attacked. I hope she is getting lots of support.

Sadly, this happens all the time in the lesbian community, but it's HUGELY underreported because of the double whammy victims face: the stigma of being gay and the stigma of being attacked by another woman.

Unfortunately, women do have the potential to be as abusive as men... violence is a human trait. Crimes like this aren't about gender, they're about power. Rape is a disgusting crime no matter who does it.

But you can bet it'll turn into a much bigger issue for the WNBA than it ever would be the NBA. When the rapist is a man, there's a sympathy in our society that he just went too far and couldn't control himself. There's also a tacit acknowledgment that rape is a masculine crime, the sole territory of testosterone. When the perp is a woman... look out! The first accusations all disown the perp from the female gender. She can't be a woman; she's a monster.

Alas, unless LA's been keeping a big secret, Tot is, most regrettably, female. So some people are going to make the equation between women athletes and power and testosterone and scream every stereotype in the book. So I hope the WNBA and all its supporters can band together to keep Tot's crimes from impacting the rest of our players and this leaugue. One of the most wonderful tyhings about the WNBA is that it brings powerful women together and powerful men support it.

Just some thoughts...

skew11 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

:shock: very disturbing story and sad for the victim...

tracey · Guest Joined: 17 Jul 2002 Posts: 146 Location: chandler AZ

Still speechless.

Mercurymaniac · Guest Joined: 04 Aug 2002 Posts: 1197 Location: Scottsdale

It's just so sickening to read that article. I hope the player attacked is getting the help and support she needs.

K-Mart · Guest Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 36 Location: Tulsa

Did anyone catch the story about Latasha Byears on MSNBC tonight? It was on the "Abrams Report" at 8:00 central time, during about the last 10 minutes of the show.

gia · Guest

No......was it just an overview or did they make a side show out of it?

K-Mart · Guest Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 36 Location: Tulsa

It was kind of an overview with several "legal types" debating whether or not she was likely to be charged with a crime. They seemed to think that because it's taking so long for anything to happen, that the DA feels like the case against Byears is weak. Whatever the case, it's a shame for all those involved.

Mercurymaniac · Guest Joined: 04 Aug 2002 Posts: 1197 Location: Scottsdale

I hope they can make the case, it would be a shame if those involved walked.

skew11 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

from SI I just got in the mail ...(retyping it) "For The Record" Section --

Female Kobe?

Investigated-- For allegedly sexually assaulting a former WNBA teammate, recently released Los Angeles Sparks forward Latasha Byers, 30, and a man allegedly sexually assaulted the victim at a party following a Sparks victory over the Sacramento Monarchs in Los Angeles on June 5. Citing a "personal matter", Byears left her teammates in Sacramento before their next game, on June 7, and was waived three days later. Her dismissal shocked the Sparks, who have won the past two WNBA Championships thanks in part to the bench play of the 5'11", 200 pound Byears, a seven year vet. "We were like'What?Why?" forward Delisha Milton told the Los Angeles Daily News. "We had a lot of questions." Last week the Los Angeles County district attorney's office confirmed that they are looking into the alleged assault. "The case is still under investigation," a spokesperson for the DA's office told SI on Monday. "There's no telling when it will end." The Sparks say they are cooperating with the investigation. (As of Monday, Byears, who could not be reached for comment, had not been charged).

In a preseason GQ profile Byears described herself as" the roughest player in the WNBA," and her actions on and off the court have supported that assertion. In 2002 she was suspended for one game after pleading no contest to reckless driving and for two games after throwing a ball at an opposing player. But her physical play won her many admirers. Before the season WNBA G.M.'s voted Byears the league's most underrated player, and former Sparks teammate Lisa Leslie told GQ, "Without (Byears), we don't win, and that's both championships." -- Chris Ballard

Mercurymaniac · Guest Joined: 04 Aug 2002 Posts: 1197 Location: Scottsdale

I just got my SI and saw the article. Now at least it doesn't feel like just an 'internet" story and who knows maybe they can get some people to come forward to further along the investigation.