reporters in locker rooms

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Ok, this has become a hot topic on another thread, so I thought I would ask the question-- Should female reporters have unrestricted access to men's locker rooms, and is it fair that male reporters do not have the same rights in female locker rooms?

― DJ, Monday, 17 February 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

well, equality IS eguality, yo.
why should we assume that men are any less deserving of privacy than women?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally, I think clothing should be banned.

(Except for that person over there, ew COVER THAT UP!)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, and that is why it is great to be female. It is always fair. It doesn't have to make sense. Otherwise we might cry, and withhold sex.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

You would have to pay me to go in to a men's locker room. The thought of what would await within fills me with dread.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

If it you went in, it would fill you with *CENSORED BY LAST REMAINING SHREDS OF DAN'S DECORUM AND TASTE*.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, indeed. WHICH IS WHY I'M NEVER GOING IN THERE.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Lara stars in "My Life As A Porno Sports Reporter"!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

It looks like me but it's not me. Promise, Mum, promise.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Hang on, why are you watching "My Life As A Porno Sports Reporter", Mum?

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 17 February 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I was sort of hoping for a serious discussion, but oh well I should have known better!

― DJ, Monday, 17 February 2003 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry DJ. How could we resist, though?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

any time dangly bits come up (no pun intended), abandon all hope...

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Many serious issues here, and many dangly bits as well...

1. Level one: if women can go into men's locker rooms, it is absolutely fair for men to interview women in their locker room.
2. Lara's point is well taken, why would women want to go in a men's locker room?
3. What's the big deal about whether they're dressed or not? This is a particularly Anglo-American hang-up.
4. Why is it necessary for reporters to go into a locker room? Nobody interviews Alan Greenspan in the john when the Fed raises interest rates. There's no inherent connection between the locker room and the sports activity.
5. Interview the players on the field, or wait for them to get dressed. Getting into the locker room for interviews is kinky, no matter what the gender combination.
6. Spectatorship of any sporting event is inherently voyeuristic. First of all, statistically, women don't watch locker room interviews anyway, so only men are watching. Sports viewing is one of the few opportunities sanctioned by society for men to look at each other's bodies with admiration--esp. australian rules football, there's no point to those shorts otherwise. They must cut off circulation to vital regions.
8. Let's be realistic: how many women's sporting events are carried on television, much less hounded by male reports trying to get into the women's locker rooms. Men don't care about women's sports. Argue if you will, but you know this is true. Compare ratings. But, women care about women's sports even less than men, so what are you going to do? Title IX doesn't force networks to cover male/female sporting events equally.
9. If you like sports, you should play sports. If you don't play sports, you should surf Internet porn sites or tie macrame owls.

― Skottie, Monday, 17 February 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Compare ratings" - women's tennis vs. men's tennis, women's soccer vs. men's soccer, women's figure skating vs. men's figure skating, women's gymnastics vs. men's gymnastics. sure, these are all 'girl sports' (yep, in the U.S. soccer is a girl's sport - as it should be), but still compare the ratings. And women's figure skating gets better ratings than the NBA for example (nevermind the NHL). Also compare coverage of women's events vs. men's events during the Olympics.

the 'women shouldn't be allowed in the locker rooms' argument is just one variation on the 'women shouldn't be allowed to be sports reporters' argument ie. bunk. Andy Rooney to thread!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the "NO ONE should be allowed in the locker rooms" point is not getting the respect and attention it deserves.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

but locker room interviews are part of the fabric of our culture, etc. etc. (see the Sportscenter ad - one of the best - for proof, details)!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

(This is where I would normally pull out the hyperbolic metaphor comparing locker room interviews to slavery but for some reason my sense of perspective is working today.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

well, working at a daily newspaper as I do, perhaps I might have something enlightened to say on the subject...
but I guess I don't.
no wait...okay, the reason journo's go into the locker room used to be because they were working with tight deadlines to get the player's reactions into the next morning's paper (since most sports events happen at night, right?). But it's sorta evolved into an empty tradition what with media relations micromanagement in pro sports. so, like, really?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

there are no empty traditions in pro sports (cub's seventh inning stretch excepted)!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, if these sports are more popular than the NBA, then why aren't male reporters allowed in women's locker rooms? Please explain James

― DJ, Monday, 17 February 2003 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

whoa, I though you wrote "more popular than the NRA" that would be something.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The poor reporters would see all of the boobies and just gibber.

(Real reason: can't show topless women on US TV.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

ha ha, Canadian TV is ALL topless women AND gov't funded.
Canada, the world's biggest titty bar, no drink minimum!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

but they do get to interview figure skaters immediately after the competition - BEFORE they go in the locker room! otherwise they do the boring post-game press conference routine which only pays off with Pat Riley (nowadays at least). It's not like female reporters are allowed into women's locker rooms either.

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

although I do wonder with WNBA games.... has anyone here watched an entire WNBA game? *crickets*

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, figure skating is not a sport, and nobody, but nobody wants to go into figure skater's locker rooms (male or female for different yet related reasons having to do with fear of a continuous and undifferentiated gender continuum).

Women's olympic events: hmmmmm, are you thinking about the one where they run around with the streamers? Or synchronized swimming?

Are you suggesting that anyone watches soccer on American television? Not if My Mother the Car or Charles In Charge is on cable.

― Skottie, Monday, 17 February 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not like female reporters are allowed into women's locker rooms either.

The poor reporters would see all of the boobies and just gibber.

(Real reason: see aforementioned breasts-on-US-TV problem.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

in the WNBA reporters are only allowed in the locker rooms for half an hour after the game, so the women just wait until they are gone before showering, male atheletes do not have this option as reporters can walk in and out anytime they feel like it.

― Stephen Ancroid, Monday, 17 February 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

if it's shown on ESPN it's a sport; and no, noone does watch soccer on American tv (thank god) but women's world cup did beat the men's world cup in the ratings.

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Good God, people. Make some international friends!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, are you trying to say they show female atheletes topless in other countries? Send me a video!!

― ralfus, Monday, 17 February 2003 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

most of the female athletes I'm hot for don't have much of a rack.

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

dude, after Canada beat the USA in women's hockey in the Olympics one year ago, CBC showed the victory lez out.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

(that's the second tasteless post I've made today)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

are there any parts of Canada that aren't cold as hell? cuz if so I'm on my way (unless the warm part's where the french canadians live).

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(that's the second tasteless post I've made today)

(To the same thread, no less!)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(oops, make that 3, see also: my comment's re: mimi rogers' bosom in the end of the world thread)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)

victory lez out???????

― ralfus, Monday, 17 February 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, more sports should end with a victory lez out. I'd watch more football if the winning team had alesbian orgy on call for the post-game celebration.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

lower British Columbia can be pretty temperate, as can Southern Ontari-ari-ari-O. Basically all of Canada below the 49th is all right, but the cold is kinda what MAKES the experience.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan - you realize most football games do have lesbian orgies at the post-game celebration, they're just not televised

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Skottie's post is mostly OTM, except for parts of 2, 4 and 5, most of which Blount has aleady successfully refuted with references to "This is Sports Center."

The real question: Are pitchers athletes?

Lezzing-up (faux ou vrai) is a long-standing athletic tradition. Marion Jones is hott!

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"Are pitchers athletes?" - Rick Reuschel to thread!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It's odd that this is presented as some sort of issue for the athletes (have they complained at all?), but the equality issue that actually arose over this was among the reporters, when male reporters were being allowed in to the locker rooms (yes, male sports) and females weren't. My feeling is that the solution is to discontinue the whole practice. I don't see the benefit, as long as the athletes make themselves as available as usual.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

That's my position too, Martin, but we are now at the all-important "SHOW US THE LESBIAN ORGY" portion of the argument.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Steps in an Argument
1. Introduce the topic
2. Give Your Position
3. Back Up Your Position w/clear, logical evidence
4. Show Them the Lesbian Orgy
5. Concluding Statements

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't forget the LPGA - and what it stands for. Long may she wave.

― Skottie, Monday, 17 February 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

women's world cup did beat the men's world cup in the ratings.

yes, but the one was on in the middle of the night. MLS soccer gets higher TV ratings in the U.S. than the WUSA, but you're just having shots at the sport anyway.

Re: Why not interview them on the field or after the game? Because they will get in their cars or on the team bus and go home/to the hotel! Unless a team's media relations director is going to be able to corral everyone into the press room after a game/match, it's very necessary for reporters to have access to a locker room in order to their job properly.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

heaven forbid that we not know if Kobe gave 110 percent or not.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 29 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

The difference is that men do not care if strangers see them naked, whereas women do.

Men probably start off being just as shy about their bodies as women, but are trained to accept public nudity fairly early and not to treat it as unusual. One quickly realizes that shyness calls more attention to itself than the nudity. It quickly gets rather easy.

Unless of course you weigh 800 pounds and look forward to being buried in a piano case. That's of course a different kettle of morbidly obese fish.

― JeremyZag, Wednesday, 19 February 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm still not going in there.

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Over here - Locker room completely off bounds to all journalists (except for Chris Kamara in the morning on Soccer AM). That is why we have to have cartoon images of Beckham vs Ferguson FitE!!! and not freeze frame images of the moment the boot hit his face.

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris you seem to be forgetting the scenes inside the Oxford United dressing room when they drew Arsenal in the cup earlier this season.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

that was just a camera mounted in the corner of the room though wasn't it? Ah I just got a memory of that Oxford/Exeter game "we've seen your bum!"

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This whole issue would be moot if people were naked all the time.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

That would put me off m'dinner for EVAH!

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

To answer DJ's question, if I were a sports reporter, and was in a locker room full of nude men, I would not outright stare, but I would steal a glance every now, and then! It's only human nature! Some of those guys are perfect physical specimens!

― Barbie, Thursday, 20 February 2003 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris I assume by over here you mean England, I was not aware reporters are banned from locker rooms in England, I remember a few years ago when the NFL, had that world league, a british female reporter wrote a column on what american football players look like naked. It caused quite a stir back in the states, especially among female sports reporters, who felt her column would set their cause back 2 decades!

― Stephen Ancroid, Thursday, 20 February 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

If british reporters are banned from locker rooms, that is a good thing! The British media is a complete joke! While I am opposed to female reporters in men's locker rooms, I have to say american female reporters always do a proffessional job, never once in any newspaper have I seen any mention of the players anatomies. I am sure in Great Britain they would be writing columns comparing their hanging bits!

― Ralfus, Thursday, 20 February 2003 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The locker room interview is analagous to the backstage interview or the director's cut. It allows the public access where public access is ostensibly denied. It's also very silly.

― -M, Thursday, 20 February 2003 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Not banned as a rule Stephen A, but I know that managers are very loathe to let live filming goingh on in their dressing rooms. Probably following the terrible press garnered by the Orient manager that time during the documentary that was filmed on him, also see Peter Reid, Dave Basset and Barry Fry. They were recorded and caused a furore, imagine what a live broadcast would be like!

― chris (chris), Thursday, 20 February 2003 09:13 (twenty-two years ago)

To make it fair, if women want to interview naked men, they should take their clothes off as well!

― japeth, Thursday, 20 February 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Candidia, no nudity is not evil, but many people are uncomfortable being naked around members of the opposite sex! So yes the simple solution is a towel or a robe.

― tri, Thursday, 20 February 2003 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I understand what you mean, but what I mean is that locker rooms are places people go to take showers not to appear on TV. Seems more sensible to interview on the field immediately after the game, or some other time, but not in a locker room. And if people insist on coming into the locker room they... oh, I don't know. If guns are illegal then only naked reporters in locker rooms will have guns. Help, I've lost my mind!!!!.....oh, wait, here it is....

― Candidia, Friday, 21 February 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Are there men who claim not to stare in locker rooms? I certainly do. Reporters should learn to write stories without needing to fill space with lame cliches anyway. Who cares about this stuff? Sports reporting is 99.9% garbage.

― Kris (aqueduct), Friday, 21 February 2003 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It is common sense and ordinary practice that in public places naked men and women are segregated. Barring women from the locker room of male athletes is thus entirely consistent with norms of privacy.

― art, Friday, 21 February 2003 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Let me ask this, how many women here would like it if men could see you naked against your wishes. Think about this, and you may be able to understand how some of the players feel.

― Ralfus, Friday, 21 February 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Concerning the towel argument, some locker rooms offer less privacy than others, in san francisco's baseball park, the shower area is fully visible to the entire locker room, therefore what is the use of wearing a towel when everyone will see you butt naked as soon as you step into the shower?

― Ralfus, Friday, 21 February 2003 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah!

― Cal Ripkin Jr., Friday, 21 February 2003 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Women consider this an issue of equal access, but you know damn well if the situation were reversed the feminazi's would be screaming long and hard about "perverted male reporters invading a woman's privacy.

― Drake, Saturday, 22 February 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Feminazi's? Who let Rush limbaugh in here? I agree though, women's leagues have time limits on locker room access, a man would be arrested if he walked in while they were showering.

― Rip, Saturday, 22 February 2003 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

As far as the double standard that is one question woman always avoid The replies I get from women go something like this: "Oh yeah, you'd love to get into women's locker rooms, wouldn't you? Or, "Poor Bob, he's all bent out of shape because he can't get into women's locker rooms." Or, "Is that your goal in journalism, Bob? Really!!!"
And me and my question are dismissed like a little boy caught with a Playboy magazine.
But no one ever, ever, ever, answers the question.

― bob, Saturday, 22 February 2003 05:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i love that ppl actually think this is a serious sex-pol point!!!

― mark s (mark s), Saturday, 22 February 2003 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Well Mark, it might not be serious to the average person, but to a reporter, or athlete it can be very serious!

― bob, Saturday, 22 February 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I was never in favor of women going into men's locker rooms... You still will not find any men demanding access... to the females' dressing rooms. They have not allowed male reporters in there. And yet on the other side, in the male locker room, everyone is afraid to say no... I think it shows that men have more respect for women than sometimes women do for men... It makes me embarrassed for my sex, quite frankly."

― Janet G, Saturday, 22 February 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

To make it fair, if women want to interview naked men, they should take their clothes off as well

Shouldn't this apply to male reporters as well?

― Nicole (Nicole), Sunday, 23 February 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Athletes who are uncomfortable with the situation, have found ways around it, Both Dale Murphy (former baseball player) annd Bobby Jones (former basketball player) were uncomfortable with women in the locker rooms, so they changed in the trainers rooms, and never spoke to reporters while undressed. In the NBA reporters cannot enter until 15 minutes after the game. Michael Jordan always took advantage of this and quickly showered and dressed, he was always fully clothed by the time reporters came in.

― Ashley, Sunday, 23 February 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

They should do what the Dischord records house did back in the day.. put a "No GIRLZ ALLOWED" sign on the front door, to prove their straight edge credentials in a proactive way to eliminate the possibility of temptation.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Not to mention many a young boy's treehouse in their parents' backyard.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I see no females will touch my question about how they would feel if men could see them naked against there wishes, I guess Bob is correct, no one will answer the double standard question!

― Ralfus, Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I see no females will touch my question about how they would feel if men could see them naked against there wishes, I guess Bob is correct, no one will answer the double standard question!

I don't know, Ralfus, how would you feel if men saw you naked against your wishes?

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i already saw him

(i am currently writing home abt it)

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Bob, they are proving you right!! All they do is give you a smart ass answer, but will never answer the question!

― Ralfus, Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha, Ralfie, sometimes there are reasons for double standards.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:37 (twenty-two years ago)

but we decided not to tell you what they are

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive, y'know?

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 23 February 2003 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Any man who was foolish enough to think equality meant they could enter women's locker rooms to interview female athletes, would find himself barraged with cries of sexual harassment. Is it any wonder that we have a new category of men referred to as, "angry males?"

― ern, Sunday, 23 February 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, men used to be perfectly civil back in the day.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course they were, then they were led into temptation. Often by Mallomars.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 February 2003 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

He is a classic quote from Jack Morris formerly of the Detroit Tigers, when a woman tried to interview him as soon as he stepped out of the shower--- "'I don't talk to women when I'm naked unless they're on top of me or I'm on top of them,'"

― spence, Sunday, 23 February 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you believe a female sports writer once tried to accuse Charles Barkley of indecent exposure?! I guess she never realized that she might encounter nude men in the locker room.

― Irv, Sunday, 23 February 2003 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Barkley must have had a really ugly tool. You gotta hide that shit yo.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It matches his face.

― Nicole (Nicole), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

You are not telling the whole story, Barkley was wearing a towel when she started the interview, during the interview he proceeded to remove the towel, and rub his genitals with it.

― Lizzie Mac, Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Barkley was at fault here! many women refuse to interview the men if they are naked. They specifically seek out the players who are clothed, I am sure she was shocked by Barkley's actions!

― heather l, Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

(you will not be surprised to know, readers, that most of these come from the same few IP addresses)

― Graham (graham), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Are they all Ned?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

???

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

We can't rule that out.

― Graham (graham), Sunday, 23 February 2003 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

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