That's an easy one - You can either keep up your "protest" in the stands, or you can play basketball - you can't do both. She knew where here bread was buttered...
Posted on 03/04/2003 3:44:20 AM PST by hobblemaster
Virginia freshman Deidra Chatman has had a change of heart.
After protesting U.S. foreign policy by turning her back on the American flag during the national anthem Sunday, Chatman said she will not do so in the future, The Washington Post reported in Tuesday's editions.
Chatman is the second player to turn her back on the flag this season after the well-publicized protest of Manhattanville senior forward Toni Smith.
"I did not intend for my actions on Sunday to offend anyone," Chatman said Monday in a statement obtained by the paper. "I would much rather have the attention focused on our team. Since we are a team, in the future I will stand with my teammates facing the flag honoring our country."
Virginia upset then-No. 6 North Carolina 69-59 and many of her teammates were unaware of Chatman's protest at the time.
"I don't think she intended for there to be a reaction at all," said Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said to The Post. "It sounds like it was spontaneous and she hadn't really thought it through…"
"It's not about whether she loves the country, doesn't love the country. It's just her personal feeling about the possibility of war."
Littlepage meet with Chatham, who is a reserve forward on the Cavs' squad Monday afternoon, and coach Debbi Ryan declined comment in the report.
Sure, and when they start accepting that kind of argument for "hate" crimes, I just might (probably won't) buy it for these America-hating commies.
That's an easy one - You can either keep up your "protest" in the stands, or you can play basketball - you can't do both. She knew where here bread was buttered...
B... S...! She saw how much attention that other little brat got and she wanted some for herself.
Smith is the player for Manhattanville College who has refused to face the flag during the national anthem before games.
Auriemma told The Hartford Courant: "The flag is a symbol of what we stand for. Anybody who does (what Smith has), they have the right to do it, but to me it's disrespectful and ... I would have that right not to have that person on the team. Then they can sue me and say, 'You're denying me my rights.' "
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw told the Courant: "I think it's important to respect the flag, especially at this time. I would not condone any of my players doing anything like (Smith has)."
One of Auriemma's players felt differently. "If that's what she believes in, I don't see a problem," Diana Taurasi said. "I don't think there are enough people who stand up and actually say what they want to say."
Responded Auriemma: "That's what made our country what it is. You're allowed to have your opinions. That's great. But once you join a team, I think you waive some of your rights. As a team, we all buy into certain things collectively."
I think Coach Auriemma summed it up correctly: when you are part of a team you surrender some of your individual rights in the name of the collective rights of the team.
This girl has many lessons to learn.
What galls me though is someone who lacks the courage of their convictions. She did this for a reason. She should at least have the guts to stand up for her own beliefs.
Now she is even less worthy of any respect.
http://www.virginia.edu/dir.html
Exellent point.
But what does more attractive alumna Sue Bird say?
"I'LL ROPE 'ER, THEN WE CAN HANG HER FROM THE RIM!!!"
Yeh, this total non-story of Toni Smith is covered on ESPN on a daily basis, giving a complete nobody national attention, and this dweeb "Didn't think it through"? Yeh, right. She saw a chance for attention.
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