Enterprise Journalism Release – January 27, 2011

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Unhealthy Climate
ESPN The Magazine (on newsstands tomorrow)

Luke Cyphers and Kate Fagan investigate the veiled homophobic language some women’s college basketball coaches allegedly use to sway recruits from going to certain schools. ESPN The Magazine polling revealed about 55% of all players say they have been negatively recruited (e.g., recruiters have used homophobia to deter recruits from rival schools). Additionally, several marquee WNBA players discuss their sexuality publicly for the first time.

“When coaches say things like, ‘We’re a family,’ one aspect of that is ‘we support each other,’ and that’s good. But it crosses the line when programs talk about ‘family values,’ then put a definition on what families look like. That becomes code for ‘we reflect a straight program.’” – Heather Barber, sports psychology professor at the University of New Hampshire.

“Head coaches are very aware of who is on staff….It’s common for coaches to say, ‘That’s a gay program.’ ‘That’s a black program.’ People say it as a statement of fact, but what they’re doing is negative recruiting.” — Sue Wicks, former WNBA star and former Rutgers and St. Francis assistant coach

“If it weren’t so destructive and awful, it would be laughable. Let’s see if I ever get another job.” — Wicks, on coaches believing they should be straight, or at least act straight

X Games Mono-Skier Exhibits Appetite for Adaptation
X Games (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN)

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Kevin Michael Connolly was born without legs, but will compete in his fourth Winter X Games this weekend. In addition to being an X Games Silver Medal-winning mono-skier, he is an accomplished world traveler, skateboarding in more than 25 countries. He has created a series of photos — “The Rolling Exhibition” — focusing on the stares from onlookers he’s encountered during his travels. With galleries in three countries, Connolly’s photos portray his appetite for adaptation which will continue this summer.   He plans to span the globe searching for affordable and adaptive prosthetic devices in other countries.

One and Done
SportsCenter (Sunday, 10 a.m., 11p.m., ESPN)

It’s been a quarter century since the 1985 Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX with perhaps the most outlandish, entertaining and dominant team ever. There was the lockerroom rivalry between coaches Mike Ditka vs. Buddy Ryan, the “46 defense”, the Super Bowl Shuffle, and a candid cast of characters like Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, and William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Despite their unforgettable season, these Bears couldn’t do it again. Unlike the 70’s Steelers, 80’s Niners, and 90’s Cowboys — the ’85 Bears never became a dynasty. Steve Delsohn looks at why the window of opportunity closed so quickly on this once-in-a generation NFL juggernaut.

Killings in Ciudad Juarez One Year Later.
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 p.m.)
Reportajes Especiales piece (ESPNDeportes.com)

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The odds finally caught up with the two-time Ciudad Juarez Double A Football League champions one year ago this weekend. Sometime between the night of January 30, 2010, and the early hours of January 31, in the city considered the most violent in the world — more than 28,000 people have died in the past four years there in drug-trafficking-related violence — two team members were shot dead. Through the eyes of family members and those who survived the killing, this Reportaje Especial recounts the events that took place and what has transpired since the tragic events.

“It has united us, it has made us stronger. A very tough hit, but what football has taught us is precisely to get up and continue working, continue to fight, continue moving your legs to make it to the end zone. So football is something we relate to life itself.” — Fernando Gallegos, Jaguares volunteer coach

Kevin Laue Dreams of Dunking Disability and Playing in NCAA Tournament
College Gameday, (Saturday, 10 a.m. ESPNU; 11 a.m. ESPN)

Manhattan College sophomore Kevin Laue stands 6-foot-11 and basketball sounds like the game he was born to play, yet despite his size and skill, the game has never come easily for him. Born with one arm, he was told repeatedly that basketball was not for him. Now, as the first Division 1 full-scholarship player with a disability in college basketball history, Kevin chases his dream of playing in an NCAA tournament.

Mike McCarthy’s a “Steel” Man at Heart
ESPN.com

How does it feel to be Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy? He is just a few days away from the game he’s dreamed about his whole life, and is playing that game against the franchise that made him love football.