Pokey Chatman to Russia, with love for coaching intact

This is a great opportunity for her to pocket some serious cash and she will also have a great time on the European circuit.  Chance of a lifetime.  I know it was hard for her to leave LSU, but maybe this will help heal the wounds.  I don't believe for one minute that she had sexual relations with "players", as in plural, as has been implied.  If she had them with "one", or none, whose business is it.  Unethical?  Maybe, but perhaps she was in love with someone, or maybe it didn't happen at all. It's not like it was a coerced relationship, since I don't hear the alleged player speaking out.  They're adults.  I think she's a person of great integrity and if she did so, she didn't do it lightly.  You know how we ladies are when we get bit by the love bug.  At least we're not lecherous old men.  We tend to engage for very different reasons, largely emotional. 

Peace out!  Pokey to Russia with love, go for it! and send me a Tshirt!

I can't deny that I've got mixed feelings about this.

Ultimately, I'm happy for Coach Chatman--the job she's landed in Russia is about as close to NBA level as a woman can get (considering money, talent, fame, etc.), so this step is huge. That said, this whole situation still bothers me and a part of me wishes that she'd stuck around and fought back...not just because, as a fan of the game, I want to know what really happened, but because the broader implications this issue has in terms of race, gender and sexuality.

For more info about the team Chatman's joining, I recommend this ESPN story from a few months ago: Rolling in Rubbles.

"A black man lesbian voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders." - Buddy Watts

This is probably the best place for her right now. If she did what she was accused of, she can't be involved in college basketball for a while. As a college coach, you just can't get romantically involved with your own players. The power dynamic is too big of an issue. I don't have a problem with a 36-year-old sleeping with a 20-year-old (or whatever the scenario supposedly was), but if the 36-year-old holds the key to the 20-year-old's college education, her playing time, etc., then it's completely unacceptable.

Regardless of how poorly her departure was handled -- and it was handled as poorly as it possibly could have been -- she had to go. But it shouldn't stop her from coaching professionally. And Russia is indeed a great place to make good money. Plus, coaching that team will give her tremendous experience leading world-class players. It's a great opportunity for her.

(I realize I'm not adressing the issue of, "Yeah, but what if she didn't do it?" I'm not addressing it because Pokey isn't. She's never publicly said that she's being falsely accused. Which I think is a huge mistake, unless she isn't being falsely accused. Would you sign a resignation letter over something you absolutely did not do? I sure as hell wouldn't.)

I'm happy for Pokey Chapman. I sincerely hope that she focuses on seperating her career life from her personal life. We'll never know what actually took place and frankly I don't want to know. I do know that small things can be blown into huge things and really, after so many years in the game, you either know better or just don't give a damn. I'd like to believe that possibly her actions if having an opportunity to re-think them would have produced a different out come.    

I've witnessed the media for the majority of my life crucify people without regard and women have it the worse. She's managed to keep moving and that is what makes her a survivor and possibly a good coach. I wish her wisdom above finance first.

Ebri007.