I don’t believe we’ve gone back to the stone ages of journalism and the barbaric rules that accompanies the craft, but someone will have to explain why three female reporters were barred from entering the Colts locker room.
After the Colts 16-13 overtime win over Jaguars on Sunday, those three ladies were held up by an usher working outside of Indy’s locker room.
The Colts team employee apparently triple-checked to make sure women were allowed inside. Ironically, the reporters were covering the Jaguars-Colts game as part of a sports media diversity event.
According to the Indy Star, Chandler and Watson took to Twitter on Sunday to discuss the experience.
Both said they were stunned by the discriminatory treatment.
“At first we thought we had the wrong door,” Watson said. “Never ever have I had someone stop me from going into a locker room I was allowed to go into. I’ve covered events all over the world. I was stunned. I was angry.”
I was just blocked from a locker room by an old, out-of-touch geezer who wasn't sure women were allowed because "you know how guys are."
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
This guy was an usher and apparently not aware that women cover sports. I about lost it. @Colts @Jaguars
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
I have covered male sporting events all over the world and it took coming to Indianapolis to face my first gender discrimination. @NFL
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
According to Watson and Chandler, the public relations teams of both the Colts and the Jaguars later apologized for the incident.
By Glenn Erby
