I think the culure of sports (in particular professional sports) in our society has begun to create an atmosphere where male athletes see violence and force as the norm. Because if you think about it, athletes spend a majority of their time playing sports, rough body to body contact with other players. Strength against strength and doing whatever it takes to win. Many of them carry that throughout everything they do in life, esp. in their relationships with women.
This case is exactly why I am a strong proponent for NOT allowing H.S. players to go straight into the professional NBA league. While grown men can and have done the same thing, the pressures that face a very young player can place them in such a situation. Personally, I think all sports teams (males and femals, NCAA/NBA/MLB/NHL/etc.) should have MANDATORY sexual assualt, rape, and sexual sensitivity training, if it is not already in place.
However, that young lady and her friend should not have been with them. Sad, but true, these types of things go on in communities all over the country. As a child, I was approached by men far older than me, as I am sure many young females have been. What took place with these young people is nothing new (unfortunately). It was just "heightened" because this young man is straight out of h.s. and an NBA player.
[This message has been edited by pointNclick (edited June 25, 2001).]
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