Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

2 more lawsuits vs. USF

Black former players will allege violation of civil rights under Jerry Ann Winters.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 22, 2000

TAMPA -- Suspended University of South Florida women's basketball coach Jerry Ann Winters faces two more lawsuits alleging she discriminated against black players.

Charmain Leslie and LaToya Ward said Tuesday they will file federal lawsuits today alleging violation of their civil rights while playing for Winters. That would bring to eight the number of lawsuits filed since August against Winters and the university by black former players.

Winters has been suspended with pay since Oct. 25 after an investigation by the university's Equal Opportunity Affairs office determined that former player Dione Smith was dismissed from the team because she participated in a discrimination complaint. Winters is appealing. The university will rule on her appeal by Dec. 18.

Leslie, a former forward, played at USF from 1998-2000. Ward transferred from Cal State Northridge in 1997 and spent one season as a walk-on.

"This was the first time ever in my life that I can honestly say I really experienced prejudice and racism," said Leslie, 23. "Some little things would happen in Pensacola (her hometown), but nothing from anybody that I knew. (This) was somebody that I was supposed to have a bond with and that I trusted. I was emotionally distraught. It really hurt my feelings that my basketball coach had ill feelings toward me (because of race). But what could I do about it?"

Winters has declined to speak directly with the Times but has characterized those filing suits as disgruntled former players whose displeasure is based on a lack of playing time.

According to the lawsuits to be filed today:

Winters' discrimination was so profound that Leslie often talked to USF sociology professor Christy Ponticelli about the situation.

In the fall of 1998, a doctor gave Leslie a note authorizing her to miss practice, but upon receiving the note, Winters said, "This doesn't mean anything." Winters then told Leslie she didn't have to practice, but as Leslie left her office, she heard Winters say "they (blacks) are all just lazy."

Many times when a black player would make a mistake, Winters would yell, "You are worthless" or "You are robbing this university," something she didn't do to white players who made a mistake.

Ponticelli said Tuesday that Leslie often visited her during office hours to discuss class assignments but ended up discussing what was going on with the team.

"Sometimes she was so frustrated that we would have to talk about (basketball) before we could talk about the other things," Ponticelli said. "I basically listened and would ask her questions in terms of enabling her to get things straight in her own mind. I never told her what to do. I just told her to do what was in her heart."

Ponticelli said she often attends USF sporting events, including women's basketball games, because many of her students are athletes. She said she was "stunned" when Leslie first brought up allegations of racism and mistreatment in the program but she never had reason to doubt Leslie's stories.

Asked if she was surprised by the things Leslie told her, Ponticelli said: "To that extent, yes."

Former players Smith, Avia Lee, Tanya Gary, Tamekia Williams, LaTonya Greer and Patrice Coleman also have filed suit, alleging among other things that Winters treated black players more harshly than whites; instituted segregated housing on road trips; and punished black players more harshly than white players for similar offenses.

Former assistant coach Tara Gibson has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination.

Six of the players and Gibson are represented by Tampa attorney Jonathan L. Alpert. Leslie and Ward are represented by Alpert and attorney Sonia C. Lawson.

Ward said she transferred to USF in 1997 believing she was receiving a scholarship but was told by Winters after arriving that she "wasn't worthy of receiving a scholarship."

Winters said Tuesday through her attorney, John Goldsmith, that Ward was never promised a scholarship. Goldsmith said Ward was evaluated at the end of the semester and that "based on everything (Winters) had seen, (Ward) was never offered a scholarship."

Ward said she was mistreated during her one season and that she saw other black players mistreated. "It's like slavery days are back," Ward said. "I didn't think people could be that racially inclined anymore."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright