McKenna was born and raised in Japan by a single mother after her father’s death when she was 9. McKenna graduated from a U.S. DOD School in Tokyo, and then attended the University of Hawaii where she walked on to the women’s basketball team. McKenna was one of the first beneficiaries of Title IX when she was offered a basketball scholarship.

Read more from Ross Forman at his blog.

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Greg McMackin

Matt Coin played tennis for UC-Santa Barbara and his 2005 article about coming out to his team is one of the most popular ever posted on Outsports. When he read that University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin referred to Notre Dame players doing a “faggot dance,” Coin was moved to write the coach. He was surprised he receive a personal reply.

It is possible that anyone writing McMackin (mcmackin@hawaii.edu) is getting the same reply, but Matt was still pleased that he received it. Here are Matt’s original e-mail (very well written) and McMackin’s reply:

Hello Mr. McMackin,

I am writing in response to the numerous articles I have read over the past 24 hours regarding the statements you made. As a former Division I tennis player for UC-Santa Barbara, I was personally offended by your use of the term, “faggot dance.” I think this reveals a larger issue among athletics, and can only assume that the words used on the field, at practices, in locker rooms, and closed doors are even more homophobic.

Diminishing a man’s masculinity has been common practice in sports forever. It is one thing to say that a man is “less of a man,” and another to say that a man is a “faggot,” “homo,” or “queer.” This implies that being a homosexual is a negative thing. If you feel that way, then you should keep it to yourself, and not create an environment that promotes your prejudice.

Comments like these encourage women and men to stay in the closet. Children around the country e-mail me everyday seeking counseling, and people like you are the reason they need it in the first place. Homosexuality is a natural thing, and it is likely that you have a homosexual brother, sister, uncle, aunt, son, daughter, or friend, who you love, but do not know is gay. It is your fault that this person can’t be his or herself around you. If you know 25 men, then it is likely that 1 of them is gay. I hope that this opens your eyes a little bit.

Since graduating from UCSB, the university has adopted an admirable diversity policy, and sends its athletes to training to better understand race, creed, and sexuality. I strongly suggest that you and your entire staff be sent to a similar training.

Thanks,
Matthew Coin

Matthew,

Thank you for your email.  There was never any intention to use a word such as that.  I am sorry for the mistake I made as it does not reflect the way I live my life.  I believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.  This painful and unfortunate situation will be used as an educational opportunity to promote better understanding of all people and emphasize how words do hurt even when no harm is intended.

Sincerely,
Greg McMakin

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More important than the complete lack of concern for the real victim are the implications created by the attitudes toward the gay community. Weis’ acceptance of the apology inadvertently slanders gay people a second time by implying that being associated with homosexuality in any way is a great insult. That’s the subconcious lesson broadcasted by this incident. While the word itself was an offensive term, the acceptance of discrimination is absolutely nauseating.

Bob Warja of the Bleacher Report talks candidly about the use of anti-gay slurs in sports and says that he himself has been drawn into it at times:

I am not trying to excuse such behavior, but there is so much intimidation being an athlete around coaches that affect your future. And, in football in general, if you dare not join in the revelry, you quickly become an outsider.

Or worse.

Hell, just being a guy often means you cannot express any willingness to protect a group of people because you will be looked upon as being less of a man.

ESPN’s LZ Granderson called McMackin out, saying that his initial apologies were jokes.

In his apology, he said he didn’t mean any harm, but that he was just trying to be funny, “and it wasn’t funny and it’s not funny. Even more, it isn’t funny to me.”

What a bunch of crap.

Of course he thought it was funny. You can hear him enjoying his own joke on the audio track.

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I love that he is going to now be promoting understanding of gay people and the language that hurts them. And I liked the language they used in their press conference. I also liked how quickly (about 24 hours) they acted on it. Good moves by the coach and the school.

More, plus video, after the jump.

But suspending him? That just seems like it goes too far. But wait! He’s suspended but will be allowed to continue to coach the team for free for the next 30 days. Huh? Doesn’t suspended mean you can’t participate with the team? And forcing him to a reduction in salary? Seems odd to me.

In other news on this, Notre Dame coach (at whom the “faggot” comment was directed) got some personal revenge, able to attack the man who was belittling him:

“Coach McMackin demonstrated poor judgment when, while making comments critical of our football program, he used a derogatory word,” Weis said in a statement. “Speaking only for our football program, we were offended by the remarks.”

After seeing the video of his fifth apology, I think he is truly remorseful and I will be hoping he follows through with his commitment: He’ll certainly have a fan in me if he does!

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Nice lei.

Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin dropped the f-bomb during a WAC news conference today, referring back to his team’s embarrassing loss to Notre Dame last December.

“I know most of the coaches in the country are rooting for us to beat Notre Dame,” McMackin said. “Charlie gives this talk, ‘We do something special at Notre Dame,’ and (the players) get up and they do this little cheer … this little faggot dance.”

The jackass then asked reporters to not write about his use of the word “faggot” and said he would deny it:

“Don’t write that ‘faggot’ down. I was misquoted,” he said. “Just please … cover for me,” McMackin said Thursday. “Go ahead, say ‘faggot dance.’ No. Please cover for me on that, too – right Karl? I’ll deny it. Anything else?”

Thankfully, the journalists in the room ignored his request and reported on the issue. Fifteen minutes later, the coach was back to apologize for being caught:

I want to officially, officially apologize. Please don’t write that statement I said as far as Notre Dame. The reason is, I don’t care about Notre Dame. But I’m not a … I don’t want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me. You know what I mean. Because I don’t have any problem with homosexuals. But I apologize for saying that and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t run that word. If you said dance, that’s OK. But don’t use the bad term that I chose, please. Thank you.

Once the Hawaii athletic department got hold of him, he later added another apology, this time proclaiming nothing but respect for homosexuals and Notre Dame. I’m not going to post the content here because it’s another bullshit non-apology.

Is he crazy? First he uses the term “faggot,” then he calls us “homosexuals,” which is usually code for “I have a problem with gay people.” When the words come out of his mouth that casually, you know he’s yelling “fag” this and “sissy” that at his players. Hopefully the university that years ago dropped “Rainbow” from its “Warriors” nickname because it was too gay will force him to a real mea culpa and a little sensitivity training.

Hear the audio here.

You can reach Athletic Director Jim Donovan at (808) 956-7301 or via email at athdir@hawaii.edu. Other Hawaii athletic department staff contact info, including McMackin’s contact info, is here.

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