Jenn Sterger, who used to work as a reporter for the Jets back in 2008, revealed to a journalist friend that she had received a lot of attention from athletes in the past. Most of them, she claimed, were small names. But there were a few big ones, and one of those giants was married Jets star Brett Favre.
She then revealed she had texts, voicemails (which were surprisingly creepy at times), and photographs he sent her of his genitals. She saved these, though she said she never encouraged him, and yet he persisted.
When asked why she didn’t report him, especially after making it clear she wasn’t interested, she said she feared losing her job. This was a fair enough point, and it is this reason that this scandal means more than you typical scum-bag, egotist sportsman tabloid story.
This is a matter of an attractive women, one who is well known for her body – because she has made herself well known for her body – working on the field and being harassed by a star player. It is about that player thinking that his behavior is acceptable, and that she has to take it lying down (so to speak) because of her position, reputation, and what would potentially happen if she complained.
It is a matter of sexism, plain and simple.
The best editorial I have seen on the issue was written by the fantastic Jason Whitlock of FOX Sports, who pointed out that this scandal forces us to look at an issue that has long since permeated the sports field.
“When it comes to football, women put on short skirts, tight sweaters and carry pompoms. They grab our beer, fix our buffalo wings and look cute while reporting to us that the return of the player who limped off the field is questionable,” Whitlock said.
“I know Snickers Bars that would feel denigrated being reduced to NFL eye candy.”
He also points out that Sterger did nothing wrong, as far as we know. She was a woman who was harassed by an older man who used his greater position with the Jets to exploit her. It doesn’t appear that she slept with him, nor that she approached her friend with the intention of giving over this information.
Every step of the way she has been reluctant to cooperate. So why so much hostility towards her, and not the man who was attempting to cheat on his wife, who was harassing a 20-something field reporter who was just doing her job?
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