Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 2 a.m.
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“As a core value, the NCAA believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. We seek to establish and maintain an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds. Diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment for all student-athletes and enhance excellence within the Association.”
Well, now.
Fourteen years ago, almost to the day, the NCAA adopted the above mission statement for its new Office of Inclusion. On Friday, two Sweet 16 games of the NCAA Tournament tipped off in Dallas, in a state that made it very clear last year that it abhors diversity, inclusion and gender equity. Those qualities are, in fact, illegal at Texas public educational institutions and agencies.
Under a law that went into effect last October, the Texas state auditor may fine a state institution $1 million — or 1% of its operating budget — if it fails to comply. That’s money, one presumes, that may be utilized for scholarships or other ways to support students.
Before the vote in the Texas House last May, Rep. Don Reynolds, D-Missouri City, made a prescient plea. “Don’t be on the wrong side of history,” he said. “Don’t let Texas be the next state to get a travel advisory.”
Well, now.
In 2025, the NCAA Women’s Final Four is scheduled to be played in Tampa, Fla., another state where the qualities of diversity, inclusion and gender equity are illegal at state educational institutions and agencies. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed their draconian anti-DEI bill into law last May, stating: “DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination — and that has no place in our public institutions.”
Well, nor should NCAA championships — in any sport — be held in Texas, Florida, Alabama or any state that has boldly and emphatically demonstrated that it spits on what the organization values.
The NCAA should strip the 2025 Women’s NCAA Final Four from Florida and ensure none of its championships for the foreseeable future are played in states that ban DEI on college campuses. According to OregonLive.com, nine states have either killed DEI or put its programs and people in their crosshairs.
There is precedent, of course. Sports have long moved events, which provide a huge economic windfall, from states whose laws do not align with their core values, or those of their athletes.
In 1991, the NFL yanked the 1993 Super Bowl and the NBA snatched its annual meetings from Arizona because the state stubbornly refused to honor the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. The state approved the holiday in 1992, but the game was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Some calculated losing the game cost Arizona $200 million in economic impact.
Major League Baseball moved its 2021 All-Star game from Atlanta to Colorado after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a restrictive voting rights bill into law.
All three leagues have clear mandates, programs and strategies around diversity and inclusion.
“Basketball transcends all dimensions of diversity — those you can see, and those you can’t,” the NBA states, in part.
The NFL has been widely criticized in recent years for its dearth of Black head coaches and coordinators, yet the league still maintains: The NFL believes diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.”
MLB’s mission and vision reads, in part: “To support and sustain a diverse and inclusive culture, on and off the field.”
The NCAA could easily move the 2025 Women’s Final Four to Portland, Ore., a finalist when the 2025 and 2026 (Phoenix) sites were awarded in 2020. The loss of the event was calculated to have cost Portland $18 million to $24 million. Jim Etzel, CEO of SportOregon, told the Oregonian/OregonLive: “These aren’t inflated numbers. … It would have been more than 10,000 hotel rooms ... those impacts are big.”
How can the NCAA deposit those millions into Florida, or any other stage that refuses to be welcoming for all its athletes, coaches and officials?
It should not.
Roy Johnson is a columnist for al.com.
