UCLA Bruins coach Cori Close has finally broken her silence on the controversial Los Angeles Times column that irked LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey, admitting that she made a mistake in sharing the news.
Close proceeded to apologize as she reasoned out that she didn’t really read the article and only shared it in order to promote the UCLA-LSU game.
Controversial LA Times Article Blasted by Kim Mulkey
For those who missed it, Mulkey slammed the said LA Times article on Saturday following the Tigers’ win over the Bruins in the Sweet 16. The piece in question was a preview of the showdown written by Ben Bolch, titled “UCLA-LSU is America’s sweethearts vs. its basketball villains.”
Mulkey took offense with how her Tigers were painted on a negative light. She also emphasized her issue with the “sexist” remarks that were used in the article.
One part of the column reads: “Do you prefer America’s sweethearts or its dirty debutantes? Milk and cookies or Louisiana hot sauce? The team that wants to grow women’s basketball or the one seemingly hellbent on dividing it? The coach who embraces reporters or the one who attacks them? The tender star player or the one who taunts?”
In her post-game presser, Mulkey was asked of the people’s perception on her LSU squad. And that’s when she referenced the LA Times article.
“It was so sexist, and they don’t even know it. It was good versus evil in that game today. Evil? Called us dirty debutantes. Take your phone out right now and google what dirty debutantes mean and tell me what it says. Dirty debutantes? Are you kidding me? … How dare people attack kids like that.”
UCLA Bruins Coach Cori Close Speaks Out
Cori Close, for her part, admitted to sharing the article on social media. However, upon realizing what the column was talking about, she knew it was a “huge mistake” to do so.
With that said, the UCLA Bruins coach made sure to apologize and clarified her stance on the issue. Like Mulkey, she found it sexist as well and something that looks to “tear down” a group of people–something she just cannot stand with.
“Earlier this weekend, I had been doing a quick scroll on social media and I had reposted a column from the Los Angeles Times leading into our Sweet 16 game. I made a mistake. I reposted that article only after reading the headline, not the contents of the column,” Close wrote on social media.
“In an effort to increase coverage for our game, I shared it and went back to try to stay focused on my task at hand. I always want to be a person that is about growing our game and building up the people in it. I made a huge mistake in reposting without reading it first, and I am very sorry for that.”
Furthermore, Close apologized to Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers community, adding that only wanted “to grow our game and have a positive impact on the people who come together because of basketball.”
“I hope that I have proven over time with my behaviors and choices that this was an isolated mistake and not the intention of my heart. My sincerest apologies for anything that communicated otherwise,” Close added.
Mulkey has yet to respond to Close’s apology. But it’s definitely great to see people come together and condemn unfair criticisms directed towards their peers.
For what it’s worth, the LA Times hasn’t responded with a statement of their own as well. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how the story develops.
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