The accusations against Ohio State University receivers coach Zach Smith took a bizarre turn late last week.The irreplaceable Aretha Franklin first belted out the letters in 1967: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It rightly became an anthem for women everywhere, even if the #MeToo movement wouldn’t arrive for another 50 years.
But judging by two of the top four headlines on ESPN’s website Saturday morning, too many women are still a long, long way from receiving the respect they deserve from the men in their lives.
The first story concerned more allegations of troubling behavior by former Ohio State University football assistant Zach Smith during his time on staff – including having sex toys mailed to his office and photographing himself in an inappropriate relationship with a female OSU staffer not his wife – behavior that may ultimately cost Buckeyes boss Urban Meyer his $7.6 million annual salary.
The second story centered on LSU junior wide receiver Drake Davis, who has been suspended indefinitely for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend on multiple occasions in April and June.
A third story included a paragraph on the huge Las Vegas odds (200-1) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach the Super Bowl. Why is this noteworthy? Because the Bucs are quarterbacked by serial sexual miscreant Jameis Winston. At least they will be once his three-game suspension due to a groping complaint made against him by an Uber driver concludes.