OPINION:
Rather than endure the humiliation of a blowout loss to the Indiana Fever, the Chicago Sky is alleging racism (“Caitlin Clark, Fever support Angel Reese amid investigation into fan’s racial slurs,” Web, May 20). The hometown crowd was electric on Saturday, May 17, in Indianapolis when the Chicago Sky paid a visit. Fans were excited and ready for Angel Reese and the team to battle after all the hype that had been building since the end of last season. It was a genuine rivalry, ignited primarily by Ms. Reece.
It recalled the college days of Caitlin Clark, who played for Iowa, and Ms. Reese, who played for Louisiana State University.
A hard foul was all it took to sidestep the agony of such a dreadful 93-58 loss to an arch rival. It shifted the conversation from Chicago being a big loser to being a victim. The league bowed to pressure and began an investigation into an incident that occurred while Ms. Reese was shooting a free throw. A questionable flagrant foul call was made against Ms. Clark fouling Reece, which the referees were pressured to enforce. As Ms. Reese was taking the shot, a shrill horn blared over the loudspeakers and some said it sounded like a monkey.
We need to move beyond the habit of blaming everything on racism. Otherwise, we as a society will be burdened by walking on eggshells for eternity.
SCOTT THOMPSON
Bloomington, Indiana
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