BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
aime Garner
|
COVINGTON -- Jaime Garner says all she wants to do is play basketball.
But the 5-foot-7 guard, who was Northern Kentucky University women's second-leading scorer last year, said Sunday she isn't sure she will get that chance next month when the season begins. She says she was removed from the women's basketball team in May because of her sexual orientation.
Ms. Garner filed a lawsuit Fridayin U.S. District Court in Covington. The suit lists NKU head women's basketball coach Nancy Winstel and athletic director Jane Meier as defendants. Ms. Garner, Coach Winstel, Mrs. Meier and NKU attorney Elizabeth Blincoe declined to comment Sunday because the lawsuit was pending.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money and reinstatement to the team.
It's not about the money, Ms. Garner said. It's about the game. "I didn't want it to go this far," Ms. Garner said. "All I want to do is play basketball."
Ms. Garner, 22, a senior from Richmond, Ky., said Coach Winstel asked her about her sexual orientation in a meeting earlier this year. "I didn't answer her . . . because it was none of her business."
Officially, Coach Winstel told her she was off the team because "she destroyed the team chemistry," the lawsuit said.
Ms. Garner transferred to NKU from Indiana University. She was NKU's second-leading scorer (11.6 ppg) in 1997-98. She was also among leaders in steals, blocked shots and assists.
Mrs. Meier is the only coach at NKU history to direct three women's sports teams to postseason tournaments and national rankings. Coach Winstel is in her 16th season at NKU and ranks among the top 25 active Division II women's coaches in winning percentage and victories.
