What to do when you’re a journalist writing about how Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston’s fans are sticking by him even though he’s an alleged rapist? Make sure you include some “relevant” details about some of those fans, like the skimpy outfit one woman wore to watch him play.
Yahoo Sports reporter Pat Forde’s piece published this weekend explores how, despite allegations of rape against Winston, his season hasn’t been derailed at all and his fans are still behind him no matter what. That’s depressingly unsurprising, really, but apparently worth a column remarking that for the fans,”Accusations be damned, he’s their guy.” What’s also depressingly unsurprising is the anecdote Forde starts his column off with (emphasis added):
The young woman in the front row behind the Florida State bench was persistent.
“Sign the jersey, Jameis!” she yelled repeatedly at Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, who stood about 20 feet away.
She clutched a garnet No. 5 jersey with “Jay-boo” – Winston’s nickname – on the back. A pen was in her right hand. She wore a black peekaboo top that showed plenty of cleavage, and garnet pants. The No. 2-ranked, undefeated Seminoles were putting the finishing touches on an 80-14 demolition of Idaho, and the only remaining drama in Doak Campbell Stadium was whether the woman was going to get her jersey signed.
“I know you hear me!” she yelled at Winston, who indeed looked her way but never took a step in her direction. “Pleeeease!”
When asked on Twitter by a reader why he chose to use this particular description of Winston’s female fan, Forde said:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
