/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47334058/GettyImages-489475156.0.jpg)
In the year 2015, it is perfectly acceptable for women to enter an NFL locker room to talk to NFL players so that they can write about NFL football games. An Indianapolis Colts usher apparently missed that memo, however.
After the Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, he held back two reporters -- Graham Watson of the Yahoo! Sports and Joey Chandler of the Tuscaloosa News -- from entering the Jaguars' locker room because, as he told them, "you know how guys are."
When getting ready to enter Jags locker room with other APSE female fellows, old man tried to deny us entry. It's still 2015, right?
— Joey Chandler (@Joey_TNews) October 4, 2015
This guy was an usher and apparently not aware that women cover sports. I about lost it. @Colts @Jaguars
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
I have covered male sporting events all over the world and it took coming to Indianapolis to face my first gender discrimination. @NFL
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
Ironically, the women were in Indianapolis as part of the Associated Press Sport Editors sports media diversity weekend, presumably because of their efforts in a male-dominated industry. Watson were able to enter the locker room eventually, and the Colts and Jaguars PR staff seemed contrite.
I do want to note that we did eventually get in and we were able to do our job after the man asked several males if it was OK if we got in.
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015
Want to note that both @Jaguars and @Colts PR apologized.
— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015