Latest news with #sportsafety
Fox News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
GOP lawmaker calls SJSU's latest chapter in trans athlete controversy 'highly disturbing'
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., reacted on Monday following a Fox News Digital report that the Mountain West Conference hired the same law firm to investigate the transgender athlete Brooke Fleming's misconduct allegations that the conference was using to defend the athlete's eligibility for the conference tournament in court. Kiley had been outspoken against transgender athletes competing against girls and women in sports and was at odds with California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state over alleged Title IX violations. "The absurdity and unfairness of forcing young women and girls to compete against males also poses obvious safety risks," Kiley said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The revelations from Fox News Digital are highly disturbing, but sadly unsurprising: the same institutions that willingly subject student-athletes to the risk of physical harm are failing to adequately respond when those harms materialize. "Fortunately, the tide has decisively turned against the backwards politicians and organizations who have defied common sense and biological reality in their attempt to undermine hard-won civil rights protections for female athletes." Former San Jose State women's volleyball player Brooke Slusser was the apparent target of an alleged plan by Fleming and a Colorado State player to have Slusser spiked in the face during an Oct. 3 game. Slusser was never spiked in the face during that game. Fleming had 10 errors as SJSU lost to Colorado State in straight sets. Fox News Digital previously reported that Mountain West hired the firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WFG) to investigate the allegations. The Mountain West hired the firm to handle the investigation in the same month that the same firm represented the conference to protect Fleming's eligibility in a request for preliminary injunction to have the trans athlete disqualified from women's competition and the conference tournament. The investigation was closed after three days, with Fleming being cleared of impropriety. But no evidence was ever disclosed by the conference, as Fleming went on to finish out the season, earn all-conference honors and even led SJSU all the way to the Mountain West championship game. The WFG attorney who led the investigation into allegations against Fleming, Tim Heaphy, later offered the school legal counsel to help it navigate a federal Title IX investigation over the same situation, as seen in public records obtained by Fox News Digital. The offer was declined. None of WFG's attorneys have been accused of violating any applicable rules of professional conduct. Fox News Digital reached out to the firm Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, the Mountain West Conference and the California State University system for a response on Kiley's statement. Slusser spoke late last month about the recent findings in an appearance on Fox News Channel's "America Reports." "It's obvious once this was put out into the public that there's so much bias in this situation, and they're trying to just sweep these things under the rug and not have to deal with it when there's obvious problems going on all over the place," she said. "They need to be held accountable for using the same law firm and not doing a thorough investigation because Title IX was built to protect women, and they're obviously deciding to protect the man in this situation when they were blatantly trying to harm a female athlete at their school, and they're still backing this male athlete and that's just wrong all over the place. And there's schools all over the nation doing this, they're just not getting the spotlight it deserves." Slusser ultimately hopes that no other female athletes have to deal with the same things she experienced. "The goal is to never have to let another female athlete go through what I did. The sport was ruined for me my senior season," she said. "So, the goal is to give back to those young girls who had the same dream that I did but to be able to love it the entire time." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
The odd cracked windscreen is price worth paying for cricket
'Cricket ball hits man on leg' is not usually an unfavourable turn of events in a match. It's often a moment of triumph for the fielding side if the batter's leg has blocked a ball from hitting his stumps. But not at Danbury Cricket Club in Essex. Players in this village team have been told that play on Dawson Memorial Field — home since 1799 not only to Danbury CC, but used also by two other teams, Tuskers and Oaklands — is suspended because a man in the car park was hit on the leg by a stray cricket ball while loading his car. Does such a punishment fit what is surely a freak event? In village cricket, where a fielder on the boundary can happily spend an innings filling out their tax return without fear of being disturbed, a ball struck so solidly that it flies over the boundary and into the car park is something so uncommon that it is usually a cause for, first, disbelief at the batter's hitherto hidden prowess and, later, celebration. But not at Danbury. Instead the parish council has pulled up stumps pending 'a ball trajectory risk assessment by professional sports specialists'. Nor are Danbury's cricketers suffering alone. Last summer batters at Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club, which was formed in 1790 near Brighton, were banned from hitting sixes because those living near the pitch fretted that their houses and cars were in the firing line. In a bewildering inversion of scoring convention, players were warned that their first six would count as no runs. If they hit a second six they would be out. Parish councils and twitchy neighbours should reconsider their antipathy. Cricket is as emblematic of village life as trading unfounded gossip and treating anyone who arrived later than the Gladstone administration as a newcomer. A cracked windscreen once every few decades resulting from a stray ball should surely be a tolerable price to pay for the communal joy village cricket brings.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Parents of teen who died playing bull rush 22 years ago want community to condemn Run It trend
A RunIt event in Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport There are mounting calls for sports stars and influencers to come out publicly against the dangers of the run it straight craze, including from the family of a man who died of head trauma over 20 years ago. This week Palmerston North 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died when he was injured in a tackle game with friends. His uncle Pete has issued a public plea for rugby and rugby players, and social media influencers, to use their platforms to speak out about the risks. That plea has received further backing. William Cranswick was also 19 when he died after suffering head injuries in a game of bull rush following a night drinking at notorious Palmerston North bar The Fitz in September 2003. The tragedy 22 years ago was brought back home to his parents Rod and Belinda this week when they heard the news of Ryan Satterthwaite. "Ryan's death really touched a raw nerve with us. These deaths are highly preventable," Rod Cranswick said. "We totally understand the suffering and pain that Ryan's family are going through. It's a parent's worst nightmare." Rod and Belinda Cranswick heard Pete Satterthwaite's call for action on RNZ. "We endorse Pete's comment. I thought he spoke very very well and right to the point re sports stars condemning this behaviour," Rod Cranswick said. "It's not up to the politicians to legislate, but this is a community responsibility and everyone needs to step up to the mark and condemn this activity." He said that would even extend to, for example, people walking past a park who might see something taking place. "I think if someone does have the guts to go and say, 'Listen, this can lead to a tragedy. This has already happened on a couple of occasions.' Just have the guts to try and influence them to stop it." Ryan Satterthwaite. Photo: Instagram And influencing people to stop taking part in Run It was what Rod Cranswick hoped people with public recognition would do, so the message got through. "Young people are really influenced by social media and also sports stars - they have a huge influence on our young. They are the role models and followed religiously. "We need to listen to our medical experts, who are also condemning this behaviour. "In our case having to switch off Willie's life support because of a severe brain injury was our worst nightmare." At Ryan Satterthwaite's old college, Palmerston North Boys' High School, Rector David Bovey had already planned to speak to students about Run It this week. Like a growing number of schools it's banned the craze, and Bovey said when news about Satterthwaite came through it added weight to the warnings. "I spoke to the seniors again yesterday about the risks involved. We talked about Ryan and the fact that could be any one of the boys sitting in front of me, because [they] don't think about consequences, it's as simple as that. "What seems like a bit of fun can have a devastating impact, as we've seen." This week's incident was top of mind at the school, so much so that when there was a collision on the school's courts between two students some immediately asked if they were playing Run It Straight. They weren't. "But, I guess with what's happened there's a really heightened awareness of what's going on. I don't think it's going to stop kids from playing, but we've told the boys categorically not to get involved in it at school." Bovey also backs the call for people with social media presence to speak out. Principals' Federation vice-president Jason Miles said even children supposedly too young to use social media were influenced by it, although the Run It craze hadn't spread too far through primary schools. When a viral craze arose, knowing when to say something was tricky. "It can be a catch 22, because if you talk about them you're also informing children about them, including those who haven't had access to them. "It's a balancing act that principals need to take because it's looking at the safety of the children who are perhaps being influenced, but also trying not for it to be a wider problem." There is no nationwide edict from officials to schools about Run It. Ministry of Education leader of operations and integration Sean Teddy said schools had autonomy to make rules on many matters. "We know that health and safety is a priority for all schools, and we are confident that the decisions they make will reflect their strong commitment to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive environments where all students can thrive." He said the ministry was available to provide advice and guidance where needed. "While schools are not required to inform the ministry of the rules they adopt, we would expect schools to communicate with and, where appropriate, consult their parent communities as part of the decision-making process."
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Big cash prices driving those to RUN It game
sport health 29 minutes ago 19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of Run It Straight. Since the death some high profile sports people and organisations have come out warning of the dangers of the craze being promoted on social media. Two participants at an Official Run it Championship trial held in Auckland last week were knocked out. Former league star Manu Vatuvei who played for the Warriors and New Zealand team, was there and endorsed the game saying he loved it and he is happy its here in New Zealand. David Letele spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
The Panel with Anna Dean and Allan Blackman (Part 1)
business law about 1 hour ago Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Anna Dean and Allan Blackman. They discuss the latest OCR shift and youth interest in ultra-violent sports, which today's guest says is "setting sports safety back centuries".
