lawyerlee
02-10-2006, 10:59 AM
Gay Ex-Giant Alleges Bowl Discrimination (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060210/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_super_bowl_simmons&printer=1;_ylt=AmLO87McyJ74_.odWCqx6DgN97QF;_ylu=X 3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-)
AP
By ELIZABETH LeSURE, Associated Press Writer
Former Giants lineman Roy Simmons and celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred want an investigation into whether Simmons was denied access to the Super Bowl media center because he is gay and HIV positive.
Simmons and Allred held a news conference outside NFL headquarters Thursday before delivering a letter to the league asking it to look into why Simmons wasn't granted a media pass.
Simmons requested a credential for the center Feb. 2, three days before the Super Bowl. He also asked for two tickets for the game, which the Pittsburgh Steelers won 21-10 over the Seattle Seahawks, and a party.
He said he was told there were no more credentials available. But Allred, whose clients have included Scott Peterson's former mistress, Amber Frey, said the NFL indicated that it would give others passes after Simmons asked for one.
The NFL said in a statement that people throughout the league are inundated with last-minute requests for Super Bowl game tickets, party invitations and press credentials. An NFL spokesman said some requests are handled by the league and others go through the public relations staff at the media center.
"It is impossible for all of these requests to be met, and there were many people, apart from Mr. Simmons, who were disappointed," the statement said.
It says elsewhere in this story that Simmons wanted access to the Super Bowl Media Center to speak about HIV testing. While I *personally* think this would be a good thing, assuming that the League deliberately didn't give him tickets, shouldn't it have a right not to let people come into the Super Bowl Media Center to speak on topics they don't approve? I guess I'm kind of torn. And it does seem like a pretty big leap to assume that he wasn't given tickets because of his sexual orientation if other people were in fact denied.
AP
By ELIZABETH LeSURE, Associated Press Writer
Former Giants lineman Roy Simmons and celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred want an investigation into whether Simmons was denied access to the Super Bowl media center because he is gay and HIV positive.
Simmons and Allred held a news conference outside NFL headquarters Thursday before delivering a letter to the league asking it to look into why Simmons wasn't granted a media pass.
Simmons requested a credential for the center Feb. 2, three days before the Super Bowl. He also asked for two tickets for the game, which the Pittsburgh Steelers won 21-10 over the Seattle Seahawks, and a party.
He said he was told there were no more credentials available. But Allred, whose clients have included Scott Peterson's former mistress, Amber Frey, said the NFL indicated that it would give others passes after Simmons asked for one.
The NFL said in a statement that people throughout the league are inundated with last-minute requests for Super Bowl game tickets, party invitations and press credentials. An NFL spokesman said some requests are handled by the league and others go through the public relations staff at the media center.
"It is impossible for all of these requests to be met, and there were many people, apart from Mr. Simmons, who were disappointed," the statement said.
It says elsewhere in this story that Simmons wanted access to the Super Bowl Media Center to speak about HIV testing. While I *personally* think this would be a good thing, assuming that the League deliberately didn't give him tickets, shouldn't it have a right not to let people come into the Super Bowl Media Center to speak on topics they don't approve? I guess I'm kind of torn. And it does seem like a pretty big leap to assume that he wasn't given tickets because of his sexual orientation if other people were in fact denied.