Ines Sainz, Azteca Reporter, Harassed By Jets? NFL Investigating (PICTURE)

NEW YORK -- The NFL is looking into how a female television reporter was treated at New York Jets practice Saturday.

Ines Sainz, a reporter for Mexico's TV Azteca doing a story on quarterback Mark Sanchez, had footballs thrown in her direction by a Jets coach during practice, and players later called out to her in the team's locker room.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday that the league and the Jets began looking into the situation when they were made aware of it Saturday night.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum called Joanne Gerstner, a board member of the Association for Women in Sports Media, on Sunday to discuss the matter. The two organizations were working to schedule an educational and awareness session with the team, according to Jets spokesman Bruce Speight.

Speight added that he also addressed the situation at the team meeting Sunday in advance of New York's season opener against Baltimore on Monday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Earlier Sunday, the Jets issued a statement, saying owner Woody Johnson spoke to Sainz on Sunday to discuss the incident.

"He stressed to Ines that he expects all members of the Jets organization to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times," the statement said.

The team also said it would work with the league to gather facts and "take any appropriate steps necessary to maintain a respectful environment for the media."

The AWSM said in a statement Sunday night that both the NFL and the Jets were "responsive to our concerns" and that it would continue to monitor the situation.

"We are awaiting the results of the investigation," the statement read, "and further action from the NFL and Jets."

Update: SportsByBrooks found a tweet from Sainz, which allegedly shows the outfit she was wearing on the day of the incident:

(Clarification: The photo below was not taken on the day of the alleged harassment. Sainz claims that the outfit resembles what she wore to the Jets practice.)

Comments

[markusdjm]

12:37 PM on 10/15/2010

Sainz said his first task would be to interview members of the Pittsburgh Steelers - including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back from suspension after being accused of sexually assaulting a college student of Georgia. Roethlisberger was not charged. Ines Sainz
http://usspost.com/ines-sainz-3-19873/

[Dawan Muhammad]

12:48 PM on 09/20/2010

For those trying to rationalize the issue by focusing on how Ms. Sainz was dressed, any woman dressed any way or undressed is going to get attention, because the issue is simply about a woman being in a men's locker room.

[Justin Kranites]

02:56 PM on 09/18/2010

Good god not to sound like apig but the a** on her could stop a car. God Bless her, but as a woman she know what she was doing smart girl, but good god what an a**.

[SteveD987]

06:46 PM on 09/17/2010

I'd throw my balls in her direction as well.

[silvarga]

04:59 PM on 09/17/2010

Holy bejeezus that woman has a beautiful derriere. I'm mesmerized by it. I can't stop staring, and that's really saying something since I'm about 95% homo.

[Giz]

04:13 PM on 09/22/2010

hahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahah....lol...oh gosh... I'm about 74% straight (fem) and I can't look away either..

[Snarkyone]

03:41 PM on 09/17/2010

Out of curiosity I wonder how many men reporters get access to the women locker rooms at Wimbeldon, WNBA or women soccer players???

[Boinko]

04:44 PM on 09/17/2010

I don't think you'll ever see a situation in any sport where male reporters are allowed in female athlete's locker rooms. Which I think is fine. How many women here would be OK with male reporters in a locker room if they were one of the athletes? I'm going to guess none.

The only reason it happens male sports is because it's considered unfair to prevent female reporters from gaining equal access to players. And from that perspective, it makes sense. Why should male reporters get all the best post game reactions that often happen in the locker room, while female reporters have to wait until the guys leave the locker room.

What they should really do is ban reporters from the locker rooms altogether. It's locker room for god sakes. How about letting athletes have some privacy.

[Hontas Farmer]

12:57 PM on 09/21/2010

They are allowed in Google it.

[chelledc]

04:10 PM on 10/08/2010

Apparently it does happen. Do you even watch locker room interviews for women's sports? I'm sure there are a few youtube clips out there showing men in their asking WNBA player's questions.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/09/nude-naked-locker-room-nfl-nba-wnba/1

[Boinko]

03:33 PM on 09/17/2010

I suspect the only thing that would distress Sainz more than attention she got is if she got none at all.

[nachocat]

03:19 PM on 09/17/2010

That woman is smokin' hot

[40ishMom]

02:05 PM on 09/17/2010

I kind of wonder if they would have harassed her no matter what she wore. I could see that sort of thing happening with someone who is all buttoned-up, too. I wouldn't wear that outfit but I also think the men should be held accountable for their lousy behavior.

[40ishMom]

02:00 PM on 09/17/2010

Wow, those are some tight jeans.

Personally, I wouldn't go into a men's locker room dressed like that. It is not realistic to expect that you wouldn't get some kind of attention. It is also not a work outfit that screams, "Take me seriously. I am a professional". Sorry, but it's just not.

That is not to say that the men shouldn't have behaved better. Obviously they weren't perfect gentlemen. They should have exercised more restraint and used some manners. The way she is dressed should not dictate how they behave.

[johnminehan]

07:42 PM on 09/19/2010

At least not in the profession you are talking about . . . .

[fausto412]

10:50 AM on 09/17/2010

wearing jeans that tight...man those locker room guys never had a chance. it's like waving steak in front of a starving dog.

[clsmithj]

10:55 AM on 09/17/2010

exactly

[Walter H]

09:34 AM on 09/17/2010

Seems there is a certain lack of attention to reality here.

[KaLeeDo]

12:50 AM on 09/17/2010

I'm sorry that looks fine and if 300 pound linebackers are allowed to wear painted on spandex then Ines gets to wear this number.

[andejoh]

10:34 PM on 09/16/2010

There really aren't any innocent parties here. The Jets should have never opened the locker room to reporters for a practice. The rationale I hear for reporters in the locker room is that they want to get the players immediate reactions, the emotion etc. How does that equate to a practice?

The ladies should have requestsed a different venue unless they wanted to be in the locker room I hear the qrgument that women need unfettered access to the locker room because it builds a relationship with the players that male reports are able to gain and therefore get an advantage. I tend to be a liberal, but a little old fashioned here. You can compel someone to have a professional relationship with you such as answering your questions, but you can't force comraderie. It starts with gaining their respect by first respecting them.

Lastly, the players aren't helping their position by acting the fool, especually when it starts on the practice field. You can't blame it on the women being in the locker room when it starts on the practice field.

All of that being said, the men are adults. They knew what they were signing up for. They are compensated handsomely. If you don't like the working conditions, quit. On the other hand, if they somehow feel harrassed, they should like any other employee be able to bring a complaint to their employer and have it thoroughly and completely investigated.

[Dee777]

08:00 AM on 09/16/2010

A lot of the comments are sexist or pure jealousy. It wasn't even Ines Sainz who filed a complaint but another female reporter in the locker room who witnessed what happend to her while she was trying to conduct an interview. This other female reporter apparently thought their behavior was so disrespectful that she approached her to tell her how sorry she was about what had just happened. Sainz was the one who blew the whole thing off and didn't make a big deal, but once the NFL and Jets owners were contacted by AWSM, the media took off running with this story.

I cannot believe people say she was just asking for it either, or she should dress more professional. She looks sexy in her clothes because she's got a terrific figure, and most women can only hope to look that good in a pair of jeans. If any other women wore the same clothes, they likely wouldn't garner any attention. The only way people would not notice her, is if she wore a freeflowing shapeless moo moo dress. She's got a tiny waistline and a shapely booty. Sin among sins, right? Jeans and a blouse? Scandalous!

[Vanessa Belle]

11:11 AM on 09/16/2010

I agree with you that "if any other women wore the same clothes, they likely wouldn't garner any attention". That is exactly what I think.

However, I don't agree that if she was dressed in a "moo moo dress" that she would have received the same attention.

She has a great figure and she was dressed to emphasize her assets in skin tight jeans and tight shirt. That was her choice.

Personally, I don't think her attire was professional looking. As a woman with curves I know that I can dress to emphasize my assets or downplay them. At work I think it is a good choice to downplay them - leave the skintight outfits for outside of work.

[Berkent Law]

01:56 PM on 09/16/2010

I have represented women on sexual harassment claims. Here, aside from the obvious "interest" shown to Ms. Sainz by these athletes there is a larger issue of whether ANY PRESS should be allowed in the locker room. I say let's allow the athletes (be they men or women) to get cleaned up and then interview them outside of the locker room. As to the sidelines, the coach should say "knock it off you guys and get back to work." As to the guys, borrow a page from Austin Powers and think "Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day." Why, because no one can sue you for what you THINK but don't SAY. In other words, your thoughts are free but you're words and actions are subject to review.

Beyond that, if you actually have been SEXUALLY HARASSED AT WORK and want to sue, see my video blog at http://tiny.cc/vubnm to see how. The "bottom line" (sorry, pun intended) is that Ms. Sainz's case is not a problem; it makes her famous and sells TV, print, and internet advertising. This is much different from real harassment cases where (usually women) are REALLY damaged both economically and financially from ACTUAL quid pro quo ("this for that") or hostile environment situations. Let's focus on women who really deserve our attention and need our help and not on a reporter who has dramatically INCREASED her market share because "made us look."

[soey]

11:57 AM on 09/16/2010

Why is there no rep from the AWSM speaking out about the incident or sexual harrassment? She stated clearly from the interviews that she did not file the complaint or that she was not bothered at all by the incident.