North Carolina and the NCAA

When North Carolina passed its controversial new HB2 law, you knew there was going to be a lot of negative backlash from all over.  And with good reason.  While that may not have been its intent, it's easy to view the law as discriminatory.  Especially considering how much of a hot-button topic LGBT issues have become.

For those that don't know, the HB2 law (House Bill 2 or, officially, the "Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act") requires transgender people to use the public restroom for the sex listed on their birth certificate, not the sex with which they identify (even if they've legally transitioned).  It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from anti-discrimination protection.

As you can imagine, reaction to the law has been swift.  Various states have passed legislation prohibiting travel to North Carolina using state funds.  As a result, Duke had to scrap a non-conference basketball game against Albany, and other North Carolina schools will have to adjust their schedules, as well.  The 2017 NBA All-Star Game was supposed to be in Charlotte.  But, in reaction to the law, the league has moved it to New Orleans.  That was the first major event moved out of North Carolina as a result of this law.

Then on Monday, the NCAA announced that it was moving seven championship events out of the state.  This isn't the first time that the NCAA has prevented a certain area from hosting one of its championships.  They don't hold any in Nevada or New Jersey because of gambling, and South Carolina only just got the right to host back once they agreed to stop flying the Confederate flag at the State Capitol.  Likewise, North Dakota only just reentered the hosting rotation in hockey after not being allowed to until dropping the incredibly awesome "Fighting Sioux" nickname.

But Monday's move is significant because of the message it sends.  Not only did they pull championships already scheduled for North Carolina, they also made it clear that there will be no NCAA Championships held in North Carolina as long as the law is in place.  Considering they had seven scheduled for this year alone, and that eliminates Duke and North Carolina (among others) from hosting events that are held at campus sites, that's potentially a lot of NCAA events that will end up being held elsewhere.

Naturally, some of these championships are more marquee than others.  The Women's College Cup regularly takes place in the Raleigh area and was supposed to again this year.  Now it won't.  The Women's Lacrosse Championship was also set to take place there, but that, too will be moved.

The biggest event being moved out of North Carolina, though, is the first two rounds of the Men's Basketball Tournament in Greensboro.  The ACC Tournament is held in Greensboro more than any other location, and Greensboro also regularly hosts the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.  One of the reasons Greensboro hosts so frequently is because Duke and/or North Carolina is usually good, and with those fan bases, they're all but guaranteed a sellout.  And with Duke likely to be in the Preseason Top 5, it seems probable that Duke was going to be playing their first two NCAA Tournament games in Greensboro.

Duke's athletic director went on record saying he agreed with the NCAA's decision, while both North Carolina and NC State expressed their disappointment (although, it should be noted here that North Carolina and NC State are state-funded, while Duke is a private institution).  North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, meanwhile, went on the offensive, accusing the NCAA of taking "political retaliation" while the matter is still being decided in the courts.

McCrory's reaction was tame compared to that of North Carolina Republican Party spokeswoman Kami Mueller, though.  This quote is so ridiculous, you'd think it has to be made up, but it all comes straight from Mueller: "This is so absurd it's almost comical.  I genuinely look forward to the NCAA merging all men's and women's teams together as singular, unified, unisex teams.  Under the NCAA's logic, colleges should make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms, showers and hotel rooms.  This decision is an assault to female athletes across the nation.  If you are unwilling to have women's bathrooms and locker rooms, how do you have a women's team?"

Hang on, it gets better.  "I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor.  Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking -- and instead focus their energies on making sure our nation's collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field."

Seriously, with such a sound and reasoned argument, how could you possibly disagree with Mueller?  She didn't take it to an absolutely ludicrous extreme or anything.  She completely gets the point.

While it's clear North Carolina's lawmakers don't think there's anything wrong with this law, the vast majority of Americans disagree with them.  The NBA and NCAA's actions prove that.

This doesn't mean there won't be any big time sporting events in the State of North Carolina, either.  They haven't decertified the Belk Bowl (and probably won't), and NASCAR hasn't said anything one way or the other, but you'd figure they're not inclined to pull the Coca-Cola 600, one of their biggest events, out of Charlotte, which is also the site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  The Panthers and Hornets and all of the colleges will still play all of their home games, too.

North Carolina should take the NCAA's move seriously, though.  It's a chance for them to step back and look at the bigger picture.  Maybe then they'll see why so many people think the law is wrong.  Since North Carolina's elected officials aren't going to do anything about it, the NCAA did it for them.  If North Carolina wants to host NCAA events in the future, the way to do that is pretty clear.  Become welcoming--to everybody--and the NCAA will gladly come back.  Until then, enjoy traveling.