Women In The Locker Room

About 500 women work as sports journalists in the U.S., according to the Association of Women in Sports Media. Their push toward equal access - to have the same rights as men doing the same job - is legally 12 years old.

But the issue has been renewed since Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson was harrassed by five New England Patriots in the locker room Sept. 16. All were naked, and at least one, Zeke Mowatt, shoved his hips at her and made lewd comments, she said. A former Watergate prosecutor is investigating the incident.

Last Monday night, Cincinnati Bengals Coach Sam Wyche fanned the controversy by barring USA Today reporter Denise Tom from his locker room on the basis of gender, despite NFL policy, and was later fined $30,000 Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Here's a look at what's happened in various sports over the years:

BASEBALL: Precedent was established in 1978 when a federal judge ruled Melissa Ludtke, a reporter for Sports Illustrated, could go into the New York Yankees' clubhouse.

In 1986, Susan Fornoff of The Sacramento Bee received a live rat wrapped in a shoe box from Dave Kingman of the Oakland A's. Kingman, who didn't believe she should be allowed in the locker room, was fined $3,500 by the Oakland A's, and the incident became his public relations Waterloo.

Earlier this year, Jennifer Frey of the Detroit Free Press was told by Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris: ``I don't talk to people when I'm naked, especially women, unless they're on top of me or I'm on top of them.''

THE NFL: In 1985, Commissioner Pete Rozelle ordered all NFL teams to treat reporters equally in interview areas, regardless of sex. Some teams set up rooms where players could be interviewed; others handed out bathrobes or towels to players.

THE NBA: Basketball set an open-access policy earlier than baseball. The NBA schools rookies on how to deal with the media - male and female - before each season.

HOCKEY: Open locker rooms since before 1985