Vandals Deface Kay Yow Memorial

Kay Yow's recent passing struck an emotional chord, not just in Raleigh and North Carolina, but across the sports world as a whole. The level of respect that Coach Yow received from fans, friends, family and colleagues cannot be understated.

Which makes it that much more difficult to comprehend why vandals would deface a memorial created to honor Coach Yow with a "blue mustache" and the phrase, "Cancer Rules."

A blue mustache and the phrase "cancer rules" were added to the painting, which shows a portrait of Yow against a pink background. The graffiti was removed and the mural restored by early Sunday morning, but the incident did not sit well with students.

"This is still like her memorial," said Caren Lohr, a senior biology and chemistry major from Trinity in Randolph County. She came to paint the tunnel as part of an annual tradition by her co-ed fraternity. "She was definitely not one to be disrespected like that."

No one should be disrespected like that, and frankly, it's beyond sickening to think that anyone would find this remotely humorous. Judging from the color of the mustache and the vandalism occurring the same day as the N.C. State-North Carolina game, the logical thing is to presume that a Carolina fan/student did this; I get the whole rivalry issue, but anyone who could find this not remotely despicable needs to re-evaluate their moral compass.

There is also, of course, the issue of where the mural was painted: the Free Expression Tunnel. The FET has always been open to nearly whatever (hence the name), but was the subject of national scrutiny recently when students wrote inflammatory words about Barack Obama.

And just as Chancellor James Oblinger responded in thoughtful and swift fashion, I expect the same here. Free speech is free speech, but has limits when its purely hateful. Whoever did this will hopefully be identified and punished to whatever extent may be possible.

Recent Deaths in Sports

Kay Yow, Jan. 24: Hall of Fame basketball coach Kay Yow dies at age 66 after a long battle with cancer. Yow won more than 700 games in her illustrious career.

Karl DeBlaker, AP

John Gordy, Jan. 30: The former Detroit Lions offensive lineman was a three-time Pro Bowler and helped form the NFL Players' Association.

Ingemar Johansson, Jan. 30: The Swede stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959. Johansson became only the fifth-ever heavyweight champion born outside the US.

Glenn Davis, Jan. 28: The star hurdler, center, won two of his three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.

George Eisenhart Jr., Jan. 24: The promoter for the Motor Sports Monster Truck & Thrill Show died after he was crushed beneath a giant truck tire at a show.

TheMonsterBlog.com

Bill Werber, Jan. 22: Werber, the oldest living ex-major league baseball player and a former teammate of Babe Ruth, dies at age 100 at an assisted care facility in North Carolina.

Chuck Burton, AP

Shane Dronett, Jan. 21: Dronett played 10 years in the NFL and started every game on the Atlanta Falcons' 1998 Super Bowl team.

NFL / AP

Dante Lavelli, Jan. 20: "Gluefingers" was a receiver on the Cleveland Browns dynasty of the 1940s and '50s. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Tony Dejak, AP

Preston Gomez, Jan. 13: Gomez was the first manager in the history of the San Diego Padres. He later guided the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs.

Rene Herms, Jan. 11, 2009: The five-time German champion runner was found dead in his Berlin apartment at just 26 years old. Police are investigating the cause of death.

Alexander Hassenstein, Bongarts / Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)

2-02-2009 @ 11:36PM

mikeatcltlaw said...

As a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and the son of a N. C. State graduate, I cannot say with certainty that a UNC student did not do this. There are some very undisciplined (mostly frat) brats at UNC (to balance out the rest of us, I presume). I can say that it would take a UNC student from the lowest 1% of the student body to do this, someone who is a real cretin who had no clue about protecting his own University's reputation. My own experience at UNC was one of not thinking much about N. C. State at all. I never even met anyone who thought all that much about N. C. State while at UNC, save during an actual basketball game. Of course, I was there when Valvano was there and we all had at least a modicum of respect, if not for the team, for thwe coach. I have, however, felt some animosity from former State students (after having left college) that didn't seem warranted. Additionally, there have been incidents of false acts of rivalry between UNC and State (frameups) and this looks like a likely candidate for being one of those. Some people don't like the fact that UNC students (rightly or wrongly) have a bigger and sometimes better reputation than do N. C. State students. I suggest that this act is in all probability a false act of rivalty that was actually committed by an envious and resentful N. C. State student who simply wanted to make UNC look bad.

2-03-2009 @ 11:43AM

wolfpacker said...

mikeatcltlaw, your commentary is beyond belief, but if that diatribe is truly what you believe so be it. It's that pompous, condescending false bravado that places UNC-CH folks in a classless sect all by themselves.

It's a Free Expression tunnel patterned after the first ammendment. The right to do something doesn't always equate to doing the right thing. Kay Yow was an incredible person.

2-03-2009 @ 3:54PM

mtgatewood44 said...

well i guess you didn't know the real person as i have been told that she was a real bitch to her players and up until she got cancer she was very hated, take this how you want as i know you will make a comeback with a smart remark or call me stupid or something but not all of these people are the gods you think they are as i have articles from former players and students that showed up to and some after she got cancer showing she was a hard nosed bitch with her only concern was to win!!!! take it or not as i will be signing out after this and i don;t care what is said.

2-03-2009 @ 7:39PM

quaker313 said...

Hey, wolfpacker sure seems to have a mighty big chip on his/her/it's shoulder. I, after reading the comments, do not read, I quote, "pompous, condescending false bravado" in your comment, so I really do not know what crawled up that guy's/gal's/thing's butt and died. Or perhaps it points to bad reading comprehension skills on the part of a NC State student. I don't know. "places UNC-CH folks in a classless sect all by themselves" Are you friggin' kidding? I'm an App State alum, and the only classless thing I read here is your comment, wolfpacker. I am glad you did not and probably could not have attended the same university as I. So, go learn to read a little better, and keep packing them wolves into whatever you're packing them. Life will throw you a bone...eventually.

2-02-2009 @ 11:42PM

jenzinnj84 said...

I am sorry to correct you...because it will seem like I am agreeing with the idiots who did this. But...you are confusing your arguments. Free speech IS free speech...even when it is hateful. What the vandals don't have the right to do is deface property. That is a crime...and in this case...a really ignorant crime. You can't be the judge who decides what speech is ok...and what speech is offensive.

2-03-2009 @ 3:45PM

wdodge8727 said...

This is exactly what is wrong with the U.S. Respect is gone... God help us.

2-03-2009 @ 5:03PM

gerrihan65 said...

Freedom of Speech does not cover the actions made by that LBOC (Little Brain on Campus). What he/she did was vandalism.

If Freedom of Speech is abused in this manner, it ceases to have the original power with which it was endowed. Freedom of Speech was framed to gie "We the People" a means by which we could criticize our administrations past and present. It has been twisted and turned to make even the most despicable uses seem lawful.

If it is used in a manner that causes harm to another - like yelling "FIRE" in a crowded movie theater when there is no fire,the "person" who started the stampede is culpable for all of the injuries and possible deaths caused by the crush of the escaping crowd. If inflammatory speech causes a riot, the person who incited it is culpable for all of the destruction caused. Unfortunately, the system gets tweaked too often for the laws to actually have their intended effect.

If you stretch the laws a bit, what the LBOC did could count as Freedom of Expression, but only if it was done as a political protest or if it was artistic expression. This counted as neither.

2-03-2009 @ 6:48PM

gd said...

Well Said Jen, well said and spot on. Same to wdodge

2-03-2009 @ 1:01AM

Jonathan said...

LULZ

2-03-2009 @ 10:35AM

John Marshall said...

Some of the posts I see regarding AOL stories are absolutely dispicable. I fear for the future of the human race.

2-03-2009 @ 4:17PM

anna harris said...

I agree, I'm not a College sports fan but really some of the comments here and in AOL stories in general, AOL needs to moderate their stories more.

2-03-2009 @ 10:44AM

coachali31 said...

Not only are your comments completely unnecessary, they make you sound like a jackass. What was the point of posting that? Is there someone around you that is proud of those comments? My guess is no. You're probably a sad, lonely, disgusting human being that takes pride in making other people feel bad for what they have in life to make up for the things you lack.

You're sad and I pitty you. Kay Yow has done more with her life than you could ever accomplish. Don't be jealous of her accomplishments because you were the last kid picked in gym class. Grow up. Get a life and a job.

2-03-2009 @ 11:59AM

Mark said...

totally agree with you Mr. Marshall. A couple of the posts make me laugh with disgust. BUT it's not surprising to read. References to Obama or Ms. Yow's lifestyle are crazy and makes no sense. Let her RIP gracefully. I respect your right to "free speech" but you have no class or honor when you hide behind that right and spew hate. MAN up!

2-03-2009 @ 2:26PM

Tsunade said...

Disgusting.

2-03-2009 @ 2:31PM

butter91160 said...

Then don't give them the notoriety that they are craving by making this a huge news broadcast. All you do is give them and their little penises the glory they are looking for. Go0d Damn I think the Media IS BRAIN DEAD.

2-03-2009 @ 2:34PM

csekstrom said...

The media forces this hero-worship of a lesbo womens bball choach; now we are supposed to care about a memorial? 99% of Americans may have other worries these days; no wonder people loath the media!

2-03-2009 @ 3:39PM

jbarrin590 said...

I'm so sick of stupid people blaming the media for everything - they dumbed the news down just for people like you. Have you ever watched the Lehrer Report? Free Speech should come with a caveat that it only applies to people with IQ's above 100.

2-03-2009 @ 4:36PM

You are a real idiot. What happened to her has nothing to do with her orientation. Cancer hits everyone. Doubtless, you have had no one look up to you. Considering your attitude towards strong women, I bet you've been rejected quite often. grow up.

2-03-2009 @ 2:40PM

Joe Cass said...

I am speechless after reading this but not shocked. This world is full of ignorant and assinine people. The person who did this cannot have a heart and will probably laugh it off. To do this to such a classy women is apalling.

2-03-2009 @ 2:41PM

kagirl07 said...

OMFG would people just shut the f*** up and let the people who loved and respected Kay Yow grieve and the rest of you sorry pompous a** holes just shut your mouths?!?!?!? It is so sad the fact that no one can manage to just be a nice person anymore.