Mechelle Voepel writes that Rene Portland's coaching colleagues don't want to talk about something that many of them would like to go away.

The gay coaches for the most part are fearful of discussion of any gay issues in the sport. Many straight coaches absolutely wouldn't want to take a lie-detector test about whether they've used the lesbian issue against another program during recruiting wars. Heck, even some gay coaches use that against each other.

Concerning the recent controversy around Portland, Voepel has been considering for some time what to write.

Portland always has been a puzzling case to me. She has been a trailblazer is so many ways, as both a player and coach. She has said so many smart, snappy, quotable and on-the-money things about the respect women's athletics deserves... And yet, a significant segment of women's basketball observers believes she has undermined all of her accomplishments and her reputation because of her attitude toward homosexuality.

Read more of what Mechelle Voepel has to say about negative recruiting tactics and the allegations against Rene Portland.