What will it take for women to be seen as more than property in the world of sports? Or for the casual fan, general manager or teammate to call question the maturity level of players surrounded by repeat domestic or sexual assault allegations?

Sports fans are funny in terms of placing blame on athletes’ mistreatment of women or care about the victims involved. Public reaction has seemed to create a flow chart of reasons to excuse such behavior.

If “x” player is accused of domestic violence AND is an once-in-a-lifetime athlete, then “y” logic is used to excuse his behavior. If “x” player is accused for the same assault charge AND NOT deemed a potential legend, then “y” reasoning is issued, followed with burning pitchforks and vitriolic rhetoric.

Whether or not it’s fair to repeatedly bring up those allegations when covering these athletes is up to the journalist, but it’s beside the larger issue of the accepted sexism that has become a part of sports. Among athletes a “with us or against us” mentality has spawned in locker rooms and is used in the name of “teamwork” and “brotherhood.” A lawsuit filed against the University of Tennessee athletics department alleges such behavior.

Six former female students at the university claim to have been sexually assaulted by student- athletes during their matriculation and reportedly dates back to Peyton Manning’s days as a Volunteer. However, there’s another layer to this rotten onion that seems a bit more disgusting.

In an attempt to aid an assaulted victim, the lawsuit alleges a wide receiver had been beaten by teammates while coaches were present. If a program is allegedly infected from the top to the bottom, whom can players trust for adult guidance?

The Tennessee football scandal is just one of recent examples involving male dominance preying and forcing women into submissive roles. Some me even go as far as to scoff at the idea of a woman having to ability to digest and discuss, subjecting them to classic gender roles.

It’s easy to understand, but not excuse, the relationship between athletes and the sour taste of losing, their feisty reaction when being told “no.”

But that type of machismo reflects rejection insecurities within oneself and is poising college campuses and professional sports, even if the rabid or die-hard fans want to ignore this truth.

Popular opinion would blame the victims for dressing or behaving a certain way, when in actuality, the way a woman dresses is for her own self-esteem and empowerment. It is not the call of a man to deem what is or isn’t appropriate for a woman to wear or behave if she doesn’t want to be assaulted or disrespected.

The end result is what people care about in sports but it seems this culture repeatedly takes an L when it comes to protect women treating them for what they actually are – actual humans.