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Suspensions of Nicodemo, DiCintio gaining widespread media attention

The recent suspension of Saunders basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo and Somers coach Chris DiCintio over their involvement in a LGBT charity game has received national media attention this week.

ABC News Ch. 7 and USA Today, as well as numerous Gay and Lesbian publications, are among the outlets to report on the suspension. Nicodemo, who is openly gay, has been quoted repeatedly questioning the motive of the suspension, questioning if it is anti-LGBT.

nicodemopicNicodemo said on Thursday he’s also been contacted by the New York Post and ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” for a potential segment.

NYSSWA: Two Coaches Suspended over involvement in Gay Pride charity event

Nicodemo and DiCintio agreed last offseason to turn their scheduled non-league contest into a “Gay Pride Game” to generate awareness and donations. The game was held on Jan. 20 at Sarah Lawrence College and raised $800 for the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

OutSports: Coaches Suspended for Participating in LGBT Charity Game

According to Section 1, the game needed to have approval under NYSPHSAA rule because there was a sponsor, Nike, involved. The appropriate paperwork was not filed by either school.

Nicodemo said the only involvement Nike had in the event was providing t-shirts.

After an anonymous person/group reported the potential infraction to Section 1, the case was sent to NYSPHSAA for interpretation and a ruling.

The Section 1 Athletic Council voted two weeks ago to suspend Nicodemo and DiCintio for one game each, the first of the 2018-19 season. According to past precedent, each coach would receive the one-game suspension. There is no appeal process.

This situation continues a tumultuous basketball season with Section 1 and specifically Nicodemo, who spearheaded and is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the section over the process of removing the boys and girls playoff games at the Westchester County Center. Litigation against Section 1 is still ongoing.

Nicodemo was extremely vocal against Section 1 on his various social media accounts.

The Westchester County Center ultimately did host almost all of the Section 1 boys and girls semifinals after an agreement, led by a committee of athletic directors, devised a plan where the higher-seeded school signed to host their contests at the arena.

Email KDJ at kdjmedia1@gmail.com. Tweet Kevin Devaney Jr. at @KDJMedia1

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