Ireland trying to protect gay kids from old attitudes

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In an age where it's commonplace to hear well known sport insiders claiming there are no gays in football, or the fans at sporting events using homophobic slurs, it's heartwarming to see an editorial in a major Irish paper urging fans and athletes to be aware of old attitudes in sports and to not pass them onto the kids coming up in sports. 

The major sporting bodies have strong bullying policies. It's just a question of making sure gay kids are protected by enforcing the rules, but more importantly random acts of acceptance will ensure every youngster is comfortable in the jersey of his choice.

Source: Independent.ie

Former NBA star and mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson opposes gay marriage

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Former point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Johnson is running for mayor of his hometown, Sacramento, Calif.

In a debate last week, Johnson upset many local gay and lesbians by saying he believes in civil unions and equal benefits for same-sex couples but marriage should only be between a man and a woman. 

Source: The Mercury News

Spectator sport: Rugby bad-boy Sonny Bill Williams

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From the gifted to the gorgeous, Spectator sport showcases athletes at the top of their game.

Sonny Bill Williams plays second row or lock for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL). This muscular 22-year old also sports four tattoos on his body including the stunning traditional Samoan sleeve that starts at his right shoulder and runs down to his forearm.

Tennis: Federer falls in Rome

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Roger Federer's drive towards a maiden French Open crown just hit a detour in Rome.

SF Gay Softball Hall of Fame member fights to save Wrigley Field

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You may not know a lot about baseball, but one thing's for sure, you've heard of Wrigley Field. The iconic ballpark has been the home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916. 

In an age of increasing corporate sponsorship, Wrigley Field is in danger of a name change, but not if Jerry Pritikin has anything to say about it. A San Francisco Gay Softball League Hall of Fame member, he's leading the charge to save the home of the Cubs.

Source: Beyond Chron

Olympics: Torch reaches summit of Mt. Everest

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Amid worldwide protests, the Olympic torch is carried by a Tibetan woman to unparalleled heights; the summit of Mount Everest. 

Exiled Tibetan officials see this a publicity stunt in very poor taste. 

"During these times when the situation in Tibet is very grave and grim we felt it is very provocative to take the Olympic torch to the Tibetan side of the mountain," said Thubten Samphel, secretary of the exiled government's information department in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala.

"The Chinese are suppressing the Tibetan people ... it is not in harmony with the spirit of the Olympics," he told Reuters.

Source: The Washington Post

Drag queens on the NY Jets cheerleading sqaud?

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You read it right!  Maybe it's time we grabbed our pompoms and headed down for auditions on May 17th!

The New York Jets Flight Crew, the official cheerleaders for the NY Jets, is known for fabulously attractive women but can the ranks be broken by an equally fabulous drag queen?  According to Denise Garvey, choreographer for the Flight Crew, the answer is yes. 

In a radio interview she was open to the idea as long as he was attractive enough.

Tennis: Henin falls in Berlin, French Open prospects in doubt

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The French Open just blew wide open for both the men and women ballers this week.

Olympics: Clemens' scandals ruin chances for Beijing spot

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The news for Roger Clemens continues to get worse. Bob Watson, the US general manager for the Olympic baseball team, says he isn't considering the 7-time Cy Young winner for a place on the roster because of Clemens' recent scandals.

"From my standpoint, we don't need that type of distraction," said Watson.

He also doesn't believe he'll receive push-back on his decision by anyone higher up:

I have not talked to the commissioner. I have not talked to (MLB chief operating officer) Bob DuPuy, nor have I talked to his agent, but I just think the distraction that he's carrying right now, from my standpoint, we don't need that.

Source: Sports Illustrated

Positive change is coming, but could take 10 years or more

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UPDATE--According to the Sydney Star Observer,  Victoria sporting clubs will soon be adopting anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation.  Although this is a great step forward, many see this is just the starting point and true equality on the field could take 10 years or longer.

"Nothings going to change just from that," said former St Kilda captain Nathan Burke. "If you can find some leaders to really push it, keep it in front of mind, that’s important, but the most important part is education, getting out there, talking to the sporting clubs and leagues."

"Eventually through the education process it started to change attitudes [towards racial and religious discrimination] and then over 10 years new players came in and they saw that attitudes had changed, and it wasn’t okay to call someone a racial or religious name. So that’s how cultural change happened, slowly, over 10 years."

Source: Sydney Star Observer

MLB: Ozzie Guillen still learning about America

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Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen likes to blame his Venezuelan background for his lack of understanding of right and wrong. He is also very fond of the "I am what I am" excuse when he gets himself in hot water. Either way, he continues to show no willingness to accept his role as a public figure, as evidenced by this past weekend's clubhouse controversy.

Tennis: Nadal loses in Rome, suffers second loss in 105 matches on clay

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The unthinkable has happened today: Rafael Nadal lost on clay.

The Spanish speedster suffered only his second loss in 105 matches on the slippery stuff falling to compatriot (and fellow cutie) Juan Carlo Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Rome Masters. Rafa complained of a blister on his right foot and called for a trainer late in the second set.

Though he gave credit to his opponent he was quick to mention his condition saying,

Juan Carlos is a very tough opponent, but certainly if you're not 100% at a Masters Series event, it is very tough. I congratulate Juan Carlos, but today for sure was not my best tennis.

This shocking loss blows the draw wide open for any number of ballers, including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Roddick, to make their move and gain confidence before the French Open which starts on May 25th.

But the question that remains is who wants it the most.

Source: USA Today

Jason safe for another week!!!

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At times I'm embarrassed I have become so addicted to Dancing With The Stars.  But tonight I was on the edge of my seat when it came down to the bottom two couples and my boy Jason was one of them.

But my nervousness was helped out by Tom Bergeron's quips about Cristian de la Fuente's one armed mambo.   

Spoiler alert.

John Amaechi comes out to support Justin Fashanu

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Even though Justin Fashanu died 10 years ago he still remains the only professional footballer [soccer] player to have come out of the closet.  On the anniversary of his tragic death, John Amaechi told The Voice there should be "no more martyrs for the cause."

Gay powerlifter looking for more gold

You may remember Chris Morgan from the 2006 Chicago Gay Games.  He took a few gold medals back to Great Britain; 4 to be exact. He also took home 2 gold medals at the 2002 Sydney Gay Games and a silver medal at the 1998 Amsterdam Gay Games. 

He's now going for more gold, this time competing for the European and World drug-free championship Finals.

"It feels wonderful to have earned the opportunity to represent my country once again, especially after my health problems over the last year," Morgan said. "There were certainly times that it seemed a distant dream that I’d ever grace the world championship again. I’d like to think my family and the Federation of Gay Games for their love and support in what has been an extremely difficult year since my operation."

Image courtesy of Chris Morgan

Source: Outsports.com

Soccer: Ronaldo denies being gay, may join Flamengo

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Ronaldo wants everyone to know he's not gay after the Brazilian soccer star mistakenly picked up three transvestites and brought them back to a motel.

Dumb jocks? NCAA tries to change dumb jock image

Often the dumb jock image is applied to high school and college athletes. Well the NCAA is planning on doing something about this. Their annual academic progress report was released and revealed more than 700 teams short of the mandated cut score. Punishment lurks for many of these failing programs.

On the Down Low...

Kobe Bryant most likely MVP

Chris Paul is NBA's newest Twink star

Washington Wizards' No. 23 Crybay T-Shirts Leads to 23-cent Papa John's Pizzas in Clevleand

Perfect Porn Scene: Jail Break Jocks shot in a NFL Locker Room

Move Over Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch Most Hated Diva in NASCAR

Anthony Kim, Twink and Youngest PGA Tour Winner

European soccer stars love their sports cars

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What is hotter then a hot European soccer star? A hot European soccer star in a hot European sports car! Which do you prefer, the player or the car? This slide show of European soccer stars and their cars may have you sprinting for the showroom.

European Sports Stars and Sports Cars Slide Show

Superstars of sport attend Costume Gala at the Met

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Anybody who's anybody in the worlds of film, entertainment, sports and fashion were on hand for the Met's Costume Gala event last night; that would be the Metropolitan Museum not the New York Mets.