By
Jim Buzinski
Outsports.com
Sports talk radio, for the most part, is to intelligent
discourse what pork rinds are to gourmet cooking.
The medium is populated (with
some
exceptions) by hosts who are loud-mouthed and obnoxious and
callers who are clueless and obnoxious. It's ``Animal House'' on
the AM dial with ``Bob from Biloxi'' the new Bluto. Not exactly
the place one would expect to find a reasonable viewpoint on the
issue of homosexuality in sports.
Jim Rome, though, goes against the grain. The most-popular
sports radio talk show host gets generally good marks on the gay
issue, according to a thorough and detailed
38-page study by David Nylund for the
GLAAD Center for the Study of Media and Culture.
``I consider Jim Rome's anti-homophobic stance to be bold and
courageous given the context and hyper-masculine discursive
space of sports talk radio,''
Nylund writes in the conclusion of
``When in Rome: Heterosexism, Homophobia, and Sports-Talk
Radio.''
Nylund, of the University of California-Davis' Department of
Cultural Studies, listened to Rome's show for four months, from
April 30 to Sept. 7, 2001. This was a very active period for the
discussion of gays in sports, coming at the start of the
controversy over Out editor Brendan Lemon and his
mystery
major league baseball boyfriend. (Outsports
gave
Rome good marks for raising the issue and offering often
insightful analysis.)
 Rome's whole shtick, from the ``Jungle'' to ``Have a take and do
not suck" to his ``clones'' to his ``Huge take of the day'' give
the impression of an on-air frat party three hours a day. Or, as
Nylund puts it: ``Themes of misogyny, violence and heterosexual
dominance appear to be recurring themes deeply embedded in the
text of the program. Rome's persona exudes aggressive
masculinity as well as unquestionable expertise and authority.''
Noteworthy Stance
Rome can be just as juvenile as the next talk show host, but he
``clearly positions himself as anti-racist and
anti-homophobic,'' Nylund finds. ``This stance is noteworthy and
a contradiction to dominant sports talk discourse. Rome uses his
masculine authority to stand against intolerance that is often
engendered by homophobia.''
For example, here is Rome addressing
homophobic
comments Chicago Cubs pitcher Julian Tavares made about San
Francisco Giants fans last April:
``Julian Tavarez, a pitcher for the Cubs said this about San
Francisco Giants fans--his words not mine--`they are a bunch of
a-holes and faggots.' …You know, it would be nice to go a week
without some racist or bigot comment…but no, Julian. Nice job
Julian.
``…And here's a thought, Julian Rocker [a reference to John
Rocker, a pitcher who became famous for making racist and
homophobic comments during an interview in Sports Illustrated],
just because San Francisco has a significant gay population, I
would be willing to bet that not everybody at a Giants game is a
homosexual. Maybe. Can't document that. Just a thought … I feel
pretty secure in saying that … how does you come up with this
garbage? I mean how do get to the point where the proper
response to heckling fans is to drop racist, anti-Semitic, or
homophobic bombs on people? And even if you had those bigoted
views, you would have the sense to keep it yourselves. They
might realize that not everybody hates everybody else. I think
there is only one solution to this problem of over-crowding in
the racist frat house. We are going to have to have honorary
members.''
Rome comes off less well in his interview with major league
baseball player Eric Davis, who said he would be uncomfortable
showering with an openly gay teammate. Rome never challenged
Davis directly or asked appropriate follow-ups. Instead, he
wimped out, taking a mild swipe at Davis in a monologue a few
minutes after the interview ended. It's a Rome trait to seldom
seriously challenge his guests (the lion turns into a lamb) and
Nylund calls him on it in this case.
``Rome's comments show his keen awareness of the extraordinary
difficulties that would occur for an openly gay ballplayer. Yet,
he shares his awareness in the safety of his `expert' monologue,
not with Eric Davis present. He doesn't want to risk his
masculinity by endorsing this unusually progressive stance in
the presence of a famous ballplayer like Davis.''
Lesbian Sex
If Nylund applauds Rome for being generally sensitive to male
homosexuality in sports, he gives lusty boos to what he deems the host's
``sexism and lesbian-baiting.'' Nylund contends that ``Rome has
consistently `bashed' both the LPGA and the WNBA--both sports
with lesbian visibility.''
For example, Nylund's relates commentary from Rome on his Sept.
7 show, where he discussed an article in ``Sports
Illustrated'' that claimed that the former coach of Detroit's
WNBA team, Nancy Lieberman, was
rumored to have had an affair
with one of her players.
``Not surprisingly, Lieberman is divorced from her husband right
now. I can’t imagine why!,'' Rome said. ``I would think that
your wife having a lesbian affair with one of your players would
make your marriage that much stronger! Lieberman continues to
deny the accusation. `I did nothing wrong. I was never in a
relationship with her [the guard]. I mentored her to the best of
my ability. If the media can write that Hillary Clinton’s gay,
write that Oprah Winfrey’s gay, write that Rosie O’ Donnell is
gay, I guess that is the hand I am dealt with. Again, I did
nothing wrong' end of quote. Wow! Look Nancy, stop the lies! …
``She has inferior ability. You are kicking it with her by the
pool. You don’t think your players are going to resent that? And
leave Hillary, “Obese” Winfrey, and Rosie “O’Fat” out of this. I
imagine they loved you tracking their name through this by
pointing the finger at them as lesbians by the media.''
Nylund's analysis states: ``This is another instance of Rome’s
loyalty to hegemonic masculinity. At first glance, Rome is
criticizing the unethical behavior of a coach supposedly having
an affair with a player. Further deconstructive analysis,
however, reveals the structures of power and dominant discourses
at work.''
In general, I found the analysis of Rome's sexism and
lesbian-baiting to be the weakest part of his study, bereft of
many specific examples, though Rome's referring to Oprah and Rosie's
weight is a classic male cheapshot when discussing women (who
have you ever heard call Ariel Sharon a big tub of goo?).
Opposing ViewsOne must applaud Nylund's thoroughness in approaching this
subject. In addition to listening to the show regularly for four
months (by now he must be an honorary ``clone''), he regularly read
messages on Rome's Web site discussion board and interviewed 18
regular listeners in various sports bars.
The comments from some of the listeners are interesting in how
they view Rome on the gay issue.
``Romey is like a sports sociologist with humor,'' a 24-year man
told Nylund. ``He's entertaining. He's really into the gay
issue. He's an advocate for gay rights. I respect him for it but
because he speaks his mind. Personally, I don't care what gays
do. But I don't think gays in team sports won't work because so
many athletes are macho and homophobic.''
Rome as a champion of gay rights was contradicted by another
man, who told Nylund: ``He's totally a hypocrite. Here is a
so-called gay advocate on one breath and in the next breath; he
refers to the LPGA as the `dyke' tours. And remember, he's the
guy who got famous for calling Jim Everett, `Chrissie.' Plus, he
panders to athletes and celebrities such as Jay Mohr. I was
listening to Romey in May when Mohr called Mike Hampton [a
baseball pitcher] a `gay Curious George.' Rome laughed at this
and lauded Mohr's brilliant humor. He's not progressive. If he
was, he would confront homophobes He's just another macho dude
who's using social issues and controversy to gain market share,
profits and more radio affiliates.''
The latter listener, while accurate is some ways, is perhaps too
harsh. Given Rome's prominence on the sports talk scene and the
makeup of his audience, his generally progressive views on the
gay issue should be seen as positive baby steps and be
encouraged. After all, we know that Rome wasn't built in a day.
Discuss
Rome, Patrick or talk radio in general |
Dan Patrick's
Luge Obsession
By Jim Buzinski
Outsports.com
I've always been ambivalent about ESPN's Dan Patrick, a
SportsCenter anchor and host of a daily radio talk show.
His ``too cool for the room''
attitude and annoying Coors commercials are turnoffs. His
excellent and often-penetrating interview style is engaging
and informative. He comes across as a cut above most sports
personalities.
Which is why I was bothered by his lame attempts at humor on
his nationally broadcast radio show on Feb. 19 that
used gays as the butt of his jokes. When called on it by
GLAAD, Patrick later seemed apologetic.
Transcripts from the show have Patrick weighing in on the
following:
"Our poll question today, which I'm sure will drum up some
angry e-mailers, watching Olympic sports: Which one tests
your manhood the most: two-man luge, ice dancing,
cross-country skiing, or curling?"
"I won't let my son watch two-man luge 'cause I don't want
him to grow up and be one of those lugers where you say,
`Hey, you gotta climb on top of me. Oooohhhhh. Hey, come on.
You've got your human condom on, all right, jump on top of
me. Let's ride` " (Patrick's sidekick then said, "I wanna be
on top." Patrick exclaimed, "Oooooh."
Reading a listener's e-mail: "Maybe not gay, but headed that
way. Did anyone else catch [co-host Rob] Dibble saying that
ribbon dancing was something he did at the beach? Please
tell me what beach so I know not to go there."
On the same show, Patrick was speaking to a basketball
contributor (I didn't catch whom) who mentioned he was
recently engaged. Patrick them asked where the wedding would
be, Hawaii or Vermont. Not catching on, the guest said the
California coast, where he proposed. Hawaii or Vermont?
Patrick repeated, before spelling out that those are the two
states where gays go to have commitment ceremonies. A few
chuckles from everyone and the interview continued.
Patrick was contacted by
Cathy Renna of GLAAD about his remarks. While defending his
right to say what he wanted, Renna said that Patrick
``seemed to get the impact of his anti-gay comments and was
apologetic.''
I am curious as to Patrick's seeming obsession that day with
gay sex; he seems at once revolted by it while fascinated
enough to mention it four times on one show. Not being a
regular listener I don't know if this was an aberration or
not.
While not the most offensive things I've heard, his remarks
nonetheless point to an ultra-macho, straight-guy, frat-boy
mentality that has clear ideas of what real men do and don't
do.
It also implies that Patrick would freak if his son grew up
desiring men, and that good daddy Dan will do everything to
steer his boy to the proper sports. I guess playing
quarterback is out since that involves touching another
guy's butt all game. |
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