We invite you to read a terrific and very clever cartoon by NDR, who will become an Outsports contributor:
Is Barry Zito Gay?

Would, as always, love your thoughts.

Oh, if only we knew he was! Great cartoon. He lives in North Beach here in the city and supposedly doesn't have any regular girlfriend or anything, but you never know. He also doesn't hang around regularly with the crowd that lives in that huge house over in the East Bay (Mulder, Chavez, Mendecino, Ellis). He's a real loner from what I've read. I can help him with his loneliness.

I suspect the media glare sends many a man into hiding, which would appear as "lonerism" to some, or send gossip tremors throughout the Gay Mafia.

Funny cartoon ! Let's have this guy do some more! Maybe he can do one about a gay cop in Ohio- Oh forget it - no one would believe that one...!

So, is Barry Zito gay? Enquiring minds want to know.

Is he the new Troy Aikman???

[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

Nice article ump, much appreciated. all of them sound like great guys. i think all 3 are very nice looking. im not a big baseball fan at all but its always good to check out Barry : )

i suspect its just wishful thinking on our part but its good to see an athlethe go against the grain and be himself and be different.

What I love about the cartoon is how clever it is, and how it plays into all our stereotypes. I think the cartoonist is really talented.

What was the point of "outing" this guy? I don't think most people will "get" the humor that was hopefully intended. Very irresponsible.

I think it's hardly "outing" somebody to feature him in a cartoon in Outsports, and most of the people here will "get" the humor.

I don't know why you use the quotation marks, but using common gay terms and putting them in quotation marks can be construed as hostile. Check out THIS web site.

On edit: Sorry, hogeye, for coming down strong, but Outsports has been far from irresponsible in all its dealings with athletes of all kinds, is a rising force in positive gay visibility, and I felt defensive.

Anyway, why such zeal to protect people from coming out, or being outed? I know there must be exceptions, but I have never met anyone who feels worse for being out. People do have a right to come out when they are ready, of course, but it's all a bit overblown.

[ October 23, 2002: Message edited by: Tom ]

I agree with Tom. This was merely a humorous (and well-done) cartoon, not an outing by any means.

Oy, I thought the "quotes" thing died when the Jeremy Shockey thread got locked.

My favorite: "Oh please! Why is it people only suspect the cute ones? Take it from me hon, there are plenty of ugly fags in this world". I know a guy who could be the inspiration for the cartoon character.

[quote] What was the point of "outing" this guy? I don't think most people will "get" the humor that was hopefully intended. Very irresponsible.

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Uh, it's satire and it never says he's gay. In fact, it tosses in all the stereotypes we use ourselves to try and guess at someone's sexuality. Gee, now I feel silly having to "explain" the cartoon, so I'll just shut up.

[quote]Originally posted by Tom:
[QB]Anyway, why such zeal to protect people from coming out, or being outed? I know there must be exceptions, but I have never met anyone who feels worse for being out. People do have a right to come out when they are ready, of course, but it's all a bit overblown.[QB]

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Tom, I've got a BIG problem with outing someone. Coming out is the biggest step in any gay person's self-discovery, and I firmly believe it should be THEIR decision, and not one made for them. Of course, I hope that every gay person makes it out of the closet, and I agree that they probably will be happier, but I don't think anybody should be forced out of the closet before they're ready. And yes, I'm speaking somewhat from experience.

All that being said, I certainly don't think the Zito cartoon was outing anybody, and found it very amusing. Hope to see more work like this on Outsports.

I think the cartoon says more about us (gay people) than it does about Barry.

My problem with it is you are using this guy's image and name without his permission to push your own views and "humor". Whether it is an actual "outing" or not is not the point. Quit trying to play god with other people's lives. If you have a problem with "hostile" posts you should shut this discussion board down.

[quote]Originally posted by hogeye:
My problem with it is you are using this guy's image and name without his permission to push your own views and "humor". Whether it is an actual "outing" or not is not the point. Quit trying to play god with other people's lives. If you have a problem with "hostile" posts you should shut this discussion board down.

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Maybe we can shut down Saturday Night Live, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien... The fact is, famous people are used all the time to push one's own "humor" without their express verbal or written consent. I disagree that this pushes anyone's views and it's not hostile. It's funny, and if Barry is really as self-possessed as his mother claims, he'll take it all in jest. The fact is, people equate being outed (even as a joke) as being accused of something. It's not an accusation because there's nothing wrong with it. unfortunately, the majority of people who have a true problem with gays are going to have to die before those beliefs go away. it's just that ingrained and sensitive a topic.

[quote]Originally posted by hogeye:
you are using this guy's image and name without his permission to push your own views and "humor"... Quit trying to play god with other people's lives.

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Familiar with editorial cartoons, or on a much lower level Sa-turd-ay Night Live? Public figures don't have such exclusive "use" of their images and names.

The comic was subtle and made it's point. Dig the Oakland pitching staff comment (I'd love to direct them)...

Outing? Ummm ... doesn't somebody have to be GAY in order to be outed? I would kinda think that was some sort of prerequisite. But that's just me.

I thought the joke was all the stupid little things that folks factor into what we call "gay-dar". Sort of a more sophisticated variant on all those "Mike Piazza" press conference jokes.

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:
Sort of a more sophisticated variant on all those "Mike Piazza" press conference jokes.

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Or Tom Arnold's declaration that Piazza was het cuz he liked Motorhead!

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:


Or Tom Arnold's declaration that Piazza was het cuz he liked Motorhead!

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Or Letterman's line: "Mike Piazza held a press conference to announce he did NOT watch the Tony Awards this year"

I thought the cartoon was clever, but I think part of Hogeye's point was that many in the community have a habit of wanting to believe that every attractive straight man is a closet case who can be, uh, "had". We can be a bit needy on that score. I find that attitude tiresome -- I've heard more SF queens pontificate about Jeff Garcia being gay, even though they wouldn't recognize him if they tripped over him at Blow Buddies.

I think the cartoon is more of a satire about gay witchhunts by gay society than it is about Barry Zito. I can't think of one good-looking celebrity male who hasn't been accused of being gay.

I think it works well as a commentary on how people's perceptions can be so superficial...but, I find the other side of the coin as funny, when so-called str8 guys have so much obvious gay behavior and no one says a word.

how could you guys let this topic get so far off? the topic is barry zito. he's hot. he's just won the Cy Young. went 23-5. seems like an awesome person.

I doubt Barry is gay. Actually, I don't really care. He's a very cool guy, it seems, and a great pitcher. I'm a Barry fan either way...

Barry Zito could be bi-sexual and enjoy the company of both Men and Women. Don't rule that out. We see some of the signs that indicate he sleeps with men. We have read the articles and have seen him in San Francisco's Castro District.However, we cannot rule out the bi-sexual factor.
But like Canmark and a few of the other posters here have said, it is HIS decision to come out. I wish he would come out. Lord knows we need some high profile sports guys to come out the closet and show us they have a backbone. This Hawaiin football player that played for the Minnesota Vikings came out, but no one has heard of him. He has a low profile in the Sports World. But if Barry Zito came out, it would benefit the Gay Movement, the Gay Rights Movement, if you will.

GOSH, WHAT, ME GAY?

i dont know about his being gay, but his hair sure looks great. seriously, he is very handsome

Barry, you're dead cute and all, but ease up on the accessories some, OK? Love ya, mean it. Oh, and congrats.

[quote]Originally posted by sundevil43:
Barry Zito could be bi-sexual and enjoy the company of both Men and Women. Don't rule that out. We see some of the signs that indicate he sleeps with men. We have read the articles and have seen him in San Francisco's Castro District.However, we cannot rule out the bi-sexual factor.

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What signs are there that indicates he sleeps with men? I never see any signs on anyone showing they sleep with men. Are these cardboard signs? Neon signs? Please tell me there's some kind of reliable signs that I should be looking for.

And unless they've passed a new law, put up some barricades and security gates, and issued ID cards and such, I think that straight men have been seen now and then in the Castro area.

[ November 12, 2002: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]