Hey...I think NY Hockey should have ranked. The NY Gay Hockey Association is alive and thriving, and has been for years. The teams and players have been featured in several local news publications, including the incredibly cool Time Out New York! Check 'em out: http://nycgayhockey.org/about_us.shtml

The Gay Hockey Association is very organized and sponsors several teams, including the NY Lions. The NY Lions kick ass. Just that simple. And if you want to get picky or comparative about it, they kick ass in a league that includes teams representing the NYPD and the Fire Dept. More about the Lions: http://nycgayhockey.org/teams/2002_fall/nylions.shtml

I think the list was a little too West Coast biased, but I guess we need to get word of our activities out there more often. I certainly think we Washington Renegades did well this year within our own league, which is all straight, by the way.

I also think that the DC Aquatics Club deserves some mention. I'm not sure how they did at Sydney, but they have won the IGLA world championships something like six years in a row, so I doubt if they have fallen off the mark that much.

Jim, Cyd: What a great concept having this top 10 list. You obviously put in a lot of work getting this together. Next year, I think the rest of the country need to keep you more in tune with other teams outside of LA and Cali.

I have to tip my hat to the guys of L.A. Heat. I've played against them a number of times and they have totally controlled the gay basketball scene the last year and a half. What's more, they genuinely seem to have fun with each other while they are winning everything in sight. It's a combination I haven't seen too often in any of the gay sports at the top level.

That said. Look out boys. Now we are all gunning for you. Chicago definitely has the talent pool to draw from to give you guys a run. I think this is the year personalities will finally be set aside to prove we can take a tourney from you.

Thanks guys - we're glad you like the concept.

Yes, most of the teams are from California. But, half of our voters were from the East Coast (NYC, Boston, Philly).

The facts of the matter, though, are this:

- the best men's basketball team is clearly from LA
- the best men's softball team is clearly from LA
- the best aquatics team is clearly from LA
- the best women's basketball team is cleary from LA

The best rugby team is more of a tossup. But, the Fog put on the best gay rugby tournament this year and won it (convincingly in the finals).

The New York hockey league is great - I've known Jeff Kagan for years and like him very much. But, unfortunately, they took bronze at the Gay Games - it would have been hard ranking them ahead of the Colorado Climax (who ranked 10th).

We did solicit info about 6 months ago and we watched those teams carefully. As spring approaches, we hope everyone here will feed us as much info on local gay sports teams, so we can make the best list possible for 2003.

I certainly don't think this team was one of the top 10 teams, but I do want to congratulate the Virginia Cavaliers who won the "C" Division at the softball world series in Portland back in August!! Great job guys!!

Go Vols.....sherbert orange and all!!

[quote]Originally posted by Cyd at Outsports:
The New York hockey league is great - I've known Jeff Kagan for years and like him very much. But, unfortunately, they took bronze at the Gay Games - it would have been hard ranking them ahead of the Colorado Climax (who ranked 10th).

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Plus, the NYCGHA didn't put out a 2003 calendar. I was really looking forward to that calendar.

Congratulations Outsports on finally taking on this long long awaited but thankless task.
We can bitch about perceived biases or process, but this has been a long time coming, and definitely a major positive stroke for those of us who have worked hard and made this 'first' list.
We are PROUD of this selection!
Thank You OutSports!
You have honored all the wrestling teams, not just Golden Gate.
Our community needs these 'established traditions' visible and published in order to properly archive our heritage.
I personally do not want to have our entire 'movement' defined in the future by the only remaining shreds of evidence in the gay rags (e.g.. Mr. 2001 <hometown> Leather, Ms. TransGendered World 2001, Pride parades, Drag Shows, etc..).
OutSports is creating a more important 'balanced' chronicle of our existence, and we should all be supportive.
Gene Dermody

[ December 22, 2002: Message edited by: Gene Dermody ]

Well, honestly, I'd have put the Boston hockey team a lot higher on the list than it made it. Jim & Cyd obviously haven't PLAYED against them before. I have, lots.

Trevor

We weren't the only ones to vote - among the voters were someone from Boston and someone who has played against them. Plus, they won the Rec division in Sydney; not the open division.

Cyd watched the Boston Lobsters play in Sydney and was impressed.

[ December 24, 2002: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

I think the list is a great idea; especially for motivation...I'm sure there are a lot of us that want to see their team on that list next year.

I know I do with the LA Rebellion RFC.

i love the idea, and despite the preponderance of left coast teams, i think the list was accurate.

one thing i would like to see, maybe next year, is some kind of top ten list for people who play individual gay sports. tennis, bowling and swimming, just to name a few, are among the more popular gay athletic competitions.

On another thread, VAsports posted:

Judging from the top 10 list, it looks like all the best gay athletes are on the west coast- HARDLY. No disrespect to the teams on the top 10. I am sure they are good teams and some very deserving. But 8 of 10 from the west? Give me break.

Not only does the poll have a west coast bias, it has a LA bias- four out of the top five are LA teams. Where is OUTSPORTS located? You guessed it, boys and lesbians, LA.

Let's hear it for teams from the South like the Virginia Cavaliers which won the C Division (approx. 35 teams) at this year's World Series in Portland. Or how about the softball team made up of players from up and down the East Coast that won the title at the Gay Olympics?

Greater coverage of midwestern, southern and eastern teams and issues are needed. Thoughts?

VASports,

There is a preponderance of LA teams because the teams from LA are the best.

You specifically cited the Cavaliers who won the C Division. Well, the LA Stray Cates have won the A Division (a higher division) nine straight times.

Certainly, many teams may have deserved to be on the list - but, this list was voted on by voters - and half of them were from the northeast!

Please - I'd be curious to see who, other than the 10 teams and other Honorable Mentions, we should keep our eyes on this year. We'd love to come up with an even better list next year! Thanks.

You might want to consider swim teams in the team sports category next year, They are awarded team points in the IGLA Championships held every year but Gay Games years. Below are the IGLA winning teams for each year.

SWIMMING

Large Team Champion >30 swimmers:
1987 - DSST-San Diego
1988 - San Francisco Tsunami
1989 - San Francisco Tsunami
1991 - West Hollywood Aquatics
1992 - West Hollywood Aquatics
1993 - West Hollywood Aquatics
1995 - District of Columbia Aquatics Club
1996 - District of Columbia Aquatics Club
1997 - District of Columbia Aquatics Club
1999 - District of Columbia Aquatics Club
2000 - Paris Aquatique
2001 - Distict of Columbia Aquatics Club

Medium Team Division 11-29 swimmers(New in 1999):
1999 - Queer Utah Aquatics Club (QUAC)
2000 - West Hollywood Aquatics
2001 - Nadadores South Beach

Small Team Division 1-10 swimmwers:
1991 - Sacramento Heat Waves
1992 - San Francisco Tsunami
1993 - Ann Arbor Queer Aquatics and San Francisco Tsunami
1995 - Atlanta Rainbow Trout
1996 - Nadadores South Beach
1997 - Swimming Queers United in Denver (SQUID)
1999 - Seattle Orca
2000 - Nadadores of South Florida
2001 - Minnesota

Looks like good gay sports time must be from the West Coast....also looks like good soccer teams can only be lesbian teams....
You guys really like to work the stereotypes....

[quote]Originally posted by BerndTor:
You guys really like to work the stereotypes....

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Try reading the explanation of the rankings, posted here and elsewhere on this site, before making such a misguided statement.