Hey Jim & Cyd,

For those of us who have to work during the airing of this, will you be able to obtain and post a transcript after it airs? Or will it rerun at another time? I really and truly want to see this, but I can't!

Or maybe some nice Outsporter could tape it for me!

Trevor

I know transcripts are available online at a certain point. I know several people are taping.

when are they on??????

CNN Talk Back Live, 3-4pm eastern time

[ August 07, 2002: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

The CNN website has got the transcript of yesterday's show today--so I suppose we only have to wait until tomorrow. There's also a number you can call to order tapes of the show.

Jim did a very fine job with the little time that was given to him. It was mostly dominated by Billy's whining. I'm a supporter of his but he spent entirely too much time back pedaling. He took 20 minutes to answer the question why he didn't come out while he was playing and basically he just got on my nerves. I was happy to see the supportive comments from the young people in the audience and even during the breaks, they seemed to be supportive. Again, bravo to a handsome Jim. You represented yourself and the community well :-)

Z

I thought Bean's answer of why he didn't come out while playing was unsatisfactory as well. The best he came up with is because there is people like John Rocker in baseball. Perhaps he couldn't explain clearly why and should have just said so, instead of wasting time. I would have like to heard Jim some more. At least Bean seemed to be a little more open to someone coming out and would be supportive.

I thought Jim looked great and communicated quite well. Just wish he had an opportunity to say more.

Here's what I've gleaned from reading a number of biographical articles about Billy Bean.

He was a star athlete all his life -- Little League, three high school letters, valedictorian, masculine, handsome, popular. He remained completely unconscious of any feelings he had toward men, didn't know any gay people, didn't follow gay politics, never questioned his sexuality, was completely absorbed in building a career in pro ball. It wasn't until his mid-twenties that he even began to wonder about himself, and it was more along the lines of "Why don't girls mean the same to me that they do to the other guys?" He got married because that's what jocks do, started to realize that it was guys that turned him on, freaked, no idea what to do, tried to convince himself that he wasn't queer, spoke with no one about his feelings.

One random day in a Maryland gym, he was introduced to "Sam", the floor dropped away and he almost passed out with desire and confusion. They became lovers, but in secrecy, shame and isolation. Bean broke up with is wife, joined the Padres and then the Dodgers. His life with Sam was totally compartmentalized -- not one soul knew the depth of their relationship, what they really meant to each other. Sam died suddenly (an aneurism?), in Billy's arms. He had no one to tell, and played ball that afternoon.

That was the beginning of his move toward self-awareness and self-respect as a gay man with a life to lead. He soon left baseball, fell in love with an openly gay man, moved to Miami, and the rest you know about.

It is totally unfair to judge him for not having coming out in some other manner. He is who he is, and I dare say he went through hell, as many of us have in our own ways. He came out the other side, and has become an honorable, articulate spokesman for our suffering and our success as gay folk. His experience gives him a perspective that few of us share. I may disagree with the conclusion he's reached, but I have to respect him for having a point of view that no one else has.

I have no right or reason to "excommunicate" Billy Bean, regardless of what I think of his "political correctness". Instead I welcome and embrace him as a brother, and hope another gay professional athlete has the wherewithal to take the next step while I'm still around to applaud.

The "rush" transcript for the 8/7 show is up on the CNN Site

Click HERE

Not to criticize, well I guess I am, I would like for Jim to have mentioned three or four stars who could weather the storm of coming out because of their importance to their team, rather than sortta putting the whole burden on Pedro Martinez.

I can understand how 'in the heat of battle' so to speak (or under the heat of camera lights) you don't think of these things, but I would hesitate to use one example in a case like that. Poor Pedro is probably getting ribbed to death by his teammates right now.

Yeah, he called and cancelled our date.

So RSB, I guess you'll have to hang out with "Regular Guys" tonight.

Jim - Awesome job today. You done yourself and our community proud! I taped the show and just saw your interview.

As far as the Pedro Martinez reference... it was just that, a reference to a high profile player in baseball who's role on the team is irreplaceable. I think it was obvious your point was not to suggest Pedro is gay, but instead served as an example of how an impact player in MLB would make the chances of receiving greater acceptance by the mainstream sports fan more probable.

It was also cool that Billy Bean started off his comments by giving high praise to the outsports web site that you and Cyd have created. I too do not chastise him for not coming out while a major league player. Who are we to critisize the timing of when one decides they are ready for the challenges of being out to family, friends and the public. There is an appropriate time table for all of us to experience the different phases and feelings that lead up to self acceptance as a gay man.

Considering his bio, criticising Bean for not coming out while a player is unfair. Bean left baseball in order to live as an out man. He left because of an extremly tragic incident that made him realize he could not be both the ballplayer he wanted to be and live the private life he wanted to lead. He chose a private life. That was I'm sure a very painful and personal decision.

However, his comments about other players are the legitamate target of criticism. I think he is too caught up in his own story to see the possibilities that are available to others. However, I think he's probably entitled to the benefit of the doubt and a little leeway.

For the record I was not criticizing Bean for not coming out while he was a player. I wanted to clarify that in case my above post was interpreted that way. As far as I'm concerned he did not need any reason to stay in the closet. But what I am questioning is that on yesterday's segment, Bean was quite vague and inarticulate I thought, as to why a player today should remain in the closet. Perhaps in another forum he was more clear, or it is impossible to clearly convey his reasons. I was objecting for so much time wasted on his answer during a short fifteen minute segment, I would have preferred to hear more of what Jim would say.

Nevertheless, for lack of a better set of circumstances, the Pedro Martinez thought exemplifies that a player HAS TO BE at the top of the game (in baseball, as well as in any industry) to even consider coming out - and only to have your teammates "look the other way"? Call me selfish, but that doesn't sound very inviting.

There seems to be a great lesson in power that is, although subtly, clearly put forth here: if you have enough clout to lose half (50% is my fraction) of it and still survive, maybe you can consider coming out. But when you're on a team, picked against hundreds of other candidates (heterosexual or LGBT) it's rare that you can best your peers by that much.

Too bad, of course; but until we get an LGBT Jackie Robinson or organized enough to present MLB with a support network for the 1st player willing to make the necessary leap of faith, I don't think we need to waste too much more time discussing something that may be 10-15 years ahead of us.