Time for Dungy to come clean Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony
Dungy won't comment on his upcoming
appearance at a dinner by an
anti-gay group. Given the group's
political agenda, it's time for him
to end the silence.
Column
Sealed With a Kiss
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter
kisses coach Bill Cowher near the end of the
Steelers' 28-17 win over Miami to open the
NFL season Thursday. Cowher and Porter
talked about the kiss after.
Story
The AFC Will Rule In
our annual NFL picks, Cyd and Jim disagree,
as usual. But each picks the AFC champion to
win the Super Bowl, continuing a trend.
Check out our picks and comments for each team, along with our playoff predictions.
2006 Preview
NFL Rookies Get
Gay Diversity Training
The NFL included an openly gay speaker in the
diversity training program at their rookie symposium
in San Diego earlier this week for the first time
since the first such symposium 10 years ago. Openly
gay former NFL defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo (left)
was the featured speaker.Story Discuss
Wife Accuses Strahan of
"Alternative Lifestyle"
The wife of New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan coyly
accused her husband of having an extramarital affair with another
man, TV doctor Ian Smith, in their divorce proceedings, the New York
Daily News is reporting. Story
Ex-Player Loves Gay Son
When your dad grew up in Texas, served in the Army, and is a former
pro football standout, the thought of telling him that you sleep
with men could be overwhelming. Story
Why NFL Said
No to
'Brokeback' (Updated)
The NFL refused the makers of "Brokeback Mountain" use of game
footage for a scene in the movie, but not, it said, because of the film's gay
theme. Diana Ossana, the film's producer and Oscar-winning
co-screenwriter responds to the issue.Story
Book Excerpt Gay on
NFL's
'Christian Team'
Esera
Tuaolo created a stir when he came out as gay in 2002 after retiring
from a nine-year career in the NFL. In this excerpt from his new
book, Tuaolo describes what is was like as a closeted gay man to
play for a team filled with Holy Rollers. Tuaolo describes listening
to the team chaplain
declare: "Homosexuality can't be forgiven because it is an abomination."
Story
Simmons on Stern
Roy Simmons told Howard Stern which NFL player he would f*** and
which he would marry.
Story
Super Bowl XL
Champions
and Cheaters? Steelers fans are finally
cheering again for the first time since the late '70s as their
beloved team has won its fifth Super Bowl. But, did they get some
help from cheating refs? Cyd says yes, while Jim says the Seahawks
have no one to blame but themselves.
Notes
Super Bowl XL
for the Clueless
For the fifth straight year we offer you "Super Bowl for the
Clueless." The players, the coaches, the hair, the uniforms, the
superstitions, which quarterback has a blog, which gets a manicure,
who likes to dress up and who will the big game between Pittsburgh
and Seattle.
Story
'Brokeback' as
Sports Metaphor "If
you can't fix it, you gotta stand it." Those
words were spoken by Heath Ledger's closeted
character Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback
Mountain." They also could be spoken by
closeted athletes everywhere. How the movie
captured the essence of jocks in the closet.
Column
He'd F*** Marino,
Marry Montana
Former NFL player Roy Simmons, one of only
three pro football players to publicly say
they’re gay, went on Howard Stern’s radio
show on Sirius satellite on Thursday and
gave some football analysis you’ll never
hear on a network telecast.
Story
Why Roy Simmons
Is Wrong to Attack NFL
Roy Simmons,a gay ex-player, says the
NFL discriminated against him by denying him
a Super Bowl credential. In this case, it
seems more a case of opportunism by Simmons
than homophobia by the league.
Column
NFL Chief
Honored for Gay Work NFL
commissioner Paul Tagliabue was honored Monday night for his work
with PFLAG, a support group for parents and friends of lesbians and
gays. His sizable donation has driven the group's successful Stay
Close campaign. Tagliabue's son, Drew, is openly gay.Story
To NFL Shop, 'Gay'
No Longer Naughty “GAY”
is now OK at the NFL Shop.
The league reversed itself
and will now allow personalized jerseys to
have “GAY” on the back.
A league
spokesman told Outsports that “there was no
message there” to having “gay” on a list of
1,159 banned words.
Story
Anatomy of an NFL Jinx Jim's
Christmas present from Cyd was an 18-inch ceramic Peyton Manning
figurine. Jim immediately knew the gift wasn’t a sign of Cyd’s
friendship and best wishes. Instead, it was an insidious way to
bring bad karma to the Colts. It backfired.
NFL TV piece
was homoerotic A segment on the
relationship between centers and quarterbacks on ESPN NFL Countdown
on Sunday was the most overtly homoerotic piece I've ever seen on
sports TV; certainly in football, as it lasted so long, and was
specifically designed to accentuate every possible double entendre
and insinuation.
Esera Tuaolo Releases Single
Openly
gay former NFL player Esera Tuaolo has
released his first Christmas single, "First
Christmas," along with a knock-out version
of "Silent Night."
Cowboy Hate
Speech
Anonymous
players for the Dallas Cowboys used homophobic slurs
in a letter attacking a reporter from the Dallas
Morning News who wrote critically of the team’s
performance.
Simms'
Best
Homoerotic Comments
We’re big fans
of former New York Giants quarterback Phil
Simms, now the lead analyst for the NFL on
CBS. We’ve heard he’s a terrific guy and he
does a great job on a broadcast. But we’ve
also had fun charting how many homoerotic
references Simms has made. Mind you, we
don’t watch every minute of the games he has
done (far from it), so to find nine during
the past four seasons is pretty amazing.
Siragusa
the Buffoon
Tony Siragusa is a big fat idiot. That’s the
only conclusion to be reached after the
ex-NFL defensive lineman and now Fox
sideline reporter mocked Detroit Lions
quarterback Joey Harrington by seeming to
suggest that Harrington was somehow less
than the kind of man who should be playing
football. “Harrington is gay” is certainly
one implication that Siragusa suggested.
NFL Preseason Picks:
Chiefs or Pats When
it comes to the NFL, Cyd and Jim seldom
agree. But one thing they do see is another
Super Bowl win by the AFC.
Williams Retires, Speculation Starts
The speculation into his orientation is one
of the subtexts to the seemingly bizarre
decision by Miami Dolphins running back
Ricky Williams to announce his retirement
from the NFL just a week before the start of
training camp. The reason for the
speculation is that Williams is different,
and in many minds, different might equal
gay.
Tuaolo
Addresses NFL
Esera Tuaolo has given many talks since he
came out two years ago as a former NFL
player who is gay. But none may have been
more fulfilling than addressing the league
he played in for nine years.
Roy Simmons
Breaks His Silence Roy
Simmons is only one of three former NFL players to
publicly disclose his homosexuality. And until this
year he was the most invisible.
"Vick Is
Gay" Story a Hoax
Don't believe that news story a friend may
have sent that claims Michael Vick is gay.
It's a hoax, but Vick's response is also
interesting.
Gay NFL Trainer
Tells Story The
longtime trainer for pro football’s San Francisco
49ers has come out publicly in a magazine article in
which he describes an environment where his
homosexuality was tolerated if not accepted by many
players, but where others sometimes humiliated him.
Jeff Garcia: I'm
Not Gay San
Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia has become
the latest pro athlete to publicly declare his
heterosexuality. "I've heard the rumor myself that
I'm gay," Garcia told a Bay Area newspaper. "That is
not the case.
Pats, Cats and Boobs
Wow.
The Super Bowl lived up to its billing, with a great
ending, big plays and plenty to talk about. There
were two gaffes in the game: Justin Timberlake
exposing Janet Jackson’s breast during the halftime
show, and Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay
kicking the ball out of bounds that allowed the New
England Patriots to mount their final game-winning
drive. Add in a streaker and you have a game to
remember.
Gay
Ex-NFL Player
Breaks His Silence
Roy Simmons is only one of three former NFL players to
publicly disclose his homosexuality. And until
recently he was the most invisible. Simmons, 47, broke his
silence in an interview in the New York Times and his
story is a compelling tale of a star athlete who hit
rock bottom and is trying to get back up.
Closeted NFL Player Tells His Story
"Steven
Thompson” is paid big bucks to be a tough NFL player,
but many times he feels powerless. "I’m not brave,”
Thompson said. “I’m gutless, really.” Thompson is a
pseudonym for an active NFL player who is gay. New
York Times reporter Mike Freeman tells his story in a
chapter of a new book, "Bloody Sundays."
Esera
Tuaolo in Chili's Commercial
Though
he's anything but, openly gay former NFL player Esera
Tuaolo is the star of a new Chili's commercial that
features average Americans expressing their love for
Chili's. The experience, according to Tuaolo,
was "first class."
Phone vs. 'Faggot' The NFL fines
Joe Horn $30,000 for using a cell phone in a touchdown
celebration, but Matt Millen gets off without even a
reprimand. It's a huge double-standard.
Gay Trainer Tells Story The longtime
trainer for pro football’s San Francisco 49ers has
come out publicly in a magazine article in which he
describes an environment where his homosexuality was
tolerated if not accepted by many players, but where
others sometimes humiliated him. Lindsy McLean, 65,
the team's highly respected head trainer for 24
years until retiring in 2003, tells his story to
Chris Bull in the Feb. 16 issue of “ESPN The
Magazine.”
Jeff Garcia: I'm Not Gay
San
Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia has become
the latest pro athlete to publicly declare his
heterosexuality.
"I've heard the rumor myself that I'm gay," Garcia
told a Bay Area newspaper. "That is not the case.
Related:
A QB reveals a shocking truth
Super Bowl for
the Clueless It's
almost time again for Super Bowl Sunday, an
unofficial national holiday and the biggest day on
the American sports calendar. To help you dazzle
your friends, family and co-workers with your sudden
knowledge about the NFL, we offer this handy guide
to the Big Game, everything from the hot
quarterbacks, ads you will and won't see, halftime
entertainment and what to expect on the field.
Cartoon
The Pats Will
Roll
New England is the better team with the better coach
from the better conference. It all adds up to an
easy Patriots' win.
'You Faggot'
Detroit Lions president Matt Millen is under
fire for calling a former player a “faggot” in
an incident following the Lions game at Kansas
City. Millen apologized, and it is unclear if
his job is in jeopardy.
Phone vs. 'Faggot' The NFL fines
Joe Horn $30,000 for using a cell phone in a touchdown
celebration, but Matt Millen gets off without even a
reprimand. It's a huge double-standard.|
Apology Not Accepted "I apologize if
I offended anyone." This is the newest trend in our
public discourse--the "non-apology apology." It's
insincere and puts the onus on the person offended not
on the speaker.
Examples abound in the world of sports and beyond.
Ex-NFL Player Breaks His Silence
Roy Simmons is only one of three former NFL
players to publicly disclose his
homosexuality. And until Nov. 30 he was the
most invisible.
Gay, Closeted and in the NFL
"Steven Thompson”
is paid big bucks to be a tough NFL player,
but many times he feels powerless.
"I’m not brave,” Thompson said. “I’m gutless,
really.” Thompson is a
pseudonym for an active NFL player who is gay.
New York Times reporter Mike Freeman tells his
story in a chapter of a new book, "Bloody
Sundays."
Jeremy Shockey Should
Just Shut Up
The New York Giants tight end is making headlines
again for anti-gay comments, this time for calling
legendary coach Bill Parcells a homo. It's time for
Shockey to shut up and for others to raise their
voices.
NFL
Fumbles on Domestic Partner Benefits Only one team
openly offers their employees domestic partner
benefits - and the rest of the NFL is left out in the
cold.
2002:
Bucs Stop the Raiders
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended 26 years of futility by
thrashing the Oakland Raiders, 48-21, to win the Super
Bowl. The win was sweet revenge for Jon Gruden, who
had coached the Raiders the previous four years.
Recap Our coverage:
l
Picks by David Kopayand others in the gay
sports community
l
Jim and Cyd disagreeon the winner once again
l
Super Bowl for the Clueless: Your guide to the
Big Game
l
Inside a gay Super Bowl party
Esera Tuaolo
Comes Out Esera
Tuaolo played nine years in the NFL, hiding a
secret from his teammates--he was gay. While Tuaolo's
story is unique in its setting--a pro sports locker
room--his feelings of depression, loneliness and
thoughts of suicide are universal and will resonate
with many gay people.
Story
Hearst Apologizes
for 'Faggot' Remark San Francisco
49ers running back Garrison Hearst apologized Friday
for saying he didn't want any ``faggots" as teammates.
Hearst's comments came a day after the media in the
Bay Area were alerted by Outsports to his Nov. 1
remarks in the Fresno Bee. Story
Next Step For Garrison Hearst Garrison Hearst
apologized for saying he doesn't want "faggots" on his
team. We think he should take it one step further.
The
chief reason straight men give about being
uncomfortable with gay teammates is having to share a
shower. It was furthered by idiotic comments by HBO's
Bernard Goldberg. The argument is insulting and
absurd: Straight men have the power. Not some gay
player hiding and scared for his life. Bill
Konigsberg column
Dave
Kopay played pro football for nine years and wrote a
groundbreaking best-seller about his experiences as a
gay jock. More than 25 years later, Kopay is still an
outspoken advocate for gays in sports. He also offers
his picks for the NFL season.
Story.
NFL
2002 Preview
What did Keyshawn pay for his Escalade?; What is the
worst training camp in the league; Who will be flying
high? A division-by-division rundown,
plus our Super Bowl picks.
Story
Super
Bore
We were watching the Super Bowl and the World Cup
broke out: A record 21 punts. Punters Kyle Richardson and Brad Maynard lifted their legs so much you would
have thought they were filming a gay porn video. Story
Before
The Big Game Our three football
experts took a look at the game before it even happened - with
three different analyses (only one of which was right on): Cyd Zeigler - Hubris goeth before the fall. Jim Buzinski - The Ravens are
just more talented. Charlie
In The Trees - The eeevil Ravens.
NFL
Cafe - Impress your boyfriend or girlfriend with a breakfast
dish for their favorite team. NFL Links - The best links
for news on every team. Lingo - Who's "The
Messiah" and what's "a Sehorn"?
The
Rams were supposed to be anointed with a Super Bowl ring
in New Orleans; but, the Patriots pulled of maybe the
biggest upset in the Game's history.