Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots, has fired his agent, Leigh Steinberg, according to the Boston Globe. Bledsoe will go with Steinberg's former partner, David Dunn. A rival agent, noting that many others could bolt Steinberg, told the Globe: ''Dunn did all the work and got none of the credit.'' Steinberg was the catalyst behind convincing the University of Hawaii to drop its Rainbow name and symbol because it's too closely associated with gay rights. Let's hope this move by Bledsoe decreases Steinberg's clout.
BOTTOM OF THE WEEK
CHICAGO BULLS
What's the worst team in professional sports in America? The argument could be easily made for the Chicago Bulls. Yes, the team of the 90's is quickly making a name as the worst team of the new millenium. At 9-46, the Bulls are 31 1/2 games out of first place in the Eastern Conference, have a 9% winning percentage on the road, have scored over 90 points only 17 times over 55 games, and lost their latest game at home to the Golden State Warriors - just the Warriors' 16th win of the season.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
STRAIGHTS PLAYING
IN GAY LEAGUES
There is a dispute in Ft. Lauderdale over limiting the number of straight players on gay softball teams. The controversy prompted some thoughtful responses from Outsports readers. Some of the best:
From Mike Mac:
I understand the fear of allowing straight guys on the field is based on past experience, but I think it's really counterproductive and closed-minded. It brings to mind a number of questions and comments.
1) Is a homophobic asshole of a guy really going to play in a gay softball league?
2) Are there no gay guys out there who "laugh at the kids" and are harsh about people's abilities (or lack there of)? In my experience, gay guys can be just as harsh and into macho posturing as straight guys can -- especially those gays who think that by playing sports they are somehow proving their masculinity and that they are superior to gays who don't play.
3) Most disturbingly, is the whole idea of the "straight ringer" really, really offensive to anyone else? I don't claim to be the biggest athlete here, but I know I'm a lot more of a jock than a good deal of my straight co-workers and friends.
A very thoughtful reply came from Joseph Hyser:
Treating the difference between gay people and straight people in sports by "requiring a minimum number" of straight persons does nothing to end the overriding
stereotype that homosexual men are not as gifted with athletic prowess as their heterosexual counterparts. This glorified quota system is merely a retelling of the archaic notion that gay men are more like straight women--less athletic--and lesbian women are more like straight men--more athletic.
The only difference between sexual orientation that may somewhat correlate with athletic skill is a difference in years of experience, in that gay men may have
shied away from sports early in life due to the belief that this was the straight man's realm. I see this as a direct result of the intimidation factor, though I don't cast blame on straight guys for being intimidating any more than I cast blame on gays for allowing themselves to be intimidated. It is merely an unfortunate side-effect of an
entrenched social belief system.
I feel that it is not in anyone's best interest to make a hard & fast rule about the number of heterosexuals allowed to play in any given gay-organized sports league. This is just the same as saying that a non-gay-organized sports league should not prohibit homosexuals from playing. Further, gay sports leagues would be hypocritical if we decided that it was permissible to both set limits on straight participants in 'our' leagues and claim that a similar limit other leagues is unduely discriminatory.
My other comment comes from being a member of a college sport that was mostly straight guys. My perspective completely changed during this time because I realized that I wasn't a gay guy on a straight guy's team, but I was just another one of the guys. My over-sensitivity about the gay vs. straight issues nearly ruined my enjoyment of the sport. Similarly, I don't see why a similar attitude isn't the most benifical and productive for gay sports leagues.
Michael was able to see the rationale for limiting the number of straight players:
Many gay guys either cannot or are afraid to play as an out gay person on a straight team. Either the atmosphere would be too negative or whatever.
Gay leagues are there so we can play -- just as we are without hiding, posturing straight, etc. I think it's fine if straights play in our leagues, but it shouldn't be to the exclusion of gay players who want to play. By limiting the number of straights, it allows more gay players to play and play more. Straights can already choose from many leagues in virtually every sport.
As a former member of the New York Ramblers Soccer Club (member of the IGLFA -- International Gay and Lesbian Futbol Association) I know we had straight guys play on our team and they were lots of fun. Good players. But so are our gay brothers and they need to have a forum for play too -- without the prejudices that are the norm in straight leagues. Its funny, too, because we would sometimes play against straight teams, and that would unify us even more, as it qualified us as good players in the straight teams' eyes.
And Brent shared his personal experiences:
For the past few years I've played with a gay flag football group. And we've always had a few straight guys who played with us, and for the most part have been very cool about it. Sometimes it's fun with a new guy to get him to guess who the straights are. Not because I think it's better to be "straight-acting" at all, but when everyone relaxes, I think often the straight guys act more gay, and the gay guys relax into who they are, which can be more comfortably masculine.
In the end, that's the mix I hope for. To the point where it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight. Right now, it still does matter though, and there is a reason for the gay leagues. I see no reason to discriminate against those who say they're straight [although we could get into an entire discussion over those who aren't sure and try to figure it out while passing themselves as straight] providing they're cool with everyone else and don't try to constantly reassure everyone--and themselves--they're straight.
GOLF What a day for golf. Cold, torrential rains, a PGA-record six man playoff, and a 29-year-old "what's his name again" winning it all. In beautiful southern California, in the final round at the Riviera Country Club, Robert Allenby hit an approach shot to within 5 feet, then sank the birdie putt, to top the other five men in the sudden death playoff on Sunday. Ten different players held the lead at some point on Sunday.
NFL The salary cap has caused the NFL equivalent of a Seattle earthquake. Here's our take on what happened Wednesday:
1. Bills release Doug Flutie, keep Rob Johnson. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Flutie's 21-9 as a starter, Johnson 8-10, fragile and leads the league in sacks-per-attempt. I'd hate to be a Bills o-lineman. Our guess: Flutie winds up in San Diego where he tutors Michael Vick.
2. Chiefs can't work out a deal, release Elvis Grbac. Bad move on both parts. Grbac was the best Chief QB in years (not saying much) and wherever he goes he won't have Tony Gonzalez to bail him out. Side note: Chiefs cut Chester McGlockton. Gee, who will they find to jump offsides on 3rd and 4?
3. Chargers release Ryan Leaf. He doesn't care, he's in Tahiti on his honeymoon (seriously). The XFL beckons.