We saw an amazing moment Sunday on Fox Sports World's replay of English Premiere League football. It
came after Alan Smith had just scored a goal for Leeds United. As Smith was celebrating, teammate Gary Kelley came over, they drew close to each other ... and kissed ... on the mouth ... lovingly. It wasn't one of those Russian cultural ``a few pecks on each cheek'' deals. This was the real thing. Is this the start of a trend? Our friend Jim, an enormous English football fan, says he's never seen anything like it.
BOTTOM OF THE WEEK
``THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB"
Two big thumbs down to the new gay-themed film ``Broken Hearts Club,'' a lame romantic comedy set in
West Hollywood.
What pisses us off is the ``sport'' angle. The characters in the film all play on
a softball team and embody every stereotype and cliché of gays in sports. They can't run, they can't hit or can't throw and play like, dare we say, a bunch of prissy queens. The topper: In the film these guys are in a straight league. It's something that would never happen; anybody this bad would only play in a gay softball league. As for the rest of the film, if you like poorly written, predictable plots with unappealing characters, than this is a movie for you.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
GAY OLYMPIANS; A
SCORECARD
There were six out gay athletes at the 2000 Olympics. Here is how they fared:
Mia Hundvin, Norway Camilla Andersen, Denmark, handball
There are precious medals in the Andersen-Hundvin household. Gold for Camilla and bronze for Mia. These two go in as a single entry since they're legally married in Denmark. They became the first spouses to play each other in Olympic competition as Norway played Denmark in the first round of handball.
In the gold medal match against Hungary, Denmark, led by Andersen, roared back from six down to win the gold. In the bronze medal game Hundvin scored the game-winner as Norway beat Korea, 22-21.
Sports Illustrated, in perhaps a first- of- its- kind story in the magazine, ran a lengthy feature on the two, who are much-discussed celebrities in their countries. According to SI, Andersen, 27, had been the lover of handball legend Anja Anderson after they won the gold for Denmark in 1996. Hundvin, 23, had been named by one publication as Norway's sexiest woman. Their ``accquaintanceship,'' as SI dubbed it, blossomed into love last year.
Lisa-Marie Vizaniari, Australia, discus
Vizaniari, 29. a medal hopeful, finished eighth in the discus. In an interview with the Sydney Star Observer she discussed her sexual orientation this way: `` `I’m an elite athlete who just happens
to be gay. Look at Maurice Green; he’s an elite athlete who just happens to be black. It’s irrelevant, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is or what your sexuality is.''
Lisa's coach is also her girlfriend: Michelle Reeves. She had this to say to the Observer about
their relationship:
``I coached my girlfriend to be my coach. I was very impressed with how quickly she picked it up.
We’re very professional in what we do, although it was very difficult to start off with. Athletes can be a real pain in the arse
sometimes.'
Conchita Martinez, Spain, tennis
Martinez, 28, went out early in her events, lasting until the second round of singles and second round of doubles.
Amelie Mauresmo, France, tennis
Mauresmo, 21, went out in the first round of singles, and lasted until the quarterfinals of doubles.
David Pichler, USA, Diving
Competing in his final Olympics, the 32-year-old from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., had an uneven competition. In his individual event Pichler finished ninth in the 10-meter platform. In two
synchronized events he and Troy Dumais finished just two points from a bronze medal in the
3-meter springboard; while he and Mark Ruiz were a disappointing seventh in the 10-meter platform.
BASEBALL
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel is three years removed from high school. So, what was he doing starting the first playoff game for the Cards this year? Well, his 3.50 ERA led the team's pitching staff.
But did he ever look a little wet behind the ears Tuesday night. In the first playoff start of his
career, Ankiel did what no pitcher has done in 110 years: throw five wild pitches in one inning.
"He threw some outstanding pitches and he threw some funny ones that weren't so outstanding," Cardinals manager La Russa said after the game. That's one way to put it.
Despite that, the Cardinals managed to hold of the Atlanta Braves, and pitcher Greg Maddux, 7-5.
NFL
Everybody loves the underdog. Of course, the risk of rooting for them is that, week in and week out, they probably aren't going to win.
Three winless teams this week, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New England, went to play in cities where they almost never win - Chicago has been the NFC Central doormat for years, Pittsburgh was winless in Jacksonville and New England hadn't won in Denver since 1968. History and this season's winless list were both rewritten on Sunday, as the Bears, Steelers and Patriots got impossible victories.
Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw for four touchdowns in leading his team over the Denver
Broncos, 29-18. For the Steelers, it was a balanced attack from Jerome Bettis (2 TDs), Kordell Stewart, Plaxico Burress and Chris Fuamatu-maafala, shocking the defending AFC Central Champion Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-13. And in Green Bay, it was the winless Chicago Bears rallying to topple the Green Bay Packers, 27-24.
The week also saw the last two winless teams, the San Diego Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals, lose by a combined 41 points. The race for the first pick in the draft is on.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
A whopping seven top 20 teams lost on Saturday, including #3 Florida, who lost to Mississippi State,
47-35. This wasn't too much of a surprise, as this Gator team is a shadow of what it has been in the past, and the last time the Gators went to Mississippi State, they lost by 24 points. Also losing were the top two teams from the Pac10, both losing in the State of Oregon. Three of the four top teams in the Big 10 fell, as the Northwestern Wildcats (4-1) continued their tear on the road.
NHL
Did anyone notice that the National Hockey League started its season on Wednesday? Wasn't the Stanley Cup Finals just last
week? Have we already lost you?
We're still scratching our heads. The fourth most popular of the major sports leagues in the U.S. has the shortest offseason, and started its season amidst the MLB playoffs, Week 6 of the NFL season, and on the heels of the Olympics. Just 8 1/2 months until the Finals again.