This year marks the 25th anniversary of a landmark event for gays and sports: Dave Kopay came out as an openly gay professional football player. He remains,
unfortunately, one of the few though that has not stopped him from speaking out and continuing to be a role model.
A story in the Dec. 6 Seattle Post-Intelligencer had a long article on Kopay, who still fights the good fight.
"It seems now that the sports world is the last protector of the faith to be bigoted and discriminate," Kopay told the Post-Intelligencer in a recent interview. ''It's certainly breaking down everywhere else. We have become mainstream in terms of politics. Maybe (it will happen in sports) in the next 20 years. I didn't think it was going to take this long."
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac committed the bonehead play of the NFL season Monday
night.
The situation: Chiefs losing to New England, 30-24, 10 seconds left, no timeouts left, ball on the Patriot 11. Time for at least two plays into the end zone. Whatever happens the one thing to NOT do is throw the ball short of the end zone. But our man Elvis, who had the good sense to shave
his ghastly beard last week, had other ideas. He takes the snap, has plenty of time and throws ... to tight end Tony Gonzalez at the 7-yard line!
Gonzalez is promptly tackled and the clock runs out. KC coach Gunther Cunningham looks like he wants to commit murder. As do those who took the Chiefs and laid a point.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
READERS REACT TO
USC F-A-G BAND
According to the Los Angeles Times of Nov. 17, the USC band repeatedly taunts their rivals at UCLA by simply playing the notes F A and G over and over. Jason Mangan, the USC band manager, admits that this is standard for the band; Mangan claims, it's not homophobic.
"From time to time, kids in the band do stupid things," Tony Fox, the band's associate band direct, said. "Yes, they do play F, A, G."
Outsports readers had a lot to say to USC and we share parts of some of their letters:
From David Fagan:
``The practice of USC's band taunting UCLA at sporting events by playing the notes F, A, G in succession is in violation of the University's Code of student Behavior and could result in action taken against all students participating (and perhaps the organization itself).
Under University Governance, Section 11.00 - Behavior Violating University Standards and Appropriate Sanctions, the behavior which the band members are exhibiting is clearly inappropriate as defined in 11.32 and 11.51.
As an added note, and encouragement for you to take action without the necessity of University inquiry, in reflection, I believe you will be chagrined to have allowed this derogatory action to repeatedly take place, especially considering that, as you are undoubtedly aware, members of your band, playing the inflammatory sequence, are themselves gay, lesbian, or bisexual and are thus forced to degrade themselves as they participate in this taunt. This must be damaging to their
self-esteem and to their image of the USC marching band and their experience as band members.''
From Hunter Camper:
``The practice of one or both bands playing F A G is not only an insult to the players, coaches and fans in attendance, but it is an insult to all of us who have watched and supported college football for generations.
Would you tolerate the band playing N I G G E R? Would you tolerate the band playing
S P I C K? Would you tolerate the band playing W E T B A C K? These words were so painful for me to type, I can't imagine saying them. Your school, any school for that matter, must take a zero tolerance stance against such practices, and any attempt to rationalize such behavior is the hallmark of cowardice and prejudice.''
From Patrick Riviere:
``I was an award winning instrumentalist and drum major with an incredible band. Winners win by
being positive - not negative. Obviously the negative energy from the band has worn off on your players - your record is nothing to brag about. I am also an educator with New York University AND a huge football fan. You should be ashamed for allowing this sort of thing to go on. It is a disgrace to professionals on all levels, but especially in music, in sports AND most of all education. How sad.''
From Brice:
``Can USC spell T-O-L-E-R-A-N-C-E, or is their 'musical vocabulary' limited to words of three letters or less?''
From Eric Anderson:
``I would hope that the University, at large, and particularly both the directors of athletics and the band would be ashamed of such overt homophobia and will prohibit such actions form occurring again.
I'm disturbed at the minimalist comments made by Jason Mangan in the article, and hope that he and
others who share his view would share the NCAA's vision of eliminating homophobia in athletics with its (2000) decision to add sexual orientation to its policy of non-discrimination.''
Jason was nice enough to share his response he received from USC:
Dear Jason,
Thank you for expressing your concern. The behavior you describe is not tolerated by us and we have already addressed this issue with the members of the Band.
Unfortunately, college kids do stupid things against rivals. You should hear what opposing fans around the Pac-10, including schools in your area, Washington and WSU, say and do to the USC Band.
As a note of interest: the USC Band Manager, a student position, happens to be gay. Again my thanks to you for spending the time to address this issue. I'm sorry that it distressed you.