Time once again for Outsports to stop the clock for an instant reply of the week that was. It’s my way of memorializing the glorious victories, the ignominious defeats, and the players and personalities who made them, lived them or just couldn’t avoid them.
I realize my roster may differ from yours, and I welcome your comments, contributions and critiques. I read them all! Details on how to reach me are below, after our look at the winners, losers and hopefuls for the past seven days.
Winner: Ex-NFL lineman Ryan O’Callaghan for sharing his perspective on being closeted in Aaron Hernandez Netflix series
Ryan O’Callaghan was hesitant to speculate about Hernandez’s sexuality, but ultimately agreed to share his perspective as a formerly closeted NFL player.
Loser: Margaret Court, who has yet to accept the invitation to the 2020 Grand Slam in Australia by the out gay man organizing it
‘It is a journey, and Margaret Court needs to be given the opportunity to go on that journey,” Rowen D’Souza told The Age. “And if she does, great. And if she doesn’t, that’s on her.’’ Mrs Court did not respond to a request for comment.
Hopeful: Out LGBTQ Teacher of the Year winner knelt during anthem at college football championship
Kelly Holstine says she took a knee in protest during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to stand up for the marginalized and oppressed.
Winner: Alyssa Nakken makes history by becoming MLB’s first female coach
The Giants’ new assistant coach opens another door for inclusion, a sign that MLB is committed to diversity. We are still awaiting word on how she identifies, but either way her hire marks an historic achievement for women working in men’s professional sports.
Loser: Aubrey Huff
Former San Francisco Giants player Aubrey Huff criticized his former team for hiring MLB’s first female, full-time coach, according to USA Today. Huff tweeted that he “couldn’t imagine taking baseball instruction from an ex female softball player.” Huff continued, ”I got in trouble for wearing a thong in my own clubhouse when female reporters were present. Can’t imagine how it will play out with a full time female coach running around. This has #metoo & #BelieveAllWomen written all over it.”
Hopeful: Greg Louganis is battling depression
The four-time gold medalist told People magazine he has suffered from occasional depression for years, but now it’s ”a persistent thing”
Winner: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Alex Karras, the original gay sports ally
Gay sports trailblazer Dave Kopay credits Alex Karras with saving his life when he was struggling with his sexuality.
Loser: State Republican who wants Idaho to be the 8th state to try to legalize discrimination against trans student athletes
Republican State Rep. Barbara Ehardt plans to introduce anti-transgender legislation in this session of the Idaho legislature.
Hopeful: We hope Dave Roberts won’t revisit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes after we give him the benefit of the doubt
The Dodgers manager said he didn’t know about FCA’s anti-gay policies, but that he supports inclusion.
Losers: Opponents of transgender inclusion in school sports
Victoria Galla of Chesterfield was among the supporters of proposed legislation in New Hampshire to prevent students presumed male at birth from competing on female sports teams, according to the Union Leader. She told the N.H. House Education Committee she moved from Massachusetts and New York City to get away from what she called “gender-identity politics,” which she characterized as “destroying the lives of confused young people.” “I am a commonsense mom and a woman and I don’t have to put quote marks around it,” Galla said, raising her voice. “When I hear people put quote marks around it, that is insulting to me as a woman. If you are endorsing transgender kids, you are endorsing child abuse.”
Hopeful: Supporters of trans inclusion in school sports
Opposing the New Hampshire bill were State Rep. Lisa Bunker of Exeter, N.H., Lane Joslin, a 15-year-old transgender teen, and Sarah Huckman, 19, who wrote in a letter to the House panel: “To deny any student participation in any school-sponsored activity is wrong. To deny a vulnerable youth population the opportunity to participate would be criminal. If I did not have sports, I do not think I would be alive today.”
Winner: Megan Rapinoe is out and proud in new middle-grade book about USWNT stars
”On the Field with Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and Mallory Pugh” does not hide the fact Rapinoe is gay, it celebrates her coming out.
Loser: IOC for issuing Rule 50 against protests by athletes like Megan Rapinoe, who says: ‘We will not be silenced’
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe takes a public stand against Olympic protest ban.
Hopeful: Colorado Summit on Inclusive Teen Athletics & Activities
CHSAA is excited to announce a new partnership with the non-profit Youth Celebrate Diversity and the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs to create the Colorado Summit on Inclusive Teen Athletics and Activities, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
Winners: Openly gay NBA executive Rick Welts and his husband, Todd Gage
Golden State Warriors president Rick Welts married flight attendant Todd Gage, his partner of nine years, in a civil ceremony Friday in San Francisco.
Winner: Esera Tuaolo, whose Inclusion Party will celebrate the LGBTQ community at the Super Bowl
The LGBT community — athletes, fans, DJs — takes center stage at Esera Tuaolo’s Inclusion Party at the Super Bowl, Jan. 29.
Winners: Boston Pride announces it will celebrate Pride Night in the NWHL on Feb. 15
For the Boston Pride, celebrating LGBTQ community is ‘is not about just one game.’
Winners: Vanderbilt’s first Pride game was a win, even with a loss to South Carolina
Vanderbilt University’s Office of LGBTQI Life was saluted by more than 2,400 fans during the game.
Winner: For NFL hopeful Scott Frantz, being gay is not a burden but a chance to be a role model
Scott Frantz gets his first chance to show NFL scouts that he can play at the next level.
Winner: Alex J. Collins, gay college volleyball player who found husband-to-be and support from his team after coming out
For college volleyball player Alex Collins, everything fell into place after he came out and accepted himself.
Winner: Christian Zeitvogel, who wrote “How football saved my life and why I am leaving the sport I love”
Between health concerns and academic opportunities, Christian Zeitvogel is leaving the sport that shaped his identity as an athlete, student and gay man.
Winner: Stephanie Wheeler on coaching college athletes with disability, winning Paralympic gold
Stephanie Wheeler is a Hall Of Fame coach and athlete who continues to inspire people across the world of adaptive sports.
Winner: Randy Gardner on being the gay half of a ‘straight’ figure skating duo
In the 1970s Gardner was coming out quietly while being forced into conversion therapy and winning National titles.
Winner: Fallon Fox is still the bravest athlete in history
Fallon Fox talks about the vicious online attacks she weathered, plus the support of the team in her corner.
Winner: Mexico’s Tigres El Patón wears rainbow stripes
Tigres UANL’s El Patón showed his support of LGBTQ communities with a Rapinoe-esque color job.
Winner: Mara Gomez becomes first transgender player signed to Argentina’s top women’s soccer league
Mara Gomez will become the first transgender women ever to play in an Argentine Football Association sanctioned tournament when she suits up for Villa San Marcos.
Winner: Alex Reimer, the newest member of our team
Alex Reimer is a journalist, broadcaster, flag football fan and an out gay man. Starting this week, he is our new Outsports Deputy Managing Editor. His hire makes Outsports and our readers winners, too!
That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you a fresh list of winners and losers next Saturday. Got a name I missed, or want to challenge my choices? Comment here or on Facebook or Instagram, tweet at us, message me via any social media, or just plain email me at [email protected] Thanks!
