The NBA has a schedule, the MLB has a plan, and across the American South — from California to Florida — cases of the coronavirus pandemic are spiking. Here’s hoping wherever you are, you’re safe, healthy and taking precautions to protect yourself and those you care about. For now, let’s just take a moment to look back at the week that was.
My weekly list begins with SB Nation’s report on the return of the NBA during the pandemic.
Fans are winners: The NBA’s restart at Walt Disney World is going to be basketball overload
The NBA officially announced its 2019-2020 season return with each team’s eight game seeding schedule. Each of the 22 teams heading to Disney will play eight seeding games to determine the final 16 teams that will make the playoffs. The other six teams that will go home after eight games. The NBA’s restart will kick off on July 30 with the Jazz and Pelicans playing at 6:30 p.m. EDT, and the Clippers and Lakers facing off at 9:00 p.m. EDT, both on TNT. There will be a maximum of seven games per day, with tip-offs ranging from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT.
Pride winners: NHL teams, players celebrate Pride Day with messages of support
Happy @NHL Pride Day to the LGBTQ+ community! I wish we could be celebrating at the Twin Cities Pride parade again this year, but instead the kids, Lexi, and I will settle for a living room dance party. Love is love. #HockeyIsForEveryone pic.twitter.com/aDzP3BbbQv
— JT Brown (@JTBrown23) June 26, 2020
With the season on hold because of the coronavirus, NHL teams and players celebrated Pride, offering up pictures, videos and even special gear to benefit LGBTQ+ charities.
Cardboard winners: Let’s fill this stadium with (cutouts of) Outsports fans
Our friends at our SB Nation sister site, the McCovey Chronicles, learned fans can attend every San Francisco Giants home game this shortened summer season for a grand total of just $99. Kinda sorta. The team’s idea is to place cutouts in the stands, and get fans to pony up the money for their images to appear on them. Wouldn’t it be great if we filled Oracle Park with cutouts of Outsports fans?
Winning by waiting: Why Megan Rapinoe sitting out NWSL Cup could lead other star athletes to pass on coronavirus sports restarts
Rapinoe won’t be joining her NWSL club for the league’s tournament in Utah.
Winning by waiting: NYC marathon is canceled because of pandemic
Organizers of the New York City Marathon canceled the 2020 event due to concerns over the coronavirus. It would have been the 50th running of the iconic race.
TV winner: Jason Collins cameos on ‘Love, Victor’ to represent LGBTQ athletes
The “Love, Simon” spin-off includes a scene with the first active openly gay player in NBA history to impart a message.
TV winner: Trans athlete takes his shot on ‘The Titan Games.’ His journey made him ready for his ‘Titan’ moment
Mitch Harrison debuted on the NBC competition show to make a statement for transgender people in sport. The Titan Games’ first trans competitor is no stranger to big stages. He gave an extended interview to Outsports.
TV winner: Billie Jean King on systemic racism and police reform: ‘The laws have to change’
Tennis icon Billie Jean King told HBO’s Bryant Gumbel she’s the most excited she’s ever been at the opportunity for change: “I feel like I have hair on fire sometimes.”
Black Lives Matter winners: Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird challenge white people to stand with #BLM in powerful ESPYS open
Rapinoe and Bird hosted the remote ESPY Awards Sunday along with Russell Wilson.
Coming out winner: Tanner Pendleton may be the first out gay snowboarder, according to Torment Magazine
“I first knew when I was really young,” Tanner Pendleton told Torment. “I can think back really far and remember being like, ‘Oh shit, I think I’m gay.’ To be honest, it was a confusing road, and not everything is black and white, in my opinion.“
Coming out winner: For out Olympic bobsledder Chris Kinney, his journey of acceptance took 30 years
Chris Kinney never fit in a neat box as a multiracial man who is attracted to both men and women. After enduring horrific bullying while living in Japan, he came back to the U.S. and found a new sport and a new confidence in being himself.
Coming out winner: ‘I’m gay.’ Gators gymnast finds overwhelming support after coming out in video gone viral
University of Florida gymnast Savannah Schoenherr received an outpouring of love and encouragement after coming out as gay on social media.
Coming out winner: When staffer came out to his CBS Sports family, he found nothing but support
Seeking to inspire those closeted in the sports industry, Theo Rabinowitz tells of his experience coming out to his CBS Sports co-workers in 2015 and the acceptance he’s found since.
Coming out winner: Erica Sullivan battled mental health issues and coming out to represent Team USA
Swimmer Erica Sullivan opens up about her struggles and triumphs, en route to the Olympics. It hasn’t been easy.
Coming out winner: Natalie Florescu played basketball for a Christian college until she couldn’t be queer there anymore
Now an EMT, Florescu had to leave Westmont College for her own mental health and happiness
Coming out winner: International soccer player Thomas Beattie announces he’s gay
Beattie played professional soccer in three continents before a devastating head injury ended his career in 2015.
Expectant winners: Baby on the way for Layshia and Jessica Clarendon
Congratulations to WNBA star Layshia Clarendon and her wife, sports agent Jessica Clarendon, who say “no, we aren’t finding out the sex” of their baby.
Mourning our loss: Paralympian Angela Madsen dies trying to cross the Pacific Ocean
Madsen won a Paralympic bronze medal and competed in various sports in the Paralympic Games.
Gaming winner: Leo Baker drops into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster
Leo Baker will be the first non-binary skater and third out LGBTQ skater to appear in the long-running videogame series.
Instagram winner: Nick McCarvel hosted LGBT tennis Pride series on Outsports Instagram
Outsports teamed up with McCarvel to continue inclusive conversations in pro and amateur tennis.
Political winners: 3 LGBTQ athletes discuss transitioning to politics and the year ahead
Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Akil Patterson and Anthony Nicodemo share lessons learned in sports that lead to success in politics.
Webinar winners: Outsports community chat with out Olympic hopefuls
We talk with four out athletes aiming for the Summer Olympics.
History winner: Title IX is 48 years old: Here’s what it says
On the anniversary of this crucial Education Amendment of 1972 and following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, it’s especially relevant to know what this document says about discrimination in schools.
30 Moments of Pride: Brittney Griner’s banner year at Baylor
Baylor University standout Brittney Griner was a three-time All-American, won 2 ESPY awards and was named AP Player of 2012, in addition to Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four.
30 Moments of pride: Elena Delle Donne is 1st WNBA player to earn MVP award with 2 teams
In 2019, Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne joined 5 other WNBA players who have multiple MVP trophies, but she’s the only one who earned it playing for 2 teams.
30 Moments of Pride: Bisexual Ireen Wüst wins 5 medals at the Sochi Olympics
The bisexual Dutch speed skater took home more medals than any other athlete at the Sochi games. And she did it in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
30 Moments of Pride: Adam Rippon wins bronze at Winter Olympics, and captures America’s heart
Adam Rippon became the first openly gay athlete in U.S. history to medal at the Winter Olympics.
30 Moments of Pride: Ryan O’Callaghan protects Tom Brady in Patriots’ 16-0 game
O’Callaghan, who came out as gay after his retirement, received his only start of the season in Week 17 of the Patriots’ historic undefeated campaign.
30 Moments of Pride: Pat Manuel becomes first trans man to win pro boxing match
Pat Manuel completed a six-year transformative journey in 2018 by defeating super featherweight Hugo Aguilar.
30 Moments of Pride: Sue Bird wins record 5th FIBA World Cup medal
Sue Bird is the most decorated FIBA World Cup athlete in history.
Appetite winner: Legendary gay wrestling coach and sports writer releases perfectly timed cookbook of ‘comfort food’
Roger Brigham has been working on a book of recipes for three years. He didn’t think he’d live to see it published.
That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you a fresh list of winners and losers next Saturday, at the end of our “sporting events that made you cry” theme week. 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!
