Today, August 17, 2020: We’re not aware of any scheduled events involving out LGBTQ athletes. If you know of one, or more, let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
Scroll down for today’s calendar of major sports events.
This Morning’s Sports Headlines:
Outsports: Legendary Golden Gate Wrestling Club shutting down after 40 years
Outsports: Man arrested for trying to kidnap WWE’s Sonya Deville at her Florida home.
Outsports: Out high school coach among those hit hard by pandemic unemployment crisis
CNN: NBA fires photographer whose hateful meme was called out by Sheryl Swoopes
Sports Illustrated: 2020 NBA Playoffs: First Round Matchups
CBS Sports: 2020 NBA playoffs predictions, brackets
Bleacher Report: Round-by-Round NBA Playoff Predictions with Seeding Decided
ESPN: Lakers’ bubble struggles leave no clear-cut title favorite entering NBA playoffs
L.A. Times: Lakers plan to wear Black Mamba jersey if they advance in playoffs
The Daily Beast: The Rowdy Queer and Trans Wrestling League BLOWW-ing Stereotypes Away
SB Nation: The Cleveland Indians were right to blast their teammates for breaking Covid protocol
Arrowhead Pride: Chiefs considering ‘pods’ when fans are allowed at games, says report
Social Stars
Thank you for shining a light on bigotry, Sheryl Swoopes! CNN reports that after she shared this post with her followers, the NBA fired the freelance photographer who posted the offensive mock logo of the Biden/Harris campaign logo on Facebook.
So this guy works for the NBA but covers the Houston Rockets. Has been around for a while. Even worked for the Houston…
Posted by Sheryl Swoopes on Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Kaitlyn Long is our queen.
Justice Horn reminds us: wear your mask!
Our friend Peter Lovins of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the co-founder of the Family Pride Network in Columbus, OH, joins us in loving the Black Mamba-inspired Lakers unis planned for the NBA playoffs’ 2nd round, provided the Lakers make the 2nd round.
Just make these the permanent jersey. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/B8X867g9Ou
— Peter Lovins 🏒🏳️🌈 (@PeterLovins) August 17, 2020
Billie Jean King noted the passing of Angela Buxton, a tennis star from yesteryear who faced discrimination in her time, as a Jew. Buxton teamed up with Black tennis icon Althea Gibson to win the 1956 women’s doubles titles at both the French Championships and Wimbledon.
Saddened to hear of the passing of British tennis player Angela Buxton, friend and doubles partner of Althea Gibson. It was wonderful to spend time with her and hear her words about Althea at the unveiling of her statue @usopen last year.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) August 17, 2020
Rest In Peace to a true champion. pic.twitter.com/y7YRoDBwie
And Megan Rapinoe tweeted to cheer on her girlfriend Sue Bird Sunday as the Seattle Storm faced the Connecticut Sun in the Wubble. Storm defeated the Sun 95-72.
Ops. Can’t leave bae this open. 👌🏼 https://t.co/PxME0zxtd9
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) August 16, 2020
On This Day in Sports History: Ow! OW!
This one doesn’t have anything to do with LGBT, but it’s a great baseball story we think you’ll enjoy nonetheless!
On August 17, 1957, Philadelphia Phillies All-Star and future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn hit a foul ball into the press box behind third plate at Connie Mack Stadium. Seated there among the 8-thousand fans was Alice Roth, wife of Philadelphia Bulletin sports editor Earl Roth, along with her two grandsons. Ashburn’s foul ball struck Roth in the face, breaking her nose. Then, as Roth was being carried out on a stretcher, Ashburn fouled again, and hit Roth a second time, this time breaking her leg. She recovered, but never sat that close to the field ever again. Ashburn and Roth went on to become friends, and he even went to work for her husband before becoming a broadcaster for the Phillies. The odds of being hit by just one foul ball are said to be 300,000 to one. You have to wonder what the odds are for getting struck twice!
Podcast Du Jour
Six days a week, Outsports has a new podcast for your listening pleasure. Today on Five Rings to Rule Them All, U.S. Rowing coxswain Julian Venonsky talks with our Cyd Zeigler about never being in the closet and competing for Team USA.
All our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and on every platform where you find Outsports!
Today’s Sports Calendar
Today’s only nationally-televised MLB game:
San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers 9:05 p.m. EDT on FS1.
NBA Playoffs in the Bubble:
Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Dallas Mavericks vs L.A .Clippers at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets at 3:00 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes at 5:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes at 8:00 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks at 10:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
What did you think? Was this helpful? Mildly enjoyable? Did you HATE IT? Tell us in the comments below! You can also email us at [email protected]
Thanks for reading all the way to the end. Another edition of The Huddle will appear tomorrow on Outsports.com
