Good morning and welcome to The Huddle for today, August 25, 2020. It’s Tuesday, and thank you for taking just under 2-minutes out of your morning to get plugged in.
Other than the WNBA, I’m not aware of any scheduled events today involving out LGBTQ athletes. If you know of one, or more, let me know by emailing me at [email protected]
Scroll down for today’s calendar of major sports events.
This Morning’s Sports Headlines:
Get off the sidelines and into the game
Our weekly playbook is packed with everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
All this week, Outsports is sharing stories of transgender women who are rugby athletes in stories, podcast episodes and on our social media platforms. Outsports supports International Gay Rugby’s rejection of a proposal to ban non-binary and transgender women athletes from competing in women’s rugby competitions.
Today, our Cyd Zeigler introduces us to a trans woman who has served her country for 15 years. Now she may be banned from playing rugby.
And there’s much more to come every day this week.
Also this morning:
Find out about the Irish lesbian soccer stalwart who’s now a PhD, speaking out on sexism and homophobia in sports. Our Karleigh Webb has the story of Dr. Linda Greene.
Outsports co-founder Jim Buzinski shares a letter from Mike Nelson, an out gay athlete about the cancellation of fall sports at his alma mater: ‘Shocked. Appalled. Gutted.’ Gay swimmer reacts to University of Iowa shutting down program.
Shalise Manza Young writes in Yahoo Sports: Broadcasting booths need more diversity to help prevent Brennaman, Milbury incidents from happening again: “Their words were likely incredibly meaningful to queer baseball fans everywhere, and they also serve notice to broadcasters who want to perpetuate such outmoded ideas: Grow up, or make room for someone who has.”
The Minneapolis Star Tribune published an excellent “Counterpoint” to last week’s transphobic op-ed by Save Women’s Sports founder Beth Stelzer. In “Transgender athletes have a right to compete,” Minnesota statehouse wonk and former college athlete Bailey Koch wrote: “Throughout history, sports have been discriminatory, whether it was the exclusion of women, Black and brown people, the disabled or LGBTQ+ athletes. We now have an opportunity to learn from history and the mistakes we’ve made. Trans people belong in sports, and excluding trans athletes will harm us all. Trans people belong in sports, now and forever.”
Read about Knockout, an LGBTQ boxing club in London, in Gay Times: “Boxing with LGBTQ+ people is just the best thing ever,” says a boxer named Clarisse. “You won’t be questioned about your sexuality. In that moment when I am boxing, I do not think of myself as a woman, as a lesbian, but just as a boxer.”
And in other news…
Former Dallas Cowboys star Herschel Walker spoke in support of President Trump at Monday night’s Republican National Convention: “He shows how much he cares about social justice and the Black community through his actions, and his actions speak louder than stigma or slogans on a jersey.”
The Bucks’ George Hill questions playing in NBA bubble following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin: “We’re down here playing the bubble to do these things for social justice and all that, and to see it all still going on and we’re just playing the games like it’s nothing, it’s just a really messed up situation right now,” Hill told reporters, including Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. “I don’t think we should be talking about basketball today. We should talk about the Blake family and what’s going on. It’s devastating and basketball shouldn’t even be on our mind right now. We’re thankful for the win, but none of this really matters.”
NEW! OutShouts:
I’ve added a new daily feature to offer shout-outs to out LGBTQ athletes, coaches and support staff who have something to celebrate: accomplishments, anniversaries, whatnot. And yes, I’m calling it OutShouts. Fight me.
UCLA Coach Kirk Walker shared this news in the Equality Coaching Alliance group on Facebook: Congratulations to Kathleen Laster on being named the head coach for the Great Britain 18U women’s national fast-pitch softball team! Read more by clicking here.
If you’re an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! Space to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.
Highlights from Social Media:
Look who took in Monday night’s Islanders–Flyers Stanley Cup playoff game!
Remember that time the @NYIslanders invited some @NWHL beauties at their playoff game? Looks like the good energy is still buzzin’… when you support women, good things will happen #Isles pic.twitter.com/UNWwaIGb0w
— Anya Packer (@battaglinoa) August 25, 2020
Robbie Rogers and one of his two children enjoyed a moment of zen.
Gay athlete Drew Collins of Boston offers some wise advice: “Instead of letting unexpected things derail us, we have to become experts at adaptation.”
Podcast Du Jour
Nearly every day of the week, Outsports has a new podcast for your enjoyment. Today, we have an encore of Cyd Zeigler’s Olympics and Lord of the Rings-themed pod, Five Rings To Rule Them All. His guest this week is Hannah Mouncey, an Australian national squad handball player who also plays Australian rules football, and just happens to be transgender.
All our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and on every platform where you find Outsports!
Today’s Sports Calendar
WNBA in the wubble:
New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky at 7 p.m. EDT on CBSSN.
Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings at 9 p.m. EDT on CBSSN.
Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
NBA Playoffs in the bubble:
Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets at 6:30 p.m. EDT on TNT.
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers at 9 p.m. EDT on TNT.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Boston Celtics vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights at 9:45 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
MLB nationally-televised games
Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 p.m. EDT on FS1.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants at 9:45 p.m. EDT on FS1.
Tennis
Click here for Western & Southern Open results from Monday and schedule for today.
Soccer
And if you’re a soccer fan, check out ESPN’s schedule of matches by clicking here.
Share your thoughts in the comments below or email us at [email protected]
Thanks for reading all the way to the end. The next edition of The Huddle will appear tomorrow morning on Outsports.com Stay safe!
