Sports Is The New Porn

Greg Sherell, America's only out and proud gay sportscaster, probably said it best, when he told Gay.com in 2005:

"Some people say, 'Gay men are just looking at athletes and thinking of them sexually.' My belief is this: I'm watching the game to watch the game. But I'm not missing the fact that some guys are hot. And I know that when [straight men] are watching Anna Kournikova on the court, they're certainly not missing the fact that she's hot."

Gay Olympic athletes

Since the modern Olympics began over 100 years ago, there have been at least 19 gay athletes who have taken home Olympic medals.  How many do you know? The full list after the jump.

Mark Tewksbury (pictured above) Canada
4x100-meter swimming medley relay, silver, 1988, bronze, 1992; 100-meter backstroke, gold, 1992

The history of Olympic swimwear

Our friend Jim Buzinski at Outsports.com weighs on in the swimsuit controversy at this year's Olympics.   

Up close and personal with gay diver Matthew Mitcham

(Getty Images)
In this week's issue of The Advocate, Harley Dennett interviews Matthew Mitcham, who recently came out and has been making quite a splash. 

We loved the article and pulled some of Matthew's best quotes. 

"I just want to be known as the Australian diver who did really well at the Olympics."

"It's everybody else who thinks it's special when homosexuality and elite sport go together."

"I hadn't planned to do it [come out] at all. It was just a question and it went from there."

"They [his teammates] don't seem to mind that I'm a big homo"

"I make jokes about it all the time. I haven't made an issue of it, so they just reciprocate that attitude."

"There are others [gay divers], but I'm the first to come to the media and say, ‘Hello, I'm gay!' I'm not scared."

"I'm very proud to be part of the gay community."

Source: The Advocate

San Francisco 49ers honored for gay-friendly ad

Last Monday the San Francisco 49ers received the Outstanding Diversity/Journal Ad at the Commercial Closet Association's Images in Advertising Awards ceremony.  The ad, which ran in the GLAAD Media Awards books, states "The San Francisco 49ers are proud supporters of the 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards." 

"In addition to our sponsorship of the GLAAD Media Awards dinner, we are also proud sponsors of the San Francisco Pride Parade. And our 49ers Foundation financially supports the San Francisco LGBT Center. Each year, the owners of the San Francisco 49ers, over the past four seasons, have created a special LGBT fan appreciation event in San Francisco" said Lisa Lang, vice-president of communications for the San Francisco 49ers.

As a side note, the 49ers have been offering same-sex domestic partner benefits to all their associates since 1997, making them the only NFL team to do so. 

Commercial Closet Association advocates for advertising that respects the diversity of all, specifically gender identity/expression and sexual orientation, for a more accepting society and better business results.

Source: Outsports

Two men convicted of homophobic chants

(Getty Images)
Michael Whittle, 23, and Lee Walker, 24, were convicted of public order offenses for shouting homophobic chants during a March 15th football match.

Both Whittle and Walker received fines and are banned from matches for the next year as well as being permanently banned for the field where the incident took place.

"Their subsequent prosecution and conviction sends out a clear message that there is no place for homophobia either in Blackpool or in the game of football." said Lindsey Nottingham, LGBT liaison officer for Blackpool.

Source: The Citizen & Towleroad

Bigger Ass?: Canseco vs. McGwire

Well, this might be a tough one.  Choosing the assholedness that ranks supreme between these two steroid-ingesting, one-trick ponies might not be as easy as one thinks.  Sure, the quick and easy answer is Jose Canseco not Mark McGwire.  But is it?  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, allow me to present the evidence, for you consideration:

Tennis: Injured Ivanovic and Sharapova win in Montreal, but Maria withdraws with balky shoulder

(Getty Images)
The injuries on the WTA Tour continue to worsen with the Olympics and US Open right around the corner.

Top seed Ana Ivanovic, who's been dealing with a sore thumb she hurt in practice 10 days ago, struggled in her first match since losing in Wimbledon's third round. The Serb needed three sets to defeat Petra Kvitova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at the Tier 1 Rogers Cup but refused to blame the injury for her scratchy play:

I went on the court and that means that I felt 100 percent ready to play. Obviously it takes some time to get in a rhythm. But I went through this match. It would probably be the same even if I was feeling 100 percent.

Baseball: Home Sweet Home?

(Getty Images)
Home sweet home? Not at all! Just ask the Cubs! They were abundant at Miller Park last night. Again. The National League Central race that was supposed to be a to-the-wire 3-way-race could turn into the Cub show. They pummeled the Brew Crew yet again last night. I’m one dejected Brewers fan right now, but there’s a lot of baseball to play, so anything can happen.

Olympics: USA pride for American basketball squad?

(Getty Images)
The USA Olympic basketball squad is ready to show the world who is king and where the best basketball players in the world are born and call home.