Posted by CNN to YouTube:
Equal rights advocate and pro athlete Brendon Ayanbadejo talks about overcoming barriers and accepting gay athletes.
Video | Magic Johnson's son comes out
From TMZ:
Magic Johnson's son, Earvin Johnson III, went out in public hand in hand with his boyfriend -- and both of his parents are supportive and proud.
Rutgers fires basketball coach Mike Rice after video release shows violent shoving and gay slurs
BY TOM CANAVAN, AP SPORTS WRITER
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers has fired basketball coach Mike Rice after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs during practice.
The videotape, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN, has prompted scores of outraged social media comments as well as sharp criticism from Gov. Chris Christie. The head of the New Jersey Assembly called for Rice to be fired.
With mounting criticism on a state and national level, the school decided to take action on Wednesday, relieving Rice of his duties after three largely unsuccessful seasons at the Big East school. There will be a national search to replace him.
Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti was given a copy of the video in November. After hiring independent investigators to analyze the tape, he suspended Rice for three games and fined him $50,000.
AP 'raw' video: Golfer Andreas Harto takes off pants to play out of water in Morocco
From Associated Press:
Danish golfer Andreas Harto removes shoes and pants to hit a ball from the waters edge at the Trophee Hassan II European Tour event in Morocco on Sunday.
NY AG: NFL must act on whether possible drafts picks were asked about their sexual orientations
BY MICHAEL GORMLEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman urged the NFL on Thursday to investigate whether possible draft picks were improperly asked about their sexual orientation during the league's combine, which he said would be illegal in New York.
"We ask that the league immediately issue a statement that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation by league teams or players against potential recruits or players constitutes a violation of state, local and, in some cases, contractor law and will not be tolerated," Schneiderman said in a letter dated Thursday and released to news organizations.
Last month, Colorado tight end Nick Kasa told ESPN Radio in Denver that during interviews with team officials at the combine in Indianapolis: "(Teams) ask you, like, 'Do you have a girlfriend?' 'Are you married?' 'Do you like girls?'"
2017 World Outgames to be in Miami Beach/Miami
BY STEVE ROTHAUS, srothaus@MiamiHerald.com
The 2017 World OutGames will be held in Miami Beach/Miami, the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) announced Thursday.
"We did it!" local committee member Cindy Brown posted on her Facebook page from Antwerp, Belgium, where the 2013 games will be played July 31-Aug. 11.
Brown and several other South Florida representatives traveled to Belgium for the GLISA announcement.
"We won!" committee member Jerry Torres boasted on Facebook.
Five cities applied for the 2017 games: Miami Beach/Miami; Reykjavík, Iceland, which came in second place; Denver; Rio de Janeiro; and Rome.
The World OutGames, an international event, could attract tens of thousands of LGBT visitors to South Florida, organizers predict. According to the GLISA website, OutGames expects to attract up to a quarter-million athletes, attendees and visitors during a 10-day period.
Organizers have said the plan to hold the event in South Florida during the 2017 Memorial Day holiday week, overlapping busy Urban Beach Weekend, if it’s still around.
The group is working with University of Miami to provide sporting faculties and dormitory space, organizers say.
Tim Tebow cancels appearance at Dallas church, home of antigay pastor Robert Jeffress
TMZ reports that NFL star Tim Tebow has canceled an April speaking engagement at First Baptist Church of Dallas, home of pastor Robert Jeffress, who has made anti-Jewish and anti-gay remarks.
Tebow tweeted news of his cancellation on Thursday:
While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic...
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
... First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my...
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
...upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those...
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
...needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
Former Columbus Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers says he's gay, stepping away from soccer
THE SPORTS NETWORK
Former Columbus Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers revealed in a blog post Friday that he's gay and that he is stepping away from professional soccer.
Rogers played for the Crew from 2007-11 and helped the team win the 2008 MLS Cup while also earning 18 caps for the United States national team.
"I always thought I could hide this secret," Rogers said on his personal blog. "Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined. I will always be thankful for my career. I will remember Beijing, the MLS Cup, and most of all my teammates. I will never forget the friends I have made along the way and the friends that supported me once they knew my secret."
The 25-year-old left MLS following the 2011 season to continue his career in England. But after appearing in just four games for Leeds United, he was loaned to Stevenage.
Rogers played on the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing in 2008 and scored the equalizer for the Americans in a 1-1 draw with Mexico in Jurgen Klinsmann's managerial debut in August 2011.
Most recently, the Chicago Fire acquired the MLS rights of Rogers in a trade from Columbus, meaning that if he returned to the league that the Fire would have the option of adding him to the side.
"Now is my time to step away," said Rogers. "It's time to discover myself away from football. Life is so full of amazing things. I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest."
Outsports.com reveals male swimsuit issue
Outsports.com's Jim Buzinski has posted a male swimsuit issue that probably won't compete with Sports Illustrated's:
Sports Illustrated has published its annual swimsuit issue, aka the most boring issue of the year. For those into hot women in bikinis, it’s always been a nice antidote in the middle of winter.
But why should straight guys and lesbians have all the fun? Gay males also suffer through winter and could use a nice diversion from shoveling snow. So I have compiled our swimsuit issue, limiting it to sports where one competes wearing only a swimsuit or something tight — swimming, diving, water polo and mixed martial arts.
Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade celebrate 25th anniversary of Miami City Ballet
Miami City Ballet has teamed with Miami Heat for a photo campaign celebrating the dance company's 25th anniversary.
News release from Friday, Feb. 8:
MIAMI – The Miami HEAT has teamed up with the Miami City Ballet to celebrate 25 years of basketball and ballet. On Sunday, February 10th, the team will welcome Miami City Ballet Principal Dancers, sisters and Miami natives Jeanette and Patricia Delgado, who will be present for the Los Angeles Lakers vs. HEAT game, and who will participate in various in-game activities.Earlier this season, the two dancers were paired with HEAT superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in a series of unique photos that showcase the world class athleticism of icons from both sports and dance. The artistic photos, which feature the dancers in various ballet poses interacting with the players, underscore the parallels between basketball and dance: grace, fitness, strength and passion. Jeanette, who is paired with James, was heralded by The New York Times as “one of the world’s most marvelous ballerinas.” And Patricia, who is paired with Wade, “can catch the audience’s heart from her first entry and hold it” according to The New York Times.
The photos will serve as a centerpiece of a local and national campaign to promote the arts scene on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard, and to highlight the world-renowned Miami City Ballet.
“The Miami HEAT plays at AmericanAirlines Arena, which is mere blocks away from one of Miami City Ballet’s home theaters, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations. “They’re our neighbors and our friends and we’re delighted to celebrate 25 years of being part of Miami’s cultural landscape, and more specifically, the arts and entertainment district located along Biscayne Boulevard.”
During their shared 25-year history, the HEAT has earned two NBA Championships (2006 and 2012) while the Miami City Ballet, among the best ballet companies in the world, has evolved into an internationally acclaimed artistic powerhouse with a repertoire of more than 90 ballets and 45 dancers that hail from all over the world.
"Ballet and basketball are both about grace under pressure and the pursuit of perfection," said Miami City Ballet Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. "No Miami City Ballet dancer stands alone just as HEAT players can’t win alone. It requires team work—and that's Miami! We are talking about tremendous pride in the place we call home and being the best together."
