Columbus is proud to welcome the Gay Softball World Series, ‘Stand Tall. Play Ball.’ for tournament play and events citywide from August 16^th to the 21^st.

The city will host almost 5,000 players and guests, a record 148 teams from across the United States and Canada (the previous record was 120-something last year in Milwaukee), and for the first time in the history of the tournament, all of the games will be played at a single complex, Berliner Park, the largest softball park in the country (Google map).

For participants and fans, having the entire tournament played at a single complex is remarkable.  It is certainly more convenient, but more importantly, the atmosphere of the event is going to be unmatched by any previous tournament.  Players and fans will be able mingle and stick around to watch other games in a way that has not been possible in previous years.

With a record number of teams all playing at a single complex, SiriusXM to broadcast the final for the first time on OutQ, FIVE host hotels (Columbus Renaissance is the main host hotel, Capitol Square Hyatt, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hyatt Regency, and the 5^th – Holiday Inn – added late after the first four sold out), permission to serve alcohol at Berliner Park for the first time ever, and with numerous events throughout the city, this is going to be an incredible week.

Without further adieu, I’d like to simply highlight to main events of the week so you can catch some of the action (Full event schedule here).

-          Tournament Play:

• Tuesday (8/17) through Saturday (8/21), 8:00am to 5:00pm at Berliner Park.
• Format: Group round-robin play on Tuesday and Wednesday for seeding, double-elimination knockout tournament on Thursday and Friday, and Finals on Saturday

-          Opening Ceremonies

• Monday (8/16), 5:00pm – 9:00pm at Genoa Park
• Featuring Inaya Day and the cast of Wicked singing the national anthems
• Special welcome by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman
• Also performances by Nina West, Flaggots Ohio, Columbus Stompers, Capital Pride Band, and the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus

-          Night OUT with the Clippers

• Tuesday (8/16), 7:00pm at Huntington Park
• Happy hour from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Cotter’s (right next to the park)
• The FIRST Clippers gay night (Clippers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians)
• Event sponsored by Outlook Media which reserved a block of 1,100 tickets at $10 per
• Tickets available at the softball registration desks or at the happy hour

-          Bar Nights

• Pretty much every gay bar in Columbus has a schedule of events for this week
• Be sure to first check out the official bar sponsors of the event: Trafik, Union, Havana, Axis, and Exile

-          Short North Closing Block Party

• Saturday (8/21), 6:00pm to 11:00pm
• High Street closed off between Buttles Ave and Hubbard Ave
• Featuring: Jennifer Holliday, Nina West, Derek and Romaine from SiriusXM, and other performances

That’s just a few of the highlights.  The entire schedule of events is here.  I’m excited to be volunteering at the event, to catch some games, and to show the tournament and all the visitors the great city of Columbus.

Berliner Park, Gay Softball World Series, Outlook Columbus, OutQ, SiriusXM Hide

The June issue of The Advocate magazine had a piece entitled, “150 Reasons to Have Pride in 2010,” and Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel made the list for the interview he did with the GLBT publication, Outlook Columbus.

The Advocate article starts, “Thanks to his rousing statements for marriage equality, silver fox Keith Olbermann is reason number 38 to have pride in 2010. Read the other 149 reasons here.”

Reason #51 (found on page 24 of 48 of the web article):

“BECAUSE AN ALLY MAY BE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT:

The Ohio-based gay newspaper Outlook: Columbus snagged an interview in March with Jim Tressel (pictured), the high-profile football coach at Ohio State University. When writer ­Michael Daniels brought up the reluctance of collegiate athletes to come out, Tressel said it was the duty of coaches and professors to create a tolerant atmosphere: ‘Whatever a young man feels called to express, I hope we will help him do it in a supportive environment. Everybody is important, and maturity is learning to find and appreciate those differences in others.’”

You can read the entire Outlook Columbus interview with Tressel here.  (My apologies for the format of the article; Outlook Columbus has a specific viewer for its magazine, making it impossible to directly link an article.)

It is fairly well-know that Tressel is a conservative Christian, making his perspectives on the subject and even the willingness to do the interview more impressive and refreshing.

I also had the opportunity to ask a fellow classmate who played for Tressel if his remarks were genuine.  Knowing that those in the sports industry, especially with the experience and resume of Tressel, develop a unique skill to say the right things to the media, I had my doubts.  My classmate said that Tressel had such a respect for diversity, the totality of a person beyond just being an athlete, and that he was sincerely interested in helping the student-athletes develop their own self-image.

Just another reason to be glad I came to school at Ohio State.

Jim Tressel, Ohio State, Outlook Columbus, The Advocate Hide

Outlook Columbus interviewed Ohio State Football Head Coach Jim Tressel, and in doing so, became the first GLBT publication to interview a Division I NCAA football coach one-on-one.  (At least, so is stated in the reprinting of the interview in OutSports, and I have never seen a similar interview that would invalidate the claim.)

Michael Daniels, who performed the interview, asked Tressel some excellent questions and received equally poignant responses.  I’ve extracted my favorites.

Daniels asked how the principles of faith and belief in one’s self that Tressel writes about in his book, “The Winner’s Manual,” can apply to understanding people of other races, genders or sexual orientations.

Tressel’s response: “We try to tell our guys that an authentic you is the best you.”

Daniels asked Tressel why he felt it is more common for athletes to come out after they retire rather than during their careers.

Tressel spoke about how as an elite athlete, your identity since you were young is that of an athlete.  “You’re the tallest, you’re the fastest, you’re the best player. All their feedback has come in terms of their role as a player, and they are often hesitant to go beyond that narrow role.”  Then, referring to his role in the process as a collegiate coach, he adds: “An opportunity, and a real challenge, we have when they come to college is to get them to see themselves with a broader lens.

“The greatest achievement we can have as coaches is that a young man leaves us with a concept of who he is, what he wants from life, and what he can share with others – someone who is ‘comfortable in his own skin,’ and that identity can go in a number of directions.”

Daniels then asked him a big question: how would the team, fans, and university accept a gay player at OSU?

Tressel, continuing with a string of wonderful responses: “We strive to teach and model appreciation for everyone,

“One, we are a family. If you haven’t learned from your family at home that people have differences and those strengthen the whole, then you are hopefully going to learn it as part of the Ohio State football family.

“Two, every part of our team is important and every role has value – no job is too small and no person is irrelevant – that’s a great lesson that transcends into society. […]

“Whatever a young man feels called to express, I hope we will help him do it in a supportive environment. Everybody is important, and maturity is learning to find and appreciate those differences in others.”

As a gay student at Ohio State, I was extremely proud to see this article posted today.  I frequently write about how organizations, coaches, etc. can have a profound influence in battling homophobia—even the ability save lives—if they are explicit with their support.  I am thankful for Tressel’s willingness to do the interview and the perspectives he shared.

Jim Tressel, Michael Daniels, Ohio State Athletics, Ohio State University, Outlook Columbus, OutSports, The Winner’s Manual Hide