If a “trifecta” is three of something, then a “quadfecta” would be four, right?  Just go with it, please.

Outsports, my favorite source among many where I get much of my article fodder, has forwarded four very interesting stories in the last day or so.

I’d love to give you more of my own analysis of these four stories, but being whelmed (just whelmed… it’s not serious enough yet to be of the ‘over’ variety) by the start of classes again, I can only share some brief thoughts on each at this time.

(1)   Glee, Kurt Hummel to get gay quarterback

E! Online has reported that Kurt finally gets with the star quarterback on this hit show Glee, but it is not current QB, Finn.  (Apparently there is some dynamic already between Kurt and Finn?).  Rather, a new character is entering the show to be the new QB / love interest.

Quick thoughts: (1) I don’t like how the perceptions of a gay football player is usually the quarterback or the kicker.  (2) I hope there is some storyline on the competition between Finn and this new guy for the QB position, and whether his sexuality will play a part in either the competition process or in trying to undermine him later.  (3) I will be curious to see if he is out from the beginning or if he comes out after earning the starting nod, and how they will show that process.  … I guess I’ll have to watch Glee for the first time. (Please don’t tell the gay police.)

(2)   Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist against homophobia

The Los Angeles Times ran a story about Notre Dame’s new quarterback, Dayne Crist.  LA Times is covering the story, because Crist hails from the Los Angeles area and because being the Notre Dame QB is one of the most coveted positions you can attain in collegiate athletes (despite recent declines in the program, a subject for another day).

Within the article is a gem about Crist’s dedication to public service and advocacy:

“On a July afternoon, Crist, a two-year starter at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High, arrived early for an appointment at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex, wearing red workout shorts and a black T-shirt. On the shirt’s front, in large white lettering, was a slogan: “StaND Against Hate.”

“It was a week on campus dedicated to ending hate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”

You can find, and thank, Crist on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dcrist10

(3)   Van Raaphorst speaks to Edmonton sports group

Billy Van Raaphort’s story of homophobic abuse while umpiring a minor league baseball game has recently spread through the major media sources.  (Evidence: this site had a record day of traffic and hits from Google searches after his story went national.)

The significance of this most recent coverage is the response by the Edmonton sports group that owns the Edmonton Capitals, the team that had the homophobic manager.  The group also owns the NHL franchise, Edmonton Oilers.

The group brought in Van Raaphort speak on diversity, and it received significant coverage in Edmonton (links provided in the Outsports article).

Once again, the NHL and its franchises are proving to be the most receptive to the existence of gay participants in their little world of sports.

(4)   Writer predicts out pro athlete fairly soon

Mark McGuire of the Albany Times-Union wrote a column about the likelihood of an active, openly gay, professional athlete.  This is just a single perspective among many, but I am always fascinated to read these stories.  McGuire thinks it “will be revealed in the not-too-distant future.”  He has no scoop; it is just his hunch.

He also provided some quotes from current players on the topic.

New York Giants linebacker Bryan Kehl (who is Mormon and disagrees with the “lifestyle”) said: “If there is a guy who can hold his own as a football player, I think that’s the bottom line. Because that’s what guys care about.”

He quotes several other perspectives at the end of his piece and also makes the often comparison to the gay community’s Jackie Robinson.

He also opened discussion for comments on a separate page, which are always fascinating to read.

Albany Times-Union, Billy Van Raaphorst, Dayne Crist, E! Online, Edmonton Oilers, Glee, LA Times, Notre Dame, OutSports Hide

When I told my boss the Stanley Cup was going to be in the Chicago pride parade, he said he’d fire me if I didn’t go.  I should thank him for the pressure, because it was a tremendous experience.  While I am sure many (most) at the parade do not care about hockey, the roar of the crowd signified how monumental the moment was for the community.  It was unmatched by anything else in the parade.

As the Chicago Gay Hockey Association and their float carrying Brent Sopel and the Stanley Cup approach, the crowd let out a thunderous applause.  We were fortunate to be stationed near a side street that was blocked by several city cleanup trucks.  As the Cup approached, the city workers honked the horns of the trucks in celebration.  With more honking came more cheering.  In response, Sopel lifted the Cup up off his stand and proudly held it above his head to the crowd.  The cheering, the yelling, the clapping, and the whistling all escalated.

I don’t know if he did this at all at any other point in the parade, but I am sure glad I got to witness it.

Outsports interviewed Sopel after the event.  This is what he had to say:

“I wasn’t here to advocate (anything), but if coming here helps break down walls in the meantime, so be it. I was here for Brendan (Burke),” said Sopel, who rode on the float with his wife. “I hope he is smiling (from heaven).”

It was also excellent to see the Chicago Cubs float in the parade with Hall of Famer Ernie Banks aboard and recently out country music star Chely Wright as the grand marshal of the parade.

Here are some photos from the event.  (Click on each to see a larger version.)

Brent Sopel and The Stanley Cup

Chicago Cubs and Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks

Chely Wright

Brent Sopel, Chely Wright, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Gay Hockey Association, Chicago Gay Pride, Ernie Banks, OutSports, Stanley Cup Hide

Outsports first reported that the Chicago Cubs were going to participate in Chicago’s gay pride parade.  The Chicago Blackhawks had also been invited by the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) but considered a long-shot to attend.

The recent Stanley Cup Champions have accepted the invitation, being represented by defenseman Brent Sopel, along with his wife and four children.

Sopel told the Chicago Sun Times, “I am honored to do it.”  He also said he will be marching in honor of Brendan Burke.

“When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should.  We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from.”

Oh, and if that were not significant enough, Lord Stanley’s Cup will also be in attendance.

Blackhawks President John McDonough, noting “it’s important for the city and important for the franchise,” had the Cup re-routed from the NHL Draft in Los Angeles 15 hours early in order to make the parade.

McDonough had this to say: “The Stanley Cup has become the biggest celebrity of all.  It has its own personality and charm.  We will be proud to participate in the parade.  And Brent Sopel is one of the truly great guys.  To have the cup part of the parade is just another great part of the celebration.”

CGHA President, Andrew Sobotka considered it a slim chance that the Blackhawks would accept the invitation to participate in the parade; he is now thrilled.  “For the Blackhawks to do this is amazing. It is wonderful to know everyone is helping to make 2010 a year to break down barriers,” he told the Sun Times.

Brendan Burke, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Sun Times, NHL, OutSports, Stanley Cup Hide

Outsports posted an excellent column today written by Patrick Burke, older brother of Brendan Burke, titled “Never forgotten: Patrick Burke remembers his pioneering brother, Brendan.”

Brendan’s coming out story, and the acceptance of his father and Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, written by John Buccigross of ESPN, received a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism Article.  Brendan’s story ended tragically with his passing earlier this year; however, his courage continues to be a source for fighting homophobia in the sports industry.

Patrick’s column is exceptional and provides new details to the acceptable within the sports world after Brendan came out and the response after his death.  I would highly encourage reading the entire piece, but I want to highlight some parts that stand out for me.  If you want additional background, I have written about Brendan and the Burke family several times.

Patrick wrote on the acceptance and support the family received after Brendan came out:

I wish I had transcribed every conversation in which a scout, an agent, a coach, or an executive subtly pulled me aside during a game to express their support and offer any help we might want.  It was overwhelming, and it was universally positive.

The NHL welcomed Brendan with open arms, and I am very proud of our league and our executives for that.  We need to continue to make it clear that we judge players, scouts, coaches, and executives only by whether they can contribute to a championship hockey team.

The depth of this support goes far beyond that.  Patrick wrote about how the U.S. Olympic team wore dogtags under their jerseys to honor Brendan.  Outsports wrote separately on this tidbit.  The dogtags had the Olympic symbol, USA, and Vancouver 2010 on one side and the words: “In honor of BRENDAN BURKE” on the other.  The idea to do this was initiated by U.S. captain Jamie Langenbrunner.

Patrick closed his article with these words:

When members of the hockey world choose to come out, the Burke family will be in their corner.  We will continue to work publicly and privately to make locker rooms safe, to eliminate gay slurs, and to fight for equality for all the kids out there like Brendan.   We urge every hockey player, fan, coach and executive, at every level of the game, to join us in our fight.  Brendan proved that one voice can make a difference.  Each member of the hockey world who takes a stand with us amplifies Brendan’s message of love and inclusion, spreading it a little further. If we’re lucky, it will reach those who need to hear it the most.

With the class shown by the NHL players, coaches, and executives, I honestly believe a player will come out in the NHL within the next few years.

Brendan Burke, Brian Burke, John Buccigross, NHL, OutSports, Patrick Burke Hide

Yesterday, after the massive Jesus statute in southwestern Ohio was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, I wrote: “My thoughts?  God is pissed that Christians are ruining Christianity.  Love is out; judging and condemning is in.”

In timely fashion, The Commercial Appeal, a local paper in Memphis, Tennessee, reports that the Bellevue Baptist Church has kicked a softball team out of their church league due to a “deviant lifestyle”.

The team that was kicked out is coached by Jana Jacobson, who came out to the league officials after being interrogated about the “lifestyle” of herself and her team (which is composed of gay and straight players).

Jacobson was told they could not play in the league because “the team’s participation would send a message to Bellevue members that the church condoned her lifestyle.”

Instead, the message they said is the opposite of what Christ would say: don’t accept people as they are, outcast people from the faith, don’t love everybody, etc.

There is a poll on the Commercial Appeal’s article asking, “Do you agree with a decision by Bellevue Baptist Church to ban a church league softball team because its coach acknowledged she is gay?”

The results, with 403 voters thus far, have 52% answering “yes”.  Gross.

Thank you to Cyd Zeigler of Outsports for pointing this story out to me.  He also wrote on the subject and provided contact information to vocalize disgust with the church and their decision:

If you want to contact the Church, you can fill out an email form here or call them at (901)347-2000.

Jacobson said they are not looking for the church to change their mind, and even if they did, the team would not return to the league.  I agree with that stance one-hundred percent, but I think the church also needs to be reminded of what Christianity is supposed to mean.

Christianity, OutSports, Religion, softball, The Commercial Appeal Hide