Okay, so I understand that when you guys talk about the "first active athlete to come out" you are basically referring to a player in the NFL, NBA, MLB, possibly the NHL -- maybe even a major Olympic athlete in a not-too-gay field (track, say, as opposed to ice dance.) I also understand that you're talking chiefly about male athletes. But I think it would be worth at least a passing mention that Sheryl Swoopes recently came out, and she's still an active basketball player. Not to mention the very long history of gay women in tennis. Martina and Billie Jean came out DECADES ago -- making the coming out of Amelie Mauresmo a complete non-issue. Yes, it would be a big story for a male athlete (even a tennis player!) to come out, but the conversation about gays in sports should at least be open enough to admit that there are sports in the world where out athletes have played for decades.

Not to mention the fact that Renee Richards blazed a transgendered trail at the US Open, and there is even a transgendered golfer now playing women's golf.

I'm glad Amaechi came out, but it seems a rather short-sighted historical outlook to treat his coming out as the most important outing in sports history.

I wasn't familiar with outsports before this, but I think I'll check it out. This was a nice interview-- breezy and fun, but still informative.

Is this the entirety of the gay athlete's sports experience? What best fashion to wear for the corresponding sport? Whispers and rumors of possible homoeroticism or same sex curiousity on the court, on the field, or in the pool? My argument is that on this subject, like any other, balance is the key. Sure, a guy can be aware of the good looking studs around him and wear what's comfortable and looks good for the sport, but damn... get involved in the love of the game and the challenge of competition - against opponents and also oneself - to push to the next level and enjoy it. Too often the gay community feels the need to 'gay-ify' everything before being willing to be involved or try it. Those that seem most happy and healthy don't isolate themselves to only gay venues and similar people and deceive themselves into thinking they're something they're not (masculine or str8 acting or jocks), but blend their interests, activities, and environments and truly accept themselves for who they are. In my experience, the majority of gay men I've met are more interested in shopping, food, and entertainment, than in competing in a sport or physical challenge. Do we really need to adapt sports and 'gay-ify' them to entice that audience to become involved?

With the conclusion of the PGA Championship Tiger has played 11 full seasons on the PGA Tour (his first event was immediately following the PGA in 1996).

Tiger's First 11 Seasons: 59 total wins, 13 Majors (213 Total Events Played)

Jack Nicklaus' Best 11 Consecutive Season stretch of his entire career: 49 total wins, 11 Majors (236 Total Events Played)

What else do you people need?

The interviewer comments about "friendly homophobia" and the interviewee had a bit called "fag fridays". Wow. With friends like that who needs enemies. Both of these examples are consistent with the view that gay people are lesser mutants.

Sheryl Swoops isn't even the first or only out woman in WNBA (the others escape we at the moment), although she certainly is the most high profile. I think there are two main differences for being an out lesbian in sports and a out gay man.

The WNBA openly and actively markets it self to Lesbians between ad dollars spent in magazines and Lesbian appreciation nights at the arenas. Whereas the NBA is happy to take ticket money from gay men, they are not in any hurry to openly court them as a fan base.

Secondly the typical Colin Cowherdesqe sports talk radio show team assume that everyone in the WNBA is lesbian, so when some comes out it doesn't seem noteworthy. If anything straight women the WNBA have to prove they aren't Lesbian.

She was FORCED out - by a "galimony" scandal involving a secretary (who, I believe, attempted suicide during the media brouhaha). At the time she was still married to her husband and in no apparent hurry to publicly discuss her love life. That all changed, rather quickly, of course.

How many times have I said you're the best (see prev posts)? My morning sports ritual - after getting the scores through whatever media possible - is King Kaufman, first; Outsports, second. It was convenient this morning to be able to link directly to Outsports from your column without having to sign out of Salon. Every second counts!

"There's just this assumption that the media keeps putting out there. I think that's the biggest problem. The media. Guys in the media, even though there's a positive portrayal of gay issues in sports, they continue to push this idea that the locker room is a super-macho place and no gay person could exist in it."

Yes, and is as often the problem with most issues the media (sports or otherwise) choose to put under the microscope, they must dramatize it enough to create a story where there might not be one, to keep the big ball rolling so they have talking points to fill their next half hour.

Then, as if on cue, the masses regurgitate what they hear as there own opinion, basing it all on the fallacy of limited alternatives the media makes its bread and butter with.

...without blanching or flinching or giggling to be sexy. Likewise, men who can only near homosexuality via tittering should stick to the porn magazines that they used when they were 14, for they're still 14.

"Too often the gay community feels the need to 'gay-ify' everything before being willing to be involved or try it."

...and...

"In my experience, the majority of gay men I've met are more interested in shopping, food, and entertainment, than in competing in a sport or physical challenge."

I consider the second assertion and then wonder why this person feels empowered to make the first assertion about "the gay community." How wee-wee-wee is your sampling, Anonymous?