Compete April 2016

RUCK ON! RUGBY GOES TO MUSIC CITY

MICHIEL THOMAS TALKS GAME FACE

AVOID THE BURN GO-KARTING AS A SPORT EATING VEGAN APRIL 2016 • VOL. 10 NO. 4 $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM

APRIL 2016 Volume 10, Issue 4

PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Style Editor Bobby Ciletti • bobby@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@competenetwork.com Field Ambassador Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jay D’Angelo, Joseph Gaxiola, Jeff Hocker, Jon Johanson, Jeff Kagan, Miriam Latto, Charles Naurath, Dr. Rob Elliott Owens and Brian Patrick Photo Editor Jacquelyn Phillips • jacquelyn@competenetwork.com Photographers Thomas Fleisher, Leland Gebhardt Sales & Partnerships Chris Cheuvront • chris@competenetwork.com KC Jones • kc@competenetwork.com Jonathan Bierner • jonathan@competenetwork.com Administration Camille Fitzgerald • camille@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2016 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Corporate Office 4703 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 • 480-222-4223 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

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COMPETE MAGAZINE

EDINBURGH THEBANS IN FRIENDLY MATCH VS. AMSTERDAM LOWLANDERS, IN AMSTERDAM MAY 2014 PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN SCOTT

16 THE EVOLUTION OF RUGBY KICK–OFF

11 COMMUNITY HERO Andy Esparza

12 LEFT FIELD

Speed Read, Grandstanding,Thumbs UP/DOWN

DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP

Paul Zitting

27 SPORT EXTRA

Michiel Thomas - The Face Behind Game Face Documentary

30 ATHLETE

Go-Kart Racer Derek Archer

SPORTS 34 36

Nashville Grizzlies “Bearing” it for Suicide Prevention NGBA’s Coady Roundball Classic Moves to Vegas

OVERTIME 38 STYLE

Safety in the Sun with Sunscreen

40 NUTRITION

Vegan Diet for Athletic Performance

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 BEDROOM SPORTS

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out Compete stories, videos and more online at: competenetwork.com

COVER ATHLETE Tom Mitchell, England National Rugby Sevens (Union) Team Captain COVER PHOTO Courtesy of USA Sevens

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FROM THE SKYBOX

BY ERIC CARLYLE, PUBLISHER/CEO

TAKING US BACK TO OUR RUGBY ROOTS

I

@CompeteEric

love rugby! In fact, rugby is one of my favorite sports. Compete was conceived on the rugby pitches of the 2006 Bingham Cup when I and my Compete co-founder David Riach participated in that event. The inspiration to create a new print magazine for gay sports was so strong that our preview issue debuted in February 2007, just nine months after the 2006 Bingham Cup. Rugby is often recognized as the fastest growing sport in the U.S. along with sports such as Lacrosse. As a team sport, rugby has two components—being the best individual athlete you can be all the while coming together with your teammates to form a strong team unit.

That’s what we have done here at Compete—combining strong individuals to assemble an amazing team dedicated to bringing you this wonderful publication.

This month I’d like to introduce to you two new faces found inside this issue. Bobby Ciletti joins the Compete team as our style editor and Sarah Woodward joins us as a nutrition contributor. Both Bobby and Sarah are recognized as experts in their respective fields and are sure to bring you a ton of useful information. You can also check out their videos by visiting CompeteNetwork.com and clicking on the youtube icon.

So as this issue takes us back to our roots in rugby, it also moves the world of sports diversity forward as we continue to introduce you to more interesting and exciting things in the world of sports (did I mention you get to meet go-karter Derek Archer in this issue?).

I’d say sit back, relax and enjoy this month’s show.

Sport On,

Eric Carlyle Publisher/CEO eric@competenetwork.com

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FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WHAT A SPECIAL ISSUE THIS HAS BEEN

@CompeteConnie

W

hat fun it has been to put this issue together! It’s been a curious mixture of a walk down memory lane and an exciting current look at how rugby is doing its part to lead the way in sports diversity. You doubtless know from reading Eric’s letter and the main story that it was rugby, particularly the Bingham Cup tournament of 2006 that began Compete Magazine and its early entry into what would become the sports diversity movement we know today.

While I didn’t play rugby, I did attend the Phoenix Storm games back in the day and got to know some of the players. One of them was Andy Esparza, this issue’s Community Hero. First, as an elementary school teacher and later as he worked with kids in crisis through Arizona’s Child Protective Services, Andy was someone I always admired. I knew he had left the Phoenix area but I’d lost track of him. And when I reached out to the San Francisco Fog rugby team for photos, it was Andy who responded to me. It’s a small world, folks.

It has also been exciting to work with the Nashville Grizzlies rugby team as they get ready to host this year’s 2016 Bingham Cup next month. Their dedication to not only their own team but to include all rugby players worldwide is impressive. Perhaps even more impressive is their dedication to the LGBT community as shown in their choice of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network as their Charity of Choice. Rugby really does form a team that evokes the phrase, a "band of brothers" (and sisters).

But there’s more than just rugby in this issue. When was the last time you thought of go-karting?

It’s a fun sport that’s at the start of a new growth cycle and we’ve got gay athlete Derek Archer to share his racing experience with you. We’re also pleased to have a story on Michiel Thomas, the Belguimborn director and executive producer of the Game Face documentary. He talks about his journey as a closeted gay athlete and his decision not only to come out but to also use his talents as a filmmaker to showcase currently competing LGBT athletes to provide gay role models for closeted athletes to follow.

I also want to welcome Sarah Woodward as a nutrition contributor to Compete as well as Bobby Ciletti, our new style editor. They both have lots of interesting information to share with you and I’m sure you’ll enjoy their writing. So please help us welcome them to the Compete Team.

In honor of this special rugby issue, I’ll close by paraphrasing Eric’s standard letter/email close of “Sport On” to Scrum On! Keep Smiling,

Connie Wardman, Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com

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COMMUNITY HERO

KICKOFF

Andres Esparza: A True Community Hero ANDRES ESPARZA, BETTER KNOWN AS ANDY, has spent his professional career involved in elementary education, teaching in a homeless shelter and afterschool programs, working in the literacy field, and doing crisis intervention with children in the foster care system in both Arizona and California. To call him a true community hero somehow doesn’t seem praise enough for all he’s done and continues to do to help those who are our most vulnerable citizens.

Yet Andy is just Andy—happy and comfortable in his own skin. If you pick some words to describe him and his outlook on life, “happy” and “joy” make the top of the list.

Even though he likes to be challenged to live beyond his comfort zone, unlike many people today, he’s happy as an openly gay man and happy with what he’s doing with his life. Perhaps he’s happiest about his move to San Francisco in 2014. Now playing rugby with the San Francisco Fog, he confirms that the city lives up to its open minded reputation and says he feels happier living in such an open, accepting and fun culture.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Andy played some soccer and did some hiking growing up but he was never obsessed with sports. Attending Arizona State University, he was graduated with a degree in education and a minor in history. Along the way he had some friends who started playing rugby with the recently-formed Phoenix Storm.

After a little persuading, he decided to give it a try and wound up playing scrummy or wing.

At 5-foot-6, weighing between 150-160 pounds, Andy’s certainly not small. But many people wonder if someone who isn’t a potential Hulk Hogan can play and survive a sport that’s filled with the scary bruisers described in the rugby article. But that’s the joy of rugby – it takes all sizes and shapes to play together well as a team, playing as a group of brothers. Now playing tackle for the Fog, Andy loves being pushed beyond his comfort zone and calls the rugby attitude of getting back up every time you’re knocked down a good metaphor for life.

An important saying in rugby is “with you,” something that Andy defines as all your teammates having your back while you’re on the pitch as well as off-field, the feeling of belonging to an extended and supportive family.

That’s especially meaningful to him because he was the recipient of that brotherhood in action. After a car accident

Photo courtesy of Andrew Exparza last year left him unable to walk, it was his Fog brothers who took care of him round-the-clock until he was able to do for himself.

Although he’s taken a couple of breaks from playing over the last nine years, Andy really credits rugby for changing the trajectory of his life. More than just the fun of playing the sport, he loves the instant connection you have through rugby to a wonderful worldwide network of gay and straight friends. He also credits it for helping him develop his leadership skills and confidence over the years, benefitting him professionally and socially as well as in terms of his community involvement.

Andy is a nurturer, someone who can really manage to walk in another person’s shoes. In terms of his career in childhood crisis intervention, the job of helping to make things better for those in distress comes naturally to him, especially for children who need a calming and embracing energy. And the fact that he is bilingual is a plus since for many of those children he helps, English is a second language.

Working with fourth and fifth graders, most of Andy’s students are nine and ten years old although his oldest student is 13. He currently works under a therapist or psychologist as a behavior interventionist and eventually he’d like to continue his education to earn a master’s degree in children and family therapy. But for now, he’s actively dating and having fun exploring his many interests in the city he loves.

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

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KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ BNP PARIBAS OPEN TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR RESIGNS OVER OUTRAGEOUS SEXIST COMMENTS

Raymond Moore resigned from his position as CEO and tournament director for BNP Paribas Open after saying that the top tier of women tennis players rode “on the coattails of the men” and were “very, very lucky” to have equal prize money. He also said that “If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport.” He and his remarks were widely condemned by Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova and the ATP men’s tour formally denounced him.

SXSW APOLOGIZES FOLLOWING GAFFE ASKING U.S. OLYMPIC FENCER TO REMOVE HIJAB Ibtihaj Muhammad, the U.S. Olympic fencer actually had two bad experiences at the recent South by Southwest festival (SXSW); first when someone asked her to remove her hijab for a security photo, not realizing that she wears it for religious purposes, and second when she was given a credential with an incorrect name – that of Tamir Muhammad who supposedly works for Time Warner, Inc. SXSW apologized for the gaffes that gave the organization a black eye … or two.

FIFA ACKNOWLEDGES WORLD CUP HOSTING BRIBES: ASKS U.S. FOR CASH FIFA has acknowledged that past World Cups for soccer were awarded based on bribes and now has asked U.S. prosecutors to give the organization back “tens of millions of dollars” seized from the former FIFA officials who took the cash.

FORMER NFL HELMET MAKER FACING LAWSUIT TROUBLE Riddell, the former NFL helmet maker is facing serious allegations about knowing the concussion risks for athletes wearing their helmets but failing to inform players of the dangers. While the NFL has settled its concussion suit, the suit against Riddell is still up in the air. And according to the players’ lead attorney Jason Luckasevic, there are a number of new documents that have surfaced since the NFL suit was settled in 2013, causing him to say “We are going to put an end to that helmet maker.”

PATRIOTS PLAYER LEAVES TEAM TO TRAIN FOR U.S. OLYMPIC RUGBY TEAM Nate Ebner, a safety for the New England Patriots is taking a leave of absence to train for the U.S. Olympic rugby team for the Rio Olympics. Thanking both the Patriots and USA Rugby for giving him the opportunity to chase his boyhood dream, Ebner says, “I can’t put into words how much this opportunity means to not only me, but my friends and family as well.”

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| COMPETE | April 2016

Already resigned with the Patriots, Ebner is expected to rejoin his NFL team after the Olympic rugby competition that runs from August 6-11.

LEADING PLAINTIFF IN NFL CONCUSSION LAWSUIT DIES OF ALS Kevin Turner, a leading plaintiff in the concussion lawsuit brought against the NFL by former players, died March 24 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS (aka, Lou Gehrig’s disease) at age 46. The former fullback played eight seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles before being diagnosed with ALS in 2010. He is survived by his wife, Allison and their three children, ages 18, 15 and 12 as well as his parents.

Turner believed his condition was a direct result of his time in the NFL. In a late 2014 interview with Rick Maese of the Washington Post, Turner said he didn’t know exactly how many concussions he had received but he was definitely aware of research that suggests that former NFL players are fourto-eight times more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general population. He also told Maese that upon his death he wanted researchers to study his brain and spinal cord to see if they can better understand the link between concussions and ALS.

REFUGEE ATHLETES TRAIN FOR OLYMPIC TEAM With the large number of refugees escaping war and violence in the Middle East and Africa, there is a group of 43 displaced men and women ranging in age from 17-30 who are being considered for selection into a new team called “Refugee Olympic Athletes.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is creating a small refugee team to compete in Rio under the Olympic flag instead of competing for their former homelands. Final team selection will be announced by the IOC in June at its next executive board meeting.

The team will march together into the Maracana Stadium for the opening ceremony behind the white flag bearing the five Olympic rings, just ahead of the Brazilian team that as the host nation, marches last. The team will live in the Olympic Village with other teams and the IOC will supply them with team uniforms, coaches and technical officials. And if one of the refugee athletes wins a gold medal, the Olympic anthem will be played.

BILLY BEAN REPRESENTS MLB AT NYU’S CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SPORTS Billy Bean, along with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred represented their sport as they joined NBA commissioner Adam Silver, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, MLS commissioner Don Garber and NASCAR CEO Brian France at an NYU conference as part of a conversation about Social Responsibility of Sports.

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE

JUST WEIGHT (February 2016) The February issue was a very interesting read. I rather enjoyed the weight lifting cover and bodybuilding photos. I didn’t even know there was an LGBT presence in that world but am glad to see it.

Lloyd Franklin San Diego, Calif. (via email)

COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Style of Swimwear?

Board Shorts 26%

Trunks 43%

STAR TRACK, STAR TREK (March 2016) As a college level track and field athlete it was great to see your recent issue that featured a runner on the Compete cover. The Star Trek tie in to the story added a great air of comedy (and I hope sincerely) to the writer’s story. Oh, I am not just a track and field athlete; I am also a Trekkie.

Swim Briefs 31%

Carl Holt Westfield, Ind. (via email)

TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.

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SPORTS KICKOFF

QUIZ

JEFF MILLER, NFL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY … for acknowledging there is a link between football and the degenerative brain disease, CTE. This happened during a Capitol Hill round-table discussion on concussions.

DERRICK GORDON … for being the first openly gay Division I college basketball player in March Madness history. Gordon came out in 2014 and last year transferred to Seton Hill where he joined the men’s basketball team as a guard.

IAN THORPE, OUT AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING LEGEND … for agreeing to mentor Australia’s Olympic swimming hopefuls as they prepare for next month’s Olympic trials in Adelaide, saying “It’s not that I owe a duty, I want to do this.”

?

A. Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne and her then husband, Mark Phillips. Peter is also the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Which member of the royal family played in a rugby international?

Source: Paulsquiz.com

TYLER DUNNINGTON, GAY FORMER PRO BASEBALL PITCHER … for finally speaking out against the homophobia he experienced in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league team in the 2014 season as a closeted player – he quit when teammates said they wanted to kill gay people. This is being taken seriously by MLB.

NICK BRANDT-SORENSON, LOS ANGELES-BASED FORMER PRO CYCLIST … for selling misbranded performanceenhancing drugs illegally imported from overseas to a Colorado athlete. Brandt-Sorenson had previously been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation but is now retired from competition.

Pictured above, Henry Beam, Beam Law, PLC

RUGBY EVOLUTION

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GIVE BLOOD; PLAY RUGBY!

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

R

ugby –universally acknowledged as one of the most violent sports still being played today AND with no real protective gear. Here’s how one anonymous player has described the game and those who play it:

“Broken necks, backs, collar bones, noses, fingers, and toes are entirely too common in this game. Rucks and mauls have some serious potential to injure even the most physically strong and fit. Pro ruggers are freaks of nature, as they are all the size of defensive linemen, defensive ends, linebackers, fullbacks, and tight ends on an American football field, yet they move like the wide-receivers, CB's, safeties and tailbacks and run full-sprint for 80 straight minutes like soccer players. They are some scary individuals.”

But can one of the most violent sports also be one of the most gayfriendly? The answer is a definite yes. Ruggers, after all, are a rugged lot who think bleeding is a badge of honor, the sign of a good game to be celebrated post-game with lots of drinking to accompany the drinking songs. They admire and support those who can play the game, recognizing that sexual orientation or gender preference or identity has nothing to do with your ability to bleed for your team. It gives closeted gay athletes the ability to reconcile their two worlds they once believed to be irreconcilable – they can be athletes … who, by the way, just happen to be gay.

We are just a month away from the 2016 Bingham Cup, the flagship event for International Gay Rugby (IGR), the organization representing primarily gay and inclusive rugby clubs worldwide. This year’s celebration being held in Nashville May 22-29 is being hosted by the Nashville Grizzlies RFC (rugby football club). And for those of our readers who may not know the story, rugby was the genesis of Compete Magazine and our early entry into the sports diversity movement. So this seems an appropriate time to look at how rugby has evolved.

As the realization began to grow through the 1990s that being an athlete and being gay aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, some gay ruggers began to explore the possibility of forming an “official” gay rugby club. According to Neil Pyper, creator of the Gay Rugby Clubs (GRC) website that is now digitally linked to the IGR, the world’s first inclusive rugby club came about in 1995 when a group of six gay men met at the Central Station pub in the King’s Cross area of north London to form and officially register the King’s Cross Steelers as a club for gay and bisexual men.

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In 1998 there were four gay rugby clubs; the Washington Renegades in the Washington, DC area, the Manchester Village Spartans in the UK and two in New Zealand where the world’s first gay rugby match took place between the Wellington Krazy Knights and the Ponsonby Heroes.

By 2000, the first gay rugby tournament took place in London, this time between the King’s Cross Steelers, Manchester Village Spartans and the Washington Renegades.

This year also marked the founding of the San Francisco Fog, the team that within a year would be forever identified with rugger Mark Bingham, widely accepted as one of the passengers on Flight 93 who stormed the cockpit, causing the plane to crash in an empty Pennsylvania field and killing all 44 aboard during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The following year the Fog hosted what is now the international rugby union world cup that is held every two years, known as the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament or for short, the Bingham Cup. At this point there were eight gay rugby clubs throughout the world. Two years later, however, the 2004 Bingham Cup was held in London with 20 teams from four countries participating.

2004 also marked the year the Phoenix Storm RFC was founded, and counted among its members were Eric Carlyle and David Riach. The two had often discussed the lack of media coverage for their local games, despite the fact that the team played in some pretty impressive tournaments. Their competition, however, was with other gay teams. That led to the realization that print coverage of gay sports was a niche that wasn’t being well served, even by

gay-oriented media. Thus began the dream of a full color, print magazine for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender athletes and sports enthusiasts.

What took it from dream to reality was the 2006 Bingham Cup held in New York City and hosted by the Gotham Knights. With 29 teams from 22 clubs representing six countries, it was at the time the largest tournament for gay rugby players in the world. With over 800 registered participants, the size dictated dividing the tournament into three divisions: the Bingham Cup for the strongest teams, the Bingham Bowl and then the Bingham Plate. The 2006 tournament also included two teams in the first-ever women's division play.

Yet the lack of media coverage for this international event was glaring. Even the most avid sports fans who knew about the tournament didn’t appear to know that it not only was named in honor of Mark Bingham, they also didn’t seem to know who he was and why he was so important to gay sports in general and gay rugby in particular.

A few mainstream publications covered the event but their reporting was very limited, different from what they provided for mainstream sporting events. Even though Outsports was there providing great online coverage, there was a very real absence of gay print coverage – there was no gay print magazine. And so the original version of Compete Magazine was born. Rolling off the presses in early 2007 with its preview issue featuring a picture of Storm members (which included a straight player), it carried the original tag line – We Are Gay Sports.

FROM THE COMPETE ARCHIVES:

Preview Issue, Phoenix Storm - 2007

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Ian Roberts - January/February 2010

Ben Cohen - June 2010

Teams USA vs. Wales at USA Sevens Rugby Tournament in Las Vegas, August 2016 Photo courtesy of USA Sevens Rugby

Rugby sevens, a variant of rugby, continues to grow in popularity. Also known as seven-a-side, Sevens, or VIIS, rugby sevens teams are made up of teams of seven players instead of the usual 15 with shorter matches. World Rugby (WR) oversees rugby sevens and is also responsible for rugby union worldwide.

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A lot has changed in gay sports since those early days and Compete has shifted its tag line to Sports Diversity to reflect the public’s growing awareness that first, there really are gay athletes and second, that they deserve the same opportunity to play their sports of choice as any other athlete with the ability to play. And in 2013 we changed the name of our oldest award, the Athlete of the Year, to the Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year award to honor Mark and his work to grow gay sports.

Led mainly by recreational athletes at the local levels by both gay and straight athletes, diversity and inclusion are now becoming the norm rather than the unexpected. It’s still not perfect nor will it ever be – people aren’t perfect.

But as more and more gay athletes feel comfortable coming out, it will cease to be such ground-breaking news.

As for rugby, in March of 2015 USA Rugby, the national governing body for rugby union play in the U.S., signed a memorandum of understanding with IGR to eliminate homophobia and improve the acceptance of gay players in the sport through providing educational tools. This

The San Francisco Fog in a huddle.

Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Fog

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initiative is intended to go beyond the players to include coaches, officials and spectators as it fosters an inclusive environment free from bullying, discrimination and exclusion while still honoring and celebrating the differences of all the people involved.

As the Bingham Cup returns to the U.S. for the first time since 2010, this year’s host team, the Nashville Grizzlies is yet another a wonderful example of sports diversity alive and well, working to better the community that supports it.

While team members prepare to welcome approximately 1,500 players from 45 teams around the world, the team has chosen the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) as its Charity of Choice for this year’s Bingham Cup, a powerful selection since LGBT community members are more susceptible to suicide. (For more information, see the story on the Nashville Grizzlies in this issue.)

So if you’re one of those “scary individuals” looking for camaraderie and inclined to take up an inclusive sport with a true macho attitude, one that challenges every fiber of your body, go ahead – give blood; play rugby. You’ll love it!

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RUGBY UNION AND RUGBY LEAGUE One of the most confusing things to new rugby enthusiasts are the differences between rugby union and rugby league.

While there are many similarities between the two types of rugby, there are enough differences that they can be considered as two different games.

RUGBY LEAGUE

League play has the following: • 13 active players and 10 substitutions allowed during the game • Scoring (a try) is made by advancing the ball down the length of the pitch while the opposing team tries to prevent it by tackling • When tackled, a player must drop the ball and roll it behind him with his foot so someone else can pick it up • There’s a finite tackle limit that when reached, the ball must be handed over to the opposing team after the sixth tackle • A try is worth 4 points, a goal is worth 2 points and a field goal/drop goal is worth 1 point

RUGBY UNION

Union play has the following: • 15 active players and seven substitutions allowed by each side during the game • Scoring (a try) is made by touching the ball down past the opposing team’s try line; points can also be scored by kicking the ball through the correct section of the goal posts • When tackled, the ball can be picked up by any player from any team as long as they’re on their feet and have come from an onside position • There is no limit on the number of tackles; if the ball is out of play, a line-out will be awarded to restart the game and scrums normally consist of eight players • A try is worth 5 points, a penalty kick or a drop goal is worth 3 points and a conversion kick is worth 2 points.

Mohamad Hannaway of Sydney Convicts at 2014 Bingham Cup Photo Courtesy of the Nashville Grizzlies

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OUT PROFESSIONAL RUGGERS

As is so often the case in sports, it is the recreational side of the sport leading the way to inclusion – the local gay players willing to come out and the local ally players openly choosing to play and party alongside them. So the question as we’re approaching the 2016 Bingham Cup is how well has professional rugby done in accepting the gay pro players in its midst?

Since only four professional rugby players and one pro referee have come out, the answer is limited. But aside from Ian Roberts, the Australian rugby league player who came out in 1995, the others who have come out seem to have suffered very little pushback from their fellow players nor have they faced total rejection from their fans. Here’s a brief look at how these out rugby professionals, both retired and current players experienced the process.

Ian Roberts – came out in 1995 Arguably the best Australian rugby player ever, at age 30 Roberts was the first high profile Aussie rugby league player to come out as gay and wound up braving lots of vile abuse and taunts from his fans. Saying he received thousands of letters of support that included some from parents and teachers grateful for giving them a gay role model for their children, he also said that he got lots of hate mail and worried for his family’s safety. But he also shared that his teammates knew he was gay and never gave him any real trouble about it.

By the end of his pro rugby career in 1998, Roberts eventually went into acting and has now starred in a number of film and television roles over the years and was profiled in Compete Magazine back in 2010. Today Roberts is happy with his life with his long-term partner Dan, a kindergarten teacher.

in the U.K. and received the Stonewall’s Hero of the Year award. Thomas' public confirmation of his sexuality made him the first openly gay professional rugby union player.

"I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player,” Thomas told the Daily Mail in 2009. “I am a rugby player; first and foremost I am a man." Suicidal when his wife left him after his coming out, his teammates proved to be supportive and empathetic, making him realize that even when he felt alone, he was always part of a team. In addition to serving as an analyst for coverage of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup, he has also appeared in several British television shows, like Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.

2009

Keegan Hirst – came out in August 2015 Hirst, the first British rugby league player for Batley Bulldogs came out this past August and has been hailed as a role model by the press. He says he’s had thousands of messages of support from fans and fellow players on Twitter that have left him “overwhelmed” and “humbled.”

He’s since rubbed elbows with Sir Ian McKellen and Elton John as well as being honored at Manchester Pride wearing a Stonewall “It Gets Better” t-shirt.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he revealed that his wife had been blaming herself for their split and he felt he needed to tell her the real reason he could no longer be her husband.

Hirst said, “She blamed herself when we separated but I knew she’d done nothing wrong. I couldn’t bear it any more, the guilt of it all, of her not knowing why I left. It was eating me up. Initially angry with him, Hirst’s former wife is now proud of him.

1995 2015

Nigel Owens – came out in 2007 Owens, an international and European Rugby Champions Cup referee, came out at age 36. He was the only Welsh referee at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and was honored as the Gay Sports Personality of the Year in London at the Stonewall awards ceremony that same year.

Prior to coming out he had considered both suicide and chemical castration.

In a 2007 interview he said, "It's such a big taboo to be gay in my line of work, I had to think very hard about it because I didn't want to jeopardise [sic] my career.

Coming out was very difficult and I tried to live with who I really was for years. I knew I was 'different' from my late teens, but I was just living a lie." He is considered one of the best referees around and has become the most capped referee in European competition. He also is known as a TV personality and hosts his own quiz program.

Sam Stanley – came out in August 2015 Stanley, the first pro English rugby union player to come out, made his announcement just two weeks after Hirst. He currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders in England’s second tier. In a September 2015 interview with Gay Star News, Stanley shared that prior to meeting his boyfriend Laurence Hicks, he had also considered suicide, saying “… it was as if I was thinking that I could get rid of the pain in one go. … You are so worried about what people will think and I thought I couldn’t be a macho rugby player the way I was, and there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life.”

He has now opened up about the reaction he has received from fellow rugby professionals – praising the sport’s “open-minded” and “encouraging” approach to LGBT players, saying in a QX interview that “What I found especially is that rugby players are a lot more open minded than I thought.” Before making his coming out announcement, Stanley also got some advice from rugby ally and 2003 World Cup winner Ben Cohen, whose first U.S. tour was sponsored by Compete Magazine. Stanley said “Ben is a great person to talk to. He gave me loads of great advice.”

2007 2015

Gareth Thomas – came out in 2009 Former Wales captain and British Lions star playing both rugby union and rugby league, Thomas came out in 2009 and in 2010 was voted the most influential gay person

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INTERESTS: Playing sports, working out, hiking, camping, wakeboarding, snowboarding, cliff jumping, travel, reading, art, and music.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Football—Drew Brees (in my eyes can do no wrong – haha).

Soccer—I will always bend it like Beckham. Baseball— Chipper Jones.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Partnered

SPORT: Football, softball, volleyball

CURRENT RESIDENCE: San Diego, Calif.

HOMETOWN: Born in Salt Lake City; grew up in Phoenix

AGE: 27

REPLAY JUNE 2013

JOSHUA PAUL ZITTING

TEAM COMPETE MVP

If you’d like to be included in our MVP section, e-mail MVP@competenetwork.com

WHY HE LOVES SPORTS: Because of the cohesiveness and team- work. Being able to get rallied up as a team and work together for a common goal. You get to see people develop and get better right in front of you. You lose together, you win together, and you drink together. My teammates have become my friends and family.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Gift and a curse – .Big Legs

DISLIKES: Pitted olives, closeminded/negative people and when the empty cereal box gets put back in the cupboard.

LIKES: A night where I cook, have a glass of wine and cuddle up with the hubby to a movie or The Amazing Race, I’m pretty much in heaven. I’m addicted to movies, theater, music and my true passion is painting.

Photos by Scott Donald, FabFierceFoto.com

SPORTS EXTRA

MICHIEL THOMAS: THE FACE BEHIND GAME FACE

BY BRIAN PATRICK IF YOU’VE NOT BEEN NEAR A FILM FESTIVAL showing of the award-winning Game Face documentary, the good news is that it’s now on Video on Demand on Netflix; at the Online Store on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Instant Video; and will also be available soon in DVD format via Passion River.

Beginning a year ago this month, the documentary made its world premiere at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and has been touring over 45 film festivals and screenings worldwide ever since, winning 12 awards in the process. The film documents the stories of Fallon Fox, the first MTF transgender professional fighter, and Terrence Clemens, a talented gay college basketball player with a criminal history for credit card fraud looking for a second chance. Both athletes realize that for their own peace of mind and sense of personal integrity they need to come out.

But there is no path for gay athletes to follow, no out gay athletes as role models, no guarantee that their personal revelations about being LGBTQ will be will positively received. Also included in the narrative are Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, and Kye Allums, the first openly trans NCAA Division 1 athlete, who act as mentors, offering sage advice to Fallon and Terrence on their coming out journeys.

The untold story, however, is the face behind Game Face, that of Michiel (pronounced Michael) Thomas, the film’s director and executive producer who is himself an out athlete. Growing up in an athletic family outside of Brussels, Belgium, his dad was a marathon runner and his brothers played soccer. But playing in a local sports club, Michiel fell in love with basketball at age 12 and with hard work and motivation to better himself, he moved up through the sport. He wound up being chosen to play with Bree, a Belgian first division team at age 16. He spent the next three years playing professional basketball at his country’s highest level.

After years of denying his sexual orientation, the need to be true to himself began to push Michiel to come out even though he had no openly gay athlete to emulate.

Once it also dawned on him that at just 6 foot-1 he would never be tall enough to have the pro basketball career he wanted, he first spent a year in Costa Rica as part of an American Field Service (AFS) intercultural program

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OF GAME FACE

Pictured: Michiel ThomasPes where he earned certificates in Spanish and photography, and the next year went to the University College in Brussels where he was graduated with a B.A in audiovisual techniques, including TV, film and video.

Always fascinated by the U.S., especially Hollywood, in 2008 Michiel made his way to Los Angeles to work in the broadcasting industry and found himself at home there.

He has continued his love of basketball, playing with the gay L.A.-based Lambda Basketball league and as part of a traveling team playing in the National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) tournaments. It’s what offers him his fun in life.

Having met both Fallon and Terrence before they came out publically, he realized that his need for a gay sports role model to help him during his coming out dilemma

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 27

SPORTS EXTRA

was a universal one. It showed him that with his background, he could fill an important need. Here is how Michiel explains his desire to make the Game Face documentary: "I realized many are still misinformed about LGBTQ players in sports. And that's why I want to make this documentary: to inspire closeted athletes, but also to educate society on these very important issues and topics. … I wanted to bring stories of active LGBTQ athletes coming out during their career, to create a better understanding on the hurdles they have to overcome in finding their true selves and acceptance in society."

The absolute challenge in this project, he says, was always money. But he has lots of very supportive friends who believed in him from the beginning and helped him to believe in himself. Using his savings, he began the documentary by working a grueling sevenday-a-week schedule and eventually some sponsors came aboard the project. Filming required two years to provide an unvarnished, real life look at what these athletes had to go through and then a summer was spent editing it, getting the film ready for its 2015 debut in Miami. And while it took lots of blood, sweat and tears, he says he enjoyed every second of the process.

Michiel’s desire to educate the public continues to bear fruit as many colleges and universities continue to request a screening of the film along with its cast members as part of a discussion on the changing face of homophobia in sports. It has opened the doors for Fallon Fox, Terrence Clemens, Jason Collins and Kye Allums to become the positive role models they all wish they had had when they were anguishing over coming out publically. And Michiel’s own family has been extremely supportive and understanding of his life’s work.

When asked what he’d like to share with his 12-yearold self today, he said he wouldn’t share too much of what he knows now because everyone has his or her own journey, needing to experience both the good and bad in life because there’s lots of beauty in the struggle. What he would tell his younger self is this: “Treasure that basketball because it will give you everything in your life – that universal game is what will enable you to find your life’s work and meet all your friends,” something he’s most grateful for as an adult.

With the realization that he can help start and elevate important conversations through his gifts as a storyteller, Michiel wants to do more documentaries. But for right now, he’s enjoying having a little free time. After ending a four-and-a-half-year relationship on a friendly basis, he says he is now “single and ready to mingle.” But don’t be surprised if you hear that there’s a new documentary underway, one that perhaps helps define and support the importance of LGBTQ athletes being able to be out and proud – not as gay people playing sports but rather as athletes who happen to be gay.

L-R: Jason Collins, Kye Allums, Fallon Fox, Terrence Clemens and Michiel Thomas

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ATHLETE

GO-KART RACER DEREK ARCHER

BY HARRY ANDREW TO MANY PEOPLE, GO-KARTING BRINGS back memories of the 1950s when a number of American motor sports legends started their racing careers as kids in go-karts. By providing all the fun of racing in a less expensive alternative to race cars, the sport is now seeing a resurgence. So what’s a nice, clean cut 25-year-old openly gay man who is used to racing in Camaros and custom built cars doing racing go-karts? He’s having fun!

Meet Derek Archer. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, he came from a family hard-bitten by the car racing bug. So it’s no surprise that he grew up at one track or another in the state, from Phoenix, to Casa Grande, Tucson, Stafford and back again. But as time went on and family members decided to retire from racing, Archer was left to go it alone.

In 2008 he started dirt racing with an owner who had six cars. Unfortunately, in 2010 the team owner had a heart attack and died, leaving Archer one of the cars in his will. Discovering that it cost him $16,000 just to run the car, Archer took a break from racing in 2011 and decided to go to school to be a firefighter.

But just as he was finishing, the job market for firefighters tanked.

Remember, however, Archer is a competitor, not a quitter. So he got a job working in the banking industry and began an on-line degree program in business management at Southern New Hampshire University. At this point he has almost completed his requirements for a B.S. degree in business management.

And perhaps the best thing is that Archer has started racing again. But this time he’s racing gokarts on a dirt circle track kart division in Phoenix through the AZ Karting Association that was formed back in 1987 as a non-profit to maintain and promote the family sport of kart racing.

While he says that a go-kart handles differently than a car, Archer couldn’t be happier with the resumption of his racing life, saying that he’ll always have the racing bug. Riding about an inch off the ground with little to no padding, he says you also definitely know you’re on a dirt track.

Continued on page 32

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PHOTOS BY DANNY CATT

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ATHLETE

He’s managed to purchase his own kart for about $2,500. And while drivers wear jeans and closed-toed shoes without lots of other protective gear, he still has his three-layer fireproof suit and shoes that he wears. Karts use VP racing fuel which is high octane but with a two-stroke engine, it uses a mixture of fuel and castor oil. And you get about four races on an engine before you need to give it a “touchup.” While that isn’t cheap, it’s a lot cheaper than replacing an engine you haven’t kept in top working condition.

So while this form of racing is less expensive than racing cars, for right now Archer wants to keep it as his hobby.

Although he does see himself moving up in the sport over time, even moving to asphalt racing which is akin to a NASCAR race but on a smaller, less expensive level.

Archer started racing as a closeted man but decided to come out in 2011. He says that racing is a very conservative sport and that he lost some crew members initially. But over the last five years it has gotten more open and accepting. Even though he’s part of such a small community, he says everyone is very supportive of him now.

The track operates most of the year with a summer break during July and August. Spectators are admitted free of charge for all races and a pit pass for admission to the race pits is $10 for those aged nine and over and free for those under eight.

It’s a great way to have some racing fun up close and personal. And when you see Derek Archer, cheer extra loud for him as he Competes!

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| COMPETE | April 2016

SPORTS

THE NASHVILLE GRIZZLIES “BEARING” IT FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

BY HARRY ANDREW AS THE MAY 26-29 DATES FOR RUGBY’S 2016 Bingham Cup move ever closer, members of the Nashville Grizzlies RFC (rugby football club), are gearing up to host the world’s largest biennial gay rugby tournament in the world. As it stands right now, there are over 1,000 rugby players, coaches and supporters expected to arrive in Nashville from across the globe.

And in the sport’s spirit of inclusion, gay rugby and the Bingham Cup are dedicated to welcoming all players, regardless of their sexual orientation, in honor of openly gay former UC Berkeley rugby star Mark Bingham who died aboard Flight 93 during the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

One of the hallmarks of gay sporting events is the generosity the host organization shows to the area where an event is being held. With an almost 10-year history of playing gay rugby, the Grizzlies also have a similar history of service projects to help its “Music City” home of Nashville and the surrounding areas. With their motto of “Tecum Fratre” (With You Brother), team members try to live by these words every time they lace up their boots.

An international event like the Bingham Cup is certainly no exception to this tradition of generosity. Part of the host duties is to choose a Charity of Choice; in this case it is the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) since the gay community is disproportionately affected by suicide.

The TSPN is a public-private partnership of counselors, mental health professionals and community advocates, all of whom are dedicated to the goal of reducing suicide rates within the state of Tennessee. The organization will be offering suicide prevention training throughout the week of the tournament for all players and supporters.

While precise numbers vary, studies suggest that LGBTQ males are 55 percent more prone to suicidal ideation than their heterosexual counterparts. And a 2001

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASHVILLE GRIZZLIES

Pictured: Bryson Shafer and Kazu Hishida study not only showed that roughly half of LGBTQ youth’s suicidal thoughts are linked to their sexual orientation but also that their suicide attempts more often result in death or serious harm.

One of the important things that gay and inclusive sporting events like the Bingham Cup do is to help break down the stigma attached to being a gay athlete – it enables people to realize that being gay doesn’t mean you can’t also be a great athlete. That takeaway for viewers can help to reduce or even eliminate harassment and bullying that goes on in team sports and PE classes via the trickledown effect.

To support the team’s good works, one of their popular fund raisers is their annual calendar. And the bears aren’t afraid to show a little “hide” when their calendar sales go to such worthwhile causes as suicide prevention, Habitat for Humanity, delivering Christmas meals for Nashville CARES, or for one of their favorite annual projects, a fun run that builds awareness of neurofibromatosis and raises money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

So if you’re attending the 2016 Bingham Cup tournament in Nashville next month, take part in the suicide prevention training offered by TSPN and then share what you’ve learned when you return home. It’s the brotherhood and sisterhood of rugby, the camaraderie that’s the outcome of playing a team sport that is at the heart of all gay sports – just one of the many reasons we love it.

SPORTS

LAS VEGAS HOSTS COADY ROUNDBALL CLASSIC XXVI

BY MIRIAM LATTO FOR THE VERY FIRST YEAR, THE 26-YEAR OLD Coady Roundball Classic (CRC) is being held in Las Vegas instead of its original home in Chicago. And the events aren’t limited to just the CRC on April 23. From the 21st to the 23rd, a variety of events are available on a menu basis, like the NGBA Skills Challenge and the 30+ 3on3 Hoop it Up, both on the 22nd. All of this, of course is being held by the National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) which will also conduct its annual membership meeting at the Vegas gathering.

And then, taking advantage of the Las Vegas attractions, attendees can choose to take a helicopter night flight over the Vegas strip on the 21st or, on the 22nd do a RideAlong at the Richard Petty Speedway or hang on for dear life at the Zipline Boot Canyon. All-in-all, it’s a great way to incorporate a fun visit to Vegas with all its amenities with a signature national gay sporting event like the CRC. Although not as large as some of the other national and international gay sports organizations, the NGBA is committed to growing the sport of basketball by promoting and supporting LGBT leagues, league formation and tournaments held in safe and supportive environments. Founded in 2004, the NGBA’s mission was to be able to speak with one voice within the larger LGBT sports community. And by the next year it was incorporated and granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status in order to grow the game of basketball to LGBT players across the U.S. and the world.

But if the NGBA is only over a decade old, you may wonder how is it that the Coady Roundball Classic is celebrating its 26th birthday this year. I had an opportunity to speak with Mark Chambers, founder and president of the NGBA who lives in Long Beach, California. He explained that in the Los Angeles area in 1989 there were no organized basketball leagues, just guys who had formed teams to play against one another. But when the 1990 Gay Games were held in Vancouver, Mark formed the Lambda Basketball League in Los Angeles so they could compete. After running Lambda for 20 years, Mark turned it over to Jason Jaramillo so he could form the NGBA. Also in 1990, Sam Coady from Chicago ran a gay basketball tournament called the Chicago Hoops Classic (sometimes called the Windy City Classic) and the L.A. players and those from other areas went to Chicago to play in what was the only annual large gay basketball tournament. In 2006 the tournament was renamed the Coady Roundball Classic to honor Sam who had run it for its first 13 years (happily, Sam is still alive).

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMBDA BASKETBALL

Now ending its 25-year run in Chicago, this year’s CRC in Las Vegas will be played at the Tarkanian Gymnasium.

From 12 teams, the tournament has grown to between 30-40 teams with play that’s intensely competitive. And of course the wonderful camaraderie that’s part of a tournament like the CRC as well as the parties and events make this a great weekend for gay athletes, officials and fans.

For those who don’t have a local team and those who want to test themselves, there is also the NGBA Skills Challenge that gives players the opportunity to display their skill for all to see. Open to everyone in each division, the number of players will be limited based on gym time to do the following: • Teams made up of 3 players will compete in the Top Gun Shootout • Teams comprised of 3 players will compete in the skills challenge • The 3-point shot contest • Free-Throw shooting • Individual Skills Contest And if you’d like to start a gay basketball team in your area, contact the NGBA.org for help. In addition to organizing the NGBA tournament schedule up to two years in advance, it also helps to form and promote new market basketball leagues and pickup games. It also provides hands-on support to tournament directors and organizers, ensuring that tournament cost participation is low and the best hotel rates are negotiated.

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www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 37

STYLE

SUN SAFETY AND SPF

BY BOBBY CILETTI, travel and lifestyle expert and founder, thedaysofthechic.com.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF WARMER WEATHER come many highlights. Whether it is walking to work, trading your machine-based cardio for an outdoor run, or maybe even cycling, swimming or hiking, the question is – do you add three very important letters with it? SPF for sun protection factor.

Most of us will only think to apply our sun protection when on vacation, at the beach or by the pool for one reason or another. What does that “S” stand for anyway? Slimy, Sticky, Smelly, Sweaty, Shiny?

Some may even think the pitfalls of a bad SPF may outweigh the safety it provides, but with over 3.5 million cases annually, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers according to the American Cancer Society. Investing in a proper sunscreen that fits your needs does not require you to sacrifice your style. Here are some tips for staying safe and stylish in the sun.

To remember some of the key guidelines from skincancer.org, I like to borrow the SPF acronym.

S - SET the time. Follow the instructions of your SPF. Most will last only 40 minutes-to-two hours and if you get wet or sweat, you need to reapply sooner. Remember, no sunscreen is 100 percent waterproof or sweatproof, despite the claims. If you are the type to get distracted, set a timer on your smartphone or watch to remind you.

P - PLAN 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Sunscreen is only as effective as your use of it. You need to give the product time to absorb into the skin. And if you are rushing, you may miss a spot leaving part of your skin exposed and in danger of a painful and embarrassing blotchy sunburn. Not chic.

F - FREQUENTLY check your skin for irregularities and changes. In addition to having a professional skin exam by a physician, the frequent self-check is the first line of defense. So next time you are taking that shirtless selfie in the gym, take a few moments to analyze your skin for changes like texture, color, size, thickness and asymmetry of moles or spots.

BOBBY’S PICKS FOR SPF WITH STYLE Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Stick SPF 30 This all-purpose SPF stick is my latest obsession. It’s a convenient stick formula, designed for the active lifestyle.

The Sport Stick is so convenient – it lets you keep those active hands clean!

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| COMPETE | April 2016

It’s approved for use all over the face, including sensitive areas around the eyes and on the lips (you don't want to forget about those). The sugar formulation is a nourishing humectant known to prevent moisture loss. Available at fresh.com – $25 for 6 g

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 For those fearing the shine factor, this is a powerful oil-free SPF 50 that glides on smoothly for a soft, matte finish while still providing UVA/UVB broad-spectrum protection. Infused with antioxidant-rich alguronic acid, it will help delay the signs of aging. Also comes in SPF 30.

Available at sephora.com – $28 for 30 ml

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 30, 45, 70 & 100+ Now to protect then entire body, I like to enlist Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist. It is available with several SPF levels so finding the right one for you is easy. The light mist feels cooling and will not leave your body feeling sticky, especially if you plan to work up a sweat. The mist is also the best way to ensure total body coverage, especially if you do not have someone to apply sunscreen to your back, one of the more common locations for skin cancer, especially in men. This formula is also available in a dry touch lotion if preferred.

Available at drugstores nationwide from $9.99 for 5 oz

BOBBY SAYS …

Sunglasses are not just a style accessory!

They are a way to shield your face from harmful UV rays. They also prevent wrinkles, like crow’s feet which can prematurely develop from habits like squinting in the sun.

So as the weather warms up, stay active and safe AND in style with these recommendations. If you found any of these tips to be helpful or have your own secrets for sun safety, please share your comments.

NUTRITION

WHAT IS THE BEST FUEL SOURCE FOR HUMANS?

BY SARAH WOODWARD, ovarian cancer survivor, mother, low-budget filmmaker and someone who has discovered the benefits of a vegan diet. www.tonethatfat.com.

ATHLETES ACROSS THE GLOBE TRY TO determine what the best fuel source is by putting their bodies to the test. There is no doubt that fruits and vegetables are a healthful nutrition source, so why the skepticism when a person’s diet consists solely of plant based foods? Do we really need to consume animal products to maintain a fine tuned, healthy body? To answer this question, I’ve asked vegan sports coaches and athletes about their experiences without meat or dairy in their diets.

Dr. Douglas Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet and Nutrition and Athletic Performance, has been a raw foodist since 1978, getting his sustenance mainly from fruits and vegetables. Graham does not eat any animal products nor does he cook his food. As an advisor to world-class athletes across the globe, Graham has witnessed the boundless benefits of having a plant-based diet high in fruits. He comments that “The biggest thing I notice is that mental changes happen because the acuity, the clarity of mind, the quickness of decision making transfers over into coordination.” He also says that “The body just does as much as it can do based on the neuro functions being appropriated.”

St. Maarten locals Cayley Mackay and Nicole Erato are both LGBT and vegan activists. Mackay is a health and fitness coach and Erato a budding triathlete who usually places in the top ten in her division. They adapted Graham’s approach and believe the key to eating a plant-based diet that compliments fitness performance is to lower fat and protein intake each to 10 percent or less of overall calories, leaving the majority of nourishment to come from carbohydrates.

Every cell in the human body is fueled by sugar; if you do not eat sugar, your body will convert other nutrients into sugar for energy. Sugar is the quickest form of energy the body can utilize, but modern society appears to have a sort of sugar- and carbohydrate-phobia. Average people can transform into formidable athletes just by

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changing their dietary habits. Only one year after transitioning to a high fruit and starch-based diet, Erato started competing in races due to her new found energy levels. “I come from a background where I thought it was healthy to eat small portions almost starving myself to be healthy. As soon as I started getting in the right amount of calories and right types of food I just started to feel so energetic. I would wake up every morning and just feel ready to go. You couldn’t tire me out.” Since switching to a sugar-based diet, Erato has lost over 40 pounds and is much more fit and healthy.

These success stories are not limited to a mere few; there are many people around the world attempting to determine whether a vegan diet is beneficial to athletic performance. Usually, results show that individuals start to thrive, rather than just survive. Mike Vlasaty, an average guy from Chicago, became a weightlifter after changing to a high fruit diet. Vlasaty explains, “I definitely feel like I can last longer, particularly on fruit; I just keep going and going. My endurance has definitely gone up.”

Athletes from all walks of life are trying a vegan diet.

Triathlete Travis Jon McGarry, originally from South Africa, grew up hunting and fishing. He started to eat vegan only to prove to his wife that it wouldn’t work. But after a month he found that the benefits of omitting meat and dairy were astounding. McGarry never wanted to eat animal products again. He recounts, “After that month there was no going back.” Endurance runner Michael Arnstein, who is also vegan, is known for running 50-100 mile races with little-to-no need for muscle recovery. Arnstein suggests, “Before you judge fruitarianism or raw foodism, or even just veganism, give it a shot.” Fruit and carbs seem to be the most advantageous source of fuel for the human body.

The performance demonstrated by the above athletes and others like them is definitely a testimony to the benefits of being vegan has for the human body.

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Dr. Squatch soap is handmade, retaining the glycerin in the bar and combining it with coconut and olive oils to nourish your skin. And because it’s cold processed, there is no need to add harsh chemicals or preservatives, some that can cause skin irritation. They even have a Squatch quiz on their website so you can determine the best soap for your personality and skin type. In addition to bar soap you can also purchase cologne, customized gift boxes and shave kits.

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EVENTS

CURRENT EVENTS IN APRIL AQUATICS Hammerhead Spring Fest Fort Lauderdale, Apr. 2

Spring Challenge VI San Diego, Apr. 16

Atlanta Rainbow Trout Spring Splash Atlanta, Apr. 9-10

Gearing Up for Championships Dallas, Apr. 16

BASKETBALL

Midwest Crossroads Tournament Champaign, Ill., Apr. 23

30+ 3 on 3 Hoop it up Las Vegas, Apr. 22

Charm City Invitational 31 Baltimore, Apr. 30

NGBA Skills Challenge Las Vegas, Apr. 22 Coady Roundball Classic 2016 Las Vegas, Apr. 23

BOWLING Gotham Open Bowling Tournament Farmingdale, NY, Apr. 9 Funlovers California Spring Classic Fountain Valley, Apr. 22

WORLDWIDE DIGITAL PRIDE COMING APRIL 25-30 THE WORLD'S FIRST GLOBAL AND ALL INCLUSIVE pride event will be beamed live from London across the globe April 25-30 during a week of events, screenings, parties and debates – all this with the future of LGBTI rights and celebrating who we are at the forefront of the proceedings.

OKClassic Tournament & Scratch Masters Oklahoma City, Apr. 22 Columbus Ohio Midwest Invitational Classic Columbus, Apr. 29 Sunshine Invitational Tournament Orlando, Apr. 29 Greater Rochester Eastern Area Tournament Rochester, NY, Apr. 30

RODEO A Texas Tradition Rodeo Dallas, Apr. 29-May 1

RUNNING 2016 Pride Run Phoenix, Apr. 2

SOFTBALL Saguaro Cup Phoenix, Apr. 8 Texas Shootout Austin, Apr. 29

TENNIS Orange Blossom Tennis Championships 2016 Orlando, Apr. 22-24 Alamo City Tennis Classic San Antonio, Apr. 29-May 1

VOLLEYBALL Cincinnati Volleyball Classic Cincinnati, Apr. 2 Big Apple XXXIII New York, Apr. 9 Last Dig in Denver XIX Denver, Apr. 9

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| COMPETE | April 2016

Digital Pride takes to the main stage of G-A-Y at Heaven nightclub, streaming live to kick start a day of pride celebrations with support from YouTube royalty, politicians, live entertainment from the greats of London's gay scene, charities including Stonewall and Kaleidoscope as well as Digital Pride sponsors Late Rooms, Barefoot Wines, Wickes, Pink Lady, Smirnoff and Pride in London bringing the soul to the party!

Then we take to the dance floor to host the world's first global pride party, beamed live across the world for everyone to enjoy. This is great for those who haven't been to a pride before, don't have a pride event close to them or those in fear of persecution and their safety in countries where being LGBTI is illegal. Here they can be who they are with their fellow community in the privacy of their own homes.

Spotify provides the beats with a special LGBTI playlist chosen by you and remixed by the hottest DJs in London. Make sure to get your FREE Eventbrite ticket for the finale night of Digital Pride where we will beam a live club event from London around the world, bringing the LGBTI community together in a brand new way!

Listings, times and live link details are subject to change and will be posted on www.digitalpride.com prior to the event(s).

BEDROOM SPORTS

DATING, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

BY RYAN O’CONNER, GUEST COLUMNIST

FOUR RED FLAGS OF DATING WHEN COMPETE ASKED ME TO WRITE Bedroom Sports, I have to admit I was flattered at first.

But then after thinking about it for a bit I realized that writing about dating, relationships and sex would require me to actually date, consider a relationship and have sex – but now with an eye to sharing those positive learning experiences with you.

So I started the dating process like many of you by going online. I decided to try the traditional dating sites first – Match.com, Chemistry and Compatible Partners. I toyed with the idea of Grindr and Scruff but for now, I put sites like those on the back burner.

The sign up process for the three sites was easy enough.

They all make it sound like you’ll be inundated with replies to your free ad. What they don’t tell (well, maybe in the fine print nobody reads) is that if someone does show interest, you can’t contact them unless you pay for premium features, like the ability to contact people. It seems like offering you a car for sale but then telling you that you can’t drive it without purchasing an engine and four tires, all at additional cost!

After answering about a zillion questions and creating my profiles (I copied my same profile on each site), I was up and running on all three sites. At first the sites’ claims were true. I was fresh meat and I did get a number of winks, favorites, yanks (not really) and replies. It was all very exciting.

I decided to concentrate on one particular guy (for the sake of privacy I will call him Gavin). Gavin is a 36-year-old doctor here in my hometown. He told me he wasn’t out to anyone, a fact that of course should have been my first red flag. But he was a doctor and I needed to meet someone so I agreed to coffee.

We met at a local coffee house and had an enjoyable time. He was interesting, funny and good looking. But he wouldn’t tell me his last name. Can you say second red flag? We chatted and laughed for two hours then agreed we should meet again. Still, he wouldn’t give me his last name.

We went our separate ways and continued to email back and forth for a few days. He would call me from a blocked number and we’d talk endlessly. But he also wouldn’t give me his

number. Are you getting the picture? Another red flag.

We had talked about meeting for dinner later that week when suddenly I got an email from Gavin asking me to remove a shirtless picture from my profile. When I questioned his request, he said “I would hate for you to be embarrassed by having a shirtless picture online.” OK, fourth and final red flag. I responded to the good doctor, advising him that I had many shirtless pictures online and I was not embarrassed by any of them.

Frankly, I was happy never to hear from him again. I looked at my watch and thought it is time to find another guy to date!

So if you are considering finding Mr. Right through an online dating service, please remember this advice.

The Four Red Flags of Dating: Red Flag #1 – He’s on a dating site but says he’s not out to meet anyone.

Red Flag #2 – He won’t give you his last name.

Red Flag #3 – He won’t give you his telephone number.

Red Flag #4 – He begins to try to control you in one way or another.

My advice to you if you experience any of these red flags? Immediately, if not sooner, kiss him – Goodbye!

RYAN O’CONNER is just a regular guy who is dating in this great big world. His advice comes from personal experience and his advice is for entertainment purposes only. We recommend you consult a physician, counselor or therapist in your area for specific advice about your personal situation. Otherwise, questions can be submitted to bedroom@competenetwork.com.

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| COMPETE | April 2016

MAY 27-29 2016 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF GAY AND INCLUSIVE RUGBY

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