SPORTS. DIVERSITY.
Y E T E P S 5 R 1 20 WINNE D R A W A DECEMBER 2015 • VOL. 9 NO. 12 $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM
DECEMBER 2015 Volume 9, Issue 12
PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com CompeteNetwork.com Editor Ty Nolan • ty@competenetwork.com Style Editor Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Art Director Jay Gelnett • jay@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@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 KC Jones • kc@competenetwork.com Jonathan Bierner • jonathan@competenetwork.com Administration Camille Fitzgerald • camille@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2015 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
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CELEBRATING THE 2015 PETEY AWARDS WITH COMPETE
KICK–OFF
10 LEFT FIELD
Speed Read, Grandstanding,Thumbs UP/DOWN
11 COMMUNITY HERO
Marek Bute of Award Winner Snell & Wilmer
DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP
San Diego Bolts – Award Winners
27 ATHLETE
David Rae – Still On A Roll
SPORTS 31 Cheer Los Angeles – Award Winners 33 International Federation of Alternative Strength & Power – Award Winners Lambda Basketball – Award Winners
34 FITNESS 36 Get In Sync With Your Circadian Rhythm 38 Reach Your Full Potential 40 NUTRITION
MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.
10 Things That Make You Tired
COMPETENETWORK.COM
@COMPETESPORTS
42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 SPORTS YEARBOOK
COMPETE ONLINE
FACEBOOK.COM/COMPETEMAG
COMPETE MAGAZINE
OVERTIME
Check out more Compete stories online at: competenetwork.com
COVER ATHLETE Chris Verdugo, Cyclist COVER PHOTO James Geiger, Jim@GeigerDigital.com
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 5
FROM THE SKYBOX BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER
Celebrate Sports Diversity with Me
L
@CompeteEric
ast month Compete hosted our sixth Compete Sports Diversity Awards. Now officially titled The Petey Awards, we had the opportunity to honor many deserving athletes and organizations. While all the honorees are equally important, we made the decision to feature Chris Verdugo on this month’s cover. Verdugo is an unlikely award winner—he’s certainly more of a music man, serving as the executive director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. But he is also an inspiring athlete. Along with fellow AIDS/LifeCycle riders, Verdugo helped raise nearly $80,000 to fight HIV/AIDS by participating in the 545-mile-long route from San Francisco to Los Angeles last June. As we said at the The Petey Awards, if some say life is a journey then AIDS/LifeCycle is the journey of a lifetime. For those of you who didn’t attend the awards, please celebrate with us inside this issue of Compete. You will read more about all of this year’s honorees, including AIDS/LifeCycle’s own Kristin Flickinger (who is someone I personally admire), MLB’s ambassador for inclusion Bill Bean, You Can Play executive director Wade Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers, former NFL athlete David Kopay and our Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year, Jake Mason among many others. I hope all of their stories inspire you as they did me. Oh, and I really think Chris Verdugo was an excellent choice for the cover. Sport On,
Eric Carlyle Chief Executive Officer eric@competenetwork.com
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| COMPETE | December 2015
FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Community Sports Organizations: The Essence of Sports Diversity at its Finest
W
hile we all love hearing about @CompeteConnie professional and collegiate athletes and their organizations that are openly supporting the sports diversity movement, the heart and soul of diversity in sports rests with the local community sports organizations. Compete Magazine has always believed in honoring these often unsung local heroes. These groups are the ones who are involved in the day-to-day logistics of recruiting athletes, raising money for equipment and uniforms and finding spaces to play while still maintaining a fun and competitive atmosphere that keeps players coming back week-after-week and year-after-year. And that wonderful camaraderie that builds between teammates, that feeling of family and community grows, flowing over into local communities through tournaments, fund-raising efforts, supporting a community event or simply bringing awareness to the LGBT community. Nothing else is as effective in changing hearts and minds as that local contact through sports. At this year’s Compete Sports Diversity Awards, now officially The Petey Awards, we honored three such important groups: Cheer LA, Lambda Basketball and one of the newer organizations, the International Federation of Alternative Strength and Power, better known as the IFASP. Each of these organizations is doing something to forward the sports diversity movement and we’re honored to introduce them to you. They are representative of thousands of local leagues all across the globe that are helping to change the face of sports from one of homophobia to one of acceptance, diversity, inclusion and equality. And for those who aren’t yet familiar with the Petey’s, Broadway has the Tonys, television has the Emmys, movies have the Oscars, mainstream sports have the ESPYs and now sports diversity has the Peteys. Compete Magazine was founded on the rugby pitches of NYC in 2006. Using rugby as our inspiration, Petey symbolizes sports diversity. A rugby official raises his arm confirming a team’s score, or try as it is called in rugby. Petey’s left arm mimics the official’s call, raised to honor our award winners for their efforts and accomplishments for the greater good of sports diversity. Who knows? Maybe next year your organization will be awarded a Petey! Keep Smiling,
Connie Wardman, Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com
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| COMPETE | December 2015
PB Banana Bread Oatmeal Protein Cookies
Looking for a healthy treat that satisfies your sweet tooth and your need for extra protein? Try this amazing recipe of peanut butter banana bread oatmeal cookies from MyOatmeal.com Ingredients: - 1 bag PB Banana Bread Oatmeal from MyOatmeal.com - ½ cup flavored whey protein - 2 eggs - ¼ cup coconut oil (or butter) - ¼ cup coconut flour (or white flour) - 1 ¼ tsp baking poweder - ¼ cup water or milk - 1 tsp salt Optional Ingredients: - ½ cup raisins, cranberries or chocolate chips - Top with seeds, coconut, or icing Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients. 3. Lightly beat eggs in a separate bowl with milk and oil. 4. Mix the dry ingredients with the egg mixture. 5. Dollop batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet. 6. Bake 19-22 minutes until firm and the tops are golden. 7. Cool and enjoy! This feature provided by:
SNELL & WILMER - COMMUNITY HERO AWARD WINNER
KICKOFF
Marek Bute
Used as International Collateral for a Soccer Player WHAT? CAN THIS MYSTERIOUS TITLE FULL OF international intrigue be true? The answer is a definite yes. Today Marek Bute is an openly gay man, a partner with the commercial litigation group of the prestigious law firm, Snell & Wilmer where he was part of the pro bono legal team that successfully argued against Nevada’s gay marriage ban. Located in the firm’s Las Vegas office, Bute accepted the 2015 Corporate Diversity Partner Award awarded last month to Snell & Wilmer. But back to the international intrigue. Bute was born in Poland in 1979 into a sports family, a time just prior to the authoritarian communist government declaring martial law to crush political opposition. His father Richard was a Polish professional soccer goalkeeper. So in 1982, just before Marek’s third birthday, his father came to the U.S. on a temporary work visa intending to establish a new life for his family in the states to escape Communist oppression. Starting in the Polish neighborhoods of Chicago, he eventually was picked up by the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Hartford Hellions, which later moved and became the Memphis Americans. During this time Marek’s mother Viola remained in Poland, caring for her two sons, Maciej and Marek. And in a year or so, she was able to secure a passport and visa. But the Polish government refused to allow Marek and his older brother to go with her. In a calculated attempt to get Richard to return, the Polish authorities used the boys as collateral. Seeing it as her last chance to get out of Poland, the rest of the family urged Viola to go, saying they’d figure out a way to get the boys to the U.S., even if it came down to smuggling them through another country and out by boat. And almost immediately following his mother’s leaving, martial law was declared. It took another year and the help of U.S. officials to finally get the family reunited. Assuming it was just a matter of money, the city of Memphis even started a fundraiser to “buy” the boys freedom. Eventually, the boys’ grandmother escorted them from Poland and Marek recalls they were given a welcome reception “fit for a king.” Memphis became the family’s home and they have ever since devoted themselves to giving back to the community that worked so hard to unite them. Richard has been a dedicated coach for youth soccer throughout the south; he’s been a coach for Tennesee State, an Olympic development coach for Region III, run
the Richard Bute Soccer Camps in the summer and started the two top soccer clubs in western Tennessee that have now merged into Mid-South FC where he serves as executive director. When it came time for college, Marek, the musical theatre kid from Memphis graduated from the Malibu campus of PepperMarek Bute and best friend, Regina Day (right) dine University with a Photo by untrained slackers degree in advertising and a minor in Spanish. Far from being an attorney, however, Marek’s dream was making it in show business. However, one law class and a need for time to discover himself and his sexual orientation led him to Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. Performance for him, turned out to be in the courtroom instead of on the stage. But how would his coming out be accepted by his dad, whose life has been wrapped up in sports? It turns out that when Marek finally came out to his dad while in law school, he wasn’t expecting his reaction, saying that it wasn’t until his dad talked the logic of numbers, of kids he’s coached over his 30 years that were LGBT, that it made sense. “Ah, the dots were connected. The entire time I was worried about how my dad would handle my news, he had been training (unbeknownst to him) on how to deal with this moment. He handled the moment with absolute grace and unconditional love. I couldn’t have asked for a better coming out with my family. And curiously, I have sports to thank for that.” And so Marek Bute, who now specializes in sports and entertainment law, says that “I accept this Diversity Award on behalf of the firm, but dedicate it to my father, Coach Bute, and all the coaches out there that may have knowingly or unknowingly provided the strength and support for LGBT youth to embrace their true selves and to share that with their friends and family.”
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.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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KICKOFF
LEFT FIELD
SPEED READ UNIVERSITY OF OREGON’S NEW ADVANCED SPORTS SCIENCE COMPLEX FUNDED BY NIKE CO-FOUNDER PHIL KNIGHT Thanks to a gift from Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny, the University of Oregon is getting a new 29,000-square-foot sports science center. Considered to be “the epitome of a student-athlete” by the school’s athletic director Rob Mullens, the complex is being named The Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Complex after the university’s 2014 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and is intended to be “an outstanding tribute to his legacy.” Construction is expected to begin in January and be finished around mid-September. The center’s focus is on the importance of athlete recovery, including a neurocognitive center to diagnose and treat concussions suffered by players. Another piece of specialty technology includes 3D motion-capture equipment that can measure range of motion and potential injury sites. Also included is a boxing ring that offers student-athletes a new method of staying in shape that breaks up normal routine as well as additional equipment storage. Open to all university student-athletes, the new facilities are intended to show the school’s dedication to their health with its resources that aren’t currently available. It’s also anticipated to raise the school’s athletic profile of supporting innovative technology that optimizes sports performance, something they hope will aid coaches’ recruiting efforts.
KOBE BRYANT ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT After 20 seasons playing in the NBA and in the final year of his contract with the LA Lakers that’s been laced with injuries, Kobe has said it’s time to retire at the end of this season. In a letter he wrote for The Players Tribune he revealed how he fell in love with basketball when he was only six and as a result, he gave it his all. But now he recognizes that at age 37, he can no longer play at his former elite level. His letter, a copy of which was given to fans attending the November 29 game with the Pacers, included a poem: This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding My mind can handle the grind But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye. According to Larry Brown Sports, “Bryant is a 17-time NBA All-Star, one-time NBA MVP, five-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP. The four-time league scoring champ will have jobs in broadcasting and endorsement deals awaiting when he hangs ’em up. A spot in the Hall of Fame will follow shortly thereafter.”
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| COMPETE | December 2015
NANCY LIEBERMAN MAY HAVE ANOTHER SHOT AT MAKING HISTORY While there’s nothing definite yet, Nancy Lieberman, the current assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings, may have a shot at becoming the team’s interim head coach. If it happens, this will be another history-making move for “Lady Magic,” one of women’s sports true pioneers. Word is that it’s almost sure that Kings current coach George Karl will be fired to return some stability to the team. And while Ric Bucher, Bleacher Report’s NBA analyst says that Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé’s “biggest dream is to have Kentucky coach John Calipari come out and coach this roster full of Kentucky players,” his short-term solution would be moving Lieberman up from her current position as the team’s assistant coach. When Ranadivé hired her, she became the second female NBA assistant coach after Becky Hammon was hired by the San Antonio Spurs. But Lieberman has already been the head coach of the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA D-League team. In fact, she’s been a WNBA player and coach, a general manager, a sports broadcaster for ABC, NBC, ESPN and Fox Sports Southwest as well as a motivational speaker and author. And when you throw in the fact that she’s a Basketball Hall of Famer, a two-time Olympian, a three-time All American, a two-time collegiate national champion and a two-time National Player of the Year for her alma mater, Old Dominion University, you begin to see how she came by her Lady Magic nickname. She’s perfectly capable of being the Kings head coach, whether on a permanent or an interim basis. The good news for sports diversity is that the current crop of women coaching men’s professional teams in one position or another, haven’t run into much pushback from the players. A growing acceptance of LGBT athletes has helped open the door for women in sports, both straight and gay, to take their rightful place as athletes, coaches, referees, even high-level executives. Our expanding societal awareness is helping to expand individuals’ awareness that team success comes from qualified individuals, regardless of their gender and sexual preference.
SALE OF THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS IS UPHELD Donald Sterling’s attempt to reverse the $2 billion sale of his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers has been rejected by the 2nd District Court of Appeal. The ruling stated that the 81-year-old billionaire had failed to show any legal error by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who approved the sale last year. Known for being litigious, he sued Shelly, his estranged wife of over 60 years, for seizing the family trust that owned the Clippers following confirmation by two doctors that he had signs of Alzheimer’s disease. She, in turn, sold the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer after the NBA banned Sterling for life and threatened to confiscate the team following his derogatory statements about blacks. Sterling has also sued his wife and the NBA in federal court; he has since filed for divorce from Shelly.
GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE FOOTBALL FEVER (October) Finally a story about women’s football in Compete. While I thought the cover was great, mentioning the forefathers of football, I found the story on women’s football equally interesting. Kopay, Simmons, Davis and Tuaolo all have great stories but so do the women of the sport. Patty Baker (in-person) Los Angeles FACES OF DIVERSITY (November) I just put down the latest issue of Compete and was really impressed with the diverse collection of sports “heroes” represented on your pages. While I am very familiar with Hudson Taylor, I’d not heard of Ashland Johnson and was enlightened by her story. I’d also never heard of Anthony Pepe and loved his story by fellow PBA bowler Scott Norton.
COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Winter Activity? Other 5%
Skiing 20% Snowball Fighting 20%
Ice Skating 33%
Snowboarding 22%
Paul Lake (via email) Boston 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.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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SPORTS KICKOFF
QUIZ
?
Who was the first hockey player to win Sportsman of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated? Source: www.usefultrivia.com
GO! ATHLETES … for the launch of a national Mentorship Program to connect current and former studentathletes who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, or queer (LGBTQ). The program, which is free and open to the public, is currently accepting applications for both mentors and mentees at www.goathletes.org/mentorship/.
BULGARIAN WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION … for 11 weightlifters testing positive for doping during the qualifying period for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. The International Weightlifting Federation executive board has banned Bulgaria from competing at Rio.
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| COMPETE | December 2015
A. Bobby Orr, who was named “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated in 1970, making him the first hockey player to receive the award. He also won league MVP honors that year and led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship.
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN
PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA … for awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to baseball greats Yogi Berra and Willy Mays. It is the highest civilian honor awarded to those who have “made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
U.S. SOCCER … for taking steps to reduce youth concussions by eliminating heading for players under the age of 10 and limiting heading for players ages 11-13 to practice only. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of brain injury because their brains are still developing.
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COMPETE’S 2015 PETEY AWARDS
CELEBRATING SPORTS DIVERSITY BY CONNIE WARDMAN PHOTOS BY UNTRAINED SLACKERS
THE 2015 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY Awards, now officially named The Petey Awards, celebrated 25 athletes, sports organizations and community business partners on November 10 at the beautiful Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles. Orbitz was the presenting sponsor for the red carpet affair that was co-hosted by Eric Carlyle, Compete CEO, David Rae, Compete’s 2011 Athlete of the Year, and sports personality Brittany Held. We are proud to introduce you to Compete Magazine’s 2015 Honorees.
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| COMPETE | December 2015
TYLER FOERSTER
Inspiring Athlete Award
L-R: David Rae, David Kopay
DAVID KOPAY
The Legend Award
For people born in the 1980s and beyond, it can be hard to comprehend just how damaging it was to a person to be identified as gay. They could literally lose it all—jobs, friends, even family. And that was especially true for professional athletes. People simply refused to believe that macho athletes could be gay. There needed to be someone, whether willingly or unwillingly, courageous enough to be the first to come out. David Kopay played ten years in the NFL as a running back for five different teams, retiring in 1972. He was one of those macho, aggressive pro players that people loved. But in 1975 the Washington Star wrote an article about the struggle of being gay in the NFL, quoting an unnamed NFL player as the source. Mail flooded into the Star, much of it hate mail, completely disregarding even the possibility of a gay NFL player. Dave took that first step for gay athletes in 1975 by giving the Star an article that declared there WERE gay players in the NFL, and followed it in 1977 with his book, “The David Kopay Story: An Extraordinary Self-Revelation,” a New York Times best seller that is still in print today. We are very proud to honor Dave Kopay for his courage with our Legend Award. He accepted the award from co-host David Rae, whose father Mike also played in the NFL.
The Inspirational Athlete Award was created to honor an individual for his or her hard work and dedication in the pursuit of life and sports. And when the selection committee reviewed this year’s nominees they kept going back to one Tyler Foerster name—Tyler Foerster. While football is his current passion, he’s played multiple sports, including basketball, dodgeball, kickball, softball, soccer and more. Foerster has been involved in the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) for six years, and not just as a player. He has coached for four years and has also been on three tournament committees as he makes his way up the NGFFL ladder. Tyler has developed a scoreboard system called the U.S. Gay Sports Network (USGSN) that keeps the scores of all LGBTaffiliated sports leagues in North America. He also hopes to join his local league board and eventually land a seat on the national board. “I plan to be involved with this league for a long time so the sky’s the limit.” Yes, Tyler Foerster inspires us!
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AWARD (Dual Presentation)
Each year thousands of participants embark on a 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a fully supported fundraising event that raises both money and awareness in the fight against L-R: Gregory Sroda, Eric HIV/AIDS. Carlyle, Kristin Flickinger AIDS/LifeCycle delivers on its promise to both challenge and enlighten its riders. Senior director Gregory Sroda accepted the award for AIDS/LifeCycle. But it is those who work behind the scenes year-round who help make the AIDS/LifeCycle even more impactful. Kristin Flickinger, as director of AIDS/LifeCycle in Southern California, is a shining example of dedication to a cause. Kristin oversees a team responsible for over 10 events each year designed to register, train, engage and steward participants. Without her leadership the AIDS/LifeCycle would not be what it is today.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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SNELL & WILMER
Corporate Diversity Partner Award
L-R: Eric Carlyle, Marek Bute, Brittany Held
COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNER AWARD
Compete honored two community businesses, VIP Dental Spas and the Gay Yellow Pages, and their awards were presented by Anthony and Kathy Collova who are strong supporters of health, fitness and sports diversity. As entrepreneurs and athletes themselves, Anthony and Kathy are dedicated to improving America’s eating habits by offering over 22 billion flavor combinations of oatmeal. Their MyOatmeal.com brand is quickly becoming the “must have” breakfast and snack food of every day athletes.
Snell & Wilmer was the recipient of this important award for the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm received a 2015 Corporate Equality Index of 90 from HRC for their corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The firm’s role in which Nevada attorneys Kelly Dove and Marek Bute served as part of the legal team with Lambda Legal and O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, as pro bono local counsel for the Plaintiff couples in Nevada’s marriage equality case which ultimately declared the state marriage ban unconstitutional. Firm partner Marek Bute accepted the award from Eric Carlyle and Brittany Held.
L-R: Drs. Matian & Arash, Anthony & Kathy Collova, Eric Carlyle, Brittany Held
DRS. ARASH HAKHAMIAN AND SHERWIN MATIAN
VIP Dental Spas L-R: Kathy & Anthony Collova, Tom Adler, Eric Carlyle, Brittany Held
TOM ADLER
The Gay Yellow Pages
What started out with someone who is passionate about coaching, playing sports and personal training has turned into a comprehensive directory of business listings that are both gay and gay-friendly. For the last 20 years the Essential Gay & Lesbian Directory, better known as The Gay Yellow Pages, has been helping millions of people find information on places where the LGBT community can go and feel comfortable without fear of discrimination. Owner Tom Adler accepted his Community Business Partner Award.
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| COMPETE | December 2015
While we tend to think of “community” as our close friends or a geographic area, the doctors from VIP Dental take a more global view. They volunteer in countries around the globe where there is limited access to dental and medical care, such as Vietnam, Belize, Jordan, Israel, Honduras, Korea, and many others. They also serve locally at skid row shelters and with groups such as Mobile Dental Clinic, Remote Access Medical, Doctors Without Borders, Faith In Practice and Ayuda. These doctors go way above and beyond the “standard” call of duty. They represent the very best definition of what “community” means. Dr. Arash Hakhamian (better known as “Dr. Arash”) and Dr. Sherwin Matian from VIP Dental Spas accepted their Community Business Partner Award.
COMMUNITY SPORTS ORGANIZATION AWARDS
Community teams and leagues are the heart and soul of sports diversity hard at work making the community better in many ways. The following groups were honored for their contributions:
Cheer Los Angeles
L-R: Paul Lee, Eric Carlyle, Brittany Held
International Federation of Alternative Strength and Power
MILLERCOORS & DOUG SANBORN
The Douglas P. Holloway Sports Diversity Award
In January Compete Magazine will play a major role in launching the inaugural Douglas P. Holloway Sports Diversity Leadership Conference, which includes the first-ever Douglas P. Holloway Diversity Award. This year it will be awarded to Doug Sanborn and MillerCoors at the conference being held on January 14 as part of the 2016 Sin City Shootout. Conference chair Connie Wardman shared more about this exciting and important conference with the audience. To learn more, go to competenetwork.com/douglas-p-holloway-sportsdiversity-leadership-conference/
SUN & SURF SOFTBALL LEAGUE & MARC TRIPLETT
Outstanding Southern California Tournament Award (Single Sport)
L-R: Chris Johnson, Kevin Krauss, Adam Cummings
Lamba Basketball
L-R: Eric Carlyle, Jason Jaramillo, Brittany Held
L-R: Eric Carlyle, Marc Triplett Putting on an annual sports tournament is no easy endeavor. Southern California’s Surf and Sun Softball League’s annual Liberty Classic is an outstanding example of creating a sports tournament with the players in mind. While the tournament attracts teams from all over, it is held in sunny California. As a league, Sun and Surf is an excellent place to make new friends in a recreational and athletic setting. Players come from all areas of Southern California, not solely the LGBTQ communities. Definitely “straight friendly,” the league welcomes all who want to play. Their goal is to provide a gay-friendly atmosphere for softball players and their fans. This was a dual award for both the Surf and Sun Softball League and its dedicated commissioner, Marc Triplett.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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L-R: Eric Carlyle, Tracey Savell Reavis
WEHO SPORTS FESTIVAL
Outstanding National Tournament (Multi-Sport) This past Labor Day weekend saw the kickoff of the first WeHo Sports Festival. With a number of sports leagues promoting sports diversity in and around the West Hollywood area, this festival enabled them to come together on the campus of UCLA, using its many sports facilities. The tournament was also meant to encourage the community to both partner and participate with these local teams and leagues. The WeHo Sports Festival is the brainchild of the Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO), and this year the following 10 sports were included: Basketball, Dodgeball, Flag Football, Hockey, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo. Tracey Savell Reavis, communications director for the tournament accepted the award.
SAN DIEGO BOLTS
Outstanding National Tournament Champions In sports, the idea of playing in a tournament is often one of the most motivating factors for an athlete to stay engaged Eric Reissner throughout a season. The most recent Gay Bowl (the National Gay Flag Football’s annual tournament) played host to hundreds of players
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| COMPETE | December 2015
L-R: Will Kohlschreiber, J.J. Peña, Chris Verdugo, Jon Scaggs, Peter Wilson
CHRIS VERDUGO, PETER WILSON, R.J. PEÑA, WILL KOHLSCHREIBER & JONATHAN SCAGGS
Athletes with a Purpose Award
The annual AIDS/LifeCycle is composed of both individuals and teams of riders, all making the 545-milelong trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for HIV/AIDS. The long ride has many bumps along the way. There are flat tires, sore muscles, dehydration, hunger and lots of pain. All of those bumps are soothed by the feeling of facing a huge challenge and making it the entire distance, all while raising money for this amazing cause. As many riders say, “the love bubble of AIDS/LifeCycle makes the ride so much easier.” While they didn’t ride as a team this year, five members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles were honored for participating in this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle. Accepting their awards were the five cyclists with songs in their heart—Chris Verdugo, Peter Wilson, R.J. Peña, Will Kohlschreiber and Jonathan Scaggs. and fans. But the tournament was not just a spectacular sporting event; it was an equally impressive social event, combining the best of sport and play at one national tournament. This year the San Diego Bolts team continued to dominate the annual Gay Bowl Tournament. The Bolts not only hosted the tournament, they also took the championship for the fourth straight year. While the National Gay Flag Football League is very competitive, each and every team within the league has come to respect the Bolts and their dedicated players. Accepting the award for the San Diego Bolts was our 2015 Inspiring Athlete and member of the San Diego Bolts, Tyler Foerster.
L-R: Eric Carlyle, Kirk Walker, Brittany Held
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL & BILLY BEAN
Pioneer Award (Dual Presentation) It is difficult for a major professional sports league to change its own culture from within. But Major League Baseball (MLB) has done it not once, but twice. This past April marked the 68th anniversary of the iconic No. 42 Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson taking Ebbets Field and breaking the color barrier in professional sports. This year also marks MLB’s second major change from within when they created the new position of Ambassador for Inclusion and tapped Billy Bean, former closeted major league player and now openly gay man, to spend time during the five-weeks of spring training flying between Arizona and Florida, working to change the culture of baseball from one of homophobia to one of acceptance and inclusion. His work with teams and players now continues year-round. We are proud to honor Major League Baseball with the Pioneer Award. And that honor would be incomplete without also honoring baseball’s Ambassador for Inclusion, Billy Bean, with the Pioneer Award. While the job of inclusion ambassador is new, the truth is that Billy has always been an advocate for positive social change. Seeing this as a full-circle moment, he understands that as the only openly gay man who has played professional baseball, he’s the one who can bridge both worlds. Understanding the world of baseball and all the pressures involved, he’s the one who can start a conversation about what it means to be a gay man playing baseball. Billy feels a huge responsibility to the players to show them “a constant, relatable image” of a gay man, realizing that for some, this may be the first conversation they’ve knowingly had with a gay person. Accepting for Billy (who had a prior commitment in Milwaukee) was his good friend and ours, Kirk Walker.
Wade Davis, Photo by Terry Torro
WADE DAVIS
Trailblazer Award
Co-host Brittany Held said that when she thinks of a trailblazer, she thinks of someone who makes the path easier for those coming behind. And she shared how humbled and grateful she was for all the trailblazers that have come before to make life better for all of us. One such trailblazer is Wade Davis. Wade is an amazing athlete, a retired NFL player who came out in 2012 and who now plays in the National Gay Flag Football League. But he is also the executive director for the You Can Play Project where he has embraced his role as a leader by speaking out on social justice issues to change the landscape of LGBT rights. He works to empower people, helping them to realize their own importance to the movement for equality and inclusion, and to ending LGBT bias in sports. Wade continues to blaze trails for future athletes—whether they are LGBT or allies. That is why awarding Compete’s 2015 Trailblazer Award to Wade Davis was an easy selection to make. Since Wade was on location shooting a TV appearance, he made his acceptance via the magic of an iPhone.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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L-R: Connie Wardman, Eric Carlyle, Jake Mason, Brittany Held, Patrick Gamble, David Rae, R. Tony Smith
JAKE MASON
Compete’s 2015 Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year The first award presented by Compete Magazine in 2008 was our Athlete of the Year Award, renamed in 2013 to the Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year Award. This was to honor Mark, an early founder of gay rugby who helped establish both the San Francisco Fog and the Gotham Nights. He was also one of the passengers that on 9/11 stormed the cockpit on Flight 93, causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania before it could reach its terrorist target in Washington, D.C. Each year Compete selects its Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year based on several criteria, including a commitment to personal achievement, active participation in a team or individual sport, a commitment to supporting/encouraging others in sports and a commitment to the LGBT community. This year’s prestigious award went to Jake Mason, founder and director of the WeHo (West Hollywood)
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Dodgeball League, Southern California’s premier adult co-ed dodgeball league with a rotating membership of over 500 players. Introducing Compete’s 2015 Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year was last year’s winner, R. Tony Smith. Tony currently serves on the Federation of Gay Games board of directors as Officer of Communications. Three years ago Jake met with the WeHo City Council to talk about ways they could make dodgeball more community-based, more WeHo-centric. The council got behind him, giving him their full support. As a result, the league has community outreach as part of its charter and it holds a charity fundraising event every three months, most recently partnering with the Special Olympics World Games. In addition to weekly play, the league participates in the annual Sin City Shootout and this summer participated in the inaugural WeHo Sports Festival. And thanks to Jake’s constant community involvement, the local WeHo businesses have responded to the group’s outreach by offering special discounts for league members.
L-R: Darrell L. Tucci, Brittany Held, Connie Wardman L-R: Eric Carlyle, Tim Harris, Sophia Honore Taylor, Jason Jaramillo, Brittany Held
THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Professional Sports Organization Award Los Angeles is one of the world’s most diverse cities, melding cultures from across the world into one beautiful city. L.A. has an equally diverse sports scene in both professional and recreational sports. Among the many deserving professional sports franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the shining stars. The team’s president and co-owner, Jeanie Buss has broken stereotypes by becoming one of the most influential executives in the NBA franchise system and she is often asked to speak on the topic. The team has also made it clear that the Lakers strongly support diversity within the organization. The Lakers further demonstrated a commitment to diversity and the LGBT community earlier this year by naming Village Family Services in the San Fernando Valley as a finalist for the 2015 Lakers Youth Foundation YOU Grant. Village Family Services provides service to under-served population segments, including LGBT youth. Because of the continued support of diversity from within this organization, we were proud to honor the L.A. Lakers with the 2015 Professional Sports Organization Award. Presenting the award to Tim Harris, the Lakers chief operating officer, was Sophia Honore Taylor, senior vice president of account services for Walton Issacson. Compete first partnered with Walton Isaacson in 2012 when we brought the Awards to you from Atlanta, Georgia. Working with the team at Walton Isaacson is always a wonderful experience we look forward to, and with retired Lakers legend Magic Johnson a partner in Walton Isaacson, we were fortunate to have Sophia with us to present this award.
DESERT AIDS PROJECT
The Bodhi Award
Bodhi is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates into being awakened or enlightened, of moving mindfully into a higher, more holistic perspective. And the word Bodhi perfectly describes what goes on at the Desert AIDS Project (or D.A.P.) in Palm Springs. Born out of the desperate AIDS crisis in the 1980s, the organization has become a Federally Qualified Health Center lookalike and is now a model of holistic health care not only for those with HIV and AIDS but for anyone needing medical and social support. And the services they offer treat the entire person— body, mind and spirit—by using conventional medical treatments as well as less conventional treatments such as massage, Reiki and large doses of loving human touch, all of which are vital components of healing. Many of their fundraising events, like the annual Desert AIDS Walk, incorporate sports into the total package. Desert AIDS Project truly exemplifies the concept of Bodhi, of enlightened and loving service to others. Darrell L. Tucci, chief development officer for D.A.P. accepted the award from Compete editor-in-chief Connie Wardman.
OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS
Associate publisher Patrick Gamble acknowledged and thanked all of Compete’s wonderful partners, starting with Orbitz. The company has partnered with the Compete Sports Diversity Awards since 2010 and this year they stepped up to the plate as our presenting partner. He also thanked our Gold Sponsors, which included Desert AIDS Project, Hot Chocolate Run produced by Ram Racing, PUMP! Underwear, World Out Games and MyOatmeal. com. Thanks also went to our Community sponsors; Trilogy Financial, Hocker Productions, Sin City Shootout, VIP Dental Spas, Gay Yellow Pages, Clipzeez, Trade Kraft and the law office of Wendy E. Hartman.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
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OUTSTANDING NATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
SAN DIEGO BOLTS
TEAM COMPETE MVP
Photos by Scott Donald Photography Pictured: Eric Reissner, member San Diego Bolts To be included in our MVP section, e-mail MVP@competenetwork.com
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UNITING THE WORLD THROUGH SPORTS
ATHLETE
DAVID
RAE STILL ON A ROLL
BY CONNIE WARDMAN
A
CO-HOST FOR COMPETE’S 2015 PETEY Awards, David Rae still embodies all those qualities that made him Compete’s 2011 Athlete of the Year. As the magazine’s first award given out in 2008, it included a commitment to personal achievement, active participation in a team or individual sport, a commitment to supporting and encouraging others in sports as well as a commitment to the LGBT community. And David is a perfect fit for that description—both then and now. But you need some background on him to fully appreciate where he is today doing what he’s doing today as an out and very proud gay man. And his husband and fellow cyclist Ryne Meadors is supporting him every step (or roll) of the way. David’s definitely a dedicated gay athlete but he’s also a very bright and well-rounded person whose passion for giving back to the gay community is a driving force in his life. A graduate from California’s University of Redlands with degrees in business and musical theatre, David is a financial advisor licensed to advise clients about life, health, disability, long-term health care, tax planning and estate issues, portfolio revision, portfolio management and exit strategies—all working to make each client’s dream come true. After joining Trilogy Financial Services in January 2003, by the next year he was promoted to vice president of investments. With most of his clients being gay, as mar-
riage equality steadily moved forward to finally becoming the law of the land, the need for financial planning advice for LGBT couples has also grown. David has been seen, quoted and published in many national publications including MSN Money, Mens Health, NBC News, The Today Show, Huffington Post, US News & World Report, Yahoo News and 401(K) Specialist Magazine. He is also appears regularly on the KTLA News and is a regular contributor to The Advocate Magazine; he’s also a Huffington Post Blogger, listing himself as a “Certified Financial Planner™, AIF® and fiscal fitness maestro, making dollars and sense for the LGBT community and friends for over a decade.” As the son of former USC Trojan star quarterback Mike Rae who went on to play in the NFL for the Raiders, Buccaneers and Redskins as well as a stint with the Toronto Argonauts and the inaugural season of the United States Football League’s L.A. Express, David was raised on sports. But his dad retired when he was only in elementary school, giving David a true insider’s view of the importance of financial planning. But a variety of sports were also a big part of David’s life and he tried many of them before discovering a passion for cycling. And while he wasn’t able to participate in this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC), it has also been a huge passion of his, making his first ride in 2008. In 2010 he formed his own team, Team Popular, the name taken from the team’s anthem, “Popular,” the song made famous by Kris-
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tin Chenoweth from the musical score of the play, “Wicked.” Over the years he’s been a consistent top fund raiser for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center as well as a top-notch recruiter for new ALC riders. On his own he recruited over 70 new riders for Team Popular that included new and veteran cyclists from across the U.S. as well as Australia and South Africa. What cycling has really done for David is to give him a platform to merge his social, philanthropic and athletic worlds into one. He took his love of a sport generally considered to be an individual one and created a team with an atmosphere of fun and a friendly sense of competition that managed to support his love of giving back to the LGBT community. Beyond his role in ALC, over the years David has also helped raise funds for the center in other ways, including serving as host for their Poolwatch and Halloweenie events. Active in the greater West Hollywood and Los Angeles community, he has also been actively involved with a variety of other charities. He was recognized by IN Magazine as being a major force in the next generation of gay philanthropists due to his work with such additional causes as the Human Rights Campaign, AIDS Project Los Angeles and Equality California to name a few. Additionally David was recognized by Registered Rep, a national publication for the financial planning industry, as an Advisor with a Heart award winner at their 31st Annual Altruism Awards.
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On the personal front, David and Ryne (who met on a cruise) are now happily married. Engaged in 2012, the couple married with friends and family in attendance in 2014. And Ryne has been an active part of Team Popular and all their philanthropic efforts in the gay community. As David continues to give back to the gay community, he does it with a great sense of humor as evidenced by the opening paragraphs of his April 15, 2015 Huffington Post’s blog post titled, “Hey Indiana, It’s the Money Honey!” He leads off with, “The worst thing to come out of Indiana is the boneheaded and hateful Religious Freedom Restoration Act; the best is my incredible, wonderful husband. Ironically, both have been good for my business.” And then he follows by saying he’s “married to the handsomest Hoosier on the planet.” Clearly, both men are great looking with beautiful smiles and pearly whites that could be a dentist’s or toothpaste manufacturer’s fondest advertising dream. To “top” off his blog, he includes a Pinterest picture of their wedding cake topper (you’ll doubtless notice their gleaming smiles that truly mirror the real thing). As we honor Jake Mason, our latest Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year, we continue to honor those other honorees, like David Rae who have gone before him. We are very proud to say that David continues to represent Compete Magazine’s heartfelt motto of “Uniting the World Through Sports.”
WORLD AIDS DAY December 1, 2015 PRESENTED BY
PHOTOS: John Paschal / Snap Shot Studio
HONORING
BELLA DA BALL Hostess & Social Ambassador
KENNY JERVIS & MICHAEL CRISP
MARGIE LOBLEY
NICHOLAS SNOW
Volunteer
Activist, Author & Journalist
Volunteers
Everyday Heroes is an evening celebrating five everyday people doing extraordinary things to support those living with HIV/AIDS and to bring about an end to the epidemic in the Coachella Valley and beyond.
PERFORMANCE BY
Camelot Theatres
5:30 pm Champagne Reception 6:30 -8 pm Awards Show & ENTERTAINMENT 8-10 pm Cocktail & Hors D’Oeuvres Reception TICKETS $40 (GENERAL), $75 (PREFERRED SEATING) & $150 (VIP) ONLINE DesertAIDSProject.org BY PHONE 760.992.0440 m ajor SPONSORS
Nita Whitaker is a celebrated and award-winning recording artist, stage and screen performer, author and philanthropist. She is a favorite singer of the legendary producer David Foster and was a Hall of Fame Star Search Grand Champion winner.
E VENT SPONSORS
award SPONSORS
media SPONSORS
Great HIV care is just a part of what you’ll find at D.A.P.
Photo by Gregg Felsen
Our passion is Your Wellness We offer a newly remodeled HIV-specialty and primary
Desert AIDS Project accepts IEHP,
care clinic, dental clinic, sexual health services at
Desert Oasis HMOs and PPOs, various
The Dock, cancer screenings and treatment through
Covered California plans, Medicare,
our Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center, a full range of
and private pay insurance plans. If
mental health and addiction recovery services, and so
you have another PPO or HMO, please
much more – creating a “medical home” for our patients.
check with your plan administrator.
And it all happens under one roof! That’s what makes
To schedule an appointment,
D.A.P. a national model for holistic-care-done-right.
call 760.323.2118
D.A.P. has been designated as a Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charity for two consecutive years and received Four Star Status for four consecutive years from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator – a distinction achieved by only 7% of all nonprofits they rank.
desertAIDSproject.org
AWARD WINNER
SPORTS
CHEER LA
COMMUNITY SPORTS AWARD WINNER
C
heer Los Angles, better known as Cheer LA, was a recipient of Compete’s Outstanding Community Service Awards presented last month at their 2015 Petey Awards. Originally conceived to provide a philanthropic outlet for adult men and women in the Los Angeles area, the group has raised nearly $150,000 for HIV-AIDS charities throughout California. The award was received by Paul Lee, the group’s co-founder, manager and administrator. The group was also formed to provide an outlet for those interested in the sport of cheerleading. But when you hear the word “athlete,” does a cheerleader immediately come to mind? Probably not. But the men and women of Cheer LA are certainly working hard to change that perception. And really, it doesn’t take more than a minute or two of watching them to realize that cheerleading is a sport and cheerleaders definitely are athletes. Cheer LA, along with other community-based cheerleading organizations, is an active group of volunteers seeking to promote awareness, spirit and diversity in the gay community through dynamic cheer, dance and stunt performances. At each performance Cheer LA raises funds for a local charity. Through the generous donations of their spectators, they are able to raise money for AIDS-related charities in their community. Unlike many seasonal athletes, Cheer LA squad members train all year round to prepare for pride season. They perform at numerous events, including Christopher Street West Los Angeles Pride Parade and Festival, Long Beach Pride, San Diego Pride, San Francisco Pride, Palm Springs Pride and AIDS Walk Los Angeles among other events. The group partners with a charity before each performance and the selected charity benefits from the money they raise at that event. Photo courtesy of Cheer LA
Photo courtesy of Cheer LA What makes Cheer LA so unique is the diversity of its members. Squad members range in age from 18–50. Some of their members have had years of high school or collegiate cheer training while others have no cheer experience at all. You’ll also find a broad array of personalities and careers at Cheer LA. The cheerleader next to you may be a doctor, lawyer, fashion designer or retail salesperson, but they all have one thing in common—the desire to give back. Lee had a chance encounter in 2001 with Cheer San Francisco at San Francisco Pride and was influenced to start an LA version. He, Ray Ortiz and Lawrence Rodriguez created the plan that has now become Cheer LA. Lee feels the biggest reward for his work with Cheer LA isn’t the audience’s applause—the true reward for him is knowing that Cheer LA gives back to the community by helping with awareness and fundraising for the HIV/AIDS community. Having lived through the early days of AIDS, Lee, who is now 50, vows to continue his mission of being part of the HIV/AIDS solution. Lee says “being part of Cheer LA is my small way of remembering lost friends and keeping up the fight.” The men and women of Cheer LA are truly “athletes with heart.” So the next time someone asks you who your favorite athlete is, the group encourages you to take a moment to give them a little learning lesson and say—“cheerleader.”
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AWARD WINNER
SPORTS
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE STRENGTH AND POWER COMMUNITY SPORTS AWARD WINNER
T
he International Federation of Alternative Strength and Power (IFASP) was one of three community sports organizations to win an award at Compete’s 2015 Petey Awards in November. They were recognized as a recently-formed sports organization that is looking to create a more inclusive and cooperative environment for the strength sports that focuses on a spirit of inclusion, caring and personal best. While the IFASP is definitely motivated to promote strength and power sports within the LGBT community, they have no intention to limit involvement to those individuals—they welcome all who embrace their ideas of inclusion, caring and personal best. Accepting the award for IFASP was its vice president, Chris Johnson. It was during Gay Games 9, held in the various sporting venues of Cleveland and Akron, Ohio back in August 2014 that the group first met one another. To quote them, “It was a hot August day on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio. In a hardcore powerlifting gym, men and women from all around the world gathered in the spirit of sports, community and togetherness. That’s where our saga begins.” They reported that nerves were on edge and the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. But everyone was having a great time. “This was a first-time competition for a number of the athletes who ranged in age from 21-to-70. But with the help of veterans of the sport and the support from friends and family, all the lifters made it through.” They realized that the most important thing was that everyone not only made it through the grueling competition but that, again in their words, “each and every participant wound up creating a personal success story. Be it the physical triumph over cancer and now powerlifting, proving to their grandchildren that you can still be active and set world records at 70 or proving to oneself that they’re stronger today than a year ago, everybody had a success story. This is where and how the International Federation of Alternative Strength and Power (IFASP) was born.” Having created this wonderful sense of community, personal achievement and success, the group recognized that they wanted to move away from the “socially fractured” environment of the mainstream strength community that kept people interested in the sport intimidated by “big numbers, big lifters and big egos.” It was time for a change.
Chris Johnson, Photo courtesy of IFASP Now, as a not–for-profit federation IFASP is committed to the advancing strength sports within the LGBT and ally communities. Looking to create a more inclusive and cooperative environment for the strength sports, the organization is focusing on a spirit of inclusion, caring and personal best. Its mission is to create a cooperative atmosphere that inspires all members of all communities, nurturing along the way their ability to achieve that personal best, whatever that may be. The IFASP is determined to celebrate and enhance the fellowship of all forms of strength and power among its members on a global scale, including all those who embody the goals and spirit of powerlifting, arm wrestling, and the strongman/strongwoman. By hosting events throughout the year, their plan is to reunite old friends, to create new ones and to fan the fires of competition on both a personal and rival level. Coming in January 2016, IFASP will be hosting one of its biggest events in Las Vegas—the Sin City Shootout Strength Expo at the Tropicana Resort and Hotel. They will offer a full powerlifting meet (squat, bench, deadlift and strict curl), an arm wrestling tournament, a vendor fair featuring companies in the fitness industry, exhibition lifting and strength training seminars for people who are interested in starting to powerlift. They are personally inviting you to join them as either a participant or a spectator. Registration can be found on the Sin City Shootout or IFASP websites.
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SPORTS
AWARD WINNER
LAMBDA BASKETBALL
COMMUNITY SPORTS AWARD WINNER
“L
ambda Basketball League is an integrated and all-inclusive organization that is dedicated to providing the Los Angeles area LGBT community and its friends with a well-organized and friendly sporting environment,” according to its mission statement. The organization was one of three community sports organizations to win a Community Sports Award at Compete’s 2015 Petey Awards; accepting the award for Lambda Basketball was its president, Jason Jaramillo. Committed to uniting athletes, communities and cultures both on and off the court, Lambda Basketball is also working to promote health education and community service as part of its role as a subsidiary of Community OUTreach Alliance (COA). In fact Lambda was just selected to receive a community grant from Long Beach Pride to continue fulfilling its mission. For you basketball lovers in the Los Angeles, Long Beach or Orange County areas, Lambda is the group to check out. Started in 1990 by Mark Chambers, Thorn Edwards and Martin Rodriguez, the organization has now grown to include seven teams that represent the league at tournaments organized by the National Gay Basketball Association and Federation of Gay Games: (1) Los Angeles Metrostars, (2) Los Angeles Metro, (3) Los Angeles Dream, (4) Los Angeles United (5) Hollywood Blindside, (6) LA/ OC Nightmare and (7) Los Angeles Vipers. The league’s favorite team is, of course, the LA Lakers. But you don’t have to play like Lambda’s favorite player Kobe Bryant to participate since the league welcomes all skill levels. They hold weekly open play or pick-up games on Wednesdays and Fridays with games played at two locations—one in south Los Angeles and the second in West Hollywood. League play is around $100 and includes a reversible jersey. Leagues last around 12 weeks with a single elmination playoff to crown league champions. Allies are always welcome to join, and they have several women who play regularly as well as several who, due
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| COMPETE | December 2015
Photo courtesy of Lamba Basketball
to work or travel schedules cycle in and out. But it’s not just about league play and national/international competitions for these basketball lovers. The league holds a draft party a week before the start of each season. And those playing in the Sunday league games generally go out for a post-game late lunch or early dinner. But they also get together for fun nights at the movies or playing board games and also gather for fundraisers for the local community. It’s not just about partying for this league. They also have a partnership with the other LGBT sports leagues and LA Condom to create STD awareness and promote safe sex. Gay and straight, male and female members of the league—all love the feeling of being a giant family. According to Jaramillo, it’s a great way to meet people. He shared that members have met best friends through the league and some of the romantic relationships that were made there have led to marriage. But never forget that members of Lambda Basketball League are competitive athletes. Of the five teams that traveled to Cleveland in August 2014 to compete in Gay Games 9, four of them won medals. The LA Metrostars and LA Nightmares both earned gold medals while the Hollywood Blindside took silver and the LA United brought home bronze. Players are already looking forward to the 2016 tournaments. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in January they have a choice of the Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas as well as a tournament in Atlanta and another in San Diego. For more information on Lambda Basketball League, check out their website at lambdabasketball.com.
FITNESS
GET IN SYNC WITH YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM BY KEN HUNT DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN A HEALTHY pattern of going to bed and waking up at the same time each day? I love it when this happens because it means A) I don’t need an alarm clock since my body is waking up naturally and B) that I’m following the same sleep schedule on the weekend, which makes me feel well rested and ready to conquer my weekend errands and activities. The reason we feel so great when we’re on a regular sleep cycle is because we’re setting our circadian rhythm—the tiny master-clock structure in our brain. Filled with nerve cells that are affected by light, it regulates the pattern of our sleep and wake cycles as well as the energy ups and downs we all experience throughout the day. What’s interesting to note is that people who live in complete darkness (winter in Iceland, Finland and Alaska) are still able to adjust to a 25-hour clock with regular sleeping and waking patterns. Here’s what the natural daily circadian rhythm looks like. FIT’S TIP According to circadian rhythm, it is best to do all your heady work in the morning and save all those menial tasks for the afternoon. Try winding down an hour before the time you would like to get to bed by taking a bath with some lavender salts, by drinking an herbal tea like chamomile or valerian root and by reading something that doesn’t over stimulate the brain (this does not include TV or laptop time!). KEEP READING Learn some tips and tricks for getting your circadian rhythms back on track. RISE AND SHINE WITH THE SUN With hectic schedules and juggling the responsibilities of life, it can be difficult to not only get to bed at a decent hour but to actually wake up when the alarm clock goes off and the sun rises.
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6:30 A.M. TO 7:00 A.M.— SLEEP INERTIA During the first 30 minutes you’re awake your thinking and reaction times are substantially impaired. 7:00 A.M. TO NOON—MORNING HUSTLE Between breakfast and lunch your sense of alertness peaks. This is the time to get things done. NOON TO 5:00 P.M.—NAP TIME At some point in the afternoon we experience an energy drag that usually lasts about two hours. The Spanish siesta might have some science behind it. 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.—SUNSET SPIKE A rise in energy occurs, making this a very difficult time to nap. 8:00 P.M. TO 6:30 A.M.—BACK TO BED The chemical melatonin (which helps you sleep) floods your body as you snooze. EXERCISE Physical activity can certainly promote deeper sleep but just make sure it’s at least five hours before bedtime. It might also be a good idea to take this questionnaire (link below) that will help you be more aware of your own natural circadian rhythm. It will let you know whether you should work out in the mornings or in the evenings. www.usa.philips.com/c/circadian/178345/cat/ SET THE MOOD Make sure your sleeping sanctuary is cool, dimly lit and as sleep-friendly as possible. If your room isn’t very dark and you don’t have blackout shades, try wearing a sleep mask.
FITNESS
REACH YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL WHILE AVOIDING OVERTRAINING BY SCOTT HERMAN
F
ITNESS CAN BE A FICKLE FRIEND.
For weeks you may be a fitness fanatic exercising hard every day and then all of a sudden you don’t want to be anywhere near it. Why does this happen? How do you overcome it? What can you do to be sure this never happens to you? The ultimate goal when exercising is to always be improving. Whether trying to lose weight, gain muscle or increase your strength, everyone wants results. However, the key to staying focused and not losing your drive is to understand that rest is just as important as the time put in the gym. Without adequate rest your body will not only lose the time it needs to recover properly but you also will run the risk of overtraining. Overtraining is the wall most people hit that stops them dead in their tracks. It can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, including a high rate of fatigue and depression. If you start to notice these symptoms then it is time to take a break, reassess your meal plan and take a close look at your sleeping habits to ensure you are getting eight hours a night. If overtraining happens to you, it would be best to take a full week off from exercising and turn your focus to eating healthy and getting enough rest. So how do you continuously push yourself to new limits while avoiding overtraining? The secret lies within “deload” weeks. A deload week is a week of training, usually after four-to six weeks straight of intense training, where you train with 50-60% of your normal intensity. The goal here is to stay active but mainly just go through the motions. What this does is provide your muscles and central nervous system (CNS) the time they need to properly recover. When training in a deload week you still want to make sure you are hydrating and eating just as you would during your normal training. If you do a lot of intense running, it may be a good idea to do low impact cardio to the point of a slow jog. Everyone has goals they want to reach and if you put the time into your training, you will definitely reach yours. Just make sure the journey you take to get there is a safe one with no pit stops in what I refer to as Overtraining City! Eat healthy, drink lots of water, sleep well, and remember that Hermanites Train Harder! #HTH
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Scott Herman ScottHermanFitness.com
Pictured above, Henry Beam, Beam Law, PLC
NUTRITION
10 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU TIRED BY MIRIAM LATTO
YIKES – IT’S DECEMBER … ALREADY! If you’re like most of us this time of year, you’re already exhausted, wondering how you’ll ever get through all the things you need to do for the approaching holidays. Even if we don’t have unrealistic expectations of how the holidays should look, feel, smell, there are 10 thinks that make you tired. And these are things you can change without a lot of added pressure.
CAFFEINE OVERLOAD While that morning cup of coffee, tea or soda may help you “start your heart,” drinking too much in the afternoon can disrupt your ability to go to sleep. If you know your body is sensitive to caffeine, monitoring your intake will help you stay alert without keeping you up all night.
CELL PHONE OBSESSION If you’re so attached to your cell phone that you even check it while lying in bed, you aren’t helping yourself get the rest your body requires. Checking your phone activates and stimulates your brain; just the light and sounds alone keep your brain engaged even if you aren’t looking at the screen, making it harder to fall asleep. Instead, try leaving your phone downstairs or in another part of the house or apartment if you live on one floor.
GETTING DEHYDRATED No matter how much you love coffee and tea, there’s nothing that helps hydrate your body like good old water. If you can’t switch your drink preference completely to water, at least make an effort to drink more water. It will help you with mental clarity, better focus and concentration.
JUNK FOOD While it may taste good and save you a few minutes of time, the drive-through burgers, fries and soda you scarf down while driving to and from your many activities can make you tired. To make them tasty, fast food, candy, salty snacks are all loaded with carbs that can cause spikes and drops in your blood sugar levels, leaving you groggy and sleepy.
LACK OF A SLEEP ROUTINE Even if you hate routines, having a routine sleep schedule will help you in several ways, like having more energy and being well rested, both of which help you to maintain
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your overall health. Sleeping too much can also make you as tired as sleeping too little so try to get a basic eight hours a night on a regular basis.
LACK OF VITAMIN D If you spend too much time indoors, whether at home or work, lack of sunshine can make you feel sluggish. So take a regular walk outside, even if it’s during a lunch break. You can also take Vitamin D supplements.
SKIPPING BREAKFAST A big catch-22 for many of us is skipping breakfast. Since we didn’t sleep well last night, we opt to hit the snooze button on the alarm to catch a few extra winks instead of eating breakfast. Even though you think you’re helping yourself by skipping it, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day—so eat it!
TOO LITTLE EXERCISE Although it sounds counter-intuitive, lack of exercise can actually make you more tired and groggy feeling. While recommendations on how much exercise you should have vary, getting in just 30 minutes of exercise a day can boost your energy. And the bonus is that you’ll sleep much better at night.
TOO MUCH LIGHT AT NIGHT Do you use a night light in your bedroom or keep your blinds open? Maybe it’s that blue light shining from your clock. There’s a lot of ambient light at night and it all can interfere with you getting a restful night’s sleep. The darker you can keep your room, the better. And if you need to have a clock facing you, use one with red light displays.
WATCHING TV BEFORE BED Many of us have the habit of watching TV while in bed, thinking that it lulls us into a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, just like your cell phone, the sound and light can actually increase the length of time it takes you to fall asleep, which in the long run negatively affects your sleep quality. As with all these changes, don’t expect results the first night or two but keep at it. All habits take 21 days to break. But if you’re really serious about wanting to kick that tired feeling, just maybe you can manage 21 days of change to feel fresh and full of energy again. Source: tumbleinto.com
GYM BAG
HOT ITEMS YOU SHOULDN’T DO WITHOUT
For you outdoor athletes who need to keep the icicles from forming on your nose, try the UA ColdGear® Infrared Hood. This really is a “one-size-fits-all” piece of weather sports equipment. It has an adjustable cap size for men as well as for women and youth and it’s a stretch fit based on their chart. Here is the hood’s “DNA:” • ColdGear® Infrared uses a soft, thermoconductive inner coating to absorb and retain your own body heat • Form-fitting balaclava hood is light, thin & breathable • Offers full facial protection that extends below the neck and can convert to a neck gaiter • Drop chin for full ventilation • Flatlock stitching adds a slight pop of color • Heat seal UA logo • Polyester/Elastane • Imported
www.underarmour.com/en-us/ mens-coldgear-infrared-hood/ pid1239863-002
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| COMPETE | December 2015
JVC’S NEW SPORT HEADPHONES
>>>
GNU Head Space by Forest Bailey is rated as one of the best men’s park snowboards according to the 2015-2016 Good Wood snowboarding test results by SNOWboarding Transworld. A review by Scott Yorko said, “Hailed as ‘The Pope of Dope,’ this board garnered several comparisons to dreamy sports cars, including a Subaru STI, for its ability to go fast while staying playful. ‘Handled like a Lambo and rode like a bull!’ said another. One particularly hyped tester called it ‘the easiest board to press that I have ever been on, but still stable off jumps and handled great going fast in big carves.’ He wasn’t the only one who appreciated Forest Bailey’s ultra softie, which was still substantial enough to get the job done. Could use a little more pop off jumps.” Price is $440 but you may find a sale price for less.
www.the-house.com/9849gnfbhs16zzgnu-snowboards.html
Lume co-founder and fitness trainer Waira Mungai says his Smart Leggings not only hold your phone, the Lume smart pocket allows you to text through the touch responsive mesh covering and has just enough space at the top of the pocket for your headphone cord to fit through—so you can still listen to music as you run on the treadmill. The leggings feature a no-slip waistband, petite sizing for shorter women, moisture wicking fabric and a four way stretch. While the smart pocket on the leggings is located on the front of the right thigh, Mungai says Lume will eventually release a lefthand version of the pants. Lume Smart Leggings will eventually be available for purchase on Lume’s website. The machine washable leggings will sell for $88 and will include plus sizes. In the future, Lume hopes to release cropped leggings, shorts and joggers for both men and women.
mashable.com/2015/11/21/lumekickstarter-leggings/lumelifestyle.com >>>
GNU SNOWBOARD HEAD SPACE BY FOREST BAILEY
LUME SMART LEGGINGS
>>>
>>>
UNDER ARMOUR MEN’S INFRARED HOOD
JVC’s new wireless headphones feature Bluetooth technology—no wires, no distraction, simply pair it with your device and focus on your running or work out. Not only are they wireless design, they are compact and lightweight. To ensure your safety on the road when running, the open type ear piece allows ambient noise, such as an approaching vehicle, to be heard so you can act quickly. Optional regular earpieces are included for enjoying dynamic sound. A three-button remote with integrated mic provides easy operation to play, stop, skip tracks plus answer that important call. The built-in rechargeable battery has a 4.5 hour life and takes 2.5 hours to charge. The HA-EBT5 headphones are rated IPX4 Sweat / Splash proof, making them ideal for sport use.
jvc.com/sport/ha-ebt5
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OVERTIME
EVENTS
FOR MORE EVENTS VISIT COMPETENETWORK.COM/EVENTS
AQUATICS SPMS SCM Championships La Mirada, Calif., Dec. 4-6
BOWLING Capital Area Holiday Classic Austin, Dec. 4
VOLLEYBALL LAVA Classic VII Louisville, Dec. 12
Photo courtesy of Sin City Shootbout Dodgeball
PACK YOUR BAGS FOR THE SIN CITY SHOOTOUT January 14-18
FOR THE NINTH YEAR, LAS VEGAS IS THE destination for gay and ally athletes, family and friends for the Sin City Shootout (SCS.) The brain child of tournament director Eric Ryan and his affiliation as a member of GLASA—the Greater Los Angles Softball Association, the dates this year are January 14–18, 2016. Always held over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, this year the crowd is expected to number over 8,500 people. From its first year where there were only two sports involved, this year boasts 24 different sports being played – from A-to-Z, ah, just to W this year—from Arm Wrestling to Wrestle & Grapple. This has quickly become one of the world’s largest weekend gay sports tournaments. And you don’t have to be the ultimate jock to enjoy yourself. Some of the sports offered include billiards, darts and bridge where you don’t necessarily need to sweat or bleed to be considered an athlete. All sports are welcome! As always, the events include some of the best bars in town with reduced prices for SCS participants with the
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| COMPETE | December 2015
proper ID. And that doesn’t include the discounts available on some of the fabulous Vegas shows and attractions. The host hotel, the Tropicana Las Vegas, has over 1,300 rooms reserved for the event at the starting price of just $79. And the hotel even gets in the spirit with its entire reservation bank lit up in rainbow colors. But if you haven’t already booked your room, start your reservation process now since the hotel is likely filled up even though open rooms are added as they become available. An event this size always depends on great volunteers to help things run smoothly. So if you’d like to be part of the volunteer brigade, get in touch with the tournament staff via the contact tab on the SCS website: www.sincityshootout.com. In addition to the new sports and a new closing party location, this year includes the launch of a sports diversity leadership conference on Thursday, the 14th. For more information, go to competenetwork.com/douglas-p-holloway-sports-diversity-leadership-conference. We’ll see you at Sin City Shootout!
OVERTIME
SPORTS YEARBOOK THIS MONTH IN SPORTS HISTORY: DECEMBER
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MCI Center opens in Washington D.C., Wizards vs SuperSonics - 1997
Hulk Hogan defeats Undertaker to become 4th time WWF champion - 1991
MLB Commissioner’s office given full powers in baseball disputes - 1964
Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy and Bill Masterson trophy stolen from NHL hall of fame - 1970
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NBA settles strike of referees; refs to return on Dec 12 - 1995
60th Australian Womens Tennis: M Navratilova beats C Evert (62 46 62) - 1985
Larry Bird ends streak of 59 consecutive free throws - 1987
1st intercollegiate basketball game (Wesleyan beats Yale 4-3) - 1896
NA Soccer League awards LA, SF, Seattle and Vancouver franchises - 1973
Quarterback Joe Namath’s last game as a New York Jet - 1976
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70th Davis Cup: USA beats Argentina in Cincinnati (3-1) - 1981
1st table tennis tournament is held (London Royal Aquarium) - 1901
Kenneth LeBel jumps 17 barrels on ice skates - 1965
Jo Ann Washam/Chi Chi Rodriguez win Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Golf Champ - 1976
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Jack Nicklaus becomes 1st golfer to earn $2M in a year - 1973
6 San Francisco Giants renig on $43 million pact with Barry Bonds - 1992
1st international dogsled mail leaves Minot, Maine for Montreal, Que - 1928
Tom Landry accepts coaching job with Dallas Cowboys (stays until 1988) - 1959
Sandy Hawley becomes 1st jockey to win 500 races in 1 year - 1973
Miami Dolphins become 1st undefeated NFL team (14-0-0) - 1972
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Nancy Kerring and Tonya Harding prerecord a show to air on FOX on Feb 5 - 1997
Univ. of Tenn. won’t play Duquesne Univ. due to potential use of black player in basketball game - 1946
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1st American skimobiles; North Conway, New Hampshire - 1939
Pat Davis, ranked 412th among world tennis competitors wins Davis Cup - 1986
Wayne Gretzky & Martina Navratilova named athletes of decade by AP - 1989
Ohio State dismisses Woody Hayes as its football coach - 1978
Source: www.brainyhistory.com
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| COMPETE | December 2015
24
1st indoor baseball game played at fairgrounds in Philadelphia - 1888
Drew Brees, QB for New Orleans Saints, sets new NFL record for yards passing in a season - 2011
31 Willie Shoemaker 1st jockey to win national riding championship 4X - 1958
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