Compete Magazine February 2014 by COMPETE Magazine

ROBBIE ROGERS & JASON COLLINS ARE WINNERS

SPORTS. DIVERSITY.

THE YEAR GAY ATHLETES CAME OUT TO PLAY SOCHI UPDATE RUGBY TAKING HOLD FEBRUARY 2014 • VOL.8 NO.2 • $5.95

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FEBRUARY 2014 Volume 8, Issue 2

FOUNDERS Publisher/Sales Manager Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Publisher/Website Production David Riach • david@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Community Editor Ty Nolan • ty@competenetwork.com Art Director Jay Gelnett • jay@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Renee Chase, Ian Colgate, Joseph Gaxiola, Amy Jones, Jeff Kagan, Miriam Latto, and Brian Patrick Photographers Gregg Edelman, Don Thompson, William Waybourn COMPETENETWORK.COM Associate Editor Ty Nolan • ty@competenetwork.com COMMUNICATION, MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com SALES & PARTNERSHIPS Joseph Gaxiola • joseph@competenetwork.com Steve Trebowski • steve@competenetwork.com

THE YEAR GAY PRO ATHLETES CAME OUT TO PLAY Photo by Alpha-Boy Foto

16 GAME-CHANGING PEOPLE AND MOMENTS 22 A NEW TEAM FOR KAREN AND NELDA 28 LET THE SOCHI GAMES BEGIN KICK–OFF 10 LEFT FIELD DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP

Ty Cobb

32 SPORTS

Rugby Taking Hold

36 NUTRITION

MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

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FROM THE SKYBOX BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER

Wheelchair Rugby My New Sports Passion

ugby, rugby, rugby. By now, many of you already know that Compete Magazine was founded during the 2006 Bingham Cup in New York City. So whenever we do a rugby issue, I get really excited. To me, rugby is like life. It is a sport that has a position for almost every body type (how diverse is that)? In fact, there is even a wheelchair version of rugby. The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (www.iwrf.com) oversees the sport. It is dubbed “the only full contact wheelchair sport in the world.” Wheelchair rugby has been around since the 1970s but debuted as a medal sport at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney. To make it clear, wheelchair rugby is not a watered down version of traditional rugby. Wheelchair rugby is full contact, fast paced and it includes male and female athletes playing on the same team. Each athlete must have functional impairments in at least three of their four limbs. An indoor sport that is played on a modified basketball court, wheelchair rugby combines elements from several sports, including basketball, rugby and ice hockey. Teams consist of four players each. Players score by crossing the opposing team’s goal line. Being a full contact sport, players use custom rugby wheelchairs to compete in the sport. Currently over 3,000 individuals participate in wheelchair rugby globally. The game is actively played in over 27 countries. So besides rugby, I now have a whole new sport to get excited about. After doing some research, I am a full-fledged wheelchair rugby fan. I admire both the sport of wheelchair rugby and the athletes that compete. Sport On,

Eric Carlyle, Co-Founder eric@competenetwork.com

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FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

We Love Sharing Your Stories

e love sharing your stories! With the incredible movement forward in gay sports over the past year, our passion is to share these meaningful stories with you. We want you to know and appreciate the people, organizations and companies we honored for their contributions to sports diversity last year. As our distribution date has changed to the first of the month, in this issue we are sharing the stories behind the groundbreaking contributions of Jason Collins and Robbie Rogers as the Year Gay Pro Athletes Came Out to Play. We’ve also taken a look at the other important stories we’ve shared with you in 2013. With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’re also happy to share a wonderful love story that also includes a great sports story. The relationship of Karen Bailey and Nelda Majors has not only survived homophobia, it has thrived. Their 55-year journey has taken them from Texas to Washington, D.C. to speak on the steps of the Supreme Court for marriage equality. We are happy to introduce a new sexual health column written by our community editor Ty Nolan. A Native American storyteller, educator and therapist, Ty has spent much of his career working with the LGBT community. If you have a question about your sexual health, send it to: ty@competenetwork.com. But the story that makes our CEO Eric the happiest is the one on rugby taking hold in the U.S. After all, it was rugby (more specifically the Bingham Cup tournament) that was the inspiration for today’s Compete Magazine. So sit down, kick back and enjoy the magazine. Yep, we love sharing your stories! Keep Smiling,

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

Kickoff

LEFT FIELD

THUMBS UP THUMBS UP TO

THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT & LAWYER/FORMER TEL AVIV CITY COUNCILMAN ERAN LEV

… for creating the first memorial to the at least 15,000 homosexual victims sent to concentration camps by the Nazis, more than half of whom were killed. The memorial is a giant pink triangle (the same symbol gay people were forced to wear) and bears the names of prominent gays the Nazis persecuted.

THUMBS UP AND THUMBS DOWN TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

… UP – for accepting openly gay scouting members as of January 1 although their representatives expect little change. … DOWN – for a continued ban on LGBT adult leaders and volunteers.

THUMBS DOWN THUMBS UP TO

THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE PLANS … for becoming the first trade group of its kind nationally to promise equal coverage for transgender patients by removing transgender exclusions from all its members plans. This comes on the heels of Utah’s ban on gay marriage being declared unconstitutional.

THUMBS UP TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II

… for formally pardoning famed WWII code breaker and convicted homosexual Alan Turing almost 60 years after his death. The British mathematician and computer scientist was forced to undergo chemical castration after a 1952 conviction of “gross indecency” with another man.

THUMBS DOWN TO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

… for punishing the Rev. Frank Schaefer of Lebanon, Pennsylvania for officiating at his gay son’s wedding by defrocking him – essentially, taking away his ministerial credentials.

What player won All-Star Game MVP, NBA MVP, and NBA Finals MVP awards in 2000? A: In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal became just the third person to sweep MVP honors for the season, capturing the All-Star Game MVP, which he shared with San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, NBA MVP, and NBA Finals MVP awards. O’Neal joined Willis Reed (1970) and Michael Jordan (1996). 10

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SPORTS QUIZ

Although we are a sports diversity magazine, the 2013 year has, in fact, been a game changing year for gay rights in general. It makes it difficult to limit our overview of the year only to sports when every aspect of gay life has been impacted. But make no mistake – 2013 will forever be known in gay sports history as the year that professional athletes finally came out while still playing.

2013 BY HARRY ANDREW

Jason Collins and Robbie Rogers Lead the Way

hat includes both Jason Collins of the NBA who came out while still an active player and soccer player Robbie Rogers who came out after being released from an English soccer team, retired from soccer and then was hired by the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy as an openly gay man. While there are gay professional athletes who have come out (or been outed) in years past, such as Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova in tennis, former Olympian and WNBA player Seimone Augustus, pro boxer Orlando Cruz and pro bowler Scott

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Norton to name just a few, the fact that they are either women athletes or involved in a sport not viewed as macho and/or sexy (not even boxing!), means that their contributions have been discounted and undervalued by the general public. The true interest of sports aficionados has been in a male pro athlete in one of the four major team sports – the NFL, MLB, NHL or the NBA – coming out while still an active player. Although a small number of gay male professional athletes in the big four have already come out, their announcements were made after they retired from active play. Homophobia has been so deeply entrenched in the world of professional sports that letting people

know you are gay has always been considered tantamount to committing career suicide. The first pro athlete to come out was retired NBA player John Amaechi in 2007. He was followed by NFL players David Kopay in 1977, Roy Simmons in 1992, Esera Tuaolo in 2002 and Wade Davis in 2012; and MLB players Glenn Burke (who came out to teammates) in the 1980s and Billy Bean in 1999. As yet there are no openly gay NHL players. But all this changed on April 29, 2013 when current NBA player Jason Collins announced to the world through a Sports Illustrated (SI) autobiographical essay that “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

“

I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.

-- Jason Collins He continued to say that “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” Locker rooms in the professional team sports mentioned above are well known for having such an intense macho attitude that until now, no gay athletes would allow themselves to become vulnerable by admitting they are gay. So one of the real risks for Collins was whether or not he would have the support of other NBA players once he came out. But from the moment that SI issue hit the stands, Collins was inundated with congratulations from people high and low, from U.S. President Barack Obama to other NBA players to fans and members of the general public. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant tweeted, “Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others.” He added the hashtags “courage” and “support” to his tweet. The NBA’s 2013 MVP, Miami’s LeBron James also praised Collins’ decision to come out. “I think it’s very noble on his part,” James told the Miami Herald. “I think it’s a strong thing to do, and I think as NBA players, we all offer him our support.” Collins had always resisted going public with his announcement because he didn’t want any media attention to distract his team and teammates. But between the season ending and the Boston Marathon bombing, he realized he couldn’t wait any longer. That horrific act reminded him how quickly and surprisingly life can change and that time is precious. Knowing that

”

he couldn’t waste another second of his life pretending to be someone he wasn’t, he knew he had to be honest with everyone around him. Most especially, he had to be true to himself. His announcement was such a big news story that Jason and his twin brother Jarron, another NBA player, as well as the rest of their immediate family members were interviewed by Oprah. Since then, both Jason and Jarron have been guests at any number of events, including the inaugural You Belong Camp held by Wade Davis, now executive director of the You Can Play Project, and his business partner Darnell Moore in Chicago over the summer. There they spent time with inner city LGBT youth, helping them to develop leadership skills and instill in them a sense of pride and belonging. Happy and relieved to be out, Collins has been very supportive of the LGBTQ community, even showing up at the Nike LGBT Sports Summit in June on his own because he wanted to be part of the movement to eliminate homophobia in sports. “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice but it’s a good place to start,” Collins said in SI. “It all comes down to education. I’ll sit down with any player who’s uneasy about my coming out. Being gay is not a choice.” But coming out was a positive choice that Collins was able to make for himself. And since making it he has never felt better. “The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in,” he wrote. “I’m much happier since coming out to my friends and family. Being genuine and honest makes me happy.” Since Jason’s coming out, Jarron has been there to support his twin all the way, becoming a true ally to the LGBTQ community in the process. It is for their bravery both on and off the court as well as their commitment to

www.CompeteNetwork.com

Jason Collins

Wade Davis

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“

I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest. Honesty is a bitch but makes life so simple and clear. My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended. -- Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers

each other, to their shared sport and to the gay community that we honored both men with our 2013 Legacy Award at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards in Los Angeles this November. Still a free agent, as of this writing Collins has not been signed by an NBA team, causing many people to ask whether he remains unsigned because he is gay. That has been countered by those who say that in his mid-thirties, he’s simply past his prime and not worth investing precious dollars in him. Approximately ten years younger than Collins, Robbie Rogers started his coming out by using the traditional process of retiring first and then making the announcement that he was gay. On February 15, 2013, just weeks after being released by the Leeds United football [soccer] team in the U.K. and after coming out to his “conservative, Catholic, closeknit” family, he made the announcement on his website that he was gay and that he was quitting soccer. Rogers wrote, “I’m a soccer player, I’m Christian, and I’m gay. Those are things that people might say wouldn’t go well together. But my family raised me to be an individual and to stand up for what I believe in.” He continued to write that “I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest. Honesty is a bitch but makes life so simple and clear. My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.” In an interview with Matthew Breen of OUT Magazine, Rogers shared that “Growing up, I learned that being gay was a sin … It was not something you could be, and it wasn’t something my family would talk about much – it was obviously something that scared the shit out of me.” But Rogers’ website post had immediately elicited lots of personal support for him from soccer players everywhere as well as this statement of support issued by U.S. Soccer: “As a Federation we support all our athletes who have had the

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”

courage to address this deeply personal topic. We are proud of Robbie. He has been an outstanding representative of our National Team program for many years. We support him and wish him great success in the future.” And Frank Klopas, head coach of MLS’ Chicago Fire, indicated that if Rogers wanted to play again, he’d welcome him to the Fire. Then on May 1, just one day after Jason Collins’ coming out where he had credited Robbie Rogers for having “blazed a trail” for him to follow, Rogers joined MLS’ LA Galaxy in training as a “special guest.” While there, he made a decision to return to professional soccer. He revealed that what prompted his decision was speaking to a group of approximately 500 courageous LGBT youth in Portland, Oregon, saying that they made him feel like a coward for not stepping up to change the world like they were doing. After paperwork trading him from the Fire (he never played for them but they held his rights) to the Galaxy was official on May 24, just two days later Robbie Rogers played his first match for the Galaxy, making him the first active openly gay male athlete in major U.S team sports. And it is for his courageous decision to move sports diversity forward that we honored him with our 2013 Professional Athlete of the Year award at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards in Los Angeles this November. Only time will tell the final outcome of Jason Collins’ and Robbie Rogers’ coming out stories and whether or not they prove to be the long-awaited tipping point for other professional gay athletes in the four major American team sports and beyond to come out. But the positive effects these two have created have already started the change process. Like water running downhill, it will only continue to gather power and speed until it sweeps away any remaining blockages that keep gay athletes from competing openly and honestly … at any level.

Jason Collins and Robbie Rogers were certainly game-changers in 2013 for their courage to come out as gay professional athletes while still playing. But Compete Magazine covered a wide range of sports, people and events last year that impacted the sports-loving gay and allied communities. They ranged from amateur-to-professional levels in the more traditional sports of basketball and football and then included bowling, bridge and frisbee to NASCAR, skiing, roller derby and more. Here are some of the sporting events and stories that made the pages of Compete in 2013.

Game Changing People and Moments

2013

The Kiss Seen Round the World

2013 started off with the ESPN tape-delayed broadcast of pro bowler Scott Norton not only winning the 2012 PBA Chameleon Championship but also hugging and kissing his husband, Craig Woodward. And the PBA announcer referred to Craig throughout the tournament as Scott’s husband or spouse. This was a huge step forward for gay sports! Seventh Sin City Shootout This growing and ever-more fabulous sports festival went from five sports in 2012 to 12 in 2013, including basketball, bodybuilding, bridge, dodgeball, frisbee, golf, ice hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, SPORTS volleyball and wrestling. First Ever Women’s Fight as MMA Main Event Compete covered the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 157 in February when it held its first ever women’s fight as the main event. Challenger was Liz Carmouche, first openly gay fighter in the MMA, better known as the Girl-rilla. She lost the match to newly-crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey.

Carmouche recounts that to this day, Kim “thanks me for changing her views on gay people and now says she can’t imagine why she was ever homophobic.” It was this experience in addition to the support of her family, including her long-time partner, Elisa (a boxer in her own right), that encouraged her to come out as the first openly gay fighter in MMA. After leaving the Marines, Carmouche landed in San Diego and started looking for a sport that would provide an outlet for her love of physical competition. She decided to try her hand (and all the rest of her body) at MMA and “The first time I sparred, I got a bloody nose and I was hooked,” she said. “I thought this is awesome! This is for me!” As she trains for her professional career in MMA, she also works as a professional trainer, especially loving her work with the kids. Referring to her opponent in her upcoming fight, Carmouche says that “Rhonda and me [sic] are making history as the first women’s fight in the UFC. But first and foremost in MMA, I want to be the first female fighter to win a UFC championship inside the Octagon.” She has never made a secret of her sexuality and by and large, the MMA community and fans have been supportive. Carmouche, the Girl-rilla, has started to call her growing group of fans “the Lizbians.” She says that “When I think about it, it is cool being the first openly gay athlete in the sport and in the UFC. And I hope I can set a good example of myself. I’m proud of who I am and of sharing my life and having full support with a great person and my family.” When asked if there was anything she wanted to share with Compete readers, Carmouche was eager to have you know about the wonderful diversity within MMA. She says that while many people not familiar with the sport think all MMA fighters are “meatheads,” that’s not true. She says that although they represent everything from Ph.D.s to street people, in the end they are all true athletes. We wish you well in both your upcoming fight and your MMA career – you go, Girl-rilla!

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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75th Annual March Madness We checked out the 75th Annual March Madness – from the new Fruit Stripe Gum uniforms to sharing the story of the “game that changed everything” – the 1966 Texas Western championship. It was the first time an all-black team played (and beat) an all-white team in an NCAA title game, helping to advance the civil rights movement.

Boston Marathon Bombing The AP sports story of the year was the April bombing of the iconic Boston Marathon. Done for political protest, the bombers only managed to draw out the very best in all those involved. The Boston Red Sox used their season to help heal the collective physical, mental and emotional wounds by inviting injured runners and first responders to be part of the season’s ceremonies and managed to wind up winning the World Series. And Sports Illustrated included a picture of gay first responder Javier Pagan of the Boston Police Department on its cover.

Brittney Griner Joins the Phoenix Mercury The 6 foot 8 Griner, the open lesbian from Baylor University, was the number one pick of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. She, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins are three WNBA rookies who are expected to change the face of the league.

Gay Games 9 We shared an update on Gay Games 9 being held in the Cleveland-Akron, Ohio area in August 2014. Although it’s the smallest region ever chosen as host, that doesn’t mean the Games will be smaller. It was chosen in part because of the great sporting venues. You won’t want to miss Gay Games 9!

IGLA 2013 Championships Hosted by Seattle’s Orca swim team in August, the 2013 IGLA (the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics) Championships brought swimmers, divers, synchronized swimmers and water polo players from all over the world.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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Supreme Court Gives DOMA and Prop 8 the Boot The Supremes ruled in June that DOMA is unconstitutional and Prop 8 is illegal, paving the way for marriage equality campaigns to change the law in 17 states in 2013. Thank you Edie Windsor!

National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction We saw 26 gay and straight game changers inducted into the inaugural class of the newly-opened National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame this past August. The class included gay athletes who were active and retired as well as alive and deceased. Also included were organizations, teams, activists, sports journalists and three straight allies.

37th Annual NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series August also brought the 37th annual Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) thanks to the incredible work of NAGAAA (North American Amateur Athlete Alliance) and local hosts, CAPS (the Chesapeake& Potomac Softball league). Held in Washington, D.C. during the 50-year celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech, this year’s theme was One Team – One Dream.

Wade Davis – Creating Positive Change In September we interviewed out retired NFL cornerback Wade Davis about his You Belong Initiative that held its first camp in Chicago with the help of his business partner Darnell Moore, Jason and Jaron Collins, transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox and recently out basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo among others.

(Continued on page 20)

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(Continued from page 18)

Blake Skjellerup Prepping for Sochi Our interview with New Zealand’s openly gay Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup and his Canadian preparations for the upcoming Olympics in Sochi was fascinating. Unfortunately, Skjellerup failed to qualify and will not be competing at Sochi.

NGFFL’s Gay Bowl XIII In October, the National Gay Flag Football League held Gay Bowl XIII, the Super Bowl of gay football, in Phoenix for the second time. And for the second year in a row, the women’s division participated and wowed the crowds.

Golf as a Mind/Body Sport In addition to a skiing story for you snow lovers in November, we also highlighted golf for those who prefer to stay thawed out. Class “A” LPGA instructor Sue Weiger shared how she teaches golfers to get out of their comfort zone to make magic on the course.

Third Annual Compete Sports Diversity Awards Thanks to our wonderful partners and sponsors, our third annual Compete Sports Diversity Awards ceremony held in November in Los Angeles was outstanding. Lexus once again brought in a car and many other high end elements to make it a magical evening where we honored a number of deserving athletes, organizations and companies, both gay and straight, who have made significant contributions to moving sports diversity forward.

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TENTH ANNUAL ARIZONA GALA

Saturday, March 29, 2014 Arizona Grand Resort Phoenix, Arizona

The 2014 Gala is an annual celebration that brings entertainment, dignitaries, business leaders and members of the community together, with a pledge of achieving fundamental fairness and equality for all. The annual gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for HRC Arizona, the local committee of HRC, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest LGBT civil rights organization.

h r c a z d i n n e r. o r g

& KAREN BAILEY

NELDA MAJORS Part of Team Human Race BY CONNIE WARDMAN

s we start to think about Valentine’s Day, w e’ re a l w a y s partial to stories where sports are involved in a couple’s love story. And the story of Karen Bailey and Nelda Majors certainly fits. They have absolutely come a long way together – they’ve gone from college girls in a closeted lesbian relationship involved in softball to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to speak to the gathered crowd during a marriage equality rally this past March. Now in their 70s, they’ve been together for 55 years – better than many heterosexual couples. In 1957 Nelda was 19, a sophomore physical education major at Sam Houston State College and a crack softball player. Karen was 18, a freshman at the same college thinking about a major in elementary education and/or business

when they met and became best friends. While Nelda knew she was gay, Karen didn’t. In fact, she was in a relationship with a soldier when she met Nelda. After six months of deepening friendship, when they returned to school following spring break they declared their love for one another and became a couple. But remember that this was Texas in the 1950s. According to Nelda, “It was a time that you just did not admit that you were gay unless you had close gay friends. You could even be arrested; you could lose your job or your family, or even lose a lot of your straight friends for that matter.” Nelda had an uncle who coached a little league team in Arkansas, and during summer visits, she’d get to play with the boys on her uncle’s team and get extra coaching from him. A natural athlete from the start, she only got better with age and practice. And by the time she turned 14 she had

moved from playing center field to pitching and was playing with older women players. This was prior to Title IX so softball wasn’t part of the college program. Instead, the softball team in Houston was sponsored by a local company and the team traveled all over the country playing fast pitch softball. Because there was no competition for them in Houston, the women actually played in a men’s league. Since Karen wasn’t a player, she sat in the bleachers to cheer Nelda on. That was when she heard some of the men’s wives talking about those “queers.” It truly angered and upset her and she told Nelda she should quit softball to get away from such attacks … to which Nelda replied, “Don’t make me make a choice.” Karen got the message loud and clear and instead, she chose to become very involved with the softball team as the scorekeeper, (Continued on page 26)

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TEAM COMPETE MV P

TY COBB

Photos by William Waybourn

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to be included in our MVP section, e-mail MVP@competenetwork.com

WHY HE LOVES SPORTS: Running gives me a chance to clear my mind and sweat.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Legs.

DISLIKES: Bell peppers, licorice, vodka, radishes.

INTERESTS: Politics, civil rights, running, cooking and farmers markets. LIKES: Bacon, avocado, peanut butter, jalapenos.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Jackie Robinson

TEAM: LiveStrong Team for the 2010 ING NYC Marathon

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Taken

SPORT: Running

HOMETOWN: Mont Belivieu, Texas

AGE: 29

(Continued from page 22) even traveling with the team. This meant she no longer had to sit in the stands and she loved being able to say that by the end of the season the men’s wives were cheering for the “queers” (who just happened to beat the men). After two years at Sam Houston, both women transferred to the University of Houston where Nelda ran into homophobia from the head of the physical education department. She was told that if she wanted to stay in this major, she had to drop softball – there were no softball players (read that as gays or queers) in her department; if Nelda wanted to play softball then she needed to switch majors. Although the woman offered her time to decide, Nelda immediately changed her major to physical therapy. She discovered later that the woman was, herself, a lesbian. The change in major turned out well for both women. Nelda started a long and successful career in physical therapy, first as a therapist in a local hospital, then a local clinic and finally into overseeing a staff of therapists with an international group. After 13 years working at an oil company as an executive assistant, Karen joined Nelda in the physical therapy clinics and handled the business end of the practice.

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After the women retired, Karen’s great grand niece Sharla, now 21, came to live with them at the age of four. Six years later they were given custody of Sharla’s half-sister Marissa. Now 15, Marissa was only three when she came to live with them. Karen and Nelda have built a happy life together, a home, a successful business and raised two wonderful girls over the last 55 years. But with same-sex marriage still not legal in Arizona, if anything should happen to Karen, Nelda would have no legal rights for the girls she has helped raise. “It is so harmful to our girls.” Nelda said, “Being able to marry in Arizona would legally solidify our rights as a family.” This is the one thing that leaves them with a lot of uncertainty. Both women are thrilled about the freedom that coming out of the closet has given them to speak up on important issues of the day. Their concerns over their girls’ future prompted them to travel to Washington, D.C. in March to speak about it to the crowd at a

Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services

marriage equality rally during the DOMA hearings and to share their love story. Occasionally they’re sorry they didn’t come out sooner but they also recognize that it was a very different world back then, something that makes their freedom today all the more precious. They are no longer on a softball team. Instead, they’re on a new team today that supports equality for all … team human race.

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Let the Games Begin BY BRIAN PATRICK

YES, LET THE SOCHI GAMES BEGIN … but which games? The real Sochi games began long before the first Olympic torch was lit for the torch relay leading to the Opening Ceremony on February 7th. Considered by many to be a fiasco, it appears that the torch relay could be a portent of things to come. En route, the Olympic flame went out more than once and in one case was relit by a security guard with his Zippo lighter. One of the carriers even set himself on fire. Sadly, international politics have eclipsed the very reason for holding the Olympic Games – using sports to promote peaceful and friendly interaction among competing countries. Leonid Bershidsky, a Moscow editor and novelist writes that “In a country where government contracts are typically vehicles for private enrichment, allegations and finger-pointing inevitably ensued. Inflated cost estimates, kickbacks and subpar work quality are among the reasons the Sochi Olympics have become the most expensive in history, with a $US45 billion price tag, according to Russia’s ministry for regional development.” He also says that the torches contractor Krasmash sold the Olympic committee for nearly $400 apiece were “a simple, flimsy device, assembled

| COMPETE | February 2014

any which way.” A blogger reported in October that the torches were assembled by students hired online by a Krasmash subcontractor. Widespread public awareness of the political games began with the Russian government passing a stringent anti-gay law after they were selected as the site for the 2014 Winter Games. A Pride House for LGBT athletes has been banned and despite tentative assurances

from some Russian politicians that athletes will be safe, many question whether or not the Russian government can or will want to fully deliver on this promise. As the saying goes, talk is cheap; it’s actions that reveal true agendas. And the deadly terrorist bombings in Volgograd, even though some 600 miles from Sochi, have prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning to Americans planning to attend the Games.

The Russian government’s past actions, most recently the extended imprisonment of members of the Russian feminist punk rock protest group Pussy Riot, show that the government is certainly not above taking harsh action to silence any type of protest. This means there is a very real question of safety for both athletes and spectators – those who will openly self-identify as gay and those allies who will openly support them. Back in September the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic Games, announced it was “fully satisfied” that Russia’s shocking antigay propaganda law doesn’t violate the Principle 6 anti-discrimination guarantees of the Olympic charter. Thankfully, the lesson learned from the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980 to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was that the athletes were the only ones who paid the price for Russia’s aggression. Fortunately for the current athletes and their families who have devoted years and untold dollars to reach the pinnacle of their sport, the early calls for an Olympic boycott in Sochi fell through. To bring attention to the IOC’s almost unbelievable abandonment of its principles to please the Russian

WHO IS CAROL CIFELLI?

A BIT ABOUT THE BRAINS  AND HANDS  BEHIND LIPONOW

Caring for others is not for the faint of heart, but for Carol Cifelli, R.N., B.S.N., founder of LipoNOW and Faces by Ci’felli, the medical field is where her heart led her. Upon graduating from Arizona State University, she spent over twenty years as a nurse, providing care both in hospitals and in people’s homes, attending patients from birth to death and everything in between. In 2004, Carol’s career took a fortuitous turn when she attended the Esthetic Skin Institute based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During that time, she became certified in mesotherapy, lipotherapy, and dermal fillers – and discovered Injection Lipolysis (IL). Not only does IL garner proven results for aesthetic purposes – such as removing fat, smoothing wrinkles and tightening skin, and fixing post-liposuction irregularities – but for a host of other health conditions as well. Carol trained side-by-side with Dr. Franz Hasengschwandtner, a pioneer in the field of IL and the Scientific and Medical Director of NETWORKLipolysis, an international organization which has trained over four thousand physicians in sixty-four countries, Dr. Franz helped to set the standards for Injection Lipolysis worldwide. With his expert guidance, Carol developed and perfected her own IL techniques, and in 2005, LipoNOW was officially open. For the past five years, in addition to her own practice, Carol has trained other medical professionals as well – and was recently asked to represent the United States on behalf of Globalhealth Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Because her practice focuses solely on Injection Lipolysis, Carol has mastered the precise dexterity and innate artistry that the procedure requires, ensuring amazing results. Intensely dedicated, she strives to educate people about the life-sustaining natural benefits of Phosphatidylcholine, the primary component of IL. “My purpose is to give this to as many people as possible,” she says. “It’s the second most abundant substance in our bodies. If we didn’t have it, we’d have no cell structure and life could not exist.” Patients from all over seek Carol’s expertise; she is especially renowned for her skill with the aging face and neck. Plastic surgeons regard her as an asset, referring patients to Carol for post-liposution smoothing, and to fix particularly complicated areas not helped by surgery. Throughout her years of performing Injection Lipolysis, she has never experienced a single serious complication, a gold standard attributed to ongoing training and adherence to strict NETWORK-Lipolysis protocols. LipoNOW’s longevity and success are a testament to Carol’s knowledge, ability, and passion. Perhaps discovering Injection Lipolysis was a fateful, even somewhat accidental, occurrence for Carol (“It landed in my hands like a brick,” she says) – for her and thousands of satisfied patients, it proved to be the best thing that could ever have happened. You can contact Carol and schedule a consultation at 480.951.8446. LipoNOW is located at 10613 North Hayden Road, Suite J-103, Scottsdale. www.liponow.com

government, however, a number of organizations have stepped up to the plate. HRC launched its “Love Conquers Hate” campaign to support the Russian LGBT community while Athlete Ally and All Out joined with American Apparel to sell a specially branded Principle 6 clothing line that is a visible protest message that can be worn by the athletes and their supporters. Of course no one really knows how the Russian authorities will respond to this in real time. The 2012 Summer Games in London will be remembered by many ordinary LGBT athletes as the year they discovered they had actual gay role models. Of the 23 openly gay athletes in London, 10 of them wound up taking home Olympic medals. One of the gay role models for many was out soccer player Megan Rapinoe who, before the Games, said “I think there’s an added responsibility when you’re in the spotlight. But I think it’s pretty amazing that we are in a position where you can directly affect someone else’s life without even knowing them or without ever speaking to them or seeing them.” But for the Sochi Winter Games, looking at skating as an example, well-known openly gay skaters Johnny Weir and Blake Skjellerup won’t be competing this year. Willing to risk arrest and imprisonment had he qualified, short track speed skater Skjellerup had planned to wear a rainbow pin in support of the beleaguered Russian LGBT community. Weir, a two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. champion figure skater with a Russian husband and a new design career, will join NBC’s Terry Gannon for figure skating play-by-play on NBCSN along with

| COMPETE | February 2014

Tara Lipinski, the 1998 Olympic gold medalist. Will gay athletes be safe to announce their sexual orientation during these Games? Will allies be safe supporting their LGBT counterparts? It will be interesting to see not only how the Russian authorities respond but also how and where or even if the official media carrier of the Olympics, NBCUniversal (via its outlets of NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and NBOlympics.com) and other media outlets reviewing the Games will draw the line on what current and former Olympians are permitted to address on-air and online. On the positive side, the tumult caused by the Russian determination to quash all protests has led to an historic first meeting in December between the IOC and two LGBT sports organizations, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and FGG member, the Russian LGBT Sports Federation. In addition to an expressed desire for a safe space for LGBT athletes from the Russian group, Marc Naimark, FGG vice president for external affairs, also expressed hope that sexual orientation will be added to the Olympic Charter’s Principle 6 as a type of explicit discrimination. For now it seems that the heavy lifting for supporting gay athletes will come from political/diplomatic circles. Since a Pride House for LGBT athletes has been banned, Pride House International has called for groups around the world to host Pride House events in their communities during both the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games, even releasing a logo for use by the “remote” Pride Houses. President Obama, already critical of the Russian anti-gay law, has shown U.S. displeasure by his choice

of delegation members to attend the Games. Appointing well-known openly gay Billie Jean King to lead the U.S. delegation, this is the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney that the U.S. delegation won’t include the president, first lady or vice president. Other delegation members include Caitlin Cahow, a two-time Olympic hockey medalist, and Brian Boitano, the 1988 figure skating champion, both openly gay. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) won’t take an official position on acceptable forms of protest of the Russian anti-gay laws at the Games, instead deferring to the IOC whose charter bans political demonstrations at the Games. And while King has been pleased with the message of protest that Obama’s delegation choices sent, she has also warned athletes about the potential consequences for protesting while the Games are in progress. Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer of the USOC, says that they are working with the State Department to ensure the safety of all U.S. athletes. And for Americans traveling to Sochi to attend the Games, the best advice from the State Department is that they should “be aware of their surroundings and take common-sense precautions to stay safe, notably on public transport.” Let’s hope that on February 7th when the Opening Ceremony is broadcast by NBC on an eight-hour tape delay, the politics of legalized discrimination, potential terrorism, questionable business practices and more take a back seat to sports played at a world-class level. The star of the show should be the Olympians.

GET RID OF THE FAT FOR GOOD! WITHOUT SURGERY THE MASTER OF LIPOLYSIS Carol Cifelli, RN, BSN Director of Nursing

480.951.THIN (8446) Thanks to Carol Cifelli and LipoNOW, your face and body can look more youthful, refreshed, and revitalized than ever before. The secret? Injection Lipolysis: a natural, nonsurgical, permanent procedure requiring no anesthesia and no downtime. One to three simple, hassle-free treatments, given at eight to twelve week intervals, will help you achieve the look you desire – with lasting results. See for yourself why people from all over the world seek Carol’s expertise … and experience your own amazing transformation, from the inside out.

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Sports

RUGBY TAKING HOLD IN THE U.S. BY GILBERTO GAMBOA

OTHING IS MORE AMERICAN THAN the sport of football. But one sport from across the pond is making its way into the nation’s sports culture. Interestingly enough, a very important moment of American history helped increase awareness of rugby exponentially, including here in Phoenix. Rugby teams around the valley have existed and increased in numbers since before the turn of the century. Most prominent are the Arizona State University (ASU) club teams that include both men’s and women’s teams. Equally as important are the diverse community and social teams based in the heart of Phoenix. Teams have no problem finding new members; there is not a lack of interest in playing rugby. But there is one shared goal by all involved in the sport – increased visibility. Today a rugby fan would have to search for special online live streams in order to enjoy a game. “It is very difficult for a person to find a game to watch,” said Stephen Enteman. He, his teammates and fans of the sport are all hoping that will soon change due to the increased awareness of the sport in the last several years. One name that has impacted the popularity of the sport might be familiar to most Americans: Mark Bingham. He was the rugby player on board United Airlines Alice Hoagland and Mark Bingham

| COMPETE | February 2014

Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. He’s been credited as a key player in the actions taken against the terrorists on board that diverted the plane from its original target. “His story really brought attention to the sport,” said Mike Fortey. A rugby player since 2006 and now captain of the Phoenix Storm team, Fortey added that Bingham’s story was not only about helping take down the infamous flight but also about being an example of what it is to be a rugby player. Bingham was a gay man who had played rugby since his school years. Fortey shares that “Bingham’s goal was to bring both of his worlds together,” adding that membership and spectatorship of the sport took off soon after Bingham’s full story made its rounds. Another mention of the Bingham story came from Tommy Boyle, ASU men’s rugby president. To him, it did not matter that Bingham was gay. This comment seems to stem from the culture formed by the sport. “The culture is one of the reasons that I still choose rugby,” said Boyle. Rugby players take pride in being part of a brotherhood that spans time and borders. It is no surprise that Bingham was highlighted as an exemplary member of this unique brotherhood. Being gay does not affect how the players view a particular team member. To them, Gotham Knights at Bingham Cup

anyone willing to put themselves out there is a part of the world-wide rugby family. In fact, Compete Magazine was founded on the rugby pitches of New York City in 2006. Eric Carlyle and David Riach, then both members of the Phoenix Storm, attended the world tournament and realized that there was no media coverage of the event and most people didn’t know who Mark Bingham was. Upon returning to the Phoenix area, they launched Sports Out Loud (later changed to Compete), the first print publication devoted to diversity and LGBT sports. Now in its seventh year, Compete’s Athlete of the Year Award was renamed this year to the Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year Award and Bingham’s mother, Alice Hoagland, joined Carlyle in awarding the 2013 award to transgender triathlete Chris Mosier. The diversity and acceptance of different types of players – men, women, gay, straight, young and old – is what attracts many to the sport. Players see this as a reason why some people who are turned off by American football are attracted to rugby. While providing information about his own team, Boyle expressed his respect for ASU’s women’s team as well. Since its start in 1994 the women’s team has won 11 national championships and even participated in tournaments such as the Rugby Final Four. The men’s team has also enjoyed success since its formal organization into a club sport. With over 90 players, men’s rugby is ASU’s fastest growing program. Both Boyle and Enteman mentioned the difference in how the two games of football are conducted on and off the field. Although major aggression and competitiveness are brought to the field in both forms, they end once a rugby game is over; not always the case with football. “Football players are taught to hate their opposing teams and players, whether they are playing the game or not,” said Boyle. The camaraderie of rugby contributes to the general acceptance of many lifestyles within the different teams. “I have seen no difference since we started playing with gay men and it personally does not matter to me,” said Skyler King, a member of the Camelback Rugby team. The diversity of players allows for added spectatorship which, in turn, contributes to increased membership. If the trend of the last several years continues, valley teams will not have a shortage of games to play in the future.

| COMPETE | February 2014

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Nutrition BY DR. JEAN-LUC LE PROVOST

DON’T GET WEIGHTED DOWN IN 2014

ERE WE ARE AGAIN, IT’S A NEW YEAR and new health and weight loss goals go hand-in-hand. Often we are advised to see our doctors before we start a weight loss program and this is sage advice. So arm yourself with the following guidelines to make your visit a little more worthwhile for your weight loss goals. Request from your doctor the standard blood work plus a few extra tests that could make a big difference in weight loss. Hormone testing could help you reach your goals sooner and help keep the weight off. If your hormones are out of balance you can be fighting an uphill weight loss battle. First, request that they perform a more extensive thyroid test, one that includes TSH, T4, and Free T3. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is a standard test and usually the only test medical providers run on your standard office visit. But this test alone can fall short of giving you the right answer as to how well your thyroid, thus your metabolism is running. Testing the T4 and Free T3 levels will give you and your doctor a more accurate answer as to how well your thyroid is really functioning. It is not uncommon to see a normal TSH and have other thyroid values out of range. Imagine trying to lose weight if your metabolic furnace is set too low – you could always be fighting the bulge. These simple tests can help you avoid the “there is nothing wrong with your thyroid” answer. Second test request for men, and women, should be your sex hormones. Your first sex hormone tests should be Testosterone Total and Testosterone Free labs. These are very important tests and again, often missed during your routine exams. Low testosterone can go for years without being properly diagnosed. This can contribute to a series of health conditions that impact the quality of life in your later years. This is true for both men and women! Proper testosterone testing, evaluation and treatment can help with fat loss, increase muscle mass and increase bone strength as well as mental clarity, energy and sexual function. Testosterone is major player in our overall health, especially as we become older. You owe it to yourself to see where you stand.

| COMPETE | February 2014

In addition to testosterone are other “sex” hormones; DHEA, estrogens, estradiol, progesterone, and pregnenolone. Many of these do play similar roles as testosterone and you could benefit from getting them tested in addition to your testosterone. The best place to start is by simply asking your doctor to run the tests for you. If your physician does not feel comfortable treating you for any conditions associated with hormone balancing then find a physician that specializes in hormones. With your test values in hand, ask for a professional consultation. It is advised to get a few medical health professionals’ opinions and keep your general practitioner aware of your health ambitions. You owe it to yourself to get your levels tested. This proactive approach can significantly affect your weight loss and your future health. Please see our website blog at drleprovost.com for more information on hormone testing and treatments.

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY

Dr. Jean-Luc Le Provost In addition to Primary Care, Dr. Provost also specializes in:

Anti-Aging Personalized Supplements and Treatment Cellular Metabolic Testing for Athletic Performance Call for your initial consulation 602-908-5422 phxmhc@gmail.com 2601 N 3rd St Phoenix, AZ 85004

Fitness BY MARK MOON

WEIGHT TRAIN FOR FAT LOSS BURN AN EXTRA 16,000 CALORIES A YEAR! WEIGHT TRAINING IS JUST AS EFFECTIVE FOR fat loss as it is for building muscle, so fear not ladies and gents – working with weights won’t turn you into an oversized ball of rippling muscle … unless you want it to. Weight training will help you lose weight, get in shape and tighten all those flabby areas you’ve been covering up. In fact, according to a study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, exercisers who completed an hour-long weight training workout burned an average of 100 more calories in the 24 hours afterward than they did when they hadn’t lifted weights. At

TAKE THE HIGH INTENSITY CHALLENGE

Don’t be scared of intensity. Use medium weights that challenge you over the entire course of your workout, and use steady movements and full range of motion during the exercise. You should be challenged to finish the last few repetitions of each exercise.

three sessions a week, that’s almost 16,000 calories a year or more than 2 kilograms of fat! The results don’t end there though. More importantly resistance training will help decrease your body fat percentage by increasing lean muscle, improving your overall strength to help prevent injuries performing everyday activities. And resistance training will help increase bone density. While extremely important for everyone, bone density is especially important for females who tend to be more susceptible to breaks and fractures as they age. Here are three tips to ensure you get the right results:

Taking the time to cool down and reduce your stress levels post-workout will help put your body into a fat burning state and calm down your mind as well. Stretching will also help prevent injury and promote lean muscle growth and exercise recovery.

MINIMAL REST BETWEEN SETS

When training for fat loss, you only need short breaks between each exercise. Perform multiple exercise sets, resting about 15 seconds between exercises. As you alternate from one exercise to the next, your muscle gets recovery, but your heart rate and the workout intensity don’t. Mark Moon is one of today’s leading health and wellness trainers, Blood Type Diet expert and creator of the Get Fit Fast online fitness and lifestyle program. He has recently launched his newest US-based, four disc DVD series, “Get Fit Fast: The Complete Workout System.” These four motivational 40 minute workouts include strength, cardio and core, stretch and recover, and indoor cycle! To learn more about Mark Moon and GET FIT FAST, visit www.markmoonfitness.com

| COMPETE | February 2014

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AVOIDING A VICIOUS CYCLE: BIKING AND SEX BY TY NOLAN

Dear Compete: I love cycling –it keeps me fit and I enjoy being outside. But someone told me that spending a lot of time on my bike could cause some sexual problems. Is this true? -- Curious Bikerboy Ty Nolan Compete: Cycling is an excellent way to get and stay fit. It helps lower the carbon footprint and is a terrific alternative form of transportation. Unfortunately, it can also cause or contribute to genital numbness and erectile dysfunction. There have been a number of studies to back up the research findings. The good news is it doesn’t happen to everyone. Although it tends to happen more to people who spend a great deal of time on their bikes, there are steps you can take to safeguard the family jewels. Think about sitting properly in a chair with your body weight distributed on both buttocks. This takes pressure off what is medically called your perineum (you may know the slang terms better – “taint,” “gooch,” or “chode”). Running from the rectum to the genitalia, its nerves and arteries supply the penis in men and the clitoris and labia in women. Increased pressure on the perineum from a bike seat can compress those nerves and arteries, causing a lessening of sensation and additional problems. Nerve damage accounts for penile numbness. Pressure on the pudendal artery can add to this nerve injury, producing temporary or prolonged erectile dysfunction. An ill-fitting bike seat can reduce blood flow to the penis by as much as 66 percent, and even a broad seat may reduce flow by 25 percent. The same pressure and nerve challenges can also result in bicycling-related sexual problems for women. Ty Nolan, Compete’s community editor, is an experienced counselor (much of it with the LGBT community) and educator with a master’s degree in higher education. He is also a Native American storyteller and published author.

| COMPETE | February 2014

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM A HARVARD SET OF GUIDELINES TO PROTECT YOURSELF: 4 Unless you’re racing, avoid a racing seat with a narrow and lengthened nose – look for a wider seat that has lots of padding. Specialized shockabsorbing seats and those filled with gel are also an option. 4 Your seat should not be tilted upwards – that can put more pressure on your perineum. 4 Check your seat height. Your legs should not be completely extended when you’re at the bottom of your pedaling. 4 Raising your handlebars can help you sit in a more upright position. 4 On long rides, remember to shift your position periodically and to take regular breaks. This is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor.

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| COMPETE | February 2014

Overtime

EVENTS

GAY SPORTS EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY Find more events online at competenetwork.com

BOWLING

SOFTBALL

Seattle Espresso Cut Seattle January 24-25 Winter Express Trio Tournament Ann Arbor January 31-February 1 Gasparilla Annual Games Mixed Event Tampa February 7-8 Bluegrass Classic Louisville, Ky. February 14 San Francisco Golden Gate Invitational Classic San Francisco, Calif. February 14 Sweetheart Invitational New Haven, Conn. February 14 Ice Bowl Omaha, Neb. February 14

Gasparilla Softball Classic Tampa February 14

RODEO Arizona Gay Rodeo Corona Ranch & Rodeo February 14-16 A Texas Tradition Rodeo Dallas, Tex. February 28-March 2

| COMPETE | February 2014

TENNIS GLTA World Tour Championships-Orlando Orlando January 31-February 2

VOLLYBALL Hello Sunny VB Classic Ft. Lauderdale February 15

ON DECK

NEXT MONTH IN COMPETE MAGAZINE

Ride’em cowboys and cowgirls – it’s time for the rodeo. We’ll also feature a recap of the Sin City Shootout and the 15 different sports being represented this year and getting an update on preparations for Gay Games 9. Don’t miss any of the fun!

Overtime

YEARBOOK

THIS MONTH IN SPORTS HISTORY: FEBRUARY

Super Bowl XXXVIII, Reliant Stadium, Houston, New England Patriots beat Carolina Panthers 32-29 - 2004

Pete Maravich becomes 1st to score 3,000 college basketball points - 1970

Power outage occurs during the Super Bowl XLVII at New Orleans’ Superdome; Ravens defeat the 49ers 34 - 31 - 2013

Marge Schott suspended from baseball for 1 year due to racism - 1993

Notre Dame becomes 1st team to sell its game to a major network (NBC) - 1990

Brett Hull becomes 1st son of NHL 50 goal scorer (Bobby) to score 50 - 1990

U.S. Male Figure Skating championship won by Brian Boitano - 1987

1st female ice hockey game in Olympic history Finland beats Sweden 6-0 - 1998

Kelly Robbins wins LPGA Diet Dr. Pepper National Pro-Am - 1997

1st black probaseball player Jackie Robinson marries Rachel Isum - 1946

Baseball owners lock out players - 1990

Lance Armstrong announces his official retirement from professional cycling - 2011

Danica Patrick becomes 1st woman at Daytona 500 & NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to win pole position - 2013

NBA Indiana Pacers begin a 28 game road losing streak - 1983

14th winter Olympic games close at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia - 1984

Los Angeles Dodger Orel Hershiser is 1st to win a $1M salary by arbitration - 1986

USA Olympic hockey team defeated Finland, 4-2, to win the gold medal - 1980

PBA National Championship won by Scott Alexander - 1995

Organized baseball played in San Francisco for 1st time - 1860

Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight throws a chair during a game - 1985

NCAA cancels SMU’s 1987 football schedule for gross violations of NCAA rules regarding athletic corruption - 1987

1st televised basketball game - Univ of Pittsburgh beats Fordham Univ 50-37 - 1940

Source: www.brainyhistory.com

| COMPETE | February 2014

Intn’l Olympic Committee announces sport of wrestling has been dropped from 2020 Summer Olympics - 2013

29 Gordie Howe becomes 1st NHL player to score 800 career goals - 1980

13 Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili dies in fatal crash in training run for 2010 Vancouver Olympics, - 2010

14 Bobby Allison at 50 becomes oldest driver to win Daytona 500 - 1988

21 Kristi Yamaguchi of U.S. wins Olympic gold medal in women’s figure skating - 1992

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