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INFO & TICKETS desertAIDSProject.org or 760.992.0440
JULY 2014
Volume 8, Issue 7
FOUNDERS Publisher Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Publisher David Riach • david@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Managing Editor Joshua Wyrick • joshua@competenetwork.com Community Editor Ty Nolan • ty@competenetwork.com Style Editor Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Travel Editor Brian Raymond • brian@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 Photo Editor Jacquelyn Phillips • jacquelyn@competenetwork.com Photographers Gregg Edelman, Thomas Fleisher Vice President of Marketing Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com Sales Manager Greg Slater • greg@competenetwork.com Sales & Partnerships Joseph Gaxiola • joseph@competenetwork.com Accounting Mary Essick • mary@competenetwork.com Distributors Arizona Edition – Paul Sanchez Distributing Southern California Edition – Five Star Distributing Copyright © 2014 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved. Arizona Edition 4703 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 • 480-222-4223 Southern California Edition 7080 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 1100 Los Angeles, California 90028 • 323-380-1068 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC
16 SURF’S UP: ALL NEW SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
22
AUSTIN ARMACOST— GAY GAMES IX AMBASSADOR
38
HITTING THE ROAD: CACTUS 4-WHEELERS
KICK–OFF 11 FACE OFF 12 SPEED READ 13 GRANDSTANDING 14 THUMBS UP+DOWN/SPORTS POP DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP 26 SPORTS
WNBA All-Star Game Coming to Phoenix Athletes Honored by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
30 NUTRITION Paleo to Go
32 TRAVEL
TREAT Bowling Comes to Pittsburgh
34 STYLE
Shoes—Both Comfortable and Stylish
36 FITNESS
3 Tips to Relieve Upper Back Tension
COMPETENETWORK.COM
VERTIME O 40 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 SPORTS YEARBOOK
FACEBOOK.COM/COMPETEMAG
COMPETE ONLINE
MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.
COVER PHOTO
Traver Rains
COVER DESIGN
Carmen Martin
Check out additional Compete Online stories at competenetwork.com
@COMPETESPORTS www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 5
FROM THE SKYBOX BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER
$250,000 Down and More to Go
@CompeteEric
W
hen we first launched the world’s only gay sports magazine, most people said we would not be around very long. There were some times early on when I was afraid those naysayers might have been right. Now, as we have eased into our eighth year of producing Compete, I am thrilled to announce our upcoming expansion plans. While we have had a presence in Southern California since our inception in 2006, we are currently developing Compete SoCal, a magazine dedicated to athletes in Southern California. Over the next few months we will be adding new distribution points in Los Angeles and Palm Springs before launching our SoCal-branded issue later this year to compliment Compete Arizona. It is our intention to launch locally-branded issues of Compete in 17-plus areas over the next few years. We love the idea of serving local communities and introducing our love of sports and our commitment to sports diversity across the nation. This growth will also allow us to continue to give back to the communities we currently serve and to give back to the new markets we enter. I am proud to say that we have donated over $250,000 in advertising and promotions to non-profits and community agencies over the past seven years. And we look forward to adding to that number as we reach new communities and new readers. We would not have gotten this far without you, our readers. I want to personally thank you for your support in helping us fulfill our mission of Uniting the World Through Sports. Sport On,
Eric Carlyle Chief Executive Officer eric@competenetwork.com
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 7
I fought my way back from addiction. Carl, D.A.P. client
D.A.P. treats and supports the whole person Like everyone, I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life. One of the biggest was letting alcohol and crystal meth consume me for a time. It led me into unsuccessful relationships, homelessness, and even ignoring my HIV medication therapy, causing me to lose one of my eyes. With the help of a counselor at Desert AIDS Project, I’m in recovery and am proud of my accomplishments at College of the Desert. I may have lost an eye...but I’ve never seen more clearly than I do today.
This and more...all under one roof
Thanks to your generous support, Desert AIDS Project has been saving lives for 30 years. Please continue to help by donating at desertAIDSproject.org, joining one of our annual giving programs, or by saving the date for one of our upcoming fundraising events. Summer Mixer & Dance Party | July 24, 2014 Desert AIDS Walk | October 18, 2014 Dancing With The Desert Stars | November 15, 2014 World AIDS Day | December 1, 2014
760.323.2118
desertAIDSproject.org
FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Compete is on the Grow … AGAIN!
N
@CompeteConnie
ow that we’re moving into our eighth year of publication, as Eric just shared in his publisher’s letter, we’re expanding our reach via a SoCal edition of Compete. We really are on the GROW again and you’ll see that initially reflected in the expansion of the Sports section this issue. It includes information on happenings in both Phoenix and Los Angeles. To assist us with this new growth, we’ve hired Joshua Wyrick as our new managing editor. He’ll be helping to bring you the very best and latest information in sports diversity so drop him an email or tweet or Facebook message him to help us welcome him aboard. This issue not only features Gay Games ambassador Austin Armacost, it also shares information on a new documentary on gay surfing, a subject to which we’ve never given any prior in-depth coverage. Don’t be surprised if your toes start to curl in anticipation of riding the waves—surfers contend that it’s the best sport out there and you just might be ready to agree. We’re also sharing the list of the second class of athletes and organizations being inducted into the National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame this month, including the posthumous induction of rugby player Mark Bingham. Compete was founded by rugby players Eric Carlyle and David Riach after attending the Bingham Cup, the biennial international gay rugby union tournament named in honor of Mark, a passenger on Flight 93 on 9/11. And as one of the original writers for Sports Out Loud (Compete’s original title), we’re very proud to also share “Bleacher Preacher” Jerry Pritikin’s new honor with you. We are truly excited to see these new developments taking place. So get on the bandwagon—share your story ideas with us and give us some constructive feedback. After all, this magazine really is for YOU! Keep Smiling,
Connie Wardman, Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR COMPLEX FAMILY PROBLEMS. We provide understanding and compassion for the delicate issues associated with family law and domestic partnership matters. We welcome inquiries from members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community as to how we can help you with legal issues related to your household and personal life. Contact our law office in Phoenix to discuss your same-sex partnership issues with a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney focusing on family law and related legal areas affecting cohabitating couples. • Relationship Services • Domestic Partnership Agreements • Child Custody • Child Support • Wills & Trusts
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| COMPETE | 9
FACE-OFF
KICKOFF
THE QUESTION: What does sports diversity mean to you?
Joshua Wyrick
Ty Nolan
Managing Editor
@CompeteJoshua
SPORTS DIVERSITY REQUIRES ENFORCEMENT He stood at just 5-foot 7 while many of his competitors towered over him at 6-foot 3. Despite his scrawny size, he bested teammate Dominique Wilkins (the “Human Highlight Reel”) in the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest and put up admirable numbers through his 12-year NBA career. His name is Spud Webb and he remains one of my idols from the golden era of the NBA. The NBA would have lost one of its greatest moments when Allen Iverson bested Michael Jordan at the top of the key for what is now simply called “The Crossover.” I cannot begin to imagine a world where players like Iverson and Webb were not able to play because of their size. Their coaches and teammates took chances on them and it paid off in spades. In today’s climate, however, it is not enough to simply allow diversity. It must be enforced so each and every talented player has a chance. Without regulations for decision makers in place, players like Iverson and Webb would never be assured a second look. The need for regulation is evident in every child’s life the first time he or she is lined up for a game of pick-up basketball, soccer or football and doesn’t get picked. For reasons of nepotism, weight, looks, height or lack thereof, young children are exposed to a confusing world of discrimination. Combating this on the professional level is Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is also the head of the NFL’s Diversity Committee and the league has benefited from his important inclusion and diversity work. In 2003 Rooney helped establish a rule that still stands in the NFL over a decade later. Named the Rooney Rule, it requires NFL teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operational jobs, some of the most highly paid and important jobs in the league. Rules like these make it possible for the underdogs—the undersized and the discriminated—to attain positions that really matter. Only enforcement from the governing bodies of these major sports leagues can create a representative field of the American population, a sporting landscape where everyone gets a chance to play.
Community Editor @CompeteTy
RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE NEED TO BECOME THE NORM Times change and clearly, the change keeps accelerating. Twitter launched in 2006. The first generation of iPhones came out in 2007. When Compete Magazine honored its first Athlete of the Year in 2008, while there were many LGBT athletes, the ones who were public about their identities were often retired or had been involuntarily outed, often in brutal ways. But times really are changing and the number of professional, college and high school athletes who are open members of the LGBT community continues to grow. Brian Sims was the first NCAA team captain to come out in 2000 while still playing and he’s gone on to become the first openly gay elected congressman from his home state of Pennsylvania. And now the professional sports world has seen active pro players like Robbie Rodgers and Jason Collins come out while new pros like Michael Sam and Brittney Griner have stepped into their respective spotlights as open and proud at the start of their careers. So the success of diversity to me, both as a person of color and as a member of the LGBT community, comes not only with all people being represented in sports—the success is when athletes and fans in all communities take a variety of sexual orientations and gender identities for granted as natural. True diversity to me is when respect and acceptance become the norm; when racist remarks like the one recently made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling, result in swift reprisal … but made primarily by those who are not people of color themselves. It wasn’t Michael Sam who fined safety Don Jones for his homophobic remark about Sam, it was Jones’ NFL employer. Progress comes when the community as a whole moves forward. Next up to bat? The “T” in LGBT—the transgender generation. Face-Off is a monthly feature where hot-button issues will be discussed Op-Ed style by our most talented writers.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 11
KICKOFF
LEFT FIELD
SPEED READ NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS SECOND CLASS OF HONOREES
OUR CONGRATULATIONS GO TO THE SECOND CLASS of honorees who will be inducted into The National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame at Chicago’s Center on Halsted on July 12. This year’s inductees include: Billy Bean, retired MLB player; Wade Davis, executive director of the You Can
Play Project and retired NFL player; Tom Daley, Olympic medal-winning diver; Gareth Thomas, retired rugby player; Esera Tuaolo, retired NFL player; Brittney Griner, decorated collegiate athlete and active WNBA player; Diana Nyad, endurance swimmer; Fallon Fox, mixed martial artist; Chris Mosier, founder of transathlete.com; Nike Corporation; Stand Up Foundation, anti-bullying non-profit; Mark Bingham, rugby player (deceased); Jerry Smith, NFL player (deceased); Mayor George Moscone, straight ally, former mayor of San Francisco, (deceased). The first of its kind in the U.S., the Chicago-based National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame was established in 2013 to honor individuals and organizations whose achievements and efforts have enhanced the fields of sports and athletics for the LGBT community. It preserves the history of LGBT individuals who have impacted both professional and amateur sports and provides outreach and education to the sporting world, enabling the nation’s LGBT youth to feel welcome and safe to participate in any and all sporting activities.
2014 HILDA AWARD GOES TO “BLEACHER PREACHER” JERRY PRITIKIN LEGENDARY “BLEACHER PREACHER” JERRY PRITIKIN, longtime Chicago Cubs fan and Wrigley Field regular, has been awarded the 2014 Hilda Award from the Baseball Reliquary, Inc., a Southern California-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history. Established in 2001 in memory of Hilda Chester, a legendary Brooklyn Dodgers fan, the Hilda Award is meant to recognize distinguished service to the game by a baseball fan. A Cubs fan since the age of eight, Pritikin earned the “Bleacher Preacher” moniker for his ongoing efforts to convert non-believers into Cubs fans. A former freelance photographer and publicist in the San Francisco area during the early 1960s to the late 1980s, he was an early contributing writer to Compete Magazine (then Sports Out Loud). As an early gay rights activist, he was a close friend of Harvey Milk and he also played on gay softball teams for over 30 years. Pritikin has been inducted into both the Chicago Senior Citizen Hall of Fame (2012) and the National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame (2013).
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| COMPETE | July 2014
Jerry Pritikin with Harry Carry on his 10th Inning Show - 1985
GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE THEY ALL DESERVE IT (May 2014) I really enjoyed your article on Brittney Griner. She is a great role model for those of us that have been bullied. However, she is just one of many WNBA players that deserve a Compete Magazine cover. It would be nice to see Candice Parker, Tamika Catchings or Diana Taurasi on the cover. They all deserve it.
COMPETE READER SURVEY
30% Fans
Chris Jackson (Via Email) Palm Springs Editor’s note: Thanks Chris, we would love to feature more WNBA athletes on the cover of Compete and hope to do so in the future.
MUDDY MANIA (June 2014) It was interesting to see a story about the “Obstacle Course Race Craze” in the June issue of Compete Magazine. As a avid (non-LGBT) adventure athlete it is awesome to see such an endurance race becoming mainstream. While I haven’t tried such a race yet, I reserve the right to get muddy the next time one of these races comes to town. Ken Riley(Via Email) Phoenix
70% Athletes
This month, we asked our readers how they most heavily participate in sporting activities: as an athlete or simply as a spectator.
TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.
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www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 13
KICKOFF Inspiring Healthy Living Around the World
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… for coming out as gay and sharing what it felt like being a gay athlete in Russia, saying he was “a basket case. … I didn’t travel with my phone or my computer when we went there” since the Canadian Olympic Committee debriefing had said that any information in Russia was subject to being seen by the government.
THUMBS UP
TO CHARLINE LABONTE
... Canadian women’s hockey goalie and four-time Olympic gold medalist for announcing online that “I am gay and proudly authentic.” Her girlfriend, Olympian speed skater Anastasia Bucsis, joined Athlete Ally last year to promote sports diversity.
THUMBS UP
TO #PROUDTOPLAY INITIATIVE
… the YouTube video series highlighting the achievements of LGBT athletes who share how their lives really did get better. Timed to debut during LGBT Pride month, its theme is sports and it features videos of Jason Collins, Michael Sam, Robbie Rogers, Brittney Griner, Meagan Rapinoe, Tom Daley, Fallon Fox, Darren Young, Caitlin Cahow, John Amaechi, Belle Brockhoff and Layshia Clarendon as well as other prominent LGBT athletes and supporters.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
QUIZ
Q. On which Hawaiian Island is the famous surfing spot, the Banzai Pipeline located – Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii or Maui? A. The island of Oahu, which is also home to other surfing breaks such as Sunset, Waiemea and Makaha.
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SURF’S UP OUT! AND
by Joshua Wyrick
THE COMPETITORS DON’T HIT EACH OTHER. The athletes are known for their shaggy hair and non-conformist attitudes. Points are awarded based on an individual performance scored by a panel of judges who look for finesse, creativity and new takes on old tricks. So what has made the sport of professional surfing one of the most difficult environments for athletes who are open about their sexuality?
Photos courtesy of Thomas Castets
S
urfing culture retains the macho image that has been engendered for generations by such seminal surfing flicks as Bruce Brown’s 1966 classic “The Endless Summer” as well as Keanu Reeves’ more recent portrayal of Johnny Utah in the 1991 hit “Point Break” where he starred alongside the late Patrick Swayze, a 1980’s bastion of manliness. A new documentary, “OUT in the Line-up” explores these issues within the professional surfing community by examining them through the eyes of some of the world’s most talented competitors. One of them, David Wakefield, kept his secret for nearly twenty years before being outed in 2011 at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival on the front page of the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” online edition. “Surfing is a very macho sport, built on respect,” Wakefield says. “I remember being a grommet (Aussie slang for a new surfer) when I first got my hot-buttered board … the older guys tied it to a tree and would see if they could piss on it,” Wakefield recalls through a somewhat tepid laugh. This type of seemingly harmless ritual hazing and harassment is common throughout many sports. Shows of dominance litter the athletic landscape, such as making rookies carry all the equipment back to the locker room on the first day of practice in the National Football League. These acts, meant to enforce the hierarchy that exists within nearly all areas of society, represent an endemic problem to new competitors. Wakefield’s decision to wait so long before coming out was not entirely due to fear of alienation. In professional surfing, having sponsors is not simply extra money for the athletes as is the case in many other professional sports. It is the only way to compete. Travel expenses and equipment costs rise exponentially throughout a surfer’s career. Without sponsor money, even the best surfers could not afford the sport. In spite of having a winning record and shelves of trophies, the prize pools for the competitions are mostly petty placeholders for the exposure that is gained by winning a major event.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 19
After coming out many surfers are told that their lifestyles are not consistent with the brand’s image, thereby having their sponsorships, and by extension their career aspirations, pulled out from under them. Unfortunately, the risks do not end there. Susie Hernandez remembers ruefully her first experience as an out surfer: “I moved to San Diego and … found my sexuality … not long after that my roommates moved out, and I even lost most of the surfer buddies I had made.” Even at the top of the pyramid these attitudes are still prevalent. Cori Schumacher, three-time world champion long-board surfer, says of her prior experience “… the precedent has been set … if you’re gay or they think you’re gay, you’re out [of the sport].” For former United States congressman Barney Frank, married to partner and life-long surfer Jim Ready, the problem extends beyond being pushed out of the sport. “What you have is a group of people who have a choice to conceal their individual sexuality, and often they do— whereas the media caricatures we are most often exposed to are the most stereotypical, flamboyant ends of the spectrum,” Frank relates. “But we had our reality, being honest about who we are—our reality is slowly diminishing the caricatures and thereby the prejudice that exists.” For many, the issue begins with media representation of surfers in general. Most of what the public sees of surfing is, according to visual artist and surfer Miguel Libarnes, the “…
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| COMPETE | July 2014
media portrayal of ‘white male conquering Fiji.’” There are surfers of all nationalities wherever big waves exist yet this image dominates what many across the planet know as the stereotypical board-rider. Thomas Castets, founder of gaysurfers.net and producer of the film, continues to expose the kind of trepidation that people in power have when confronted about their organization’s attitude toward homosexuality. After finally being granted an interview with ASP’s (Association of Surfing Professionals) vice president of communications Dave Prodan, Castets later received an e-mail from Prodan refusing to sign a release for the interview to be shown due to “nebulous comments” he had made. These kinds of attitudes are damaging in a way that cannot be understated. Castets comments on the founding of gaysurfers.net by saying that at one time he thought he was the only gay surfer in the entire world. “All those years I would search Google for a place for my interests and all I would find was really bad pornography,” Castets admits with a chuckle. In a world where gays and lesbians are four times more likely to commit suicide, forums like gaysurfers.net are of the utmost importance as a way to communicate with others. With Castets’ help and the collaborative effort of thousands of others across the globe, coming out in the line-up will soon be a source of pride instead of stigmatization.
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Austin Armacost From Athlete to Ambassador by Ty Nolan
Photo by Traver Rains
M
ost Compete Magazine readers and American viewers know Austin Armacost as one of the most colorful and outspoken cast members of Logo’s 2011 reality show, “The A-List: New York.” But as an Ambassador for Gay Games 9 being held in Cleveland+Akron August 9-16, we were interested in catching up with him to find out what he’s been up to since “The A-List.” I had an opportunity to chat with him recently.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
Compete: The world got to know you better from your work on “The A-List.” Can you share with our readers more about your personal history with sports and fitness? Were these always interests of yours? Armacost: I have always been an athlete. When I was younger, like most boys growing up in the Midwest, it was pee-wee football, basketball and baseball. As I got older and explored more sports, I found pole vault. Pole vault turned out to be my true calling. Soaring upside down twenty feet in the air was just an adrenaline rush I got addicted to! I was a member of the Junior USA Track & Field team, a High School All American and a three-time national top three place winner. All of my success, however, came to an abrupt stop when I suffered a severe back injury which took me out of the sport. I have now transitioned into a bodybuilder and fitness model. If I do not get to the gym at least five times a week, I feel that week has been a failure. I am currently studying to get my personal training certification as I thoroughly enjoy nutrition and fitness. Staying active and healthy is a big part of my life. I do this with the support and encouragement of my husband, Jake Lees who is always extremely healthy and active. We enjoy outdoor activities more than the gym. This includes open water swimming, hiking, biking, etc. I have been training now for the upcoming Gay Games and am very excited and pleased with the shape I am in; I hope to definitely take home a medal! You are one of the well-known Ambassadors for the Gay Games. Can you tell us more about the Gay Games and what you’re doing to promote them? My husband and I were in Germany three years ago just after the 2010 games and saw a poster for it. I was not familiar with the Gay Games before that. I definitely knew I wanted to compete but after finding out the great things about the Federation of Gay Games and the work they do, I wanted to lend my name and publicity to help spread awareness for the event. I post on my social media sites and have done events with the organization to raise money for the games.
Do you have a favorite sport? I am a fan of several sports although not very conventional ones—gymnastics, trampoline, cliff diving, rock climbing and platform diving, just to name a few. I have competed in almost every sport possible growing up, including some pretty unique ones—equestrian jumping, rodeo and road cycling for example. I was very adventurous growing up; I wanted to try everything. And for a few years I was actually a competitive cheerleader as well. Anything you’d like to share with our readers in terms of what’s coming up in your life? I am very happy to announce that Jake and I got married on June 13, 2014 here in the U.S. making us an OFFICIAL married couple in the eyes of the U.S. government. For those of who you do not know, Jake is British [they were married in the UK in 2010] so we will spend the next several weeks filing immigration paperwork and trying to get his green card as quickly as we can. I’m continuing with my personal training certification studies and hope to be certified by the end of the year. I am still doing a bit of modeling as well, working with companies such as Andrew Christian, UnderGear and PUMP. But I now work more as a spokes-model. I’m also continuing to fight for marriage equality here in my home state of Indiana. For more information on the upcoming Gay Games 9, check out their official website: www.gg9cle.com. And to follow Austin’s Gay Games performance, you can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/austinarmacost or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/austin.armacost.
The Cast of ‘The A-List’ From Left: Derek Saathoff, TJ Kelly, Austin Armacost, Jake Lees
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 23
REPLAY
To be included in our MVP section, e-mail MVP@competenetwork.com
WHY HE LOVES HIS SPORT: “I have loved playing since T-ball. In some ways it takes me back to being a kid again. For me it’s a great way to meet new people and spend time with friends that share the same interests.”
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Nolan Ryan
BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Butt
DISLIKES: Slow drivers in the fast lane, closed-minded individuals, cigarette smoke, being late
LIKES: Meeting new people, laughing, dancing, music, traveling, setting and accomplishing personal goals
INTERESTS: Softball, weightlifting, anything outdoors, home improvement projects
SINGLE OR TAKEN: Taken
TEAM: LA Vanquish
POSITION: Pitcher/1st Base
SPORT: Softball
HOMETOWN: San Antonio
CITY: Los Angeles
AGE: 33
JEFF NORRIS
TEAM COMPETE MV P
Photos by Max Quezada
SPORTS
ATHLETES PART OF GMCLA VOICE AWARDS BY CONNIE WARDMAN MUSIC AND SPORTS ARE A GREAT combination at a sporting event—like Red Sox fans singing Sweet Caroline or your school’s marching band playing the fight song. Music adds power and passion to the sporting event. They both have the power to uplift and inspire but rarely do they come together in any other way. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) has taken the pairing a step further, however, by including athletes as part of their Third Annual Voice Awards held recently at the Globe Theatre in Universal City. Serving as presenters and guests for the awards were Olympic gold medal winners, diver Greg Louganis and swimmer Gary Hall Jr. as well as Brendon Ayanbadejo, three-time NFL pro bowler and Super Bowl champion. They spoke about the gains that have been made in the sports world, particularly over the past year. Also included were NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Steve Young and his wife Barbara who presented the Ally Voice Award to the Montgomery family, the subject of the documentary “Families Are Forever” that examines a Mormon family’s journey to accept their gay son. As a leader in the LGBT community and performing arts organizations, GMCLA’s mission is to challenge homophobia through the power of music, exposing new communities to its message of equality. Their annual Voice Awards is specifically intended to honor leaders who use their voices to promote social change and equality. “It was an honor to have both straight and gay Olympians, Super Bowl Champions and Hall of Famers at this year’s Voice Awards, said Chris Verdugo, executive director of the GMCLA. “Their attendance and support demonstrated how far we’ve come in the world of sports and though we have still have much work to do, these heroes are using their voices to stand up for equality for the LGBT community.”
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| COMPETE | July 2014
Photos courtesy Daniel Lam Photography
Barbara and Steve Young
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Greg Louganis
Gary Hall, Jr.
SPORTS
WNBA ALL-STAR GAME COMES TO PHOENIX BY JOSHUA WYRICK THIS YEAR MARKS THE 14TH YEAR SINCE THE WNBA ALLSTAR GAME was held in Phoenix. Although there were dark times for the Phoenix Mercury during the ensuing years, that began to change with the drafting of Diana Taurasi. And last year’s No. 1 draft pick, Baylor’s outstanding 6-foot 8 Brittney Griner, has begun to turn the tide for the Mercury. Starting on July 22nd, this year’s All-Star game signifies a shift to a West-Coast location. WNBA President Laurel Richie says “We’ve been on the East Coast for a while and collectively think it would be nice to come West.” Richie continues, “No doubt Phoenix is experiencing some terrific growth and momentum … we’ve seen the appeal of Phoenix as they travel to other markets and we’re excited about having them host.” Some of the growth Richie refers to is a direct result of Griner, a dominant center who has helped the Mercury see a 10 percent rise in attendance from the previous season. Griner and her teammates, perennial WNBA player and six-time All-Star Diana Taurasi, as well as forwards and three-time All-Stars Candice Dupree and Penny Taylor will be representing the Mercury in this year’s game. With any large sporting event however, there exists a political side that many fans of the WNBA are already privy to. Over the past two months the WNBA has announced that it will be the first professional sports league to specifically recruit and market to LGBT fans. All WNBA teams are now participating in local pride festivals and parades. In fact, due to an April date for Phoenix Pride, Griner has already served as the Celebrity Grand Marshal for the kickoff parade. And on June 22, the first nationally-televised
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| COMPETE | July 2014
pride game was aired, a match between the Tulsa Shock and Chicago Sky. While the only results from these initiatives are positive, WNBA president Laurel Richie has faced a hailstorm of comments criticizing the league for taking 18 years to institute a league-wide LGBT policy. “We embrace all our fans and it’s a group that we know has been very, very supportive. I won’t characterize it as ‘Why did it take so long?’… the piece that’s different this year is unifying it,” Richie noted. Supportive, however, barely begins to describe a league where a 2012 study commissioned by the league itself states 25 percent of lesbians watch the league’s games on television and 21 percent have attended a game. Rick Welts, current president and COO of the Golden State Warriors and former CMO for the WNBA during its inception admits that many executives “guessed very wrong” when assuming that the fan base of the NBA would carry over to the WNBA. Robert Boland, academic chair of the sports management program at NYU’s Tisch Center does not sympathize with detractors who say the WNBA is too late with this initiative. “Sports have a natural hesitance to embrace highly controversial issues. I think we’ve lived through a time where sporting events were nonpolitical …. we are in a different era now,” Boland claims. With all these socio-political issues at work, the WNBA All-Star game will be livelier than ever. Tickets can be bought now online and at the US Airways Center box office, where one dollar of every ticket sold will go to a military member’s family as part of a program called “All-Stars and Stripes.”
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NUTRITION
PALEO TO GO BY MIRIAM LATTO ARE YOU LEADING A HECTIC AND demanding work life, are you a harried onthe-go parent, are you trying to improve your fitness level or in training for the next big competition? If you have answered “yes” to one or more of these questions then you probably find it difficult to eat as well as you know you should. Take heart— help in the culinary department is here. One of the newer healthy approaches to eating is the Paleo food movement that, in its strictest form, says we should eat only what our Stone Age hunter-gatherer ancestors had available to them—wild plants and assorted animals that were present in the Paleolithic era. Translated into today’s readily available foods, however, eating a Paleo diet consists mainly of grass-fed, pasture-raised meats, fish, vegetables, eggs, fruit, fungi, roots and nuts. Because it excludes grains, potatoes, dairy products, legumes, refined salt and sugar as well as processed oils, it is also a good choice for those needing a gluten-free diet. While there are certainly conflicting opinions on whether Paleo is a fad or here to stay, the fact is that we traditionally eat carbohydrate-heavy meals, especially breakfasts and lunches when we’re rushing to get out the door in the morning and grabbing a quick lunch on the go. Whether or not you choose to jump into the Paleo movement with both feet or just wet your toes a bit, there is a book that provides healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch meals for on-the-go individuals. Author Diana Rodgers is a nutritional therapist and cooking teacher who also serves as a nutritional consultant for several Crossfit Gyms. She says that “For me, eating healthy has been a lifelong journey. Suffering from celiac disease in her twenties, Rodgers had to go on a very restricted diet. By her thirties she was feeling some better. But after she took the 30-day Paleo challenge (from “The Paleo Solution”), it changed her life and her relationship with food. Drawing on all her personal and professional experience, she offers 100 time-efficient, packable meals in her book, “Paleo Lunches and Breakfasts on the Go.” For athletes and nutrition/fitness enthusiasts, she takes the confusion out of
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| COMPETE | July 2014
how to make fast, gluten-free and hand-friendly meals without bread. Also included are meals that are ethnically diverse in their origin as well as a three-week schedule of work or school lunches. In addition to creative uses for toothpicks and packaging, there are sections on handheld wraps, commuter salads, and office-ready soup and stews. There is even a section with ideas for kids, although her recipe for curried green eggs and ham is found in the Busy Morning Breakfast section. The book is full of speedy gourmet meals that can be assembled in minutes with commonly found ingredients without needing a high level of skill as a cook. According to Rodgers, most people interested in the Paleo way of eating move into a blend of 80 percent Paleo and 20 percent non-Paleo. No matter where you are on the subject, though, it is good to remember her advice, which is to “stay focused on the primary goal of eating nutrient-dense foods to achieve optimum health.”
TRAVEL
ALL-STAR
BY BRIAN RAYMOND, OUT DESTINATIONS
TREAT BOWLING TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO PITTSBURGH When you think about Pittsburgh you probably think of steel and coal, grit and grime. While that built this city, today it has been scrubbed clean with striking downtown architecture, tightly-knit ethBrian Raymond nic neighborhoods filled with authentic culture and cuisine, and a redeveloped waterfront. Now its economy runs on technology, health care, medical research and education. Downtown, known as the Golden Triangle, is located at the convergence of three rivers. As the summer heat of September gives way to autumn, Pittsburgh will host the Three Rivers Eastern Area Tournament (TREAT) bowling tournament. The host hotel is the Wyndham Grand, located downtown across from Point State Park, home to the Fort Pitt Museum and Block House (built in 1764). The museum tells the history of the battles for control between the British, French, American Indians, and early settlers during the French and Indian War. During the weekend, stroll through the Strip District just east of the Convention Center. Originally home to iron mills and foundries, later it became a wholesale produce center. Today it has been transformed with funky shops, trendy restaurants and farmers’ markets. At night it’s a clubber’s paradise. Be sure to try one of the Primanti Brothers sandwiches, famous because the fries and coleslaw are rolled into the sandwich—it’s a local’s favorite. While there is no “gay center,” there are several gay bars near the Convention Center area through to the north end of the Strip District. Spread throughout central Pittsburgh you’ll find the four top-rated Carnegie Museums: the Andy Warhol Museum, the Science Center, the Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural History. Near the Warhol Museum is the provocative Mattress Factory Museum. Architecture buffs will appreciate the wide range of gems dating from the 1800s onward, such as the neo-Gothic Cathedral of Learning to the modern plate-glass PPG Place. Across the river just north of Station Square, you can ride the Incline. Built in the late 1800s, you ride 370 feet up the mountainside to where USA Today ranked the second most beautiful place to view a cityscape. Afterwards go back down to Station Square and enjoy an evening at another popular foodie’s hotspot with some of the city’s best nightlife. With something for everyone, Pittsburgh is a great city to visit. To make your vacation dreams come true, contact Brian Raymond at brian@OutDestinations.com or 866-217-2341.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
STYLE
SHOES FOR ATHLETES
Comfortable
AND
Stylish by Alfonzo Chavez
IT’S THE SUBJECT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT once they’ve reached “a certain age”—orthopedic shoes. Before you get all crazy, we’ll say orthopedic shoes aren’t as easy to clock as they once were. There are now many options for orthopedic shoes that don’t require you to look like someone who has never considered the idea of how they look … comfortable.
Spenco® (spenco.com) If you’ve ever participated in a marathon, you’re probably familiar with Spenco® shoes, which is how a Compete staffer discovered the brand. “Many athletes wear orthotics in their running shoes during training, then slip their feet into flat flip flops,” said Jeff Antonioli, Spenco’s vice president of sales and marketing. “That’s one of the worst things you can do. An athlete is an athlete 24 hours a day. Even when you’re not running it’s important to have proper foot support, which helps you recover faster.” The company makes a point to address concerns like plantar fasciitis, a condition where sufferers encounter sharp foot pain when walking, and has designs which are accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Many of their designs include Spenco’s proven TOTAL SUPPORT® contour, orthotic-grade arch support and Ultra-Fresh® Antimicrobial to control odor. Check out their Siesta Chukka Boot ($99.99) and Yumi Sandal ($49.99). Shown is a picture of their Chukka Boot. I’ll be reviewing other good (meaning stylish AND comfortable) choices for orthopedic shoes on our website, www.competenetwork.com so don’t miss a chance to make your feet happy while looking stylish.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
r e h t e h w t o n s ’ it e s o l r o n i w u o y
. t i q r e w u o y w o h ’s t i
Go All Out. REGISTER NOW AT www.2014GayGames.com
2014_03_23_Compete_Werq_8.5x11_V1.indd 1
3/23/14 6:33 PM
FITNESS
THREE TIPS TO RELIEVE UPPER BACK TENSION BY MARK MOON HERE IS A QUESTION FROM A COMPETE READER: “I have a desk job and would like to know what I can do to keep my back from feeling sore.” Sitting at our desks can take up most of the working day for a lot of people. And if we aren’t sitting at our desks, we are more than likely driving in the car or sitting on the couch. Needless to say, we tend to do more sitting than moving these days so it makes sense that good posture while seated is important so we don’t get back pain. In a perfect world, we would only sit for an hour at a time before we get up and move around. This may have been the case five years ago but these days, with almost everything being connected by some form of wireless device, you really don’t need to get up for much at all. However, there are a few things we can do each day both at work and in our workouts at the gym that can help relieve back pain and help us keep correct posture. Below are my top three posture-improving tips.
1.
GET UP, MOVE AND STRETCH!—Make a point of getting out of your seat to take a walk for just two minutes every hour – do a lap of the corridor or take a walk up the stairs to the next floor and back again. Standing up and moving will not only be good for your fitness level, it will also release the pressure on the lower back and get the blood circulating through your body again. Stretching your chest will help to relieve some tension from the upper back, too.
3.
SIT WITH YOUR FEET BEHIND YOU—We were always taught in school to sit up straight with our feet out in front of us and our knees at a 90-degree angle. However, this position can actually encourage our upper body to lean forward which in turn causes our upper back and shoulders to round forward. Try sitting in a slight straddle position with your knees to the side of the chair and your feet resting behind you rather than out in front. This will encourage your pelvis to stay in the correct position with a neutral spine. The use of a saddle chair can really help if you have a lot of lower back issues since it will keep your pelvis and lumbar spine in the correct position. The other advantage is it will also encourage your adductors (the muscles on the inside of your legs) to activate and stabilize.
The best advice I can give to is to move as much as possible … the way mother nature intended. Keeping these tips in mind and incorporating them into your day will make a big difference in the amount of tension you hold in your upper back and shoulders while sitting at your desk.
2.
STRENGTHEN YOUR UPPER BACK—Next time you are training your back at the gym, add a three-second pause to your seated row. Adding the pause will break the momentum of the movement and help to switch on more muscle fibres and stabilizers. Try the rhythm 1/3/1/0 and emphasize squeezing the shoulder blades together and lifting your sternum up on the seated row. It should feel like an exaggerated upright posture.
Mark is the creator of the online health, fitness and lifestyle program GET FIT FAST: The Complete Workout System. He is also a resident trainer on USA digital workout platform FitFusion and co-owner of Food Fitness Lifestyle (www.foodfitnesslifestyle.com), an online platform dedicated to healthy lifestyle options with their own brand of organic raw protein powder. For more information on Mark and his workouts, please visit www.markmoonfitness.com.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
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Hitting the Road with the by Joseph Gaxiola CACTUS 4 WHEELERS is an LGBTQ Jeep/Four Wheel Drive club. Established in Phoenix in 1997, they’ve been getting adventurous people together to enjoy the great outdoors by taking their 4 wheel drive vehicles off-road. I had an opportunity to talk with Brett Wilke, founder of Cactus 4 Wheelers, and learn more about the organization. Compete: Can you tell me about the Cactus 4 Wheelers group? Brett Wilke: Although primarily gay in its membership, Cactus 4 Wheelers is a group of off-road enthusiasts from ALL walks of life and all sexual orientations—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, closeted, questioning, straight and anything in between we have them all. It started with some of us taking our 4 wheel drive vehicles off the paved roads
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| COMPETE | July 2014
and using them for what they were intended— FOUR WHEELING. After enjoying lots of great adventures together, we decided to make a name for ourselves. A few ideas came up and the final vote between our most active members sealed the name—the Cactus 4 Wheelers. As the group’s founder, I’ve worked hard with other enthusiastic members to create this very friendly and fun group of people. We love to get together, pack up and get out of the urban chaos, whether it be for just the day or a weekend overnight getaway. We also encourage non-off-road events, gatherings, camping, RVing, boating, house parties, etc. As a fun, diverse, caring and adventurous group of people, it’s a great way to spend time with old friends while making new ones, compare vehicles, give advice, learn the ropes of 4 wheeling and just have fun.
What gave you the idea to start the Cactus 4 Wheelers group? I was born into an outdoor adventure family. RVing, allterrain cycle (ATC) riding (they only had 3 wheels back then) and “Jeeping.” We are big Jeep enthusiasts in my family—my father, my brother, my aunt and uncle all have Jeeps and of course, I do, too. Family members have been part of a Jeep club, the Sahuaro 4x4’s, since its origination in 1973, and my uncle is a current board member. I grew up with the Sahuaro 4x4’s and it inspired me to found Cactus 4 Wheelers. How many people are in the group? We currently have 298 Facebook members and of that number I would say we have 50–70 active members who go out on runs together whether in small groups or large.
in difficulty due to weather and constant travel by off-road vehicles. And the bonus at the end of this trail is the Crown King Saloon and Bear Creek Cabins for an overnight party experience. The Crown King trail is only one of many trails of all difficulty levels within the Phoenix area that can be easily accessed and enjoyed. We also have our annual Turkey Run each November. It has become quite popular—we even have members who do not own 4x4s join us for this event by driving up the maintained Bumblebee Road from I-17 to enjoy the overnight party. How often does the group meet and go on excursions?
Where do the Cactus 4 Wheelers go on their off road adventures?
We get together at least once a month, sometimes more. We call our excursions Runs. Any other gatherings, such as camping, boating, BBQ get-togethers, group dinner outings and holiday parties we call Events. We constantly have something going on for everyone to enjoy.
Our dearest, most favorite run is the Crown King trail, back away from Lake Pleasant. This trail is ever-changing
For more information about Cactus 4 Wheelers club check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/c4waz/.
www.CompeteNetwork.com
| COMPETE | 39
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THERAWHEEL
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As a hair style, the mullet has definitely seen its day. But the Sun Mullet is designed to beat harmful UV rays while still having fun in the sun. This innovative headpiece is made from a handy, compact fabric that’s designed to convert any headwear into a perfectly proportioned sun hat. With different ways to style it, it provides the optimum amount of coverage for everyone from athletes, workers, vacationers and neighborhood kids who spend time outside. Made with lightweight, UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 50+ material, Sun Mullets are designed to work in seven different ways with any headwear or eyewear thanks to three simple snaps – it can be used over or under any hat, with sunglasses, as a face mask, neckerchief, do rag, hood or headband. It is available in various colors and prints.
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| COMPETE | July 2014
EVERY SUNDAY HOME GAME
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SPORTS
OVERTIME
EVENTS
GAY SPORTS EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
BOWLING
RODEO
Houston Invitational Houston July 4 The Greater Indianapolis Fourth of July Classic & Scratch Masters Indianapolis July 4 City of Palms Invitational Tournament Ft. Myers, Fla. July 4 Prairie PLOW Tournament Wichita, Kan. July 11 Music City Invitational Tournament Nashville July 18 Big D Classic Invitational Dallas July 25
Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo Denver July 11-13 Zia Regional Rodeo Santa Fe July 25-27
SOFTBALL 31st Annual Liberty Classic Long Beach, Calif. July 4 MAGIC Tournament Washington, D.C. July 4 Minuteman Classic Boston July 5 Metro Nashville Classic Nashville July 5 Emerald City Classic Seattle July 5
TENNIS San Diego Open 29 San Diego July 4-6 Seattle Classic 2014 Seattle July 4-6 2014 Liberty Open Flushing, NY July 4-7 Philadelphia Open 2014 Philadelphia July 18-20
VOLLEYBALL Red, White & Blue Ball San Francisco July 5 Windy City Open Chicago July 5 Brotherly Love II Philadelphia July 19
PRIDE EVENTS
44
Bellingham Pride – Bellingham, Wash. July 12-13
Sand Blast Weekend – New York July 18-20
Bear Week – Provincetown, R.I. July 12-20
Kitsap Pride – Bremerton, Wash. July 20
San Diego Pride July 16-20
Up Your Alley – San Francisco July 27
| COMPETE | July 2014
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR LGBT EQUALITY.
WWW.HRC.ORG/ATHLETES
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT: > ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL AND NO ONE SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN > NO ONE SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OR INTIMIDATION JUST BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE > SAME-SEX PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE AND PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER FAMILY AND > PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MARRY WHO THEY LOVE
THEN JOIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN’S ATHLETES FOR EQUALITY PROGRAM. 1. JOIN A TEAM GET PERSONAL COACHING & FUNDRAISING GUIDANCE 2. CHOOSE YOUR OWN EVENT CREATE A PERSONALIZED FUNDRAISING PAGE & SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT WORK
OVERTIME
YEARBOOK THIS MONTH IN SPORTS HISTORY: JULY
1
2
NHL Winnipeg Jets officially become Phoenix Coyotes - 1996
83rd Wimbledon Womens Tennis - Chris Evert beats Evonne Goolagong (63, 46, 86) - 1976
3 NY Met Darryl Strawberry threatens 2 teammates for criticizing his play - 1987
4 1st organized rodeo competition held in Prescott, AZ - 1888
8
9
10
11
1st pro baseball game (minor league) played under lights - 1909
Mike Tyson banned from boxing for biting Holyfield’s ear - 1997
U.S. Major Soccer League folds after 14 seasons - 1992
Orioles Cal Ripken becomes 1st to manage 2 sons, as Billy joins Cal - 1987
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16
17
18
5
6
7
25th U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship won by Donna Caponi Young - 1970
London declared the host city for 2012 Summer Olympics - 2005
Tiger Woods wins golf’s Western Open - 1997
12
19
Johnny Bench hits 314th home run as catcherbreaks Yogi Berra’s record - 1980
50th U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship won by Annika Sorenstam - 1995
Florence Griffith Joyner wins gold-sets 100m woman’s record (10.49) at Seoul Olympics - 1988
Joe Namath agrees to sell interest in Bachelors 3 to stay in NFL - 1969
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Alberto Contador wins 2010 Tour de France; Lance Armstrong makes final appearance - 2011
Nolan Ryan strikes out 100th batter for 23rd consecutive seasons - 1992
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Sonny Liston KOs Floyd Patterson in 1 for heavyweight boxing title - 1963
1st U.S. swim school opens in Boston - 1827
27
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Yogi Berra starts record 148game errorless streak - 1947
Olympic record in men’s 100m breaststroke at 2012 Summer Olympics-Cameron van der Burgh, S. Africa - 2012
Source: www.brainyhistory.com
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| COMPETE | July 2014
29 Panthers beat Jaguars in 1st NFL exhibition game 20-14 - 1995
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps wins record 19th Olympic medalgold in 4x200m freestyle relay - 2012
13
14
Babe Ruth hits home run number 700 against Detroit - 1934
14th Seniors Players Golf Championship won by Raymond Floyd - 1996
20
21
Olympic Torch arrives in London; final stage of UK-wide relay prior to Summer Olympics - 2012
In Scotland, British Open Golf Championship won by U.S. Phil Mickelson - 2013
S
S ’ E H S E V O B A . M I THE R
. n o i t i t e p m o c e h t d n A
JULY 9 • 12:30 PM JULY 13 • 3:00 PM
JULY 15 • 7:00 PM JULY 17 • 7:00 PM
For tickets to these games and more visit phoenixmercury.com
JULY 19
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
PHOENIXMERCURY.COM/ALLSTAR