COMPETE September 2014

SPORTS. DIVERSITY.

THE FACE OF

TEAM DC

GAY GAMES IX CLEVELAND ROCKS!

THROUGH THE LENS

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S JOURNEY

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PRESENTS

Arizona Diamondbacks

@Dbacks

2014

MArk BiNGhAM AThLeTe of the

YeAr SeArCh Selection committee

Blake Skjellerup

Olympic Speed Skater

Fallon Fox

1st Transgender Professional MMA Fighter

Selection criteria > Commitment to personal achievement. > Active participation in an individual or team sport. > Commitment to supporting/encouraging others in sports. > Commitment to the LGBT sporting community and/ or the LGBT community.

Winner to be announced in the December 2014 issue of Compete Magazine.

To apply visit: competenetwork.com/aoty Ross Murray

Director of News Media, GLAAD

Eric Carlyle

Founder of Media Out Loud, LLC

SEPTEMBER 2014 Volume 8, Issue 9 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 Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Terry • kevin@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

16 18 GAY GAMES A SUCCESS 21 SAM MCGUIRE ON A ROLL SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES 42 GAY PROUD TO PLAY MATT WHITE—TEAM DC MODEL SEARCH WINNER

Photo by Sam McGuire

KICK–OFF 11 FACE OFF 12 SPEED READ 13 GRANDSTANDING 14 THUMBS UP+DOWN DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP 28 SPORTS

Phoenix Suns—A Look Ahead

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

32 TRAVEL

MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

40 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 SPORTS YEARBOOK

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34 STYLE

Taming Your Mane

36 FITNESS

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OVERTIME

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out additional Compete Online stories at competenetwork.com

@COMPETESPORTS www.CompeteNetwork.com

COVER PHOTO Robert Mercer Jr. of Ripped Genes, LLC

| COMPETE | 5

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Thank you!

FROM THE SKYBOX

BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER

Inspiring Healthy Living Around the World

Chip, Chip, Hooray!

W

@CompeteEric

e featured Arizona State University (ASU) linebacker Chip Sarafin’s coming out story in last month’s issue of Compete Magazine. What made Sarafin’s story so unique is the lack of fanfare that surrounded his interview with Compete.

Sarafin is the epitome of an athlete who just happens to be gay.

After Compete hit the street we were bombarded with media requests (as was ASU’s Athletic Department). We were contacted by everyone from ESPN to Ellen DeGeneres to Time Magazine and more. Everyone wanted to find out more about Sarafin and his coming out story. Sarafin’s story was featured in print, online, on radio and TV. It was an exciting time for Compete because our mission is to “unite the world through sports.”

While Sarafin’s story is a wonderful example of us being able to fulfill our mission, it is not just the stories of college and professional athletes that make a difference. LGBT amateur athletes who participate in both traditional and gay sports deserve our honor and respect, too.

Think of LGBT athletes who openly participate in traditional softball leagues—they make a difference as do openly straight players who bowl on an International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) team. And of course, LGBT athletes who participate and build gay teams and leagues across the United States and abroad make a contribution, too.

My point is that we are all in this together. And thank you to those brave athletes who have chosen to come out—from Michael Sam to Billie Jean King to Brittney Griner and now to Chip Sarafin, showing us that we all make a difference.

@CompeteEric

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| COMPETE | 7

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FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sports Diversity is Making Progress

I

@CompeteConnie

t’s wonderful to cover a variety of sports and the athletes who love them. In this issue we’ve got a story on the Gay Softball World Series as well as the positive changes in Major League Baseball. There’s also a look at the Phoenix Suns, Velvet Gloves Boxing and Team DC’s Model Search and Fashion Show that funds its scholarship program.

Although we started out eight years ago focusing on gay sports, over the years it’s become more and more important to focus on sports diversity, on the idea that athletes are athletes … period! Or, to borrow the great tagline of the You Can Play Project, “if you can play, you can play.”

And speaking of great lines, I love the clever title of “Chip, Chip, Hooray!” Eric used as the title of his publisher’s letter to describe the media furor that ensued after our story in last month’s issue on Edward “Chip” Sarafin.

One editor I spoke with from a major media company seemed almost incredulous that Sarafin had told his Arizona State University (ASU) football teammates in the spring and had received only support from them as well as from the ASU athletic department and administration. He kept pressing me for more information, like he was sure I wasn’t telling him the whole story.

Yet the important part of Sarafin’s coming out story wasn’t that he was a gay guy playing football. It was really that he’s just a great guy with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and working on his master’s degree in the same field with an eventual goal of becoming a neurologist. He also happens to be an athlete, a football player.

Although he hasn’t played a football game yet, he’s the first active Division I football player to come out which, of course, is newsworthy.

But he didn’t come out for the publicity and attention it might garner him; he did it for his own peace of mind.

Sports diversity really is making progress and Sarafin’s story is just more proof that athletes are athletes—some may be straight, some may be gay but sexual orientation doesn’t make a difference. It’s a happy day for all athletes that Chip Sarafin can come out as an athlete who just happens to be gay!

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| COMPETE | 9

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FACE-OFF

KICKOFF

THE QUESTION Joshua Wyrick Managing Editor @CompeteJoshua

What’s your reaction to West Virginia University (WVU) Mountaineers head football coach Dana Holgorsen’s recent remark­—“You lie in recruiting a bunch, and that’s just part of it.”?

Ty Nolan

Community Editor @CompeteTy

COLLEGE ATHLETICS ARE A MINEFIELD

DO WE REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH IT?

It isn’t even about what he said or the way he said it.

What makes it a truly startling recognition is that he wasn’t lying. WVU Mountaineers head football coach Dana Holgorsen addressed the media in Morgantown, West Virginia in early August about new NCAA recruiting rules and how they affect a process that has been entrenched in controversy for decades.

“There will be a lot of talk as far as what we’re going to be able to do. People will use this to their advantage in recruiting. I think the next step is to have some sort of situation where everyone is doing the same thing. There are a lot of questions but we will figure it out. It’s more about what reality is,” Holgorsen said when considering new sanctions and the recent O’Bannon verdict on NCAA players being entitled to stipends from the University.

College football has been under a microscope for a while now but the advent of social media has allowed players and fans to interact and dive deeper into the game than ever before. While the stipends will have an effect on recruiting, it should only be marginal since even the biggest schools can only dole out $5,000 dollars worth of assistance.

“You lie in recruiting a bunch, and that’s just part of it,” Holgorsen claimed. “Once they’re on campus, our players do a lot of recruiting … we have set aside an amount of money that we will spend on food but other than that, my hands are tied.”

Even the most star-studded NCAA athletes have publically stated that they never got enough to eat as the NCAA even sets limits on how many meals (3) a student is allowed on a daily basis. This system is poisonous to the culture and Holgorsen’s statement demonstrates this dysfunction.

The people who know the most about what their athletes need and how they can improve them in ways both on and off the field have the least amount of financial impact in their lives. If you want a star recruit to better secure your position at a school, you have to promise things that you can’t possibly deliver, and that’s just not fair.

While the recent court ruling is a step in the right direction, college athletics still remain a minefield of touchy issues and controversial topics that won’t end any time soon.

I find it interesting to see the reactions of the general public to inappropriate acts committed by sports “celebrities,” whether it’s players, coaches, or owners. A significant number of the public express the attitude, “Well, everybody does it.”

The “it” varies between lying, cheating, stealing, animal cruelty and domestic violence.

Until recently “everybody does it” also included racism, bullying, and homophobia. Times have changed to the extent that racism can now cost an owner a NBA team. “Bullygate” at the Dolphins resulted in Richie Incognito being suspended for the last eight games of the season and terminated from his team. Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy was recently attacked for what was perceived as homophobic comments as to why he would not have hired openly gay Michael Sam. The latest candidate for the College Athletic “Hall of Shame” has been West Virginia Coach Dana Holgorsen who stated: “You lie in recruiting a bunch, and that’s just part of it.”

A frequent comment left by fans – “Coaches lie. Deal with it.”

Professor Michael Allen Gillespie of Duke University has made an interesting comment that the Greeks, Romans, and British civilizations left three major influences on American sports. The Greeks had an individual focus on excellence but without an emphasis on teamwork. The Roman elite watched their slave class kill each other as their sports entertainment.

But the British sports model operated based on the skills necessary to keep a global empire operating. This included a strong sense of morality and teamwork.

Gillespie has gone on to suggest that America has become unbalanced by acting too Roman. This includes ever-increasing seasons and sports facilities too large to allow direct human contact. Just so, college athletes share traits with the old gladiator class, even to the point of having been historically prevented from being paid for their efforts.

The recruitment process Holgorsen described gives potential players a misleading sense of their worth and entitlement.

As an audience, fans are taking on a Roman audience’s attitude of passively consuming the performance of others AND providing a thumbs-up or thumbs-down in judgment. Coach Holgorsen has openly demonstrated he has a better reason to deliver success to an eager audience than to teach sportsmanship and fair play to his athletes.

And we know Coaches lie—Penn State taught us that. Do we really want to “deal with it?”

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 11

KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ MLB TAKES MORE STEPS TOWARD CULTURE OF INCLUSION Major League Baseball and Athlete Ally Form Strategic Alliance ROB MANFRED, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR Major League Baseball (MLB) announced during All-Star Week the formation of a strategic alliance with Athlete Ally, expanding the relationship between the two organizations. Under this new alliance Athlete Ally will provide education and training on respect and inclusion in the workplace for MLB. Headed by founder and executive director Hudson Taylor, Athlete Ally is a nonprofit organization that works to end homophobia and transphobia in sports. The organization will work with both players and front office personnel as part of the league’s focus on respect and inclusion.

Additionally the organization will be developing an internship program for those working in the commissioner’s office and Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) and will assist the MLB

in targeting and hiring the most qualified intern candidates.

Athlete Ally had a booth at the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest where Joe Torre, former Yankees manager and current MLB executive, stopped by and signed the Athlete Ally pledge to “welcome all persons, regardless of their perceived or actual sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”

Commenting on the change in sports culture, Taylor said “The fact that athletes are coming out, the fact that allies are speaking out and the league has passed a non-discrimination policy … sport is on the front lines of social change, and I think we’re seeing that intersect in a really fascinating way.”

Over the past year the two organizations have been working with one another at the MLB winter meetings and their rookie career development program as well as their diversity summit.

MLB Appoints Billy Bean as Inclusion Ambassador Prior to the All-Star Game, MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced that former player Billy Bean is the league’s newly-formed ambassador for inclusion. Only the second MLB player to come out as gay, Bean retired from the game he loved rather than share his secret.

In his announcement, Selig said “I am proud of our industry’s united stance but the reality, not just in baseball but in all of our society is that we can never do enough to ensure respect and inclusion for everyone.”

Bean will now serve as a consultant to provide guidance and training around both major and minor leagues while also encouraging compliance with the joint workplace code of conduct for the MLB

12

| COMPETE | September 2014

Players Association. He’ll also help create educational initiatives to combat sexism, homophobia and prejudice and be a presenter at annual events such as the winter meetings and rookie career development program.

The first MLB player to come out as gay was Glenn Burke who died in 1995 and his legacy was honored at this event. Bean’s autobiography, “Going the Other Way,” was dedicated to Burke. “I’m very proud that MLB is recognizing the social responsibility and the importance of this decision to provide and ensure an equitable and inclusive workplace, said Bean. “And I want to make sure that everybody understands that the history, the integrity of baseball is never going to change.”

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE COLLEGE PRIDE (August 2014) Congratulations on your great reporting and article on the Arizona State football player. It was an interesting story that shined the light on college sports in a very positive way.

David Kessler Phoenix SURFIN’ USA (July 2014) I never really thought of surfing as a sport until I picked up Compete magazine. Now I see what amazing athletes surfers really are.

Brian Greene Los Angeles

COMPETE READER SURVEY Do you play an individual or team sport?

Both 18%

Individual 21%

Team 61%

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

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 13

KICKOFF

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

SPORTS

MO’NE DAVIS

QUIZ

?

… for being the first Little Leaguer to make the cover of Sports Illustrated as well as the first girl to pitch a shutout at the Little League World Series last month. The 13-year-old is only the 18th girl to play in the Little League World Series and has a fastball that registers at 70 mph. She plays with the Taney Dragons from Philadelphia.

What was the original name of the Gay Games and in what year was it begun?

… for tweeting congratulations to Edward “Chip” Sarafin, who recently came out in a story to Compete magazine. A fifth-year senior and offensive lineman for the Arizona State University’s Sun Devils, he’s the first active Division I football player to come out.

A. Founded in 1982, it was originally called the Gay Olympics.

Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, wanted gay athletes to have a similar opportunity but with a stronger emphasis on inclusion, sportsmanship and personal achievement. Just 19 days before the first Gay Olympics was to open in San Francisco, the U.S. Olympic Committee sued over use of the word “Olympic,” causing the name to be changed to the Gay Games.

MICHAEL SAM & JASON COLLINS

THE NFL

WNBA PLAYERS BRITTNEY GRINER AND GLORY JOHNSON … on their engagement. Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury and Johnson plays for the Tulsa Shock.

… for only giving Baltimore Ravens runningback Ray Rice a two game suspension for the battering of his wife that was seen on video dragging the unconscious body of his then-fiancée out of an elevator.

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 | September 2014

Matt White

Team DC’s 2014 Model Search Winner

by Connie Wardman

Photo by Kevin Majoros, Team DC

Photo by Robert Mercer Jr. of Ripped Genes, LLC

WINNER OF TEAM DC’S TENTH ANNUAL FASHION SHOW AND MODEL SEARCH CONTEST is Matt White of

Severn, Maryland. His Model Search win earned him $500 plus a photo shoot with professional photographer Robert Mercer Jr. of Ripped Genes, LLC in addition to gracing the cover of Compete magazine.

Although he hasn’t done any modeling prior to this competition, Matt says he would be interested in pursuing a modeling career even though it wouldn’t be a main focus for him. “The model search was a great way to get an idea of what to expect,” said Matt, “and I wouldn’t mind seeing where other opportunities take me.” When I asked him about his best physical feature, he said that “I generally get complimented on my arms a lot. Otherwise I’d have to say my eyes, personally.”

Although he’s currently working in the restaurant industry, Matt says the big focus in his life is really fitness and nutrition. “If I never pursue anything in a modeling career, I would love to pursue a career in personal training,” an area which he says is always evolving. And since he loves learning new things, he finds it particularly exciting. At age 26 and single, Matt’s personal belief is that “since you’re only young once, why not live it to your fullest potential?”

In addition to fitness and nutrition, Matt is also interested in computers, video gaming and astrology. He likes both the summer and fall seasons which is appropriate since he enjoys “just about anything to do with the outdoors,” including spending time at the beach. A seafood lover, he’s also into cats, “Final Fantasy” video game series, “The Walking Dead” television show, horror movies and just about any type of music.

When asked about what he dislikes, Matt’s list includes winter or cold weather in general, raisins, soda, country music, waiting and romantic movies. Oh, and he can’t stand spiders!

While no longer active in sports, his favorite sport is soccer. Matt was a soccer player for seven years throughout his school years and loved the experience. When asked about his favorite athlete, though, he chose swimmer Michael Phelps.

Team DC, the non-profit umbrella organization for some 30 LGBT sports teams in the Northern Virginia, Eastern Maryland and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, holds its annual Fashion Show and Model Search as a fund raiser for its college scholarship program. This year’s event raised eleven thousand dollars for the scholarship program that included a three thousand dollar contribution from the DC Flag Football League. An additional four thousand dollars was raised to bring Russian athletes to Cleveland to compete in last month’s Gay Games.

The scholarship money is presented to recipients chosen from a list of applicants of openly gay college-bound athletes throughout the D.C. metropolitan area. Winners of the 2013 Team DC College Scholarships included: TERRANCE CURRY of Alexandria, Virginia—a track run-

ner who is attending the University of Alabama.

SARAH KERNDT of Springfield, Virginia—a lacrosse player

attending Christopher Newport University.

CHRISTIAN TARVER of Washington, DC—a tennis player

attending Fayetteville State University.

LAURA VENTURA of Bethesda, Maryland—a crew rower

attending Pace University.

On September 20 the organization will hold its Seventh Annual Champions Awards to recognize not only local leaders and supporters of LGBT sports in the metro area but also the recipients of the 2014 Team DC College Scholarship Program.

Held at George Washington University’s City View Room, special guest speaker for the evening will be Wade Davis, former NFL player, co-founder of the You Belong Initiative and executive director of the You Can Play Project.

A member of the LGBT Sports Coalition, Davis is a leader in the effort to ready the NFL for the inclusion of openly gay players, having spoken at the NFL owners meetings in March as well as other meetings with team coaches.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 17

CLEVEL AND

GAY GAMES

Photos courtesy of Jeff Kagan

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| COMPETE | September 2014

RETROSPECTIVE

by Joshua Wyrick

I

F THERE IS “ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL” in the gay sporting world, the Gay Games are certainly it. A festival of sporting and pageantry rarely seen outside of European markets, the Gay Games are an event that can bring economic prosperity in the form of an influx of money to any location they choose to travel.

Drawing over 10,000 athletes from 60 countries, Gay Games IX in Cleveland silenced the bloggers pondering if the event should still exist in a time that is trying to stamp out socalled exclusionary outings.

The opening ceremonies began with a message from President Barack Obama, hailing the games for including everyone despite the mono-moniker that can sometimes lead to the mislabeling of the event. As the athletes descended on Cleveland, so did the media. In a social pres-

ence that rivaled the Commonwealth Games (a much larger, much older international sporting event) users all over the world Tweeted, Pinned, Facebooked, Instagrammed and Vined their support for their favorite athletes competing in nearly every event imaginable.

One user (@DJ84) claimed that while riding the city bus a group of bemedaled athletes got on to a round of impromptu applause from the riders while the Gay Games Facebook page became flooded (much like many of the fields during the games) with messages of love and community from Clevelanders.

Despite a rash of torrential rain during the days of the games, events progressed normally save for softball which saw many re-scheduling changes throughout the competition.

“... a huge human rights event that we’ve wrapped in sport.”

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 19

Venues the county used for competitions include Quicken Loans Arena (home of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team), the Wolstein Center, the University of Akron and Firestone Stadium, where Ida Keeling set an international sporting record after running 100 meters in 59.8 seconds.

One of the biggest differences from years past is the amount of support this year’s Games saw from corporate sponsors as well as the first major sponsorship from a religious organization (The United Church of Christ). Coca Cola, Marriott Hotels, and United Airlines as well as Ohio’s largest locals lined up to provide dollars for the cause.

The games are more than just a large party in an exotic (to some) locale, as Kelly Murphy-Stevens, a board member of the Federation of Gay Games can explain. Murphy-Stevens tells The Guardian that “Many countries that have very antiLGBT policies, if you’re doing a sports event they will give it a pass…they just can’t imagine that this is a big deal.”

20

| COMPETE | September 2014

Murphy-Stevens specifically provides help for the countries that have very few athletes at the Games. Coincidentally these are countries that usually have strict laws against homosexuality. As he says, the Gay Games are “a huge human rights event that we’ve wrapped in sport.”

Even with so many participants the United States did not have total representation—North Dakota and Wyoming had no competitors enter the games this year. While this may be an issue of knowledge dissemination, it seems to support the effect that social stigmas can have on athletics at the community level.

The next Gay Games will take place in the world’s most romantic city, Paris. Among the art and architecture a diverse crowd will once again gather to compete, to make friends and to become a more global community. You can bet Compete will be there as well. See you out on the fields!

by Joshua Wyrick THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS WERE, “ABSOLUTELY NOT, THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.” And so it didn’t. Pro skateboarder Tim Von Werne was crushed when he heard these words in 1998. Skateboarder Magazine had just done an interview with Von Werne in which he talked extensively about his sexuality. As he was a sponsored athlete, all press communication had to pass through the gateway of the companies that gave him the money he needed to continue skateboarding.

Photos by Sam McGuire www.samuel-mcguire.com

“If I wanted to be a professional skateboarder I would have to go into the closet which I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing … I’ve never been ashamed of being gay.”

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 21

“… I was going crazy, struggling with it so much. I really thought I was going to die over this and that I was never going to be happy.”

DavidReyes—360Flip by Sam McGuire

Birdhouse, one of Von Werne’s sponsors, pulled the article before it could ever reach stands. They didn’t have a problem with his sexuality but rather with the way “Middle America” would view it as a reflection of the Birdhouse brand.

“I understood why it didn’t get run,” Von Werne admits.

“If I wanted to be a professional skateboarder I would have to go into the closet which I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing … I’ve never been ashamed of being gay.”

Von Werne goes on to say that he knows a few skaters at the top professional level who are gay but wouldn’t reveal any names for fear of what may happen with their respective sponsors. “Looking back, I should have pushed to get it printed. It could have done a lot for other people.”

The reason these sponsors are wary of promoting an openly gay skateboarder with their products isn’t a morally motivated decision in most cases. The largest portion of today’s skateboarders range between the ages of fourteen-tosixteen, formative years in terms of masculinity and identity development. When it comes to supporting gay skateboarders, it’s all about the bottom line.

22

| COMPETE | September 2014

Skateboarding has easily accepted women and other cultures in a way that few other sports have. The very spirit of the sport relies on the ability of those who participate to adapt, to “skate or die.” This means that your looks, your sexuality, your culture all go by the wayside to make room for the only thing anyone notices—your talent.

Pro skateboarders are afforded what some might call a luxury in that even in an age where nearly every fact about a person is quantified and known because of the Internet, even the most famous skateboarders can walk about town without the worry of being recognized. This is in part due to the lack of television coverage of skateboarding events (save the X-Games) on larger, non-specialized television outlets.

More recently, skateboarding has seen a culture shift from the top-down with the people who make skateboarders famous—photographers. One in particular, Sam McGuire has spearheaded this movement by coming out publicly (digitally, really) through Jenkem magazine, a popular skateboarding publication.

“The real turning point was when Oliver Barton [another skateboarding photographer] called me. We were talking one

day and he just kind of flat out asked.”

McGuire says that he had to pull over because he broke down emotionally. “… I was going crazy, struggling with it so much. I really thought I was going to die over this and that I was never going to be happy.” McGuire’s feelings of being closeted spilled over despite admittedly having friends that he knew could care less about his sexual orientation.

Skateboarding can be a very solitary sport, as McGuire explains. “You don’t really need anyone else to get into skating—other sports, it’s pretty hard to do alone.” The sport itself is counter-culture to the core and the image of being a misfit has helped many professionals succeed in a way that a one-dimensional athlete would have no chance of accomplishing.

Despite its apparent willingness to accept all people, skating can still make even the most respected contributors feel like outsiders. McGuire recounts that “The only time I felt so uncomfortable I wanted to leave was once on tour. One guy was being particularly vocal about his opinions [against LGBT people] so I went outside and pretended to make a call and Aidan Campbell—Overcrook by Sam McGuire sort of hid out. The person that was freaking out actually left the tour first.”

McGuire also addresses the issue of vernacular in the have certainly changed since the nineties. Nike (a major English language and how harmful it can be, whether or force in skating and nearly all other sports with their LGBTnot it is intended that way. When someone refers to somesupportive #betrue campaign) and many others are soon to thing unfortunate, like dropping their iPhone on the ground follow. and says “That’s so gay!,” subconsciously the person would While it’s unrealistic to believe that every barrier will think “Am I as lame as a dropped iPhone?” It’s important be broken down, professional skateboarding has come farto remember that the clarification on these statements matther, quicker than any other sport before it. It skews directly ters little: the damage to the subconscious mind cannot be toward youthful demographics where the quickest and most undone and is even harder to quantify. lasting change in culture can be seen. And like many of them, On his fellow skaters after coming out, McGuire has only it is evolving at a breakneck speed through the use of social the utmost positive praise. “I think one of the most awkward media and photographers like Sam McGuire. parts about coming out is having to ostracize yourself, it’s McGuire continues to take some of the most electrifying you and them. I just wanted people to know so I could move photos of the gravity-defying sport that can be seen today on.” and he will continue to follow his passion headlong.

The journey of revealing yourself can often be painful Tim Von Werne is married now, living in London with his and many people shed friends and large parts of their old long-time husband and partner of more than a decade. He lives in the process. McGuire was thrust into the spotlight by keeps a very low Internet profile with a Facebook page that his friends who embraced him in a way he hadn’t felt before. hasn’t been updated in over two years and a LinkedIn profile On the future of skating and gay athletes, things look that only hints at what he does for a living (he’s a scientist). shiny to McGuire. “All these companies are pretty progressive. I can’t believe they are all THAT close-minded.” Things Sam McGuire’s photos can be seen at www.samuel-mcguire.com.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 23

DISLIKES: Lateness, Egotistical people, Jealousy, Stigma.

LIKES: Dogs, Horror movies, Carbs, Sarcasm, Twitter, Romance.

INTERESTS: Activism, Swimming, Weight lifting, Art, Design.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Janet Evans, Ben Cohen, Ji Wallace, Greg Louganis.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Dating

SPORT: Swimming

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Manhattan, N.Y.

HOMETOWN: Seattle, Wash.

AGE: 44

REPLAY NOVEMBER 2013

JACK MACKENROTH

TEAM COMPETE MV P

Photos by Kevin D. Hoover

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

WHY HE LOVES SPORTS: I’ve been a competitive swimmer since I was 6 and It’s always kept me grounded and taught me to be disciplined and set attainable goals. Since my positive HIV diagnosis in 1989 swimming has played a crucial part in my feeling of overall wellness and health. I love setting goals for myself and putting in the training necessary to achieve them.

This past May at Masters Nationals I did some of my lifetime best times at age 44. I got 4th in the nation in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 27.99, 5th in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:02.23 and 6th in the 100 fly with a 55.70. I swim with Team New York Aquatics (TNYA.org) in Manhattan and I have been on the team for 22 years and I have amazing friends that share a love of swimming.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: My butt, eyes and brain.

SPORTS

SUNS STILL SHINING

BY JOSHUA WYRICK THE PHOENIX SUNS OFFSEASON WAS FILLED WITH question marks after an extraordinary bracket-busting regular season that catapulted the young squad from obscurity to ESPN stardom. The Phoenix Suns brass had numerous objectives they wanted to accomplish in the offseason and the surprising results from the 2013-14 season did nothing to make well-laid plans simpler.

Struggles began with Suns guard Eric Bledsoe entering restricted free agency at the end of the regular season, a season where the Suns again failed to make the playoffs. Like most other disputes in professional sports, this one is all about money. Bledsoe believes he is worth the financial respect of a max contract, max being the maximum amount of money the NBA allows players to be paid.

Bledsoe’s beef comes with reason. He believes the Phoenix Suns are using restricted free agency, traditionally meant to act as a bargaining chip to help both players and teams equally, against him.

The Suns won’t offer Bledsoe a max contract and retain the ability to match any offer from another team. The caveat is that no other teams are going to offer more than the Phoenix Suns have already offered Bledsoe. This is where the stand-still, which continues at the time of this writing, is rooted.

In response to this development, Suns brass has made a trade for a guard out of Sacramento named Isaiah Thomas. Thomas has shown athletic prowess and ability at a much lower price tag than Bledsoe, possibly causing a further rift between Bledsoe and the top of the Suns management pyramid.

Tyler Ennis and T.J. Warren are two of the young players poised for success after this year’s Las Vegas Summer League exhibitions.

Warren led all players in scoring with 89 points through five games after shooting more than 50 percent from the field. Ennis didn’t explode in a single category (except for the one he led—steals) but managed to maintain relevance by putting up admirable numbers in almost every category.

Archie Goodwin, who Suns fans saw play limited minutes in last year’s regular season, is sure to return to the court after starting every game during the Summer League.

These highlights were overshadowed as rumor took the sports sphere in a different direction—where LeBron James was headed.

Phoenix was thought to be a dark horse contender but all that evaporated when James eventually settled down where everyone knew he would—back home in Cleveland, Ohio.

While James will follow the rings, the Suns regular season roster looks to have many of the same faces returning. Breakout center Miles Plumlee has improved his game visibly, leading the Summer League team in rebounds, and Goran Dragic has remained one of the quickest slashing-guards in the game.

The total stats for this year’s Summer League are below. The Phoenix Suns will open the regular season at home on October 29th with a match-up against longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers. Their second game will be against defending NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

SUMMER LE AGUE SUNS STATS

PLAYER

G GS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

TAYLOR BRAUN

3 0 29 5-MAR 2-JAN 3-MAR 0 7 7 0 1 0 2 9 10

ALEC BROWN

5 1 53 17-APR 9-FEB 4-APR 1 6 7 1 1 4 3 10 14

DIONTE 5 0 134 17-49 29-SEP 16-OCT 7 21 28 11 5 1 13 15 53 CHRISTMAS SETH CURRY

5 0 105 18-42 20-AUG 7-JUL 1 3 4 7 6 0 5 10 51

TYLER ENNIS

5 5 115 JUL-32 0-6 8-JUL 2 18 20 16 8 0 13 12 21

ARCHIE

5 5 133 20-55 8-JAN 23-29 4 11 15 4 6 0 11 13 64 GOODWIN ELIAS HARRIS ALEX LEN MILES PLUMLEE ALEX ORIAKHI DAVID STOCKTON TJ WARREN TEAM TOTALS

28

5 4 146 20-45 15-JUN 11-JUL 9 13 22 4 2 1 10 14 53

1 1 25 7-MAR 0-0 0-0 5 1 6 0 1 2 2 3 6

4 4 117 13-37 0-0 11-AUG 12 32 44 4 5 8 8 14 34

0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 19 6-FEB 0-2 2-FEB 0 1 1 1 3 0 3 4 6

5 5 124 37-68 0-4 15-23 11 13 24 1 4 2 5 14 89 1000 144-363 27-95 86-114 52 126 178 49 42 18 75 118 401

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CRUISING FOR ADVENTURE (AND MONEY)

O

VER 20 PERCENT OF THE U.S. population has taken a cruise. While 94 percent of them find it a “satisfying vacation,” 45 percent find it “extremely satisfyBrian Raymond ing.” Clearly, cruising is very popular! Plus with new ships adding more entertainment and exciting nightlife to target a younger demographic, the average age continues to drop.

First-time cruisers call with lots of questions – am I too old/ young, are people friendly, what about motion sickness, will I be bored, should I take a gay or straight cruise – or maybe take a themed one, like a foodie, music, cycling or other kind of cruise.

These questions help us select the right cruise to match our clients’ interests, needs and budget. To help them prepare for their first cruise we’ve developed a system which sends a series of emails every few days featuring different informational topics.

By the time they are ready to board the ship, they are confident and knowledgeable about cruising.

Do you think of cruising as a relaxed and laid-back vacation?

While it can be that, cruises can offer amazing thrills and adventures. For active cruisers, larger ships have basketball courts, well-equipped gyms, spas, running tracks and more. Looking to amp it up? Shore excursions can include zip-lining across the tops of a jungle, cycling or running through the countryside, rock climbing beach cliffs, a scuba dive among amazing coral reefs or sunken ships as well as four-wheeling or horseback riding along a beach and dunes, just to name a few.

Watching what you eat? Whether it’s to bulk up on carbs before a quick run or eating light to control your weight, the wide dining options available on ships allow you to tailor your meals to match your nutritional goals. Or maybe you’d just prefer to indulge yourself with a four-star dinner for a small up-charge.

Boredom is not an option! There is always something to do.

Every day you’ll receive a schedule of events delivered to your stateroom. And if you are on a gay cruise, there are always special parties and entertainers which can take your experience to the next level.

Sport teams that are IRS 501(c)3 non-profits can even use a cruise as a fundraiser. How great is that! You can travel together and make money for the team at the same time. Plus anyone can join the group and the fun.

To learn more about cruising or how your sports team can fundraise on a cruise, contact Brian Raymond at brian@OutDestinations.com or at 866-217-2341.

32

| COMPETE | September 2014

STYLE

Taming Your Mane

by Alfonzo Chavez

Stick-Straight

Curly Hair

Stick-straight hair is probably the most frustrating of all hair types.

Like an unruly child, it does whatever it wants with no regard for anyone’s sanity. Michelle King of R Salon in Phoenix says “… start with using a volumizing product like Aquage Uplifting Foam (visit aquage.com for locations) when your hair is damp and proceed to blow dry in the direction in which the hair is to be styled, always lifting up at the root either with your hands or a brush.

Depending on how you like the final vision … use a paste like Aquage Pliable Paste.”

For an alternative, try Paul Mitchell® Dry Spray Wax™ ($22, select retailers)

Curly hair can be very tricky, especially if you’re using the wrong products. Curly hair tends to lack hydration so this is a great place to start. We recommend DevaCurl Low-Poo Cleanser™ (Retail $19.95, mydevacurl.com) with DevaCurl One Condition™ (Retail $19.95, mydevacurl.com). This product will remove product build-up over time to put the natural spring back into your curls as well as hydrate with natural botanicals. Be sure to watch their tutorials on how to use the products at mydevacurl.com and talk to a DevaCurl stylist about selecting the right styling product based on your hair and curl type.

For an alternative try Design Essentials Natural Curl Enhancing Mousse ($15.99, designessentials.com)

Coarse Hair People with coarse hair have a similar issue to people with fine hair, just in a different way.

Typically it’s too heavy or too hard to control. Since heaviness is something that can be addressed with a haircut, we’ll focus on control. Bumble & Bumble Crème de Coco Shampoo and Conditioner ($24 and $26, bumbleandbumble.com) is a great product to give coarse hair moisture and softness in addition to getting it under control. This particular product is very concentrated so be careful not to use too much.

For an alternative, try Jonny B® Remix Styling Gel ($10, johnnybhaircare.com)

Fine Hair Stylist Marcos Trueba at Sally Hershberger Los Angeles recommends Sally Hershberger 24K Texturizing Paste ($32, sallyhershberger.com) to give your fine hair some life. “Great for men and women, [it] works with adding shine, texture and controls any frizziness or fly always,” says Trueba. Take a small amount and emulsify in the palm of your hand and apply to dry hair. He adds that it can be used “through your hair and scalp to create volume and finish by smoothing out unwanted frizziness or fly always.”

For an alternative, try KMS Hair Play Messing Crème ($20, ulta.com) Alfonzo Chavez is Compete’s style editor and a licensed Arizona cosmsetologist. Alfonzo is available for personal consultations or to answer your hair and style related questions. Please contact him at Alfonzo.Chavez@mediaoutloud.com.

34

| COMPETE | September 2014

FITNESS

VELVET GLOVES BOXING

BY JOSHUA WYRICK

“All of us have been to the parties and the clubs, and that can be great, but I think we collectively wanted something else to do that’s fun—but won’t leave you with a hangover….”

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| COMPETE | September 2014

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VELVETGLOVESBOXING.COM

THE VELVET GLOVES BOXING GYM IS A SPECIAL PLACE. Nestled on 14th street in New York City in between a guitar center and a Levi’s store lies Clay Health Club, home to Velvet Gloves Gentleman’s Boxing.

Originally conceived as a comprehensive way for gay men to train in a more intensive and focused way than a regular workout, Velvet Gloves has evolved into a full-fledged old-school club.

Started by producer Vance Garrett and ally Francisco Liuzzi of Innervation Fitness, the club is not meant to compete with other attractions like Soul Cycle (a spin class that has been very popular with gay men) but instead to provide an experience unlike that of any other currently available—a truly authentic boxing course from an experienced trainer.

On being asked what sets his club apart, Garrett told the Huffington Post that “All of us have been to the parties and the clubs, and that can be great, but I think we collectively wanted something else to do that’s fun—but won’t leave you with a hangover….” And so Velvet Gloves Boxing was born.

Classes are arranged in 23 three-minute rounds that are timed to music, much like a high-level aerobics class. Participants practice hit conditioning, technique and light partnering with gloves and mitts. Garrett is adamant about the fact that you won’t get hit in the face during these exercises; his classes are training exercises sans sparring.

Garrett further explains that there is a social aspect to the class as well, where everyone can cool off and meet like-minded athletic individuals in a comfortable space. Some side-effects accompany this routine, like an enhanced taste for single-malt scotch and custom protein bars from legendary New York chef Andrew Engle, formerly of The Laundry.

Learning how to throw a jab is essential in Vince Garrett’s mind and he believes it should be that way for all. Knowing how to protect yourself both physically and mentally is a key tenant of boxing and of life.

It just so happens that you’ll develop a killer physique and lengthened endurance in the process.

You can visit their website at velvetglovesboxing.com.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 37

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PROUD TO PLAY

THE 2014 GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

BY CONNIE WARDMAN FROM SEPTEMBER 22-27 OVER 150 GAY SOFTBALL teams from across the U.S. and Canada will converge in Dallas to celebrate the North American Amateur Athletic Alliance’s (NAGAAA) 2014 Gay Softball World Series (GSWS).

All the teams in attendance have qualified for the GSWS through league play in one of NAGAAA’s 44 member cities or by competing in the 2014 NAGAAA Cup held in Phoenix in April.

Using “Proud to Play” as the theme for this year’s GSWS, when you add family, friends and fans to the number of players, you can expect more than 5,000 people to be in Dallas, making the 38th annual GSWS one of the largest annual LGBT sporting events in the world.

There are five team divisions—A, B, C, D and Masters— four of which are based on skill levels, giving everyone who wants to play a chance to get involved and have fun. The A division is for the most skilled players and it goes to D division for those recreational players with a lower skill level.

And the Masters level is for players 50 years of age and older who still want to compete. Teams will play in three different locations in the Dallas area: Kiest Park in Dallas, Softball World in Euless and Mike Lewis Softball Complex in Grand Prairie.

Special guest for the opening ceremony is WFAA-TV Sports Director Dale Hansen, known for his outspoken commentary on Michael Sam and “Celebrating our Differences” in sports that earned him a special guest appearance on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Other events include an official GSWS Night at Globe Life Park for a game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros, a Miss GSWS Pageant, a talent show and a championship eve bash before the closing celebration street party.

One of the most special events during GSWS week is the annual Hall of Fame Reception and Dinner. This year 11 new members will be inducted into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame. The celebration is being held at the Belo Mansion and Pavilion in the Dallas Arts District on Thursday, the 25th. We offer our congratulations to the following inductees:

42

| COMPETE | September 2014

BRAD MAYEUX – Boston BRIAN REINKOBER – Milwaukee DESMOND FLETCHER - Los Angeles EMERSON ROSS – Atlanta GERRE REYNOLDS – Tampa GREG SMITH – Dallas JERRY FONTES – Phoenix JOHNNY JOHNSON – Houston JOHNNY RUSSELL – Dallas KEN SCEARCE - Los Angeles MARK TRIPPLET - Long Beach Attendees are encouraged to come early and stay later because softball isn’t the only thing on the Dallas list of fun things to do. Dallas Gay Pride is on the 21st, one day before the start of the series and the “world famous” State Fair of Texas runs from the 26th through October 19th. For more information on the GSWS or additional activities in the Dallas area, check their website at gaysoftballworldseries.com.

We eke nd

Atlantic City’s first LGBT Expo September 26-28, 2014

SPORTS

OVERTIME

EVENTS

GAY SPORTS EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY

BOWLING

TENNIS

Albuquerque Roadrunner Tournament Albuquerque Sept. 12 Three Rivers Eastern Area Tournament Pittsburgh Sept. 26 San Jose Invitational Tournament San Jose Sept. 26

2014 Provincetown Tournament Provincetown, Mass.

Sept. 4-7 Capital Classic XXII Washington, D.C. Sept. 13-15 Indy Tennis 2014 Indianapolis Sept. 27-29

SOFTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

Buckeye Softball Classic Columbus Sept. 5 St. Louis Arch Invitational St. Louis Sept. 20 Gay Softball World Series Dallas Sept. 22-27

Boston Beantown Classic Boston Sept. 6 Emerald City Cat Fight Seattle Sept. 6

RODEO RodeoSierra Stampede Sacramento Sept. 5-7 Best Buck in the Bay Russian River, Calif.

Sept. 12-14

PRIDE EVENTS

44

Gay Days Las Vegas/Las Vegas Pride Sept. 2-8

Bear Bash – Orlando Sept. 25–28

Kiki Cruise – Miami Sept. 11–15

Folsom/Bay of Pigs – San Francisco Sept. 26

Wichita Pride – Wichita, Kas. Sept. 19–28

Folsom/Magnitude – San Francisco Sept. 28

Ohio Lesbian Festival – Columbus Sept. 19–20

Orlando Pride – Orlando Sept. 29–Oct. 5

Folsom Street Fair – San Francisco Sept. 21

San Gabriel Valley Pride – Pasadena Sept. 20

Roanoke Pride – Roanoke, Va. Sept. 6

North Carolina Pride – Durham Sept. 27

| COMPETE | September 2014

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OVERTIME

YEARBOOK THIS MONTH IN SPORTS HISTORY: SEPTEMBER

1

2

NY Met Tom Seaver 1st to strike out 200 in 8 consecutive seasons - 1975

Diana Nyad makes history; 1st to swim from Cuba to Florida without shark cage - 2013

8

9

Serena Williams wins U.S. Open Women’s Singles for 5th time - 2013

Larry Bird (Celtics), begins NBA free throw streak of 59 - 1987

10 Larry Holmes TKOs Scott Frank in 5 for heavyweight boxing title - 1983

3 1st pro football game played, Latrobe beats Jeanette 12-0 (PA) - 1895

11 17th Olympic Games close in Rome, Italy - 1960

4 Scott Michael Pellaton sets barefoot waterski speed rec (119.36 mph) - 1983

5 Pete Sampras ends Ivan Lendl’s bid for 9th straight U.S. Open final - 1990

Cal Ripken Jr. breaks Gehrig’s record playing in 2,131 straight games - 1995

7 IOC holds 125th Session; announces Tokyo won bid for 2020 Summer Olympics - 2013

12

13

14

15

16

106th U.S. Womens Tennis: Monica Seles beats A Sanchez Vicario (63 63) - 1992

Nancy Lopez wins Ping-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship - 1992

Calgary Flames become 1st NHL team to play in U.S.S.R.; win 4-2 - 1989

Muhammad Ali beats Leon Spinks in 15 for heavyweight boxing title - 1978

Expiration of collective bargaining agreement causes NHL player lock out - 2012

22

23

17

18

19

20

21

New Orleans Saints 1st NFL game, they lose to Los Angeles Rams 27-13 - 1967

Seve Ballesteros & Nick Faldo elected to World Golf Hall of Fame - 1997

U.S. Olympic diver Greg Louganis hits his head on diving board - 1988

NY Yankees Alex Rodrigues sets MLB record with 24 grand slam home runs - 2013

USA Basketball announces “Dream Team” for the 1992 Olympics - 1991

24

25

26

27

28

Jackie JoynerKersee of USA sets heptathlon woman’s record (7,291) - 1988

Malcolm Campbell sets world auto speed record at 146.16 MPH - 1924

Phillies and New York Mets play a doubleheader that ends at 3:15 AM - 1975

Tiger Woods named PGA Tour Player of Year; 11th time for Woods - 2013

1st World Series color TV broadcast-NBCTV (Yankees beat Dodgers) - 1955

Source: www.brainyhistory.com

46

6

| COMPETE | September 2014

Harry Gant wins NASCAR Goody’s 500 - 1991

29 Eva Shain is 1st woman to referee heavyweight boxing championship - 1977

Jose Canseco baseball’s 1st to steal 40 bases & hit 40 home runs - 1988

30 1st U.S. amateur swim meet (New York Athletic Club) - 1877

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