DROP BALL WITH
MEGAN RAPINOE
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GAY GAMES 10
OOH LA LA!
12TH ANNUAL SWIMSUIT ISSUE
SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2018 • March - April 2018 $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM
MARCH-APRIL EDITION 2018 COMPETENETWORK.COM MVP 24 M VP: Jesus Godinez ONE-ON-ONE 27 Megan Rapinoe is Making History SPORTS 32 C hanging the Conversation: It's Everyone's Responsibility 36 T his is How We Roll
FEATURE:
16 Gay Paree
GYM BAG 38 Hot Items You Shouldn't Do Without EVENTS 40 March Events STYLE 42 S wimsuit Trends BEDROOM SPORTS 44 The Rise and Fall of My Softball Career
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Do you love to Compete? Get with the game and shop our online store, subscribe to Compete Magazine, read the hottest news blogs and check out the latest videos online at CompeteNetwork.com. COVER INSET Cover Model – Wes Putman Sport – Fitness Photographer – Jason Dudek www.jaydproductions.com
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MILLENNIAL ON SPORTS: FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR
UNITY AND EQUALITY THROUGH SPORTS
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BY DIRK SMITH
he 2018 Winter Olympics have wrapped up and it has certainly been quite an exciting journey for all of us who love sports and the ideals of this global quadrennial celebration of world unity represented by the Olympic Games. The good news is that the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo are only two years away.
The pageantry of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies with its parade of athletes from so many nations is what makes the Olympic Games so impactful; the excitement and thrill we see from athletes who have worked so hard just for a chance to compete while representing their communities and countries. As always, there were some AWESOME gold medal performances this year from athletes all over the world who came together in PyeongChang for this celebration of unity through sport. But this was the first Winter Olympics with openly gay and lesbian athletes being selected to represent their countries. Figure skaters Adam Rippon and Eric Radford slayed it on the ice, freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy ripped it up on the slopes and hopefully you were able to catch a glimpse of speed skater Brittany Bowe as she went flying by at breakneck speed. And who didn’t love Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski’s “Hunger Games” commentary for the Olympic Figure Skating competition. While the 2018 Winter Olympics are now part of Olympic history, the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games are set to begin. The Paralympics are every bit as exciting as the Olympics; just like the Olympians, these Paralympian athletes have been training and working their whole lives for the chance to shine on the world stage. This is their time to show the world just how capable they really are. The Paralympics are important because it’s about more than simple equality in sports; it’s about showing the world the very best of a human being’s capacity to adapt under extraordinary circumstances. Rather than focusing on surviving and recovering, it’s about showcasing athletes who are thriving and succeeding. It is inspirational to watch Paralympians compete because beyond the sport itself, you are really seeing the true potential and capability of the human race in action! Another important outcome of the Paralympic Games is that they lead the way to increased accessibility in their host cities. Designing venues and infrastructure that are more accessible for all athletes and visitors creates more opportunities for people who are inspired by their favorite athletes to get involved in sports. The 2018 Winter Paralympics take place March 8th-18th so tune in because I’m sure it’s going to be awesome! I’m also looking forward to the Gay Games in Paris where thousands of recreational athletes from all walks of life will be coming together. Having competed in other Gay Games, I will also be competing in Paris. I’m already looking forward to experiencing once again the diversity and energy the world’s gay and straight athletes will bring to this year’s event. I know a lot of people are training hard and with only months to go, the event is shaping up to be a great time. Are you training? Because I sure am!
Dirk Smith, SDL Sports Editor dirk@competenetwork.com @competedirk
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THE CATBIRD SEAT: FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BECOMING AN AGENT OF POSITIVE CHANGE
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ike Nelson Mandela, I believe that sport is the best exemplar of what unites us as human beings. We’re currently in the midst of a rich period of global sports competitions with the Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in PyeongChang and August 4-12 Gay Games 10 will be held in Paris. Mandela’s reflection on sports as an agent of unifying change offers the world a truth as profound today as it was when he first spoke it:
Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all kinds of discrimination.- Nelson Mandela, May 25, 2000 Whether for the Summer or Winter Games, every two years the world gets to join athletes from around the world to celebrate the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect as well as the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality. And every four years LGBTQ and ally athletes from around the world also get to be part of the Gay Games. Founded for the LGBTQ community by Olympic decathloner Dr. Tom Waddell, he based it on principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™.” For those who participate in any of these global sporting events and for the many of us who watch them, sports diversity elements of inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance are clearly demonstrated and joyously celebrated. Yet for many individuals those warm, fuzzy feelings quickly fade once the competitions are over and they continue “life as usual” with sometimes acknowledged and some often unrecognized elements of homophobia, transphobia, racism and sexism still governing their daily behavior. It’s time for that to change! We have all seen proof of the power sports have to change hearts and minds. Now it’s time to take the “seeing” into “doing.” What truly matters in life is taking what you’ve learned and then applying it in your life on a daily basis to make things better today than they were yesterday. And how do you make it better today and in the days going forward? You do it by paying attention to the words and phrases you use, by monitoring your thoughts and by paying attention to your actions. In other words, you treat other people the way you’d like to be treated. That’s called R-E-S-P-E-C-T (someone cue Aretha Franklin)! So whether you’re going to Paris for the Gay Games or just playing darts with your local team, you can begin this change in behavior in the sports world we all love and then begin to apply it in other areas of your life. You’ll be amazed at how well most people will respond. And when that happens, YOU become an agent of positive change in our shared world!
Keep Smiling,
Connie Wardman, M.A., SDL Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com
@CompeteConnie
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COMPETE EDITORS SPORTS EDITOR David "Dirk" Smith With a B.S. in exercise science and nutrition from MSU Denver, David is ACSM, AFAA and AFPAIcertified and a medalwinning swimmer who conquered obesity by losing over 50 pounds. HEALTH EDITOR Dr. John Sutherland A graduate of Harvard and the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. John Sutherland is a board certified internist and cardiologist and the founder of the North Mountain Cardio programs for health and well-being. FITNESS EDITOR Jake Tommerup A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Jake Tommerup M.S. is an exercise physiologist, an ISSA-certified Master Trainer and the founder of RxErcise.
STYLE EDITOR Bobby Ciletti A graduate of Boston University, Bobby is a lifestyle and travel expert and founder of TheDaysoftheChic.com, an online destination for simply elegant living. Twitter @bobbyciletti MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports. COMPETENETWORK.COM FACEBOOK.COM/COMPETEMAG @COMPETESPORTS COMPETE MAGAZINE INSTAGRAM.COM/COMPETEMAGAZINE
10 COMPETE March-April 2018
PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Sports Editor Dirk Smith • dirk@competenetowork.com Health Editor Dr. John Sutherland • johns@competenetwork.com Fitness Editor Jake Tommerup • jake@competenetwork.com Style Editor Bobby Ciletti • bobby@competenetwork.com Art Director Heather Brown • heather@competenetwork.com Graphic Designer Kristi Wayland • kristi@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jared Garduno, Kelli Kulick, Miriam Latto, Bryan Lee, Brian Patrick, Benjamin Roussey, Andy Winder. Staff Photographer Ariel Stevens • ariel@competenetwork.com COO/Consultant Barbara Harwell • barbara@competenetwork.com Sales & Operations Vice President Jared Garduno • jared@competenetwork.com Administration Bethany Harvat • bethany@competenetwork.com SDLC Program Coordinator Raleigh Dombek • raleigh@sportsdiversityleaders.com Copyright © 2018 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved. All Mail PO Box 2756 Scottsdale, AZ 85252 • (800) 868-5906 Corporate Office 6991 East Camelback Road, Suite D-300 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 West Coast Office 3415 South Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90034 East Coast Office 100 Church Street, 8th Floor New York City, NY 10007 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC
Sports Diversity Leadership Council, Sports Diversity Leader and SDL are trademarks of Media Out Loud, LLC. Compete is available by subscription, online, on the Compete app, at local and national events and at 250+ pick up locations nationwide.
WITH YOU: FROM THE PUBLISHER
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MAKING A SPLASH IN PARIS
’m looking forward to 2018. Being that it is our March-April issue, I know we are already well into this year but there is so much excitement and hope ahead for sports diversity. One thing we always look forward to is our annual swimsuit issue. This year we’re not only celebrating diversity, inclusion and equality, we’re also celebrating our 12th Annual Swimsuit Issue with an amazing group of amateur athlete models.
Our swimsuit issues have been well traveled over the years. We’ve photographed our swimsuit spread in cities such as Dallas, Washington, D.C., Denver, Las Vegas, New York, Seattle and more. This year we travelled to a new city — Paris, by way of Jason Dudek’s Phoenix studio. We wanted this year’s photo shoot to reflect the fun spirit, the joie de vivre of the upcoming Gay Games 10. We know that many of our readers, including Compete’s sports editor Dirk Smith are planning to participate in Paris, August 4-12, and what better way to launch the occasion than to see this season’s latest swimwear. And if you aren’t travelling to Paris this summer, the swimsuit feature in this issue will sizzle just as much stateside, whether it’s at your uncle’s Fourth of July barbeque, your Florida Keys beach vacation or at your city’s local water park. So put on your favorite warm weather swimwear a little bit early this year and enjoy the March-April issue of Compete!
With You,
Eric Carlyle, SDL Publisher/CEO eric@competenetwork.com @CompeteEric
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HIGH FIVE
HIGH FIVE for Sports Diversity As an early leader in the sports diversity movement, Compete Magazine gives out High Fives each issue to deserving athletes, teams, leagues, organizations and corporations for their sports diversity contributions. Here are five who get a High Five for a job well done! THE 15 OUT ATHLETES AT THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS … for having the courage to be who they are while demonstrating to the world that being an elite athlete has absolutely nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation. They include more well-known athletes such as Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon from the U.S. and Eric Radford from Canada to other less familiar but equally powerful male and female athletes from across the globe. LGBT INTERNATIONAL POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 … for announcing the introduction of a new inclusive Mx gender category to encourage and welcome individuals who identify as transgender, non-binary and intersex to participate in sports. This championship will be the first sporting event to welcome transgender athletes and offer an optional Mx third gender category. ESERA TUAOLO AND HIS HATE IS WRONG NON-PROFIT … for holding an inaugural Super Bowl Inclusion Party to foster diversity and inclusion sponsored by Adidas, the NFL and the Federation of Gay Games. Over 500 diverse community members raised money and awareness for the LGBTQ community, anti-bullying non-profits and homeless youth shelters. Tuaolo came out in 2002 after a 10-year career in the NFL and recently was a contestant on “The Voice.” He is also a Gay Games Ambassador. THE 265 WOMEN ATHLETES … sexually abused by Dr. Larry Nassar who had the courage to speak out about what happened to them. As team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, for years he sexually abused pre-teen-to-college-age women (many of them Olympians) under the guise of medical treatments and is now in prison for up to 175 years for his crimes. Kudos to Olympian Aly Raisman who called out USA Gymnastics to take responsibility for protecting Nassar despite many reports of his abuse AARON FEIS, ASST. FOOTBALL COACH, STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL, PARKLAND, FLA … who died while putting himself in the line of fire to protect students during the most recent school shooting. Additional kudos to the Miami Dolphins who donated $17,500 to Feis’ family and to Dolphins' asst. coach Darren Rizzi who told the Sun Sentinel: “I think a lot of people look at NFL coaches and players and think those are heroes. People like Coach Feis are the real heroes – people that are in high schools working with young people every day and formulating young people into doing the right things.” QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Being gay isn’t what defines me but it’s a big part of who I am and I like to talk about my coming out because that’s when I started to own who I was as a person. … That’s what’s important, not the being gay part but at some point — gay or straight — you need to own who you are. You can’t be afraid of who you are or else you’re afraid of your own potential, and if you don’t own who you are then you can’t grow.” Olympian Adam Rippon, first openly gay male named to a a Winter Olympics team
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COMPETE READER SURVEY & GRANDSTANDING FAVORITE U.S. LGBTQ+ WINTER OLYMPIAN
LETTERS to COMPETE GRANDSTANDING
20%
BRITTANY BOWE
30%
GUS KENWORTHY
50%
ADAM RIPPON
Bye-Bye 2017 (Jan-Feb 2018) I loved your look back at 2017. What an amazing year for LGBT sports and sports in general. Compete continues to be at the forefront of sports diversity and I particularly enjoy your focus on the “everyday” athlete. As Americans, and most of the world, continue to accept out athletes I am excited about the day when sexual orientation won’t even be a topic of discussion. The world is moving so fast now it’s likely we will forget about the heroes that make a difference in our lives. At least this issue of Compete can serve as a reminder. I am grateful to the inroads made by the athletes featured in Compete and am already looking forward to next year’s look back at 2018. Mia Wagner Fort Myers, Florida Please submit all Letters to Compete via email to letters@competenetwork.com.
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SPORT ON WITH THE SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL “We will be launching our online SDL designation program in April,” said Media Out Loud vice president Jared Garduno. “We want to make a real difference and we know that education and mentoring are an The Sports Diversity Leadership Council, a division of Media Out Loud, LLC, is a member-based organization whose mission is to “train tomorrow sports leaders today” through its Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) designation, organization certification and member opportunities. The SDLC recently formed its Strategic Partnership Advisory Committee that focuses on business development, membership building, sales and professional sports teams. Angela Smith, ASANA commissioner will chair the committee and be joined by Terri Goddard, the 2019 Gay Softball World Series Kansas City’s director of fundraising/special events and by Uber’s Ian Johnston.
important way to do that.” Recent new members include Major League Soccer, Visit Salt Lake, Richmond Region Tourism, Ace World Travel and other organizations working to impact sports diversity within their organizations. “We are thrilled at the support the SDLC is receiving and are excited about upcoming projects and opportunities we are about to launch,” continued Garduno. The SDLC harnesses “The Power of Sports Community™” to assist athletes, teams and leagues to create more opportunities within their organizations.
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VIVA LA JESUS GODINEZ WES PUTMAN
KEITHWAYNE RILEY
VIVA LA PARIS
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et ready – it’s that time of year again for Compete Magazine’s Annual Swimsuit issue, always one of our most popular issues! This year we’re giving you an early reminder of the upcoming Gay Games 10 that’s being held in Gay Paree from August 4-12, and we had a fun time doing it in the Phoenix studio of photographer Jason Dudek. With this year’s tag line of “All Equal,” the Gay Games is poised to yet again create a space in time where LGBTQ and straight athletes from around the world can experience participation, inclusion and their personal best, principles set down by Dr. Tom Waddell, founder of the Gay Games. And we are happy to once again feature some recreational athletes in our cover shoot. Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer for the Summer AND the Winter Olympic Games Pita Taufatofua reminds us that there is delicious excitement and titillation when viewing the buff, oiled, scantily-clad body of a highly trained elite athlete. But in Compete’s sports diversity tradition, we also like to showcase regular athletes, the weekend warriors who keep recreational sports growing and thriving around the globe. So check out new swimsuits for 2018 and then go out and get your game on in Paris. Whether you can participate in person or only digitally, you’ll experience the very best of what sports have to offer Team Human Race!
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VIVA LA PARIS
SWIMSUITS BY: BODY AWARE BODYAWARE.COM MP MICHAEL PHELPS MICHAELPHELPS.COM/US
Recognizing the Sin City Classic as a way to bring people together through sport, Christopher Loreface of Wrestlers Without Borders says “While everybody goes off to their respective sports, we all come back together to enjoy the social events and parties.” 18 COMPETE March-April 2018
VIVA LA PARIS
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VIVA LA PARIS
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VIVA LA PARIS
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VIVA LA PARIS
SPECIAL THANKS TO 2018 SWIMSUIT PHOTOGRAPHER JASON DUDEK
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MVP
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JESUS GODINEZ 24 COMPETE March-April 2018
MVP MARCH-APRIL 2018
JESUS GODINEZ Age: 32
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona Current Residence: Phoenix, Arizona Relationship Status: Single Favorite Athlete: Adam Rippon
Favorite Team: Arizona Cardinals and University of Arizona Wildcats Interests/Hobbies: Fitness, sports and bouldering
Why Do You Love Sports: Sports allow you to be a part of a community and a family
How Did You First Get Involved in Sports: A buddy of mine asked me to join the local flag football league. I had no prior experience playing football but I took a chance and joined. From there it just snowballed into where I'm at now with the league. What's Your Day Job: My background is in nursing and social work but I’ve been given the opportunity to be a systems improvement specialist – I get to work for a company that allows me to put my knowledge and experience to use by creating new work systems that benefit not only the company but also the patients we serve in the community. Greatest Personal Achievement: I would have to say the growth I've had this past year after a hard breakup. I'm really proud that I was able to see where I needed to make changes and then make those changes to be a better person not only for myself but also for those around me. Greatest Athletic Achievements: Hands down – making the Blast traveling team for the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League. Those guys went from teammates to brothers and I appreciate and respect every single one of them. If given the chance, what would you tell/teach your younger self and/or is there anything you hope to teach the younger generation that may be looking up to you? I would tell my 20s self that even though you think you know everything, you're wrong, that you have a lot to learn about not only yourself but also about your community and its people. I think it's the younger generation that is teaching us by how open they are with who they are and what they believe in. My only hope is that they know it wasn't always this easy and to understand what a big platform they have right now to do amazing things. I'm very excited for the younger generation. What are your future goals? I have some big goals. I would love my own gym that's focused on athletic workouts and training. I want to be able to give back to the LGBTQ community and I want to help our homeless community. But I'm more excited about the adventure I'm going to have along the way reaching those goals. What are your thoughts about the LGBTQ community's inclusion in sports diversity? I think it's amazing that there's an outlet for gay athletes in our local communities and that being an openly gay athlete is becoming more and more accepted. At the end of the day the love and passion we have for sports is the same regardless of outward sexual orientation, gender, beliefs or race. We're all just here to have a good time while playing the game(s) we love.
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SPORTS
MEGAN RAPINOE IS MAKING HISTORY BY DIRK SMITH
H
eld on the first weekend of March in Orlando, Florida is the SheBelieves Cup, an international invitation-only women’s soccer tournament. This year it was the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT), England, Germany and France battling it out for the win but it was Olympic gold and silver medal winner Megan Rapinoe and her teammates who ultimately prevailed, winning the 2018 SheBelieves Cup.
Compete: A couple of questions, Megan. Who were your role models growing up and how has the perception of women playing soccer changed over the last 10 years? Megan Rapinoe: So many role models; Tiffeny Milbrett, all the players on the national team and Michael Jordan. The change in perception is massive. I came into the National Team about then. Back then we’d see 5,000-6,000 fans. Now it’s grown so much; every year it grows exponentially. So many girls are now playing sports thanks to many trailblazers.
The WNT celebrated a well-deserved victory after beating England 1-0 in the final over the course of the three-day tournament. Of course this victory may have been aided by the appearance of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey team. Fresh off their Olympic gold medal game in PyeongChang, they came to cheer and support their soccer cohorts. In addition to leading the U.S. Women’s National Team, Rapinoe plays for the Seattle Reign FC of the Women’s National Soccer League as a midfielder and turned heads this past season when she took a knee during the National Anthem before a game in support of Colin Kaepernick’s Black Lives Matter protest. By publicly expressing her support for Kaepernick’s cause both by kneeling and by creating a discussion throughout the media, her actions led to a policy change by USA Soccer. The organization now requires that all players “must stand respectfully for the National Anthem,” making it the first professional sports organization to enact such a policy. Despite this setback, Rapinoe has continued the discussion and has continued to help raise support and awareness for Kaepernick’s cause. As a social justice advocate, Rapinoe has also called for equal pay and equal representation of female athletes within her sport and publicly spoken out against sexism in sports overall. Using her capabilities as captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team, she has shown through the women’s impact on soccer that they deserve equal representation with the men. Make no mistake – she is unapologetically outspoken, focused and determined both on and off
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SPORTS the field. She’s using her platform to speak out on issues for those who can’t. Some people might question her activism, even questioning her loyalty to her country. But Rapinoe is doing the most American thing possible – she is fighting for the rights of individuals to live their lives free from the fear of oppression, hatred and discrimination that is all too prevalent in today’s society. Currently dating WNBA star Sue Bird, Rapinoe is a powerful role model for young women, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth as well as future soccer stars from around the world. Megan is making her mark on history and is not looking back.
C: Megan, this week BODYARMOR Sports Drink announced a partnership with you. Is it easier now for woman athletes to attract product endorsements? Why did you agree to partner with BODYARMOR? MR: I think the space and opportunities for women are growing and it’s profitable for companies. It’s exciting to be on the forefront of this trend with BODYARMOR Sports Drink because I want to make sure everything I put into my body has no artificial ingredients and is designed for athletes. I do use the product. Because it allows me to stay on top of hydration, it’s perfect for me and that makes it easy to endorse.
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THE POWER OF SPORTS COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL LICNUOC PIHSREDAEL
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WWW.SPORTSDIVERSITYLEADERS.COM SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL IS A TRADEMARK OF MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC
SPORTS
CHANGING THE CONVERSATION: IT’S EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY BY CONNIE WARDMAN
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hile much forward progress has made in the LGBTQ sports community over the last couple of years, it is now experiencing strong backlash that’s keeping many athletes still closeted and leaving LGBTQ and Ally organizations battling ongoing legislative efforts by some states to protect the status quo. And in this age of ubiquitous social media, the public reaction to Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy kissing his boyfriend Matthew Wilkas prior to a race, has revealed two disturbing trends in current LGBTQ acceptance levels.
Displayed daily on the many versions of today’s social media platforms, the first trend is people saying that in 2018 homophobia no longer exists so it’s no longer an issue; gay people should just get over themselves and quit shoving displays of public affection in people’s faces. The other trend, most recently over Kenworthy’s kiss, shows that homophobia is NOT dead; it is frighteningly alive and well. His YouTube channel was awash in deeply disturbing hate and violence-filled homophobic rants. With such unadulterated vitriolic hate on daily display, our national and international deep divide is not going away unless and until we all take part in changing this current conversation. Prejudice is a knee-jerk reaction based on fear – fear of change, fear of the unfamiliar, fear of loss in some form. And it doesn’t go away on its own; it only goes away when we can change the conversation about what people fear so we all can move forward into a new normal that embraces inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance. Many of us thought that closeted athletes coming out would shift public opinion. But it’s now been six years since we wrote about Scott Norton (first out professional bowler in 2012) kissing his husband Craig Woodward after winning an important 2012 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tournament and ESPN choosing to broadcast it even though it had been filmed in advance. The next year Norton was nominated for the 2013 Best Bowler ESPY, the first gay male athlete ever nominated for an ESPY award. Jason Collins, Robbie Rogers, Wade Davis and Michael Sam also came out but the expected big rush of athletes coming out never happened. Obviously, the change in social climate we long for won’t be accomplished just by known athletes coming out. Norton and Kenworthy each made a public comment after their individual public kissing incidents. They both talked about the power of a kiss to hopefully show the world that gay people are no different than straight people; they also mentioned how important it is for young gays to see that love is love, hopefully making it easier for them to grow up in a more accepting world.
But Kenworthy also talked about the hate-filled comments he got, saying that “To experience all of these emotions out of something so innocent as a kiss was truly what blew my mind.
"… My entire life in movies and commercials in public, you see straight, heterosexual love, and that’s completely fine because it’s normal but us also showing the same type of affection isn’t shoving it in your face. It’s just us existing.” Gus Kenworthy It’s clear that today’s public reaction to an athlete kissing his beloved isn’t much different than it was six years ago, the possible exception being that Kenworthy’s responses, many from Trump supporters that were so hate-filled and vile that YouTube has responded, saying they’re now working harder to curb abusive comments. So what can you and I do to change today’s conversation and beyond? The first thing is to be a good role model for younger kids coming up. That’s a point made not only by Norton and Kenworthy but also by trans man Chris Mosier. Always frustrated by a lack of transgender athletes he could use as role models, Mosier says what has truly motivated him is being the person he wished he had when he was younger. We also need to be good role models for straight people. Don’t join in vile comments but when a situation permits in your daily life, do share your personal story. Talk about misconceptions, like a “gay agenda” versus wanting equality; share how casual homophobia, like someone uttering “that’s so gay” makes you feel; talk about lack of job protection in many states or any of the other topics that may crop up. It’s only when people understand that gay people are real people just like them that they can begin to make changes in how they interact with gay people. If you’re not already involved in the LGBTQ sports scene, sign up for softball or flag football; go bowling with (cont. on page 34)
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SPORTS (cont. from page 32)
your local league or release your aggression skating with a roller derby team. Also get involved with some of the powerful advocacy groups like the You Can Play Project, Athlete Ally, the Gay Games or some of the other great groups out there. They’re all dedicated to promoting respect for the LGBTQ+ community and its athletes so pick one whose mission resonates with you and get busy. However, if you’re not sure where you’d like to direct your energy or if you’re still not ready to be open about any of this yet, take some time to write a letter to your younger self. From your adult perspective, what would you tell your younger self about specific issues that weighed heavily on you when you were young? As you begin to reflect on who
you were back then, on what was most important to you, you may discover how you want to apply your adult talents in changing today’s conversation. We asked friend and colleague Alexis Levi to share her letter with you. She’s the first African American woman to become CEO and general manager of a men’s professional basketball team. A person of deep faith, she had known since childhood that she was meant to do something important and this process helped her find her purpose in life. Hopefully, this process will do the same for you because we all have a responsibility to change the conversation toward inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance!
A Note to My Younger Self BY ALEXIS LEVI As a young person you never know where you will end up in life. I told my mother that I knew I was supposed to do something great in this world and asked her if she knew what it was. She said she didn’t know, so I first became a nurse and then a business woman. But every step of the way I was trying to make a difference in the world around me. As a nurse I remembered to treat my patients the way I wished to be treated and as a business woman, I worked with integrity to open doors of influence and treat my employees, consultants and clients as I wanted to be treated. God granted me steps of greatness while teaching me what it took to fully achieve it. I learned along the way that “to whom much is given, much is required.” As life’s challenges and distractions began to take place, it seemed I would never meet that elusive “thing” that I asked my mother about as a child … the greatness that God had told me I would contribute to the world. After all, I was now a wife as well as a mother responsible for two lives and their individual journeys – it was that thing called Life. Then one day I was called to bring a sports team to Las Vegas. Not just any team; a men’s professional basketball team. Everyone thought I was out of my mind since I didn’t know anyone in Las Vegas but this is where God sent me. Although I didn’t understand why Las Vegas, I quickly began to realize why. With over 50 million people coming here each year from all around the world, Las Vegas is the gateway to the world. I discovered that an African American woman owning and acting as the general manager for a men’s professional sports team was a story that had not yet been told. I was here to make history! Had I been able to send this note to my younger self, I would have known back then that this was my special contribution to the world; I now know that my promised
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greatness was meant to open doors for women around the globe in the male-dominated sports management industry. Although cursed at, verbally abused, shunned, even hated by some, I continued to chart a course in sports broadcasting and publishing. I now follow my path interacting with the most influential people and the most powerful businesses in the world. Am I sorry that I wasn’t able to read this note when I was younger to find out what would give meaning to my early message from God? No. My viewpoint on life’s barriers is that they’re a challenge to rise above. By going through the barriers I encountered, I discovered not only my life’s purpose but also the living truth that the world is a better place because of diversity and inclusion. As a young person you may not understand how every experience you have now will lead you to a place, a calling bigger than yourself. Just know that along the way you are developing into the person you are destined to become. Be inspired; let yourself be all that you can be!
L-Dr. Jen Welter; R-Alexis Levi
SPORTS
THIS IS HOW WE BY CONNIE WARDMAN If you don’t already have Amazon Prime Video, the documentary series “This is How We Roll” may be the incentive you need to join. Following a season with the championshipwinning Alabama Wheelchair Basketball Team, the series’ 10 weekly episodes are free to view on Amazon Prime in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. While the series follows a season of the University of Alabama’s (UA) Wheelchair Basketball Team, it’s far from being focused on their disabilities. Each episode follows the students as they prepare for a different game as well as introduces you deeper into the lives of some of the players on the teams. Focusing on the everyday college lifestyle of a collegiate wheelchair basketball player, the series gives excellent insight into what it takes to be a student-athlete. This is the second documentary on adaptive sports by documentarian Daniel Koenig of Power 10 Films and it has his hallmark depth of involvement with the subjects and their lives as para-athletes. His first documentary, “Trials: Finding the Medal” followed four elite para-rowers as they trained and competed for a spot on the U.S. National Rowing Team within the para-rowing categories. Having learned about Koenig’s para-rowing documentary, the Alabama Adapted Athletics program approached him about filming their wheelchair basketball athletes. The university’s adapted athletics program began in 2003 with women’s wheelchair basketball. Since then the program has grown to include 30 student-athletes in women’s basketball, men’s basketball, wheelchair tennis, para-rowing and adapted golf. This January the $10 million multipurpose Stran-Hardin Arena for UA’s Adaptive Athletics program was opened that addresses the needs of all adapted athletes. The facility is named for Drs. Brent Hardin and Margaret Stran, founders of the program since its inception who also coached multiple championship teams at UA. Stran and Hardin were also co-producers of the documentary with Koenig. Caitlin McDermott, a UA alumna who was part of the championship team and serves as the main narrator of the series, spoke about the importance of adaptive athletes having their own space to focus on their training, saying “The biggest addition is the weight room and having our own adapted equipment so we don’t have to worry about figuring out what machines we can and can’t use and trying to adapt equipment geared toward able-bodied athletes.” And in the historic winning tradition of UA athletics, the Adapted Athletics program is home to six national championships in men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017), and wheelchair tennis has won three national championships (2013, 2015 and 2017). Roll Tide! Photo courtesy of Power 10 Films
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GYM BAG
GYM BAG
HOT ITEMS YOU SHOULDN'T DO WITHOUT SPIDER INTERACTIVE PUTTER POWERED BY BLAST BY TAYORMADE® The Spider Interactive powered by BLAST is a new putting experience that combines the performance of TaylorMade’s Spider Tour putter with real-time stroke analytics powered by a Blast Motion Sensor housed in the grip. Automatically captures valuable stroke data and syncs it directly to a mobile app so you can analyze, refine and master your putting performance. Includes a guided journey of step-by-step drills to improve your putting and an app tutorial and putting tips from “Me and My Golf.” $399.99 www.taylormadegolf.com
KT TAPE® PRO™ WIDE KT, short for Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape, is used by athletes to help reduce pressure to tissue injured through impact or over-use to ease discomfort and pain. Correct taping also provides support to muscles by improving their ability to contract even when weak and helps them to not over-extend or overcontract. KT TAPE’s specially formulated adhesive is latex-free, hypo-allergenic and designed to last through humidity, sweat, showers and multiple days of wear. This product is two-times wider than normal KT TAPE® PRO™ for lower back and other large muscle groups and can be worn for 4-7 days. $19.99 www.kttape.com
MEN’S NAVY TEAM USA CRYSTAL PULLOVER SWEATER Continue to celebrate Team USA’s performance at the Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang with this cozy navy Crystal pullover imported sweater by Outerstuff. It’s 55% cotton/45% acrylic and is officially licensed. Sizes S, M, L and XL. $74.99 plus flat rate shipping fee of $4.99. www.teamusashop.com
HYDRA TECH BOTTLE Described as the “Swiss Army Knife of water bottles,” this 20 oz water bottle includes a 5w Bluetooth speaker, a 4,000 mAh power bank smart phone charger, speakerphone, microphone and an emergency RGB LED nightlight. Made of BPA-free plastic, the premium 5w Bluetooth speaker and speakerphone have a retractable stand and the microphone turns the Hydra into a hands-free speakerphone. The 4,000 mAh ultra-safe polymer power bank has a 2.1a USB output. Weighs 1.54 pounds and requires lithium metal batteries. Comes in black, blue, grey, orange and red. Sold by TekTonik and fulfilled by Amazon. $59.99 www.amazon.com
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EVENTS: FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT WWW.COMPETENETWORK.COM/EVENTS AQUATICS
SOFTBALL
2018 TNYA Swim Camp
Lone Star Classic
San Diego, Apr. 21
Ft. Lauderdale, Mar. 18-24
Houston, Mar. 17-18
Charm City Invitational 33
BASKETBALL
Southern Shootout
Baltimore, Apr. 28
Birmingham, Mar. 31-Apr. 1
Lake Erie Classic
Coady Roundball Classic XXVIII
Big D – Easter Bonnet Classic
Cleveland, Apr. 28
Atlanta, Mar. 10-11
BOWLING Second City Open Tournament Chicago, Mar. 2
St. Patrick’s Invitational Tournament San Jose, Mar. 16
Winter Express Trio Tournament Ann Arbor, Mich., Mar. 17
Dallas, Mar. 31-Apr. 1
SNEFL Spring Thaw East Hartford, Conn., Apr. 7-8
Saguaro Cup Phoenix, Apr. 13-15
Spring Classic San Diego, Apr. 14-15
TENNIS
Dallas Area Masters Invitational Tournament
Palm Springs Doubles 2018
Richardson, Tex., Mar. 30
2018 ChATTAhoochee Doubles Classic
Gotham Open Bowling Tournament
Atlanta, Mar. 9-11
Lodi, N.J., Apr. 13
Buccaneer Doubles Invasion 2018
Columbus Ohio Midwest Invitational Classic
St. Petersburg, Mar. 10-11
Columbus, Apr. 27
Burbank, Mar. 30-Apr. 1
Funlovers California Spring Classic Fountain Valley, Calif., Apr. 27
FLAG FOOTBALL Duel in the Desert Mar. 30-31, Palm Springs
POLO 9th Annual Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament Palm Beach, Apr. 5-8
RODEO A Texas Tradition Rodeo Denton, Tex., Apr. 6-8
Rancho Mirage, Mar. 3-4
LA Open 2018 2018 Orange Blossom Tennis Championship Altamonte Spring, Fla., Apr. 6-8
Alamo City Tennis Classic 2018 San Antonio, Apr. 13-15
VOLLEYBALL Gold Rush 2018 Carson, Calif., Mar. 10
Cincinnati Volleyball Classic Cincinnati, Mar. 17
Queen Vicki 2018 Vancouver, Mar. 24
Lone Star Volleyball Classic XXIX Houston, Mar. 30
Last Dig in Denver XXI
RUNNING
Denver, Apr. 7
Pride Run Phoenix
New York, Apr. 7
Phoenix, Mar. 24
Midwest Crossroads Tournament
Dodgeball: From the Playground to the World Stage Everyone who thinks they know dodgeball is in for an big awakening. No longer just a memory of a childhood game, as a sport dodgeball is ready to make its mark with the formation of USA Dodgeball by taking that sport from the playground to the next level by uniting it on all fronts. This includes a competitive collegiate league, a highperformance professional circuit and a large-payout trampoline dodgeball tournament that airs on ESPN as well as the world dodgeball championships. In the few months since its debut, USA Dodgeball as a non-profit organization has already brought over 30 major organizations under its umbrella as well as thousands of players across the country. The organization has big plans for the future of the sport, including standardizing rules, promoting the sport on all levels and youth programs and initiatives. This fall USA Dodgeball will be hosting the World Dodgeball Championships in Los Angeles, California. For more information visit www. facebook.com/usadodgeball & www. usadodgeball.com
Sports Club at
Big Apple XXXV
Champaign, Apr. 14
Volley del Sol Phoenix, Apr. 14
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Spring Challenge VII
Your Uptown Fitness Experience! www.sportsclubatcitysquare.com (Indian School Rd and 2nd Ave)
602-285-2929
STYLE: BOBBY SAYS
SWIMWEAR TRENDS FOR 2018
BY BOBBY CILETTI For both men and women, swimsuits are an important and often over looked item in anyone’s collection. For those of us who are constant sun seekers, these poolside staples are an important wardrobe sector. For others, however, swimwear can be easily forgotten until that last minute getaway pops up or summer finally rolls around. If you wait for that last moment to evaluate your swimwear game, you are subjected to the limited availability of size and style you find at your disposal. This is troublesome for a couple of reasons. For one, everyone will be buying and wearing the same suit as you. Two, you have no flexibility to find something that best fits you or your budget. In this last minute scenario the old saying is true – beggars cannot be choosers. So take heed. A little preparation for spring break, summer or that unexpected trip will have you ahead of the trends with a few new suits waiting to see the light of day. Tropical Prints Swimwear can often fall victim to being under- or over-designed with some aspects just being cliché. A Hawaiian flower-print swimsuit may be good if you are freelancing as a Hawaiian Tropic promo model. Other than that, it’s been done and often not well. For printed suits, updated tropical motifs are available thanks to designers like Stella McCartney who offers swimwear for both men and women. Neon Neon says a lot, like let’s have some fun or I want to stand out, which if you are in a swimsuit you are probably trying to do anyway. Neon is an easy way to make a statement in a crowd which will come in handy at a beach where there are so many people. If you are a little weary of neon try a color blocked suit that pairs neon with a more neutral color. Or if you are feeling really adventurous try a neon pattern like leopard print or geometric. Also a pro tip, neon is flattering with all skin tones and looks great in photos. Try it – you’ll love it. Belted For a sophisticated touch and a slightly retro feel opt for a swimsuit with a belt detail. While a spandex band or drawstrings can look constricting or clumsy, this simple detail can give you a nice silhouette. This look is versatile; it goes sporty or chic so there’s an option for everyone. Minimal The adage about a little black dress or a well-tailored suit constantly pops up for a reason. It always works! A simple black or white suit should be in everyone’s repertoire. It can read a little more formal and chic. Although it may sound ridiculous to some, a pool or beach-look is no different from any other fashion decisions you make for their respective situations or events. Dress accordingly. Bobby Says … Routinely comb through your swim drawer and retire old suits that won’t be doing you any favors this summer. Look for signs of wear and tear, such as faded colors, elastic that is losing its form or swimwear that is sagging. No one likes a saggy bottom. It may be hard to part with your favorite swimsuits but it is always fun to find a new one.
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BEDROOM SPORTS
THE RISE AND FALL OF MY SOFTBALL CAREER BY RYAN O’CONNOR, GUEST COLUMNIST
I
recently got the bug to try a new sport. Well, to be honest, even though I write for a sports magazine I’ve never really played sports. So I guess you could say that I recently got the bug to try a sport.
Growing up, I wasn’t a particularly athletic kid. In fact, I wasn’t athletic at all. Sure, I rode a bicycle with my friends and put on roller blades once or twice, but other than P.E. I never really played team sports. So this past summer I joined a local softball team. Keep in mind, this wasn’t just any softball team, it was a highly competitive gay softball team. None of my friends currently play softball so I thought I’d join on my own. I could get in plenty of exercise, meet new friends and hopefully meet some nice, single guys. I showed up to the first practice in my very best T-shirt and shorts. I think I looked really sharp but I made the mistake of wearing brand new, shiny sneakers. Thinking back on it, I am pretty sure I was the only softball hopeful wearing rhinestone-studded Nikes. Wearing gussied-up sneakers wasn’t the real problem though; the real problem was that they were brand new – oh, my aching feet! By the time I finished the warmups I wish I would have worn my plain, ordinary and comfortably broken-in shoes! Even though I was now walking with a limp I kept a smile on my face. I still had goals. I kept telling myself that I was at practice to get some exercise and meet new people. Then I saw him. I didn’t know what his name was so I am going to call him Ben (for Ben Cohen, of course).
Ben was a natural on the baseball diamond. He was wearing a tight T-shirt, baseball pants and more sensibly, he was wearing softball shoes. I am not a good judge of age but I would guess he was in his early thirties, just like me. He hit like a star, ran like a star, caught like a star and most importantly, he smiled like a star. Ben’s smile was so radiant that I was completely blinded by love at first sight. His entire persona was so engaging that I wanted to perform my best so he would notice me. From the second I saw Ben I ran faster and pushed myself harder. I even jumped right in front of the ball to impress him. I was hoping he’d think I was a softball stud. Near the end of practice I noticed that Ben was staring at me—be still my heart! At that point I threw my first two goals out the window. I no longer cared about exercising or meeting new friends. I just wanted to meet a nice, single guy … and that single guy was most definitely Ben. He waved at me and then headed my way. This was it. This was my chance to get a date with Ben. As he approached my heart rate quickened, my pulse jumped and my brow began to sweat. This was IT – he reached out and patted my shoulder! And then he spoke –he said to me, “Hey bud, you ripped your shorts up the back.” I was mortified. This wasn’t exactly the impression I wanted to make. In fact, after he told me that he continued on past me and never looked back. I smiled, turned and watched as he walked away. It was at that moment, at the end of my very first practice that I decided to retire from softball. RYAN O’CONNER is just a regular guy who is dating in this great big world. His advice comes from personal experience and his advice is for entertainment purposes only. We recommend you consult a physician, counselor or therapist in your area for specific advice about your personal situation. Otherwise, questions can be submitted to bedroom@competenetwork.com.
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