February 2016 Compete Magazine

THE ART OF

BODYBUILDING

SWIMMING SPLASHES TO CANADA RUGBY BINGHAM CUP PREVIEW FOOTBALL MICHAEL SAM IS A WINNER FEBRUARY 2016 • VOL. 10 NO. 2 $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM

PHOTO BY BROCK ELLIOTT PHOTOGRAPHY©

FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 10, Issue 2

PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Style Editor Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jay D’Angelo, Joseph Gaxiola, Jeff Hocker, Jon Johanson, Jeff Kagan, Miriam Latto, Charles Naurath, Dr. Rob Elliott Owens and Brian Patrick Photo Editor Jacquelyn Phillips • jacquelyn@competenetwork.com Photographers Thomas Fleisher, Leland Gebhardt Sales & Partnerships KC Jones • kc@competenetwork.com Jonathan Bierner • jonathan@competenetwork.com Administration Camille Fitzgerald • camille@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2016 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Corporate Office 4703 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 • 480-222-4223 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

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COMPETE MAGAZINE

16 THE SPORT OF BODYBUILDING KICK–OFF

11 COMMUNITY HERO Eric Ryan

12 LEFT FIELD

Speed Read, Grandstanding,Thumbs UP/DOWN

DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP

Anthony Collova

27 ATHLETE T.j. Prall

SPORTS 31 33 36 38 40

Making Waves the IGLA Way Michael Sam Honored by HRC Rugby Fever Hitting Nashville The Man of Many Uniforms Sports Diversity Leadership Conference Launched

OVERTIME

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 BEDROOM SPORTS

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out more Compete stories online at: competenetwork.com www.CompeteNetwork.com

COVER ATHLETE top, Jacob Elston; bottom, Charles Flanagan COVER PHOTO Brock Elliott Photography©

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FROM THE SKYBOX

BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER

Now In Our Tenth Year

@CompeteEric

Y

ou may have noticed a new banner added to our cover last month – “In Our Tenth Year.” It’s hard to believe that Compete Magazine was born in 2006 and our Preview Issue was finally launched in February of 2007. Boy, how things have changed.

When we first launched the idea, LGBT athletes and fans were struggling to find their place in sports. Thanks to early pioneers such as Outsports’ Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler, college athlete-turned political powerhouse Brian Sims, NCLR’s Sports Project director Helen Carroll, UCLA assistant women’s softball coach Kirk Walker, former MLB player and now-MLB vice president Billy Bean, Compete’s Connie Wardman and many others too numerous to name, the world is much more open to sports diversity.

Giving credit where credit is due has always been a cornerstone of Compete’s reporting. If you look through past issues of Compete you’ll find many references to companies and individuals that many people would consider our competition. We don’t look at them as competition, we look at them as collaborators. We aren’t always shouting from the rooftops about what Compete has done but rather about what we (in the collaborative sense) have done to advance sports diversity and inclusion.

So as we raise a glass to congratulate Compete on its tenth year, let’s also toast the many pioneers that have come before us as well as those that stand beside us now, and say “Congratulations! There is a lot more to accomplish but we are in this together!”

Sport On, Eric Carlyle Chief Executive Officer eric@competenetwork.com

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FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VA-VA-VA-VOOM!

W

ell, just in case you haven’t already figured it out from the cover photo, this is our bodybuilding issue. And while many of us won’t be looking like the people pictured here who are so dedicated to their sport, we can all get real health benefits from a little regular time in the gym doing some aerobics and resistance @CompeteConnie training. It pays off in stress reduction, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and lots of wonderful self-confidence.

In addition to the great photoshoot, there’s a piece on gay bodybuilder J.t. Prall from Overland Park, Kansas who has persevered in his lifelong goal to be who he is today. And then there’s a story on triple-threat Edd Schommer of Phoenix, who wears three different uniforms for three different sports.

If you’re a swimmer, diver or water polo player, registration for the 2016 IGLA (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics) Championships are now open. And rugby’s biennial Bingham Cup is coming to Nashville this May. While we’ll be doing more on the tournament host, the Nashville Grizzlies RFC in an upcoming issue, Compete contributor Ian Colgate, our favorite Anglophile, offers readers some quick, fun-filled rugby basics.

It was just a few weeks ago that most of us were in Las Vegas for the 9th Annual Sin City Shootout, the only tournament planned specifically with athletes in mind, something that makes Eric Ryan, founder and tournament director, our Community Hero. And while most were there for one or more of the 23 sports offered this year, a few of us were also meeting to plan a Sports Diversity Leadership Conference for next year.

We also have a new column in this issue called Bedroom Sports.

So if you have some questions, just follow the email instructions at the bottom of the story to get an answer. We hope you enjoy this issue of Compete as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

Keep Smiling,

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

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| COMPETE | February 2016

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COMMUNITY HERO

KICKOFF

Eric Ryan – An Athlete’s Athlete WHILE THERE’S A slight chance you might not immediately recognize the name Eric Ryan, it’s a sure bet that you’ve heard of the Sin City Shootout (SCS) that is held in Las Vegas over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Over the last nine years it’s worked its way up to its current claim that it’s the “largest annual LGBT Photo by Jason King Photography sporting event in the world.”

What makes this annual weekend tournament different? It’s the only major sporting event that has been designed with the athletes in mind. And the man behind this new take on a sports festival is none other than Eric Ryan, an athlete’s athlete.

An out firefighter who describes himself as an “alpha male,” Ryan is a serious softball player with GLASA, the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association. Having been to many tournaments as a softball player over the years, Ryan said he always enjoyed the competition but the arrangements often left a lot to be desired. So as he thought about the perfect location, Las Vegas seemed to check all the boxes.

“I dreamed of a weekend sporting event that could be held in a location that offered lots of hotel rooms at a reasonable price, a destination with regular and reasonable travel, quality fields and other venues where people in multiple sports could compete, and lots of places to socialize after a day of hard play.”

Host for this sports extravaganza is, as always, the GLASA. Ryan is now the assistant commissioner of GLASA, but in 2007 as a GLASA member, he approached the then assistant commissioner with his vision, proposing that the organization take on all the exposure and liability of the mega-event. If the organization would agree to his proposal, then he could use its large buying power to get the best venues and prices on everything from room rates to travel.

In 2008 Ryan’s dream became a reality with 40 softball teams competing, a figure that grew to 70 teams

in year two. It wasn’t perfect at the start. “I made lots of mistakes,” Ryan says of his first year. “I didn’t even think of concessions and bathrooms.” But he spoke with team managers and asked for their feedback, and they said they loved it. The big draw for them was Las Vegas. By 2010 basketball was added to the tournament and in 2011 it expanded to five sports.

One of the best things about this annual extended weekend tournament is the variety of sports involved – there’s something for everyone who wants to participate. It’s certainly filled with the expected, like softball, basketball, football. But it always embraces less mainstream and sometimes less strenuous sports, like darts, frisbee and contract bridge. This year boasted 23 different sports involved.

While the total attendance this year was estimated to reach 8,500 players, officials, family and friends, the actual attendance exceeded the estimate, coming in at 8, 671.

And for Ryan, who claims he’s not a micromanager but is a self-confessed detail-oriented tournament director, this means the tournament requires his full focus.

So while he still plays softball with his GLASA team, he doesn’t have time anymore to play at this tournament.

He said that early in the tournament’s history, “I was on second base checking my phone in-between pitches. I realized that I had too many responsibilities to all the athletes to make this a great event to continue playing with my team during the Sin City Shootout.”

Ryan is always looking to add more sports that meet his required due diligence – meaning that they need to be legitimate and well-organized since each sport is responsible for setting up its own competition within the larger framework of SCS. So don’t be surprised at what you find on the list of sports for SCS’ tenth anniversary – it could be anything from stockcar racing to underwater sneaker retrieving.

As Eric Ryan’s tournament idea continues to spread further into the community of gay and ally athletes, his reputation as a community hero will only continue to grow because he created a tournament based on the athletes’ needs and concerns.

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

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KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ MLB PROMOTES BILLY BEAN TO VP FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INCLUSION Major League Baseball (MLB) has promoted Billy Bean from ambassador for inclusion to vice president for social responsibility and inclusion. In his new position, Bean will oversee MLB’s workplace code of conduct as well as their anti-bullying programming while continuing to develop strategies focused on the LGBT community. Bean’s work over the past year with MLB has been met with great success throughout the league. And at the 2015 Compete Sports Diversity Awards this past November, both Bean and MLB were honored in a dual presentation for the Pioneer Award.

THE HOLY GRAIL OF MISSING SPORTS FOOTAGE FOUND – SUPER BOWL I As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl on February 7, the mystery of the lost tape of Super Bowl I, referred to by many over the years as the Holy Grail of missing sports footage, has finally been revealed. The game, played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967, saw Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers wallop the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. Shockingly, the game didn’t sell out even though the top ticket price was only $12. But then it wasn’t called the Super Bowl and no one knew how big it would become.

Unless you were there in person or watched it live on NBC or CBS, you and the rest of football’s rabid fans have never seen the game. Neither network preserved a complete tape of the game; their only surviving tape includes sideline footage shot by NFL Films and 30 seconds of footage CBS used in a pre-game show for Super Bowl XXV. However, a find in a Pennsylvania attic could change that if legal issues over ownership could be resolved.

In 1967 DVD players hadn’t been invented yet, and television had no set policies for preserving sporting events. The tape’s anonymous owner has all communication going through his attorney, Steve Harwood of Norfolk, Virginia, who said his client’s father taped the game live at a television station in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on two-inch quadruplex tape.

Due to the game’s value and importance, in 2005 his client brought the warped and slightly “beat up” color tapes in a shopping bag to the Paley Center in New York to see if their engineers could restore it. The Paley Center was allowed to keep a copy in return for the restoration but the center is prevented from showing it without the owner’s permission, something that has yet to happen.

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The NFL immediately claimed ownership of the tapes and, according to Harwood, has threatened to sue his client if he tries to sell the restored tape to a third party.

And since NFL Films has already spliced together a version of the game with what it had, airing it last month as part of a three-hour production that included the original NBC Sports radio play-by-play by Jim Simpson and George Ratterman as well as pre-, half- and post-game segments, current broadcast graphics and commentators discussing the game as it progressed, the restored tape isn’t likely to see the light of day. Even so, just once in awhile it’s good to know that a modern day grail quest still exists and that the object can be found.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TAMIKA CATCHINGS Congratulations go to WNBA ten-time All-Star Tamika Catchings who became the first woman to receive the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She and retired NBA players Spencer Haywood and Jalen Rose received the award during a halftime ceremony at the Grizzlies game in Memphis.

The three were honored for “their contributions to civil and human rights, and for laying the foundation for future leaders through their careers in sports in the spirit of Dr. King.”

Now in her 16th and final WNBA season, Catchings has founded the Catch the Stars Foundation. She also serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Council to Empower Women and Girls Through Sports and is president of the WNBA Players Association.

BILLS HIRE KATHRYN SMITH AS NFL’S FIRST FULL-TIME FEMALE COACH In another step forward for women in professional sports coaching positions, the Buffalo Bills hired Kathryn Smith as their special teams quality control coach, making her the first female full-time coach in the NFL. She has worked with head coach Rex Ryan for seven years, six of them when he was head coach for the New York Jets, and is already well known to the Bills staff and players.“Kathryn Smith has done an outstanding job in the seven years that she has worked with our staff,” Ryan said in a statement.

“She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities, and I just know she’s going to do a great job serving in the role of Quality Control-Special Teams.”

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE

OH, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS (Jan 2016) My household was extremely excited to see Fallon Fox on the cover of Compete Magazine. As longtime fans of Compete, we took notice of two covers featuring transgender athletes in the past year, the other being Chris Mosier. While no one in our immediate family is transgender, we applaud out transgender athletes like Fox and Mosier and we’re glad that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will allow Mosier to compete without the need for surgery.

Denise Clark and Penny Yates

COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Sports Season?

Fall 18% Summer 36%

Spring 22%

San Diego EDITOR’S NOTE: The IOC recently changed its policy on transgender athletes.

Before the change, transgender athletes were required to complete sex reassignment surgery in order to compete in the Olympics.

Winter 24%

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

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SPORTS KICKOFF

AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS QB … for saying there’s no place for homophobic or racist chants from the crowd.

DRAG ICON DAME EDNA … for calling Caitlyn Jenner a “publicity-seeking ratbag” and calling trans women “mutilated” men. Barry Humphries, the 81-year-old Australian man behind the legendary Dame Edna, identifies as straight and says he’s angered by current political correctness which he calls a “new Puritanism.”

BILL GUILFOIL … for trying out for the USA Table Tennis team for 2016 Olypmpics in Rio. The 93-year-old has played since age 13 and has a lifetime USA Table Tennis membership.

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?

A.In all that time, only ten men have won the title and carried home the coveted Sandow Trophy. This is due to multiple repeat winners and dynasties in the sport of bodybuilding.

The winners have been Larry Scott (1965-67), Sergio Oliva (1968,’69); Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970-75,1980); Franco Columbu (1976,1981); Frank Zane (1977-79); Chris Dickerson (1982); Samir Bannout (1983); Lee Haney (1984-91); Dorian Yates (1992-1997)and Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005).

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

QUIZ

Since its inception in 1965, how many men have held the coveted title of Mr. Olympia, the Holy Grail of professional bodybuilding?

U.S. TENNIS PLAYER JACK SOCK … for his good sportsmanship in urging opponent Lleyton Hewitt to challenge the referee’s call that his serve to Sock was out. After review, the call was reversed. But while Hewitt won that point, Sock won the match, 7-5, 6-4.

Pictured: Lee Ann Thompson

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THE SPORT OF BODYBUILDING

By Brian Patrick PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROCK ELLIOTT PHOTOGRAPHY©

I

t’s hard to deny the beauty of the human body that’s been well-developed. But bodybuilding is much more than looking good. Weight training and aerobic exercise offer real health benefits, like stress reduction, lowering the risk of heart disease, reducing and controlling high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol. Combined with the healthy diet bodybuilders follow, there are also positive benefits in terms of self confidence, a positive attitude that shows up in the workplace, in personal relationships and in a better sex life.

The people you see on these pages have dedicated endless time and effort to their sport. Their amazing bodies are a testament to their continued devotion. But their sport is also a testament to an interesting assortment of men and women who went from showing off feats of strength to developing their bodies and the sport while sharing their love of fitness along the way. An article by Jesse Rhodes lists bodybuilders that over the last 150 years have moved the sport from circus sideshows to the gyms of today, turning themselves into celebrities of the day while they shared lessons on fitness.

Eugen Sandow, born in Prussia in 1867 as Friederich Wilhelm Müller, was a pioneering bodybuilder who is known today as the “father of modern bodybuilding.”

He traveled throughout Europe, eventually joining a circus as a strongman and taking Eugen Sandow as his stage name. At 5-foot-8 and weighing 220 pounds, he wound up touring in the Trocadero Vaudevilles owned by American impresario Florenz “Flo” Ziegfeld Jr. The posing used in bodybuilding today actually began with Ziegfeld. The showman recognized that his audiences were much more interested in Sandow’s muscles than in the amount of weight he was lifting. So Ziegfeld added what he called “muscle display performances” that made Sandow a star in the U.S. And in 1901 Sandow organized the first major bodybuilding contest that was held in Royal Albert Hall in England.

Born into a circus family performing feats of strength, Austrian strongwoman Katie Brumbach, later known as Katie Sandwina, gained notoriety with a publicity stunt when touring in New York. She challenged any-

one in the audience who dared try, to lift more weight than she did. It turned out that Sandow was in the audience and accepted her challenge. In a very real contest, they matched each other until they got to 300 pounds.

She lifted the 300 pounds over her head while Sandow could only lift it to his chest. She then changed her name to Sandwina, a female version of Sandow, to capitalize on her victory.

But it was really Steve Reeves who brought a new awareness and appreciation of body building to postWWII America. Winning the title of Mr. America in 1947, Mr. World in 1948 and Mr. Universe in 1950, his muscular body won him a successful movie career. And then came Jack LaLanne who not only invented the leg extension, weight selector and cable/pulley machines used in today’s gyms but he also used the fledgling medium of television to encourage healthy living through diet and exercise.

Abbye Stockton is the bodybuilder who moved the image of muscular women from the sideshow to the gym.

Married in 1941, she became a regular at California’s Muscle Beach after her husband, Les introduced her to weightlifting. Nicknamed “Pudgy” as a child, the 5-foot1, 115-pound bodybuilder could regularly hold her 185pound husband straight over her head with him doing a handstand. The pair opened the first women’s-only gym and she encouraged women to lift weights to improve their figures and athletic ability.

And then there’s Arnold Schwarzenegger. Winner of seven Mr. Olympia competition titles, his move into an acting career in 1970 featured him in “Conan the Barbarian,” “The Terminator,” “Predator” and “True Lies.” His move into politics began in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush appointed him as the chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports which eventually led to his election in 2003 as the governor of California.

The value and popularity of today’s sport of bodybuilding owes a lot to these men and woman. So if 2016 is your year to get in better shape and increase your health and wellbeing, consider taking up bodybuilding. Who knows – you just might wind up in show business or politics, too.

SPONSORED BY MYOATMEAL.COM PHOTOSHOOT AT TEAMTNTFITNESS.COM IN TEMPE AZ

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Pictured: Chris Polityka

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Pictured: Donna Jones and Charles Flanagan

Pictured: Charles Flanagan and Jacob Elston

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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Pictured: Charles Flanagan, Jacob Elston and Chris Polityka

Pictured: Charles Flanagan and Donna Jones

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Pictured: Lee Ann Thompson and Donna Jones www.CompeteNetwork.com

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Pictured: Chris Polityka and Jacob Elston

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Pictured: Lee Ann Thompson and Donna Jones

Pictured: Lee Ann Thompson and Donna Jones www.CompeteNetwork.com

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ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: My achievements in sports are few. They are not trophies or medals. They are not pats on the back or standing ovations. They are grueling, one inch at a time, one moment at a time accomplishments that have made me a better athlete and a better person.

I don’t measure my success the way that most physically active people do. I don’t rely on what other people tell me about how good or bad my performance is, I don’t rely on a score or a time clock. Rather, I define my achievements based on two things: Did I give it my all? And did I do better this time than last time. If I can make improvements in sport and in life, then I am a winner.

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: 17 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol

WHY HE LOVES SPORTS: I love challenging myself, challenging others and finding myself out of breath, knowing that I am actively pursuing a life of health and longevity. The exercise I get from whatever sport I am playing is how I stay an active participant in the quality of my life.

When I exercise I empower myself, to better myself.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: I say my deltoids (Kathy says it’s my smile).

INTERESTS: Baking, grilling, hiking Camelback. Anything that has to do with spending time with Kathy.

FAVORITE TEAM: USA Olympic Snow Boarding Team

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Married

SPORTS PLAYED: Everything but cricket and rugby

SPORT: Bodybuilding

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Scottsdale, Arizona

HOMETOWN: Scottsdale, Arizona

AGE: 40

ANTHONY COLLOVA

TEAM COMPETE MVP

To be included in our MVP section, e-mail: MVP@competenetwork.com

Photography Brock Elliott PhotographyŠ

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ATHLETE

T.J. PRALL – MOST DEFINITELY A BODYBUILDER

BY CONNIE WARDMAN UNLIKE MOST OF US, THERE’S NO QUESTION in T.j. Prall’s mind about what he wants to be when he grows up. He’s already there – he’s a bodybuilder! And in a sport that he says is dominated by straight guys, he’s openly gay.

T.j. knew early on that he wanted to be a bodybuilder.

The short, rail-thin kid from Nebraska who was continually bullied from elementary through high school knew he wanted to look different; he even dreamt a lot about what he’d look like. And today, at 6-foot-0, 200 pounds, he’s worked his way into his dream body.

Fortunately, for his 13th birthday his dad gave him the best gift ever – his first weightlifting set. The only problem was that he didn’t know anything about working out. An uncle was big into fitness but he wasn’t around so T.j. taught himself with the help of friends and fitness magazines.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF T.J. PRALL

As he gained some muscle and weight in his later teens thanks to the weight training and high school gymnastics, he decided to address the bully who had been in almost every class with him from grade school on. T.j. not only “didn’t take his crap anymore,” he also spoke up, telling a school counselor each time something happened. In fact, there were so many incidents that finally, the bully was permanently suspended for an entire year.

His parents divorced when he was only eight-yearsold. So when T.j. decided to come out in 2006, he confided first in his sister. Next he told his mother, who was pretty understanding. But his father was, in his words, super religious. Needless to say, that didn’t go well for quite awhile.

But his dad’s girlfriend was very accepting and over the long-term she helped change his dad’s view to one that’s more accepting.

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ATHLETE

Now 35, T.j. has graduated with a B.A. in exercise science from the University of Nebraska, Omaha and he’s created a career that is built around his love for fitness and bodybuilding.

A personal trainer who is TRX-certified, he also teaches anatomy and physiology, kinesiology and contemporary nutrition in addition to a lab class at Vatterott Career College as part of their personal training career classes. He’s also spent time in the business world teaching corporate wellness.

While T.j. enjoys his roles as a personal trainer and teaching classes, he really loves to compete as a bodybuilder. He competed in his first show in 2012 at the Gateway Natural competition in St. Louis, Missouri where he did well for his inaugural event by coming in second place (he missed first by only one point). Since then he’s competed twice in the Natural Southern States Classic, taking third place in 2013 and fourth place in 2014. This year his goal is to compete in the physique portion of the contest.

T.j. also calls himself an aspiring fitness model who would love to model underwear and swimwear. But along the way he continues to support the LGBT community by helping at various Pride festivals. And to honor his mother who had breast and bone cancer, he’s participated in several of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events in his area.

After almost 20 years of dedicated working out and eating well, T.j. Prall still has no doubts about what he wants to be when he grows up because he’s already there – he’s a gay bodybuilder.

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SPORTS

2016 IGLA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Swimming, Diving … and a Pink Flamingo?

BY HARRY ANDREW positive environment that’s supportive of all athletes. And IT MAY SEEM A BIT TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT if you’re a serious competitive swimmer, an IGLA coma swimming event, especially when it’s being held in petition is a safe bet since part of its mission is to “ensure Edmonton, Canada while much of the U.S. is covered in maintenance of the highest standards for aquatic compesnow and ice. But registration is now open for the 2016 titions and international standards for all Gay Games and IGLA (International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics) ChampionIGLA Championships.” ships being held from August 8-14, and they already have “We’re thrilled with the response we’re getting from the athletes from North America, Europe and Australia signed international community, particularly the up.

Americans with their strong dollar in relation to the CanaThis international aquatic gathering that takes place dian Loonie.” said Justin Shields, IGLA 2016 co-chair. With in years between the Gay Games, has been held in Stock63 IGLA member teams that represent approximately holm, Seattle, Reykjavik, Honolulu, Copenhagen, Wash2,700 athletes from 17 countries, a number of them are ington, D.C. and Paris. At the 2014 Gay Games held in sending multiple teams. Shields said “I’ve already heard Cleveland, the Making Waves Aquatics Club of Edmonton that the Sydney Stingers and the Toronto Triggerfish water won the bid to host this year’s championships, making this polo teams were planning to send two teams each to the the first time since 2001 (Toronto) the championships have tournament; in fact Edmonton started its own LGBT water been held in Canada. polo team because of local interest in hosting!”

With over 1,000 participants and an additional several If you’re already involved in any area of competitive hundred family, fans and officials expected, the sanctioned swimming or thinking about it, join your local IGLA memmasters competition will bring Alberta the largest gay ber team and sign up now. Then you can allow thoughts of sporting event in the province’s history. The Making Waves pink flamingos and August in Edmonton, a beautiful city in Aquatics Club team is busy preparing to host athletes from the summer near the Canadian Rockies, to warm and thaw around the world to compete in swimming, diving, water you over the rest of this crazy winter. polo, synchronized swimming (aka synchro), open water To register or for more information on the 2016 IGLA Championswimming and the famous Pink Flamingo™. ships, go to IGLA2016.org.

“My first IGLA swimming championships were in Toronto in 2001 followed by the Sydney Gay Games in 2002. I had such great experiences and met so many friends that it inspired me to share that experience with others. The parties were fun too!!” said Mike Stansberry, IGLA 2016 co-chair.

When asked about the Pink Flamingo, he said “The best way to describe it is a drag aqua-follies synchro show in water … done in the dive tank. It can be a mix of swimming, choreography on the deck, diving off the platform, costumes.” Sadly, he said there are no feathers or glitter allowed, but only “because they clog the pool filters.”

While IGLA is an international organization that promotes aquatic sports for gay men and women, it’s also open to friends of the LGBT community. Making Waves Aquatics Club is Edmonton’s inclusive masters swim club and water polo team, and since 1999 they’ve fostered participation in aquatic sports in a gayPictured center: Jack Mackenroth

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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SPORTS

MICHAEL SAM TO RECEIVE HRC’S VISIBILITY AWARD

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

MICHAEL SAM DID something no other bonafide National Football League (NFL) prospect has ever done —he came out as openly gay after completing his college playing career prior to the 2014 NFL draft, something many people felt was a risky move. On January 26 Sam made news again when he tweeted “I’m going to give it one more shot,” referring to a still-hoped-for career in the NFL. Sam was originally expected to be picked up in the third or fourth rounds of the 2014 draft.

But after a disappointing performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, Sam’s future was more uncertain.

Eventually drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round, a video of Sam and his then boyfriend, Vito Cammisano celebrating the moment with a big kiss quickly went viral. The video earned both praise from members of the LGBT community and harsh criticism by other groups.

When the Rams didn’t add Sam to their practice squad, he found a home with the Dallas Cowboys in September 2014 but was then waived by the Cowboys the following month.

Offered an opportunity to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL), Sam became that league’s first openly gay player when he signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes in May 2015. Eventually placed on the team’s suspended list, Sam’s six-month engagement to Cammisano had been called off and he eventually left the Alouettes altogether for personal reasons, citing a concern at times for his mental health.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

In the fall of 2015 Sam returned to his alma mater, the University of Missouri to pursue a master’s degree although his program of study wasn’t mentioned. But he did say at that time that he was still hopeful for an NFL career.

The former player has been honored a number of times since he first came out. In 2014 he won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s and was named one of GQ Magazine’s Men of the Year. He was also a finalist for Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.

His latest award will come February 27 in Phoenix when The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) will recognize Sam with its Visibility Award for his courage and compassion as an LGBT advocate on the national stage. “Michael Sam has made incredible strides for LGBT communities around the world,” said Deanna Jordon, co-chair of this year’s HRC Gala Dinner.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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SPORTS

RUGBY FEVER HITTING NASHVILLE IN MAY

BY IAN COLGATE WHEN I TELL PEOPLE I LIKE IT ROUGH THEY almost never guess I am talking about rugby—but they should. Rugby is rough but that is part of the fun. Where else do 30 guys get to descend on a pitch, grab each other by the short-shorts, grunt and tackle each other?

Rugby is such an exhilarating sport to play that I can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t want to be part of the fun.

In fact, Esquire Magazine’s list of “75 Things Every Man Should Do,” ranked playing rugby as number one on the list.

With rugby’s biennial Bingham Cup coming up in Nashville this May, I wanted to give you some rugby basics in advance. While you won’t learn rugby in 17 facts, it is just enough to make for fun discussion around the water cooler.

1. There are two types of rugby—Rugby Union and Rugby League. Ben Cohen played Rugby Union, Ian Roberts played Rugby League and Gareth Thomas played both. This article is about Rugby Union. Clear, right?

2. A rugby field is called a “pitch.”

3. Each team fields 15 players at a time unless they are playing a modified version called “sevens” where each team fields only seven players.

4. Team players are divided into two distinct groups — forwards and backs.

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| COMPETE | February 2016

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASHVILLE GRIZZLIES RFC

5. Forwards are the muscles behind the team and backs steal the glory from them (guess to which group I belong).

6. There is a position called “hooker” and a player can be called a “whore.” Honestly, who wouldn’t want to play a fun game like this, I ask you!

7. Backs are the speed behind the team.

8. You can’t throw the ball forward in rugby (well, you can but a penalty will be called).

9. You can throw the ball sideways (lateral and backwards).

10. You can also kick the ball forward.

11. If the ball bounces forward off you, however, a penalty will be called.

12. A score is called a try.

13. A try happens when the ball is pushed down on the ground in the “try zone.”

14. A successful try is worth five points.

15. A successful conversion kick after a try is worth two points.

16. And if you really want to learn how to play rugby, read the Rookie Primer 2.0 by the San Francisco Fog RFC (http://www.sffog.org/guides/Rookie_Primer_2.0.pdf ).

But for the most fun, I recommend getting onto the pitch and giving it a go to get a “try” (get it?).

17. Above all, for a grand time with rugby, attend this year’s Bingham Cup in Nashville, May 26-29 that is being hosted by the Nashville Grizzlies RFC. For details, visit www.grizzliesrugby.org. You really will enjoy it!

P.S. About the Esquire piece — I do disagree with it on one point. I think every woman should play rugby, too!

SPORTS

THE MAN OF MANY UNIFORMS

Edd Schommer Pitches Three Leagues: Arizona Gay Volleyball, Cactus Cities Softball, and Friends with Benefits Kickball

BY KEVIN BUSHAW CACTUS CITIES SOFTBALL LEAGUE AND Arizona Gay Volleyball Association are teaming up this year to combine their biggest tournaments into one mighty weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s set to feature plenty of fun events, like a huge opening party at DeSoto Market, team dinners throughout the valley, and a closing blowout at Charlie’s Phoenix.

The Saguaro Cup Softball Tournament and Sets on the Sand Volleyball Tournament will take place April 8th, 9th and 10th. Visit cactuscities.com and azgv.org. Early registration closes February 29th, deadline is March 19th.

Kevin Bushaw: As an AZGV board member, I’m pleased to interview triple-threat Edd Schommer. How long have you been involved with Arizona Gay Volleyball (AZGV), Cactus Cities Softball (CCSL), and Friends with Benefits (FwBK)?

Edd Schommer: I’ve been involved with AZGV about twelve years. Ever since I was fifteen. That’s a big “wink,” there. The organization was just starting out with about ten teams total on Monday and Tuesday nights. The organization has really blossomed since it first began to now over thirty-five teams! I started as a player representative and moved into assistant commissioner, and now I just get to play.

I’ve been with CCSL for fourteen years, and there were only six teams at the time. It’s grown into what could be called the largest LGBT sports organization in the valley. I’ve been North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) representative for thirteen years but now I’ve stepped back for a moment.

For kickball, I’ve been involved for two years, and we just got back from competing in the Sin City Shootout in Vegas.

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PHOTO BY SCOTTY KIRBY

K.B.: Can you tell us about your alter ego?

E.S.: Anna Rexia, my drag persona, was invented to help fundraise for my teams 15 years ago. She’s been at pretty much every team fundraiser since the inception of Cactus Cities Softball.

K.B.: What’s your favorite part of Sand Volleyball with AZGV, CCSL and FwB Kickball?

E.S.: All of the friends I’ve made locally and nationally!

K.B.: You’ve been in your fair share of big sports tournaments. Can you give us a fun tournament story from your travels?

E.S.: They’re all so fun! It’s hard to pick just one. There are always great stories to tell when we come back from a good weekend. Hosting the Softball Gay World Series in Phoenix when CCSL hosted Mens’ and Womens’ open divisions was really special. We were the last city to do that.

K.B.: What’s the best thing for teammates going into a big tournament to remember?

E.S.: Remember that you’re representing yourself, your city and your league.

K.B.: What piece of advice would you give to new players who want to get involved?

E.S.: Don’t hesitate, just get here! There are divisions for everyone – just join! It’s a great way to find your niche. A lot of my great friends have come from playing these different sports.

Pictured above, Henry Beam, Beam Law, PLC

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SPORTS

SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IS LAUNCHED

BY ERIC CARLYLE LAS VEGAS HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AS A mecca of entertainment and nightlife. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend it becomes known as the LGBT sports capital of the world as it plays host to the Sin City Shootout, the largest annual LGBT sports festival. This year, something new was added.

On January 14 Snell & Wilmer, the largest law firm in the Southwest, hosted the inaugural Sports Diversity Leadership Council meeting tasked with creating the first Sports Diversity Leadership Conference in 2017 with a conference mission “To foster leadership of the LGBT/sports diversity community.”

The founding partners of the conference include Compete Magazine, Sin City Shootout and Athlete Ally while charter partners include Desert AIDS Project, Federation of Gay Games, International Gay Rodeo Association, National Gay Flag Football League, Go! Athletes and World Outgames Miami 2017. Inaugural sponsors include Snell & Wilmer, Hot Chocolate Race and MyOatmeal.com.

The Council’s advisory board includes Compete’s managing partner, Eric Carlyle; Compete’s editor-in-chief, Connie Wardman; Athlete Ally’s director of policy & campaigns, Ashland Johnson, Esq.; Federation of Gay Games’ Officer of Communications, R. Tony Smith; Desert AIDS Project’s event & retail marketing manager, Brett Klein; championship track & field coach, Micah Porter; and GO! Athletes’ executive director, Chris Mosier.

This year’s council meeting covered such issues as partnering with other sports teams, leagues and sponsors, needs of transgender athletes, influencing public policy and HIV and sports.

All of this leading to the important goal of planning for next year’s conference.

“We expect to have between 100-200 attendees at next year’s conference,” said advisory board Brett Klein

40

Micah Porter standing - behind Micah seated R-L is Hudson Taylor, Ernie Yuen, & Sam Lehman

chair Eric Carlyle. “We really want to make the conference inclusive and diverse by offering scholarships and support for some of the participants,” he continued.

The 2017 Sports Diversity Council Meeting & Conference will be held in Las Vegas January 11-13. For details on how you can join, please visit SportsDiversityLeaders.com.

Ashland Johnson and Hudson Taylor

| COMPETE | February 2016

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OVERTIME

EVENTS

GMCLA’S FIFTH ANNUAL VOICE AWARDS IT’S NOT TOO early to mark your calendar for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ (GMCLA) primo fundraiser, their 5th Annual Voice Awards that honors those who advance our world, refute silence, lend a voice to the oppressed, exhibit leadership and give hope to those living under the weight of silence. It’s being held Saturday, April 23 at the Dolby Ballroom Hollywood.

Not only is the GMCLA one of the largest LGBT performing arts and advocacy organizations in the world, it’s the only LGBT chorus that operates innovative community programs offering education and outreach to middle and high school youth.

Its programs, Alive Music Project and the it gets better tour educate and reduce the incidence of bullying and violence by targeting youth ages 14-24. And proceeds from this star-studded event support the Alive Music Project, the Los Angeles county musical outreach program, and the it gets better tour of underserved areas throughout the U.S. The tour is a week-long community intervention model and workshop known as the World Café that culminates with a performance intended to energize awareness of bullying and its damaging effects on a healthy community.

And GMCLA now proudly supports the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, a newly formed organization with the mission to fiercely empower trans and gender expansive people to love their voices and perform with courage and strength.

The annual Voice Awards is GMCLA’s largest single fundraising event with a red carpet lined with celebrities from the sports world, big screen and television. While Abbe Land, executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project is receiving the Good Neighbor Award, names of the other awardees have not yet been released.

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CURRENT EVENTS IN 2016 AQUATICS Love to Swim Vancouver, BC, Feb. 14

BOWLING San Francisco Golden Gate Invitational Classic San Francisco, Feb. 12 Sweetheart Invitational Wallingford, Conn., Feb. 12 Bluegrass Classic Louisville, Feb. 12 Texas Roll-off Tournament Grand Prairie, Feb. 12 Gasparilla Annual Games Mixed Event Tampa, Feb. 19 Ice Bowl Omaha, Feb. 26

FLAG FOOTBALL Florida Sunshine Cup Wilton Manors, Fla., Feb. 10-14

RODEO Arizona Gay Rodeo Phoenix, Feb. 12-14

TENNIS 2016 Clay Court Classic Fort Lauderdale, Feb. 12-15 Cactus Open Phoenix, Feb. 13-15

VOLLEYBALL NorCal Volleyball Classic XXVIII San Jose, Feb. 13 Team St. Louis Invitational St. Louis, Feb. 20

BEDROOM SPORTS

DATING, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

BY COMPETE GUEST COLUMNIST RYAN O’CONNER

ACTION JACKSON Question: I’ve recently begun dating after ending a passionate two-year relationship. My ex-boyfriend, Noah, has asked for “some space” and even went as far as telling me not to contact him. While it was difficult getting over the relationship, I feel I have finally started to move on.

But now, Noah has contacted me and says he wants to be friends. I don’t think I could be just friends with him yet. Any advice on what to do?

Jackson, Los Angeles Answer: Jackson, I think we’ve all be there. Breakups, whether initiated ourselves or by the person we love, are almost always difficult. In my opinion, you should follow your instincts on this one. If your gut is telling you to move on without contact right now, then do that.

Also, it might be beneficial to ask yourself why Noah wants to be friends. Is it to satisfy his need to see how you’ve moved on or is he looking to reconcile with you? There could be a dozen other reasons but factoring in that part of the equation will help guide you to the right decision for you.

PROFILE PERFECT Question: I’ve received a lot of emails from a popular online dating service asking me to join their site. I posted a profile and some pictures online but I haven’t received much interest from other members. Is there anything I can do to make my profile shine?

Kelly, Phoenix Answer: Kelly, when I am online checking out the latest and greatest profiles, I look for two things. The first is honesty and the second is good, real photos.

Come one, if someone really doesn’t like to ride motorcycles, why would they say it’s their favorite weekend activity and then expect to maintain a relationship with a real motorcycle lover?

And of course use quality photos of yourself that are recent. I mean, people should be able to recognize you from your profile pics. If not, your profile is an epic fail. Personally, I only respond to people I think are genuine.

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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