Swoopes comes out...

**jAZ** · 11:05 AM

It's not totally suprising that a WNBA player is gay. And it is just the WNBA, but Swoopes is pretty visable. It'll be interesting to see if any other active, pro-athletes (male or female) come out.

I kinda doubt any similarly visable men from any of the major team sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) will, but this *could* open the door for someone.

http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/colum...lle&id=2203893

Three-time MVP 'tired of having to hide my feelings'
By LZ Granderson
ESPN The Magazine

Calling life in the closet "miserable," three-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes announced she is gay in an exclusive interview in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine.

"My reason for coming out isn't to be some sort of hero," Swoopes, a forward with the Houston Comets, says in the article. "I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not. I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love.

"Male athletes of my caliber probably feel like they have a lot more to lose than gain [by coming out]. I don't agree with that. To me, the most important thing is happiness."

Swoopes, 34, is the most recognizable athlete, male or female, to come out in a team sport. Former WNBA player Michele Van Gorp, who played for the Minnesota Lynx, publicly acknowledged she is a lesbian in July 2004. Before Van Gorp, former Liberty player Sue Wicks had been the only member of a female professional team to publicly come out while still playing. Previously, Swoopes has said she plans to continue her career.

Former NFL defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo and MLB outfielder Billy Bean made headlines when they revealed they were gay, but both were retired when they made their announcements and neither had a career that comes close to Swoopes.

After being named NJCAA Player of the Year while at South Plains Junior College in 1991, Swoopes transferred to Texas Tech and two years later scored a NCAA title game-record 47 points in leading the Lady Randy Moss and the Raiderz to the national championship. Swoopes was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player to go along with her national player of the year award. In 1994 she won gold at the Goodwill Games, and, in 1996, was a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning team that became the building block for the WNBA.

Since then, she has won two more Olympic gold medals, four WNBA championships and three regular-season MVP accolades, including this past summer. Swoopes, a five-time All-WNBA First Team honoree who was the All-Star MVP this past season, is also the first female athlete to have a shoe named after her, Nike's Air Swoopes.

"Some people might say my coming out after just winning the MVP award is heroic, and I understand that," she says. "And I know there are going to be some negative things said, too. But it doesn't change who I am. I can't help who I fall in love with. No one can."

In the article, Swoopes goes on to talk about her three-year marriage, her 8-year-old son, Jordan, and life with her partner, former Old Dominion basketball coach Alisa Scott.

"Discovering I'm gay just sort of happened much later in life," Swoopes says. "Being intimate with [Alisa] or any other woman never entered my mind. At the same time, I'm a firm believer that when you fall in love with somebody, you can't control that."

The news could be particularly perplexing for the WNBA, which has struggled to both recognize the homosexual element connected to its league and grow its fan base. Ironically, in its infancy, the WNBA marketed a pregnant, married Swoopes to put a heterosexual face on its promotional campaign. Now the league, which will play its 10th season next summer, has to decide what to do now that one of its best and most recognizable players has announced she's gay.

"The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true," Swoopes says. "There are as many straight women in the league as there are gay. What really irritates me is when people talk about football, baseball and the NBA, you don't hear all of this talk about the gay guys playing. But when you talk about the WNBA, then it becomes an issue. Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court."

Uatu · 10-26-2005, 10:54 AM

The WNBA must really be hurting for publicity.

milkman · 10-26-2005, 10:55 AM

jspchief · 10-26-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

"The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true," Swoopes says. "There are as many straight women in the league as there are gay.

So she's basically saying it's 50/50 gay/straight?

Yea, that's why people talk about the league being full of lesbians. It is.

**Rain Man** · 10-26-2005, 10:59 AM

jspchief beat me to the punch. Now I'm going to have to go check out the roster photos and use my imagination.

Simplex3 · 10-26-2005, 11:00 AM

I thought the WNBA folded?

I guess they folded on their DEMAND to be paid like the men since they play the same game.

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-26-2005, 11:05 AM

So, is Swoopes:

A. an attention whore
B. a drama queen
C. both

jidar · 10-26-2005, 11:08 AM

You know why this thread is worthless.

siberian khatru · 10-26-2005, 11:10 AM

C'mon, Johnnie, it's OK to come out now.

ROYC75 · 10-26-2005, 11:15 AM

And to think that some people only believe that switch hitters are in baseball .

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-26-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

...."The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true," Swoopes says. "There are as many straight women in the league as there are gay. What really irritates me is when people talk about football, baseball and the NBA, you don't hear all of this talk about the gay guys playing. But when you talk about the WNBA, then it becomes an issue. Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court."

It's about numbers.....Sheryl's math skills must suck. "As many as...." infers half.....when in the rest of society the rate is 3-10% depending on who's figures you buy.

And she's "irritated" when people say the WNBA is "full" of lesbians? Heh.

jspchief · 10-26-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

It's about numbers.....Sheryl's math skills must suck. "As many as...." infers half.....when in the rest of society the rate is 3-10% depending on who's figures you buy.

And she's "irritated" when people say the WNBA is "full" of lesbians? Heh.

You're just pissed that you didn't get to "out" her.

**Lzen** · 10-26-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

It's about numbers.....Sheryl's math skills must suck. "As many as...." infers half.....when in the rest of society the rate is 3-10% depending on who's figures you buy.

And she's "irritated" when people say the WNBA is "full" of lesbians? Heh.

Actually, it's more like 1-3%. But her comment was amusing nonetheless.

Uatu · 10-26-2005, 11:32 AM

Here she is!

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-26-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uatu

Here she is!

Which one is she?

10-26-2005, 10:52 AM	Topic Starter
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $9847493	Swoopes comes out... It's not totally suprising that a WNBA player is gay. And it is just the WNBA, but Swoopes is pretty visable. It'll be interesting to see if any other active, pro-athletes (male or female) come out. I kinda doubt any similarly visable men from any of the major team sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) will, but this could open the door for someone. http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/colum...lle&id=2203893 Three-time MVP 'tired of having to hide my feelings' By LZ Granderson ESPN The Magazine Calling life in the closet "miserable," three-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes announced she is gay in an exclusive interview in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine. "My reason for coming out isn't to be some sort of hero," Swoopes, a forward with the Houston Comets, says in the article. "I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not. I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love. "Male athletes of my caliber probably feel like they have a lot more to lose than gain [by coming out]. I don't agree with that. To me, the most important thing is happiness." Swoopes, 34, is the most recognizable athlete, male or female, to come out in a team sport. Former WNBA player Michele Van Gorp, who played for the Minnesota Lynx, publicly acknowledged she is a lesbian in July 2004. Before Van Gorp, former Liberty player Sue Wicks had been the only member of a female professional team to publicly come out while still playing. Previously, Swoopes has said she plans to continue her career. Former NFL defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo and MLB outfielder Billy Bean made headlines when they revealed they were gay, but both were retired when they made their announcements and neither had a career that comes close to Swoopes. After being named NJCAA Player of the Year while at South Plains Junior College in 1991, Swoopes transferred to Texas Tech and two years later scored a NCAA title game-record 47 points in leading the Lady Randy Moss and the Raiderz to the national championship. Swoopes was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player to go along with her national player of the year award. In 1994 she won gold at the Goodwill Games, and, in 1996, was a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning team that became the building block for the WNBA. Since then, she has won two more Olympic gold medals, four WNBA championships and three regular-season MVP accolades, including this past summer. Swoopes, a five-time All-WNBA First Team honoree who was the All-Star MVP this past season, is also the first female athlete to have a shoe named after her, Nike's Air Swoopes. "Some people might say my coming out after just winning the MVP award is heroic, and I understand that," she says. "And I know there are going to be some negative things said, too. But it doesn't change who I am. I can't help who I fall in love with. No one can." In the article, Swoopes goes on to talk about her three-year marriage, her 8-year-old son, Jordan, and life with her partner, former Old Dominion basketball coach Alisa Scott. "Discovering I'm gay just sort of happened much later in life," Swoopes says. "Being intimate with [Alisa] or any other woman never entered my mind. At the same time, I'm a firm believer that when you fall in love with somebody, you can't control that." The news could be particularly perplexing for the WNBA, which has struggled to both recognize the homosexual element connected to its league and grow its fan base. Ironically, in its infancy, the WNBA marketed a pregnant, married Swoopes to put a heterosexual face on its promotional campaign. Now the league, which will play its 10th season next summer, has to decide what to do now that one of its best and most recognizable players has announced she's gay. "The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true," Swoopes says. "There are as many straight women in the league as there are gay. What really irritates me is when people talk about football, baseball and the NBA, you don't hear all of this talk about the gay guys playing. But when you talk about the WNBA, then it becomes an issue. Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court." Last edited by jAZ; 10-26-2005 at 11:05 AM..
Posts: 24,799

10-26-2005, 10:54 AM	#2
Uatu Starter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Blue Area Casino cash: $10004900	The WNBA must really be hurting for publicity.
Posts: 659

10-26-2005, 10:55 AM	#3
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	Who? __________________
Posts: 70,769

10-26-2005, 10:59 AM	#5
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3358491 VARSITY	jspchief beat me to the punch. Now I'm going to have to go check out the roster photos and use my imagination. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,251

10-26-2005, 11:00 AM	#6
Simplex3 MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	I thought the WNBA folded? I guess they folded on their DEMAND to be paid like the men since they play the same game.
Posts: 28,527

10-26-2005, 11:05 AM	#7
Mr. Kotter The Dude Abides Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Dakota Country Casino cash: $5915285	So, is Swoopes: A. an attention whore B. a drama queen C. both __________________ "I've always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment...We see what's going on around the league, but at the same time, I'll never do anything that's going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me.”
Posts: 46,349

10-26-2005, 11:08 AM	#8
jidar MVP Join Date: May 2005 Location: a Casino cash: $10004900	You know why this thread is worthless.
Posts: 5,502

10-26-2005, 11:10 AM	#9
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2584950	C'mon, Johnnie, it's OK to come out now.
Posts: 69,129

10-26-2005, 11:15 AM	#10
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $5719400	And to think that some people only believe that switch hitters are in baseball . __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon
Posts: 36,979

10-26-2005, 11:32 AM	#14
Uatu Starter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Blue Area Casino cash: $10004900	Here she is! Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 659