Swoopes comes out... - Page 3

**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."

Braincase · 10-26-2005, 12:48 PM

Today, Sheryl Swoopes . Tomorrow, Jake Plummer...

Goapics1 · 10-26-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

This should be a non-issue. Why is this front page news? She's gay, so what?

Homophobia galore.

Lurch · 10-26-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apics1

Homophobia galore.

Al Gore too?

Did you notice that she is the one who made it an issue?

Goapics1 · 10-26-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

Al Gore too?

Did you notice that she is the one who made it an issue?

By putting it on the front page of a football forum?

**Lzen** · 10-26-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apics1

Homophobia galore.

Probably a little of that. But remember, she is the one who announced it to a national mag. She and ESPN are the ones who made a deal out of it. I don't really care what she does, but I would if I were a teammate of hers.

Lurch · 10-26-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apics1

By putting it on the front page of a football forum?

An ESPN interview might just do that. Call me crazy though.

Goapics1 · 10-26-2005, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

An ESPN interview might just do that. Call me crazy though.

You're crazy.

Lurch · 10-26-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apics1

You're crazy.

I've got a "thing" or two for you, too, bub.

**ChiTown** · 10-26-2005, 01:11 PM

Wow.

I never realized I had anything in common with Cheryl Swoopes......we both like pussy.

Braincase · 10-26-2005, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Wow.

I never realized I had anything in common with Cheryl Swoopes......we both like pussy.

Difference is she gets some.

**alanm** · 10-26-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrarispider95

What about the other girls on her team, imagine sharing a locker room with her if you were straight. I mean everything probably makes sense to them now, after leslie wouldnt stop play grab ass.

They need to change the name to the LNBA

Well they do have the LPGA.

**ChiTown** · 10-26-2005, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

Difference is she gets some.

Good point, and I guess your mother doesn't count.................

ferrarispider95 · 10-26-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Good point, and I guess your mother doesn't count.................

Nice Recovery, because you go burned

Braincase, let see the come back

Calcountry · 10-26-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apics1

Homophobia galore.

No, that was Pussy Galore, from the James Bond movie.

**Rain Man** · 10-26-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

No, that was Pussy Galore, from the James Bond movie.

Yeah. Homophobia Galore was another character, though, in the movie "Never Say Never Again, Unless It's Some Kind of Gay Thing." He was the minor villain who kept making fun of Bond's dapper clothing and British accent.

10-26-2005, 10:52 AM
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..
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10-26-2005, 12:48 PM	#31
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	Today, Sheryl Swoopes . Tomorrow, Jake Plummer... __________________ BrainCase
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10-26-2005, 01:11 PM	#39
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $3373962	Wow. I never realized I had anything in common with Cheryl Swoopes......we both like pussy. __________________
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