April 1, 2012
The Closet of Professional Sports
Late last week, a man in Connecticut was arrested for allegedly attempting to extort Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano. The asking price was a new Land Rover, navy with tan leather interior. Give the guy credit. If you're going to extort someone, know exactly what you want.
But what was the other part, what was he looking to hide? He claims to have had a three-year physical and emotional relationship with the major league player when they were classmates in high school.
I don't know and don't care if Carl Pavano is or ever was a homosexual. That is not the point. As of this moment, I don't see any reports of where Pavano has addressed the issue. But it did get me to thinking, wouldn't it be an interesting turn of events if Pavano, now 36 years old, were to turn to the reporters' microphones and answer the question with something simple and along the lines of "Yes, it's true. It was a period of my life of exploration and growth. I learned a lot from it and like everyone else, I've changed a lot in my life since I was in high school. Let's go play some baseball."
How would that be received in the world of professional sports? A lot has been said about when we'll see the first openly gay professional athlete in one of the big four sports (baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey) in America. Could this the baby toe in the water in that discussion? Would a statement like I offered above be enough to make someone else confortable enough to address it?
We have previously had professional athletes admit that they are gay, but they've all done it after they've left the world of professional sports. When will we have someone or multiple players be comfortable enough to admit it while they are playing? But even moreso, how long after that will it take until the collective American public responds with a "Who cares?"
The name now eludes me, but hasn't a female tennis professional already admitted she was gay?
Posted by: Warrington Faust at April 2, 2012 9:03 AMWarrington, yes a few women's tennis players have. A fair number of athletes in random sports have, but no one from the four major sports leagues in the US, while the player was active. The four leagues being MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL.
Posted by: Patrick at April 2, 2012 9:29 AMWhaaaat?
Being a homosexual doesn't matter?
First was the post on the right to die, now this one on homos being people!
Justin must not have done a check on this guy before letting him blog!
Next thing you know he will be saying women have the right to birth control or even abortions!
Posted by: Jim Jebow at April 2, 2012 1:17 PMbut no one from the four major sports leagues in the US, while the player was active. The four leagues being MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL.
Posted by Patrick at April 2, 2012 9:29 AM
Wrong again Patrick as you usually are. The Indians had a pitcher named Kaz Tadano who appeared in a porno movie wearing a dog collar while another man sodomized him. He even pitched at Fenway. All without fanfare even though his perversion had been reported on national media.
Seems to me Patrick that in a state with real problems such as an impending fiscal collapse, your obsession with pro-homosexual propaganda would better be served with the Cicilline campaign.
Tommy, I just did a search and see the mention of the video you reference, but I don't see where he admitted it, which is what my comment was. Of course there are gay athletes. I said none have admitted to it while playing. Tadano also did not admit it. If you have a record of where he did, send that along too.
Thanks.
Posted by: Patrick at April 2, 2012 1:52 PMTommy Cranston must be thrilled to be considered Anchor Rising's expert on "all things ghey" it always makes my day when he stops by to share his thoughts and wisdom,
I believe that Kaz Tadano spent time at crazy Michele Bachman's (taxpayer funded)"pray away the ghey" clinic and he is now cured ?..
Posted by: Sammy at April 2, 2012 3:18 PMJim Jabroni said:
"Next thing you know he will be saying women have the right to birth control or even abortions!"
Of course they do but I shouldn't have to pay for it especially now that Obama made it...free??? Oh wait, How come I'm still paying for it?
Posted by: Max D at April 2, 2012 3:46 PM" especially now that Obama made it...free???"
Catch up with the latest definition of "compassion", please: everything that's important - health care, education, contraception, immigration - has to be free.
That way, it will be valueless ... er, invaluable.
Posted by: Monique at April 2, 2012 5:15 PMOh yeah, you guys didn't get the memo? If something isn't mandated now, it doesn't exist.
I had a series of really awesome debates with friends about the whole Birth Control thing a few weeks ago. My take-away was that people massively misunderstand exactly what's being considered and what the practical result of those decisions will be.
Posted by: mangeek at April 2, 2012 6:18 PM"I believe that Kaz Tadano spent time at crazy Michele Bachman's (taxpayer funded)"pray away the ghey" clinic and he is now cured ?.."
Wasn't the President in the neighborhood whilst on his taxpayer funded magical mystery nonpolitical campaign bus tour? I'll bet he sneaked in.
Posted by: Max D at April 2, 2012 6:19 PMDon't be so disingenuous Patrick-you are sounding like Cicilline more every day.
All one needs to do is google TADANO GAY INDIANS and you will find dozens of articles stating that not only did Tadano admit it, but addressed a team meeting about it.
To quote from one:
"In 2004, it was widely publicized that Tadano had appeared in a gay pornographic film in his native Japan, entitled "Babylon 34". In the film, Tadano plays a young man who accidently rear ends (tee hee) a yakuza's car. For this he and his associates are forced, at gunpoint, to have sex with one another for the man's entertainment, Tadano wearing a leash and a dog collar during the ordeal. To put it delicately, Tadano spends most of the film playing the passive role, "catching" if you will"
Tommy, you sound like a Rhode Island politician, flipping someone else's words around and misrepresenting what I said, much like many of the people you hate.
I said that no current athlete ever admitted to being gay while playing their sport in one of the four major sports. I see where he did make the film. Does that mean he is gay? If you say that makes him gay, even though the only reference I can find is him saying it was a one time only thing, and no references to where he admitted he's a gay man, then I guess I'll then understand where this conversation is.
I'm assuming you will say that makes him gay, which reminds me of an old joke by Shamus. Shamus is one day talking with a friend and clearly isn't very happy. He asks his friend, "Why is it that when I build one bridge, I'm not 'Shamus the bridge builder'? Why is it that when I bake one loaf of break, I'm not 'Shamus the break maker'? But I sleep with one goat...
Posted by: Patrick at April 2, 2012 8:38 PM