[Article: The Games Men Play] Page: 3 of 8
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I
, 1
back David Kopay made the stunning revelation that he
was gay. Since then the list of openly gay athletes has slow-
ly yet steadily grown. It now includes Glenn Burke, an out-
fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's from
1976 to 1979, and the only major-league baseball player to
ever come out; Roy Simmons, a former offensive tackle forAT BAT: Glenn Burke the New York Giants; swimmer
(left) and umpire Dave Bruce Hayes, who won a gold
Pallone during their medal in the 8oo-meter freestyle
major league years. relay at the 1984 Olympics; for-
mer Mr. America and Mr. Uni-
verse Bob Jackson-Paris, now publicly quite in love with
Rod Jackson-Paris; British soccer player Justin Fashanu;
Gay Games founder and Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell,
who died of AIDS in 1987; former major-league umpire
Dave Pallone; and Gallagher.
For years rumors have abounded about other ath-
letes as well, though only a few have become public fod-
der. Carl Lewis has denied that he's homosexual, even
while In Living Color's Blaine and Antoine have ques-
tioned his sexuality on national television. Magic John-
son, since announcing he was infected with HIV, has re-
peatedly fought off talk that he is gay. And, alas, Christian
Laettner, when questioned, has said that he is not gay.
Thankfully, his reactions have been far from homophobic.
As a freshman at Duke he once walked across campus
holding hands with another male student. "Look, it made
me seem mysterious, and I don't mind that," Laettner told
Sports Illustrated in 1991. "It made people think twice
about me, and I don't mind that
AT THE FINISH: Christian either. The stereotype of a big-
Laettner (left) in 1993; time athlete is that he's supposed
Bruce Hayes (below, to be able to get a date with any-
left) andM. Juca at the one he wants, and that he 'gets
1983 Pan Am Games. around.' It's stupid."K
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[Article: The Games Men Play], article, June 1994; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc915730/m1/3/: accessed June 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.