Cheryl Swopes Headed Straight to Hell.

[MavKikiNYC]

WNBA Star Opens Up About Being Gay

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 26, 2005

Filed at 2:06 p.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she's ''tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about.''

Sheryl Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine that ''sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court."
Related Three-time MVP 'tired of having to hide my feelings' (espn.com)

Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine for a story on newsstands Wednesday that she didn't always know she was gay and fears that coming out could jeopardize her status as a role model.

''Do I think I was born this way? No,'' Swoopes said. ''And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are.''

Swoopes, who was married and has an 8-year-old son, said her 1999 divorce ''wasn't because I'm gay.''

She said her reason for coming out now is merely because she wants to be honest.

''It's not something that I want to throw in people's faces. I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not,'' the 34-year-old Swoopes said. ''I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love.''

A release from ESPN The Magazine about the story did not disclose the identity of Swoopes' partner.

A five-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes is the WNBA's only three-time MVP. She played for the Comets during their run of four championships from 1997-2000, but missed the 2001 season with a knee injury.

She said her biggest worry about her revelation is that people will be afraid to look up to her.

''I don't want that to happen,'' she said. ''Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl.''

Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last year, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals while making 85 percent of her free throws and playing a league-high 37.1 minutes a game.

She said it ''irritates'' her that no one talks about gays playing in men's sports, but that it's become an issue in the WNBA.

''Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court,'' she said. ''Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive.''

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[mavs413]

Anyone else think that with title of this thread kiki deserves to be banned?

[MavKikiNYC]

I believe the use of emoticons to express sarcasm is an abomination.

But I admire the instinct to censor and suppress.

[mavs413]

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC
I believe the use of emoticons to express sarcasm is an abomination.

But I admire the instinct to censor and suppress.

You know what I think is an abomination? Bigots.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: mavs413

You know what I think is an abomination? Bigots.

Good to find common ground.

[Big Boy Laroux]

if we had a sarcasm smiley, i'm sure kiki would have used it.

[chumdawg]

At least she won't be taking anyone else there with her.

[Ninkobei]

good for cheryl. you know this is a gutsy move. the last few hundred years we have fought for racial equality, will this millenium be sexual equality? (oohh, deep thought of the day.yess)

this makes me wonder; how would a nba player be treated if he were to openly announce that he is gay.

[Bayliss]

Perhaps if there were more lesbians in the WBNA the quality of play would pick up.

[Ninkobei]

depends on what type of play you mean, bay.

[Drbio]

Carpet munchers are people too. [img]i/expressions/moon.gif[/img]

[Bayliss]

Swoopes is one the best women basketball players ever. I don't see what her sexuality makes a difference.

But if it does make a difference, perhaps others should change their sexuality too.

[Drbio]

Bayliss- if you feel that engorging yourself in a sausagefest will improve your game go for it.

Methinks I'll keep the bad jumpshot.

[alby]

Originally posted by: Ninkobei
good for cheryl. you know this is a gutsy move. the last few hundred years we have fought for racial equality, will this millenium be sexual equality? (oohh, deep thought of the day.yess)

this makes me wonder; how would a nba player be treated if he were to openly announce that he is gay.

TAW?

[capitalcity]

Nice try alby, but gay doesn't always mean french.

Oddly enough though - french does always mean gay.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Now if only I gave a rat's ass about the WNBA and women's basketball in general... I'm sorry, I really am sorry, but I honestly don't care.

[alby]

Originally posted by: capitalcity
Nice try alby, but gay doesn't always mean french.

Oddly enough though - french does always mean gay.

[img]i/expressions/anim_laugh.gif[/img]

[mary]

Cheryl Swopes Headed Straight to Hell

She'll have the company of Mr. Sulu.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: mary

She'll have the company of Mr. Sulu.

Warp speed.

[madape]

I think we're used to reading about lesbian athletes. Martina Navratalova, Billie Jean King, etc... This isn't going to register more than a blip on the national conciousness.

It will be a real story when a male athlete comes out of the closet. That will be interesting to watch.

[MavKikiNYC]

[madape]

Oh yeah.. I forgot about Carl Lewis. Is he officially out of the closet? Greg Luganis is another high profile guy who came out. But in both cases they were retired... right? It takes a hell of a lot of courage to come out while you're still playing. Can you image what kinds of things would be said/done to an NBA player? I mean, look at all the crap Doug Christie takes simply for being p-whipped.

[mary]

I don't think an active male athlete has ever come out of the closet. Even if a runner, or swimmer, or maybe a golfer came out of the closet, it wouldn't have the same dynamic as if someone came out that participated in a more team-oriented sport.

I did hear something last year about a minor league baseball player (from Japan) who had been in a gay porn flick. But my memory is too fuzzy to recall the details of that. I don't really think that counts.




Carl Lewis is gay?

[FilthyFinMavs]

Naw Carl hasn't admitted being out of the closet yet lol. But he doesn't have to because its pretty much a given lol.


I'm shocked by this though. I won't look at her at any differently but before this news came out I thought she was one of the women in the WNBA who was more feminine. Not really a tomboy. I guess it was because she had a baby not too long ago.

[Drbio]

There was one mlb player who came out in his playing days but he was a scrub. I can't remember his name though.

[bernardos70]

What's all this you're telling me about? <u>W</u>NBA? What?

[mavs413]

Originally posted by: Drbio
There was one mlb player who came out in his playing days but he was a scrub. I can't remember his name though.

Billy Bean

[snoop]

if hell consist of basketball playing lesbians count me in

[dude1394]

Oh my goodnesss.....how could this be??? I thought every gay person was born this way, not created???

''Do I think I was born this way? No,'' Swoopes said. ''And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are.''

[Drbio]

Well...at least she is thinking "outside the box".

[mary]

Originally posted by: Drbio
Well...at least she is thinking "outside the box".

[img]i/expressions/anim_laugh.gif[/img]