Category Archives: Sports
Will Chicago BlackHawks Join Gay Pride Parade Next Weekend?
Will they?
or won’t they?
That is question people are pondering this week. The Chicago Blackhawks have lots of gay fans, and the Blackhawks were recently invited to be a part of this years Gay pride Parade.
The Chicago Sun-Times lists the progress thus far.
• To wit: At last check, the Chicago Gay Hockey Association was still awaiting a reply to their invite to the Chicago Blackhawks — and the Stanley Cup — to join them at the parade.
• The buckshot: “We’re optimistic, but we know the realistic chances of, say, Patrick Sharp or Jonathan Toews joining us for the Pride Parade are slim,” said CGHA president Andrew Sobotka.
• The upshot: “But who knows . . . our goal of having some of the players . . . skate alongside of us in the Pride Parade was to really let the Blackhawks know that there is a strong interest in hockey within the gay community,” he added.
• The parting shot: “We would be honored to have the Hawks organization show their support by being there,” said CGHA member Tony Tiet. The invite is to all the Hawks players, coaches, broadcasters, front office personnel and even the Stanley Cup itself.
CGHA member David Stefanski told sports blog Puck Daddy the following: ‘”The Blackhawks have never had a float in the pride parade as far as we know,’ he said. ‘They have a very good opportunity to reach out to a community that they wouldn’t reach.'”
UPDATE!
Chicago Blackhawk Brent Sopel, his wife, his four kids, and the Stanley Cup will represent the team in Chicago’s Gay Pride parade this Sunday, the Sun Times reports.
Said President John McDonough, who is sending the cup from the NHL Draft in L.A.: “The power of the Cup is incomprehensible, and we recognize the importance of doing this. It’s important for the city and important for the franchise…The Stanley Cup has become the biggest celebrity of all. It has its own personality and charm. We will be proud to participate in the parade. And Brent Sopel is one of the truly great guys. To have the cup part of the parade is just another great part of the celebration.”
Sopel will be marching in honor of the late Brendan Burke, who died earlier this year in a car accident after breaking barriers in the hockey world by discussing his sexuality in Sports Illustrated with his father, Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke.
Said Sopel: “When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should. We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from.”
The Chicago Cubs will also have a float in the parade, for the first time, and Ernie Banks will ride on it.
5th annual Chi-Town Softball Classic returns
The 5th annual Chi-Town Softball Classic returns to the Windy City over July 4th weekend, and, for the first time, will add a women’s division.
The tournament, which fielded 30 teams last year, will play host to 10 teams in each of four divisions: C-Competitive, C-Recreational, D and Women’s. Last year’s tournament drew teams from Boston, Las Vegas, Madison, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York and Philadelphia. Play occurs on Saturday & Sunday, July 3-4, at two separate complexes: North Avenue and Waveland.
“There’s nothing quite like summer softball in Chicago,” said Gary Taylor, tournament director. “We’re excited to welcome 40 teams from across the country.”
“We’re thrilled to offer a women’s division for this year’s Classic,” said Marcela Haber-Bishop, women’s tournament director. “We have a strong Chicago women’s softball league and have received an incredible amount of interest from other cities.”
The tournament opening and registration party will be presented by Mister Meet Mister.com
on Friday, July 2 at Halsted’s and Hydrate, with the closing party and awards ceremony hosted on Sunday July 4 at SPIN. Roscoe’s will serve as the official tournament host bar on Saturday, July 3.
The team entry fee for the Classic is $400 before May 31, 2010.
Registration is now open at the Chi Town Softball tournament website .
Chicago will also play host to the 2011 Gay Softball World Series on August 28-September 3, 2011.
