Gay blades

Lots of action this morning on the website poll off Randy Starkman's story in the petroleum-based product this morning:

RUSS MARTIN PHOTO

A hockey coming-out party: Tom Cavanaugh in Breakfast with Scot.

Actor Tom Cavanaugh plays a gay ex-Leaf in a comedy film Breakfast With Scot currently being shot in the GTA and Hamilton. He's one-half of a homosexual couple — his partner is the team lawyer — whose lives are turned upside down after becoming guardians of Scot, "a budding queen of an 11-year-old boy," according to the storyline.
What makes this movie even more unique is that the NHL and the Maple Leafs — part of a sport where no player has ever come out of the closet — have given the filmmakers their blessing to use their logos and uniforms. The Leafs have even agreed to let them do some filming with them at the end of a practice next month.

The question on the poll - Do you think a comedy about a gay Leaf will help gay athletes gain acceptance? - is running nearly two-to-one negative as I write this.

Meantime, there are a host of other questions that come to mind, one of them familiar and long-running: What's holding back an athlete in one of North America's big four pro sports from coming out of the closet? The arguments against usually surround ostracism from teammates, negative marketing and sponshorship impact, fan reaction (perhaps confirmed by the early returns on the poll) and the like. Some have come out after their careers are over, but as of yet, no one active in men's pro baseball, hockey, football or basketball.

The question I have: With the NHL and the Leafs apparently throwing their wholehearted support behind the film - including the use of logos and its practice time -does it necessarily follow that those arguments against don't apply anymore, or at least are lessened? I'd say, yes, they have.

Related: A gay jock's fears (Outsports.com).

Comments

[John Richardson]

Well, as they say, it can't hurt.

Given that hockey, like the other pro sports is pretty conservative, even neanderthal, when it comes to gay athletes, I think it's both astonishing and commendable that the Leafs & the NHL have give the movie their blessing.

[Carla]

As a Leafs fan, I am extremely pleased to hear that *My Team* is allowing the filmmakers to use its identity in this film.

Whether or not the film will ‘help gay athletes gain acceptance’ (as the Star’s poll asks), however, is doubtful—because, IMO, the plot description of this film sounds pretty lame and I’m not sure a (potentially) mediocre movie will do much good if it comes out (er, so to speak) and gets bad reviews and then sinks into obscurity at the box office. Maybe it’ll be better than it sounds [she said with hope in her voice]. But this sure doesn’t sound like Brokeback Mountain On Ice. Then again, did Brokeback Mountain actually make it “easier” for gay cowboys to ‘gain acceptance’? Beats me.

I suspect the minds that are so firmly closed to the idea of homosexuality (in sport or elsewhere) are not going to be swayed by a movie.

I am having a tougher time with your own question, Chris… I mean, *theoretically* the arguments against coming out in pro sports have lessened nowadays, if only because society has become a little less closed-minded—heck, we have legalized (for now, anyway) gay marriage and have enacted hate crime legislation, which are just two reasons why I’m proud to be Canadian. But if this were more than just “theory”, then surely we would have more openly gay pro athletes than we do, wouldn’t we? I would be curious to hear how the Leafs players, themselves, feel about the idea that some of their teammates may be in the closet. But, y’know, I don’t think I’d get an honest answer out of any of them unless I was speaking to them privately. In public, all bets are off—they are so guarded in their comments. I’m afraid I will never really understand why some people are so afraid of homosexuality.

I gotta say the photo that the Star ran with this story sure caught my attention… I thought Joe Nieuwendyk had been “Lanced” ( http://tinyurl.com/y747sp ): that actor sure looks like Nieuwy in that picture! :-D

[cy]

That a movie has decided to tackle the subject is no surprise, and you're right, it sure doesn't sound like Citizen Kane as far as a cinematic masterpiece ... but really the only thing about the story that caught my attention was the Leafs/NHL connection. The NHL I understand - their buzz level is so low (at least in the US) that they'd probably put their mark on anything. But the Leafs? That's a crest that is heavily protected and buffed.

[Richard Y.]

I think the poll can be interpreted in a couple different ways: 1. Do you think the movie will help gay athletes gain more acceptance; 2. Would you get squeamish if you learned your favourite enforcer liked to dance with other tough guys on and off the ice?
To answer #1, I'd have to say no, it will not help. I don't see a movie (a comedy, no less) helping a fairly conservative sport accept athletes coming out.
#2, It wouldn't make me squeamish. In fact, I'd have to give additional props to a guy who would come out and still take the ice, potentially risking life and limb against the odd head-hunting homophobe (surely, statistically speaking, there are at least one or two necons on every team).

I found Don Cherry's comments to be somewhat amusing. I can't tell if he would be unaccepting, or if he thinks hockey players are too manly to 'catch gay'.
Something has me leaning toward the latter, seeing as many a man's man tends to believe homosexuality is a choice.

Not that I don't like Grapes, but man! Come on!

[chris]

Given Don Cherry's bully boy ignorance, I'd say he'd have a hard time believing a gay hockey player exists, much less accepting one. But what did you expect from this clown? Bravo MLSE, for giving your blessing to this.