Tom Daley: Love & Pride


This kid is nineteen years old. He’s competed at the highest level at his chosen sport while gaining an education and coping with the death of his father from cancer. And yet the first question that springs to some people’s minds when he announces, in a very mature, understated way, that he is in a relationship with a man is “What would your Dad say?” 

Personally, I doubt his Dad would say anything. He’d be too busy bursting with pride, in the same way he did when he watched the son he raised so beautifully compete.

If we all tried to understand that, even for a second, imagine how many young lives might be different.

I’m A Rational Human Being, Get Me Out Of Here!

 
That awkward moment when a woman who has won two gold medals (the universally accepted zenith of athletic achievement) admits on national television that she still feels worthless because the fact that she is not conventionally attractive is pointed out to her on a daily basis.

Well done, Western Society. Well done. *slow handclap*

BBC: Bringin’ SexistBack

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Inverdale. A noted Adonis. Image via facebook.

BBC Sport commentator John Inverdale, having just watched Marion Bartoli win the Wimbledon title on Saturday 6th July 2013.

I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, “listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker”.

BBC 5Live presenter Tony Livesey, speaking about England Women’s chances in the forthcoming EURO 2013 championship this morning, asks whether veteran coach Hope Powell;

would be ‘capable’ of managing a male football side?

Come on guys. In light of recent events at the corporation, shouldn’t you be trying to avoid reminding people of the 1970’s?

Andy Murray: They Can’t Take That Away

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Image:  Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe.

For a few hours yesterday afternoon, national embarrassment and patriotic self-hatred were reluctantly suspended in Britain as Andy Murray powered, limped, flailed and panicked his way through the Men’s final at Wimbledon, before heroically lifting the trophy and shinning his way up the scoreboard to hug his family in the now traditional manner.

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Boris Johnson: Our Great Blonde Hope

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Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe.

The dearth of talent in British tennis is such that if Andy Murray fails to shine at Wimbledon, our next best hope is this.

Altogether now, desperate as you like… COME ON ANDY!!!!

Richard Keys & Andy Gray: Rehabilitated & Ready For Rehoming?

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Andy Gray & Richard Keys. Still honking. Image via digitalspy

It’s just over two years since Richard Keys and Andy Gray were sentenced for crimes against football.

At the time, the almost universal rejection of the El Crude Brother’s comments about the ability of a female official to work out when a player was offside felt like a watershed moment, and while it’s unlikely that sexism (along with its intolerant bedfellows homophobia and racism) will ever be kicked out completely, it was refreshing to see so many writers, pundits and fans take the opportunity to condemn the remarks and affirm their commitment to an inclusive sport for all to enjoy.

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World Cup 2014: Prostitutes, Politicians & The Privilege Of The Few

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“I’m Happy Being A Prostitute.” & “I cannot go without a condom, my love.” Not ideal, but the message shouldn’t be lost. Image via christianpost.

A campaign encouraging prostitutes to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases has been withdrawn by the Brazilian Health Ministry after objections from religious groups, it has been reported.

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Ueli Steck: Fist Fight At 25,000 Feet

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Hmm… a perfect place for a punch up. Image via facebook

Ueli Steck’s climbing career is littered with ‘firsts’ but it’s highly unlikely that, come retirement, he’ll consider his involvement in the first fist fight to occur at 25,000 feet among his favourites.

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Sports Illustrated: Way Out West

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Image via buzzfeed.

Gay people like sport too. You’d never know it if you were to read up on the subject in the UK mainstream sports press, where coverage of ‘the gay issue’ extends to hubristic editorial pondering the absence of out n’proud players in the elite game.

If they bother to acknowledge it at all.

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Comment Is Free. Why? Because It’s Worthless

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Image: ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images.

If I went up to a mechanic and started telling them how to do their job based on my knowledge of cars (they’re oily and you shouldn’t put water in the petrol tank), he or she would be perfectly within their rights to chuck me and my car out onto the street.

So when did it become OK to do the same over an incident, just because it appears in the media?

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