Top 5 2012 Sports news stories

Top 5 2012 Sports news stories

Tampa Venom wins C-Division World Series
The Tampa Bay Venom defeated the Orlando Royalty in the championship game of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance World Series Aug. 19 in Minneapolis, Minn., to secure the first-place trophy in the C-division bracket. The trophy didn’t come easy to the Venom, who started the tournament strong but had to fight its way back from the losers’ bracket to secure the championship. The Venom began with a string of wins, defeating the Seattle Seawolves, North Carolina Thunder, Twin Cities Edge, Tulsa Stampede and the Houston Toros.


Nyad fails fourth attempt at Cuba-to-Florida swim
Her goal of swimming from Cuba to Florida appearing elusive, Diana Nyad was out of the water the morning of Aug. 21, being checked by doctors on a boat and discussing whether she could return to a fourth day of swimming. The swimmer, who is a lesbian, emerged from the water at 7:42 a.m. A team member said the swimmer was battered by a rough night and was unsure if she would be able to finish the 103-mile (166-kilometer) crossing.

10 out Olympians medal in London
While hundreds of metals were earned by athletes from around the world during the XXX Olympiad, 10 from four countries have the special recognition of being openly gay medal winners this year. The United States, Great Britain, Germany and The Netherlands all have openly gay Olympians who brought an extra souvenir home after the world-wide sport spectacular. In all, LGBTs won seven gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals.

Marriage Equality unites, divides sports stars
It started with Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who had some choice words for an anti-marriage equality Maryland delegate: “I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won’t come into your house and steal your children. They won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster.” Soon, sports figures were taking sides on the issue of marriage equality, ranging from Brandon Ayanbadejo of the Baltimore Ravens, who supports equality, to Matt Birk, who opposed it.

Former athletes, sports figures come out
A long list of sports figures came out of the closet in 2012, fanning the ongoing debate about whether or not active, professional athletes can maintain their careers if they declare their sexuality. Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus, former NFL cornerback Wade Davis, South African Olympian archer Karen-Ann Hulzer, former Pittsburg Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy and Puerto Rican professional boxer Orlando Cruz all stepped out of the closet over the past 12 months.

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