James Blake is now the top-ranked male American tennis player.
· For the first time ever, the anti-gay Focus on the Family has promoted an event for Major League Baseball. On July 27, the conservative Christian ministry co-sponsored "Faith Days" at Turner Field for the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately, the team lost 6-1 to the Florida Marlins.
· Northern Ireland plans to end all discrimination against gays. Meanwhile, two young Albanian men are beaten in Belfast's most popular gay bar—one has a broken jaw, the other has 16 stitches. Friends say the attack was racially motivated.
· Labor unions become the latest to fight the proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin. Unions are concerned the amendment would strip their ability to bargain for benefits like health insurance for the domestic partners of gay and straight employees. Gay activists are trying to make Wisconsin the first state to defeat a referendum banning gay marriage. So far, 19 states have approved such amendments and five others will vote on them this year.
I remember when I first saw James Blake--after he cut off the dreads. It was against Andy Roddick in the RCA final last year. I think my mouth was in shock at how beautiful they both were. (I already knew about Andy, but not James.)
I think it's kind of sad though that Blake is the best American in the world. He has dedication issues a la Clijsters--satisfied with round three of Wimbledon? The fuck? You're top ten. And then you're complaining about too much pressure? At least Roddick's made semis and finals.
Regardless, it'd be interesting to see you talk about tennis more; there's always so much other sports talk.
Posted by: Chris | 01 August 2006 at 07:58
For more on James Blake (or less actually...that is to say, shirtless in tub) see http://www.rickey.org/blog/2006/07/james_blake_and_evian.html
Posted by: r.o. | 01 August 2006 at 11:57