While not the first openly gay Olympian, Matthew Mitcham is the first gold medalist brave enough to be out during Olympic competition. Surely that merits a mention from the broadcaster-of-record? Or maybe NBC is beyond all that, as Matthew urges us to be:
Being gay and diving are completely separate parts of my life. Of course there’s going to be crossover because some people have issues, but everyone I dive with has been so supportive.
Another gay icon, Harvey Milk, put the same thought a different way:
All over the country, they’re reading about me, and the story doesn’t center on me being gay. It’s just about a gay person who is doing his job.
Matthew echoed Harvey when he said earlier this month to The Advocate:
"I just want to be known as the Australian diver who did really well at the Olympics,” he says. “It’s everybody else who thinks it’s special when homosexuality and elite sport go together."
Our icons never see the heros we make them.
Congratulations, Matthew Mitcham, on a job well done. (And yes, his tongue is pierced.)
Update: The prohibition on sports talk in Teddy’s threads is lifted for this thread! As long as it’s gay Olympian sports talk….
{YouTube of Matthew Mitcham, his mother Vivienne and his partner Lachlan outside the Water Cube after the medal ceremony, by loveommx, via outsports}
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I knew this article was coming Teddy. *g* Read your link earlier!
It is insulting that NBC kept the gay issue off our tvs.
I cannot get this video to play…
teddy? a sports thread… good thing i am forking sitting down (laughing)
i loved his come from behind win last nite teddy. thanks for highlighting it
works fine for me… if you are using firefox, go to tools, addons, disable the shock flash player and then re-enable it. that usually fixes most can’t play issues for me
Fortunately, they were able to devote sufficient attention to the French female swimmer, her Italian rival, and (so the story went) the Italian male swimmer who lured the French girl to Italy only to attempt to crush her spirit by dumping her and taking up with her Italian rival.
If only NBC weren’t so constrained by time and the lack of cable outlets, I’m sure they would have said more about Mitcham.
/s
Wouldn’t you love to hear Greg Lougainis’ take on Mitcham?
Thank you Teddy
And, this:
Many of my good friends are gay. Hooray that they win at Olympics.
Teddy. It would seem that teh Gay is still the big taboo in sports coverage, since I hear that they mentioned all sorts of other sexual tidbits concerning the athletes. Someday even the troglodytes at NBC sports will come around.
Digg IT!
What do you expect of these people. They would have forced to say that Matthew Mitcham is gay. Nothing they do/don’t do surprises me… Just like ALWAYS giving Mc Pain “The Benefit of the Doubt”
Ledft leaning Main Stream Media my ass..They have been bought and paid for and will do exactly what their Masters tell them to do!
More quotes from Matt:
iirc, he got four 10’s on that dive. am looking for the video of it… was poetry in motion
I was stunned at how great that guy was in his final dive – talk about perfection.
No surprise NBC totally avoided the issue. There’s no gays at the Olympics, right?
Louganis on Matt:
And you are an afficianado of dives, IIRC.
So Teddy, I got to ask what you think about Biden. John Aravosis seems to think he is pretty good on Gay issues.
Johnson & Johnson’s Families of Olympians program made it possible for Lachlan to travel from Sydney to Beijing, although a group of generous Australian LGBTs financed Vivienne’s trip.
Can’t wait for Dobson and his krewe to call for a BandAid boycott. You know they would if it was an American athlete.
UTL on any video but found this nice description (with a fantastic photo) of the dive:
Teddy- thanks for the extra quotes. Wonderful to read.
(((ThatGuy))) hugs!
Update: The prohibition on sports talk in Teddy’s threads is lifted for this thread! As long as it’s gay Olympian sports talk….
Saw an interview here on the teevee with the two American platform divers (they live and train in Indianapolis).
I don’t think that Matthew Mitcham was the only gay diver in the event, fwiw.
Maybe he doesn’t think it’s a rugged sport, but I do. Jumping off the 10 meter platform is bad enough, but doing it head first?
Biden was among the first of the yes-voters on the AUMF to renounce his. He’s actually called for the resolution to be withdrawn. His 1990s work on the Violence Against Women bill, which Donna Edwards cited in her earlier chat today with Laura Flanders, spanned several Congresses. He’s known as the Senator from AMTRAK; America needs a major investment in rail.
And I love his line about John McCain not understanding Americans’ struggles to pay bills while sitting at the kitchen table, since he wouldn’t know which of his seven kitchen tables to sit at. Although, predictably, a McCain flak said today that John McCain didn’t HAVE a kitchen table for five and half years. Can Biden go there: a noun, a verb, and POW? Probably.
I haven’t read Aravosis’ take on Biden on LGBT issues; I’m not wild about his middle-class fighter cred; it would be a lot cred-ier had he stood up to his homestate industry on the bankruptcy bill. But Nixon went to China and Clinton ended welfare as we know it. Maybe Biden can be the Vice President who restores the ability of Americans to escape predatory lenders.
On top of everything, though, our nominee seems really comfortable and happy with the choice. And that’s really the most important thing, imho.
I knew I had read somewhere that his dive was the highest scoring ever, but couldn’t recapture the link when I put the post together today. Thanks, Suzanne.
WHich brings up a point for me. What is with this implication that you cannot be gay and rugged? IIRC there were a couple of pro football players who came out after they retired. When I was in Chicago, I knew several genuine tough guys who were gay, including a couple who could disassemble you with a q-tip (Taekwondo black belts).
my pleasure, teddy. wish i could find the forking video – forking nbc and their forking embargo (spitting)
I guess I’m just out of the loop. Mitcham is a beautiful diver who put his stuff on the line when it counted and just did an amazing dive. I was surprised that his being out was an issue and rather disappointed to read some of the comments in the Advocate. I’d thought we were past that. But I’m glad for Mitcham’s success and hope that his openess is helpful to other athletes coming up.
Evenin’ Teddy and Firedogs,
oh he is just adorable and this Njinsky pose – - oh my
Ms Suzanne, there’s a vid of all his competition dives up there with Teddy’s youtube – the one’s running along the bottom -
You are welcome!
Matt is also an inspiration to anyone who has struggled with depression. And I love his modern attitude about being gay, something my generation just marvels at, I think. I say to today’s LGBT youth about the world we have created for them: “You are welcome, and I’m sorry.”
Tell it to the gay rugby players!
Shrinking violets, they are not.
here’s one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij9H2_u-8Mc
i was looking for it full sized.. found a bunch of his other dives but not the 6th dive from the 10 meter finals last night.
Watching the closing ceremonies now, I hope we have a really chaotic and antiauthoritarian ceremony in London in 2012.
thank you! i must be off my game tonight.
that is a forking wonderful dive
Gay Olympians? The ancient Greeks who founded the games would be outraged.
No, strike that last part. The ancient Greeks would be out.
On a different note, watching platform diving scares the bejeebus out of me.
Teddy,
So Matthew Mitcham is going to give our dive champion Suzanne a run for her money?
Hiya Suz,
Lovely, lovely dive. What a body!
Do you think maybe we should tell the wingnuts that institutionalized homosexuality was a central element of Spartan culture, as well as to their military training and organization? It is said Spartan brides dressed as boys on their wedding nights.
i’m a springboard kinda diver – hate that forking 10 meter platform.. that’s 30 forking feet – as tall as a 3 story building.
Suzanne’s diving suit, I believe.
Mine at 37 is for ratfood @ 34. Stoopid reply button.
What a wonderful dive. Years ago I sat stunned watching Louganis.
hey ce – yeap eye candy in more than one way… he looks so relaxed and natural doing that dive.
So interesting to hear the confident Aussie commentator talk about the possibility of gold; I recall the NBC announcers only mentioning that Matthew was hoping to stay in contention for the silver. Another example, in my view, of NBC kowtowing to the Chinese hosts, who had contenders for the gold and silver at that point.
Why does NBC always have the Olympics? It’s awful now.
(If I wait for the page to load completely while I write my reply, then go back and hit reply once the page has loaded and I’ve finished my pithy comment, it works for me. ymmv)
that’s 30 forking feet – as tall as a 3 story building.
did you see any of the shots taken from the ground – off to the side and looking up as a dive was made?
Those guys, and women, are braver than I. I wonder how fat they’re traveling when they hit the water?
I loved the interview with him and his family. Best of luck to the gold medal winner. Raspberries to NBC.
OT – ecahn, didn’t want to get epu’ed but wanted to let you know that i did reply to your email this evening.
about 35mph per this article
And, as Peterr points out above, they hardly used any of their CNBC or MSNBC outlets for Olympics except on the weekends. Even today, MSNBC had stoopit real-crime and prison stuff on during the afternoon, after Tom Brokaw grilled Nancy Pelosi with wingnut talking points on Meet The Press.
I have some recollection of Louganis being stunned as well. That is a lot of the reason platform diving terrifies me. I think it was in preparation for that same Olympics that another diver (can’t recall for certain but I think it was an American) fractured his skull on the platform and died.
Fast enough that many of the men require some, um, immediate adjustment underwater. I’m convinced that’s why NBC uses the really fat banners across the bottom of my teevee during diving.
I would be glad if they would just shut the hell up. They don’t have to explain to me what I am looking at in every detail. Makes you think they believe the viewers are idiots.
I’m convinced that’s why NBC uses the really fat banners across the bottom of my teevee during diving.
lol. I was thinking the same thing during women’s volleyball…
No fatter than they were on the platform, unless they stopped for a burger on the way down. “g”
If the viewers are Republicans then they are idiots. ;)
It’s not really the burger, but the shake and fries that come with it. 8-)
I remember a diver hitting his head on the tower as he left it.
I was really hoping no one would notice that….
crap.
John Stewart Mill was waaaaay to generous.
with the late nite crowd? hahahahaha
I am so laughing at that! I was wondering about that earlier, having noted the new “swimsuits” that the male swimmers wear. They seem more likely to stay on, and I’d guess the guys don’t necessarily have to shave their legs now.
Considering that during gymnastics, two things are going on all the time on the floor, NBC did a pretty poor job of keeping us informed. The French mens bronze medalist completely snuck up on them; we’d seen none of his routines until the last. All the loving shots of Nastia, Shawn, and their coaches and family were at the expense of actually showing us gymnasts who’d worked their whole lives to be there.
I guess it will all be online for a while, though.
I remember a diver hitting his head on the tower as he left it.
Pretty sure I remember Greg Louganis doing it at one of his Olympics….
I recall many years ago watching a volleyball game between the U.S. women and Brazil. One couldn’t help but notice that at the end of every play, the U.S. players tugged their shorts back down and the Brazilians pulled theirs up. Since then, I think there has been some advance in the uniforms because they don’t seem to have as much mobility.
Hey now, son. We all know the Olympics is all about AmuriKKKa, not them cheese-eating surrender monkeys!
I read somewhere that the USA swimmers need two hours to put on the new suits, though. Can that be possible? They are apparently all grooved and streamlined on the outside, but I can’t imagine what makes them as hard to put on as Scarlett O’Hara’s hoop skirt.
The closing ceremony reminded me of an authoritarian Whoville.
-G
Louganis hit his head while diving in the Olympics.
88 seoul games
Teddy- splitting my sides with laughter at that too. I had no idea!
I’ll have to go do some teh google research, and if I find anything, I’ll get back to you asap.
Two hours?
Excellent.
Thanks. It’s a real tough time for me now…real tough. I’m very scared.
I think the Chinese divers should be required to compete in hoop skirts, then they might actually displace some water.
I remember Micky King (lesbian) hitting her arm on the diving board eons again. She would prolly have to use a walker (lesbian one) to get to the diving board now. (lesbian diving board)
‘ere ya go…
Louganis Diving Crash
http://www.youtube.com/results…..eg+lougani
The swimsuits (scroll down)
(lesbian diving board)
hmmm, that would increase the degree of difficulty for me….
I can totally understand that. Totally sucks. I was thinking about you earlier today. And, getting pissed off that you and so many other talented people are suffering because of short-sightness and the gawd-almighty dollar.
I did have some further thoughts, but I will save them for now.
Hey Margot,
I remember girdles and stockings — good grief! But if this helps them win, I guess that they have wear these.
I never wore a girdle though. I think the closest i can come to it is when I had to wear a white surgical stocking that was hell to get on.
think of how hard a wet suit is to get on. that’s kinda what those new suits are like… only harder.
Teddy,
I work with a ton of gay people. There is no issue of being in or out, just who loves art. And who can win the Democratic ticket.
I tried to watch press the meet, but I couldn’t take more than the first two questions. WTF happened to the old school journalists?
Doc, if you’re still here. I just saw your 37. No point, you can lead a wingnut to facts but you can’t make them think.
The scary part is that at my age (54), the question begins to become who would hire me? HTe last job interview I went on, the oldest person interviewing me was at least 15 years younger than I am.
That’s a scary prospect.
Margot- thanks for the link, and for your googling skills. From the article-
All I could find earlier was this Suits swimming in attention
I was remembering (did I get it wrong, the black hip to ankle thingies I thought I saw- that’s why I made the comment about the men not having to shave their legs.
I am better informed now, via selected quotes from link above:
~~Don’t those Speedos seem pulled a little, uh, low?
“I was waiting for a swimsuit to fall off … which my boyfriend didn’t appreciate,” said Kristine Easton, 43, of Chicago, who admitted the aquatic costuming kept her tuned in longer than she expected. “These Speedos are tiny, even compared to a Hollywood beach.”~~
~~Said one poster to an Entertainment Weekly blog: “Phelps’ swimsuit is the true stud of the day. A truly amazing engineering feat—super fast in the pool, and when rolled down, stays up high enough by only like a millimeter to not cause an international incident.”~~
Brokaw seems determined to lower the standards below Russert, if that’s possible. Then again, Matthews was gushingly fanboyesque at Luke Russert’s appearance at HardBall’s Youth Correspondent. The entire contingent has gone to hell, with the exception of Olbermann and Maddow (and sometimes Shuster, but he’s still on probation).
Is that a short ton or a metric ton?
I tried to watch press the meet, but I couldn’t take more than the first two questions. WTF happened to the old school journalists?
I can’t decide whether Brokaw has really lost it, or has just lost the ability to keep his true self from showing.
When he did the full hour with Obama, Barack kept breaking out laughing at him…
Time for me to head out. I have to go back to work tomorrow. 8-p
Does anyone here understand the concept of “volunteers” in an authoritarian state? NBC keeps talking about the million Chinese “volunteers” who helped this Olympics run smoothly, but I’m not sure that word means what they think it means.
Sorry, just 70’s jargon. “Like, hey, I like you a ton.”
Former teacher sends condolences.
For a country that ran over it’s citizens in front of a place called “The Gate of Heavenly Peace,’ they know their irony.
NBC is just doing the old “When in Rome…” deal.
We here do, but I think you are talking about the other “here”.
g’nite dr (pause) dick
BTW –I LIKE you, a bunch. Groovy, yes?
oops, I didn’t fully absorb the comment “here” = NBC
Nite Doc.
Nite all. I’m goin’ down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZarmRLa2p9Q
g’nite jayt
NBC is just doing the old “When in Rome…” deal.
Ah… bingo! And, very quick you are with the words.
sorry, I didn’t mean to put that in bold.
VG, my Google skillz are entirely this: Parroting a phrase someone said into the search window and let’er rip. So i put US swimmers’ suits take 2 hours to put on and got a result. ;)
I don’t know how they sit there so respectfully. Those bastard skewered Kerry over his wife but we get crickets about the plastic woman who CRS. I read today that the campaign made up the story about the McCrazy adoption. I keep thinking if that were Obama it would be 24/7 story that would end his election bid. The McCrazy’s are chronic liars as are the republican media.
Aw, shucks! (blushing) Groovy, yes.
I am usually pretty good at teh google, but now I have a new tip! ty!
I can only hope that Matthew’s shattering of the Chines Olympic gold diving monopoly presages a fair outcome to the investigation of the Chinese women gymnasts’ ages, which could result in medals being revoked and awarded to Americans in the team competition and the uneven bars.
Night jayt.
Dionne.
Obama’s choice of Biden isn’t just about winning.
I love seeing you here at the Lake.
heh.
Nighters.
I’m out too, folks. Don’t stay up too late, so you can be bright-eyed and bushy for the convention.
Thanks, much appreciated. I try to paddle along without stirring up any big waves.
Take care,
rf
Thank you for that link, Loo Hoo.
I liked Joe first, if you recall…
Remember Demi’s Dream Thread?
interesting
News Box:
Kennedy may address Democratic convention: report
I was chatting with someone from the Philly area earlier this eve. His 90+ aunt was very excited about the Biden pick. I asked why.
This was his response, paraphrasing what she said- “He has a lot of experience in DC, and she feels Barack lacks the experience of how DC works, although she gives credit for his rise in life, Biden’s “one of us” economically, and he’s an attack dog. She said he’ll stick it ‘em.”
I thought the point about Biden being savvy about how DC works was a really great insight.
I sneaked access to the BBC’s streams during the Olympics: I don’t think I’d have coped with NBC after enduring the awful Athens coverage. (The disrespect for track and field is painful.) Unless you’ve seen the Olympics in two countries — or have the option of getting the CBC broadcast near the border — you really don’t appreciate how it’s a completely different viewing experience that’s shaped by the broadcaster. (So much is packed into two weeks that it’s always a buffet serving.) I’m sure that Americans would find the BBC coverage parochial and lacking to some extent, but it’s still the Olympics that I grew up with, mostly live and respectful of sports that never got a look-in on the US coverage.
Anyway, I’m not really that into diving, but I heard about Mitcham’s gold just after it happened — they showed it live in Britain, while NBC (of course) delayed it for primetime. My gay friends were very happy. The home of the soft-focus Triumph Over Struggle Olympic Profile decided it wasn’t worth a mention, even though it was a huge deal in Australia, where there’s still a strong ‘no poofters’ culture around sport. I felt bad for the commentators, because they were obviously under instruction from management: Don’t Mention Teh Ghey.
Oh, yes. !!!
I’m thinking a lot of older democrats will be reassured with the Biden pick.
Ha ha. That was fun.
I hope Biden’s addition to the ticket does the trick.
Grrrrrrrrruff. Go get ‘em Joe.
es has pirate radio upstairs
Here are all his 6 dives….
Great video!
Here’s a complete video of Matthew Micham’s triumph.
Sport in this country is about Compulsory Heterosexualty. Or as Salon put it “Enough with the Diving, NBC!” Cause we all know that diving is just for sissy-boys. It’s not REAL MAN sport like swimming. Oh yeah there are gay swimmers but no one’s going to talk about them. Just Phelps.
For the next year or more it’s gonna be Phelps 24/7, with copious coverage of whatever “lucky little lady” he chooses to marry.
Matt and Lachlan, meanwhile will be studiously ignored.
But he’s a National Hero in Australia.
Here’s my full round-up of this thrilling event.