Sheryl Swoopes: Out of the Closet--and Ignored

By Dave Zirin
The Nation

What's the sound of a good story smothered? Ask Sheryl Swoopes. Swoopes is the most prominent women's basketball player of her generation: a five-time all-star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and the WNBA's only three-time MVP. And in a tribute only corporate America could render, Swoopes is the only female player to have her own basketball shoe: Nike's Air Swoopes.

The 34-year-old Houston Comet veteran just delivered what could be the most significant body blow to homophobia ever weathered by the athletic-industrial complex. She has come out of the closet with pride, defiance and a palpable sense of joy.

But Swoopes's announcement has been met in the sports press with what the Associated Press correctly described as "a shrug of indifference." San Jose Mercury News columnist John Ryan wrote, "Let's face it: On the list of shocking headlines, 'WNBA player is gay' falls somewhere between 'Romo took steroids' and 'Steinbrenner is angry.' "

The muted response to Swoopes's revelation flows from the sexist treatment of women's athletics on sports pages, where the WNBA faces regular derision and the accomplishments of even elite female athletes--from Mia Hamm to Serena Williams--are downplayed or ignored.

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Comments

[sheredith anissa]

i'm so happy that "sherylswoopes"is gay because she is so fine.i'm gay myself and i enjoy it when woman sports figures comeout the closet because it makes the fantasy more real.sheryl, the greatest b-ball player."gay is the way."love you sheryl.#1 fanatic s.a.s.g.

[andres]

I still think she bi sexual. She been in love with her husband since high school. I think she might be in a gay relationship know, but she go back. She not Ellen Degerence. That like Michael Jordan saying he's gay. (he not) The point is most people who are gay come out after high school or college. I have nothing against gay people, but this story doesn't add up right. Her husband must of seen it coming or something

[Sally]

Women in basketball. Rather unnatural sight. To my mind this kind of sport belong to men and too rude for females.

[Crystal]

If she wanted to make a huge statement and wanted a big outcome she should have went and screamed it in front if the white house she would have got some attention.

[melissa]

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[oldSoul]

While I see your point, LAW, I think what she did had a lot more significance than the media allowed it to. I actually think the media stifled any positive energy that might have come from Swoopes's admission by taking the "no shit Sherlock" stance you embrace. What I got from this was a young Black woman who was tired of living the same lie day-after-day and had the courage to make a change for her Self and her existence. I believe that by her stepping up and stepping out, this may have given other women and girls that inkling of inspiration to be honest with themselves and of course others. I believe honesty, along with communication and Truth, is a master healer. And I do believe what she did went a long way in not only healing a lot of women who feel and have felt the same way, it also started the ball rolling amongst some men who are tired of living two lives within one body. I am not gay and don't advocate that lifestyle but I do stand behind each person's freedom of choice and don't think any man or woman should ever be punished for using their God-given right to choose.

[LAW]

As an ex-female athlete myself, I don't think this can get catagorized as sexism. This falls under "no shit, Sherlock." A significant number of WNBA players are gay, and everyone knows it. So why should this get more attention than needed? If Venus or Serena came out, that would be a story, but not Sheryl Swoops.