FRIDAY, JAN. 25
Atlanta Rainbow Trout, Practice, Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. www.atlantarainbowtrout.com
Atlanta Team Tennis Association,, Drills, Glenlake Tennis Center. www.atta.org
Come Out Dancing, Lessons and Dance, Several Dancers Core Studio. www.comeoutdancing.com
Hotlanta Volleyball League, Recreational Open Play, Agnes Scott College. www.hotlantavolleyball.org
Friends Friday Bowling League, League Play, Midtown Bowl. www.friendsfriday.org
SATURDAY, JAN. 26
Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club, Winter Season Opener. www.atlantabucksrugby.org
Atlanta Team Tennis Association, Open Play Doubles, Glenlake Tennis Center. www.atta.org
SHAKE OFF THE winter doldrums, get off the couch and learn more about the gay sports scene in Atlanta during a two-hour event this weekend designed as a meet-and-greet and recruitment session for eight sports groups.
Learn more about gay teams that swim, run, scrum, spike, swat tennis balls and softballs, kick and throw a pigskin during the event sponsored by the Atlanta Gay Sports Alliance, a collection of eight gay and lesbian sports groups. The event will also feature the announcement of AGSA’s inaugural Sportsperson of the Year award.
The recruitment effort isn’t new. Some 150 people attended a similar event last September and AGSA hopes to hold them quarterly to help its sports teams recruit new members and promote their upcoming seasons. But this event does offer something fresh — the announcement of AGSA’s top athlete.
AGSA officials have brainstormed about the idea for an award for months as a way to honor a figure in the local gay sports community and call attention to the ever-growing number of gay and lesbian jocks on the rosters of its sports teams. The alliance also wrapped up a banner year, with the Hotlanta Softball League capturing three national titles and the Atlanta Rainbow Trout taking a gold medal during its international championships. Other teams also took part in national and international championship events.
“This is a perfect award given our success last year. It not only says job well done for individual accomplishments, but also a job well done for the community,” said Mike Horton, AGSA’s chair.
Each of AGSA’s eight organizations nominated an athlete or team for the award with the AGSA board selecting three finalists and the winner, which will be announced on Sunday. Finalists include Mark Davis, a member of the Hotlanta Volleyball Association; Brian Lazzaro and his team from the Atlanta Team Tennis Association; and Michelle Martin, a member of the Trout who started swimming at age 50.
Hoping to capture the spirit of the city and touch on its history, Atlanta’s WNBA team unveiled its name, logo and colors on Wednesday. The Atlanta Dream, the league’s 14th team, opens play at Philips Arena on May 23. It’s colors are red and blue.
“Atlanta is a city of dreamers and this week we have had time to reflect on what it means to dream and what can happen when you do,” team owner Ron Terwilliger said. “We look forward to the Atlanta Dream continuing to make history as we work toward our goal of transcending sports.”
Atlanta’s gay and lesbian market caught the attention of team boosters early in their bid process last year. Terwilliger has said the team’s marketing effort will include luring gay fans to its games.
WNBA President Donna Orender, who has said the league is “inclusionary and embraces everyone,” was also on hand for Wednesday’s unveiling.
“The support in Atlanta has been tremendous and we look forward to seeing the Dream grow and prosper throughout the inaugural 2008 season and beyond,” Orender said.
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