• Final leg of federal investigation into Mark Foley's illicit instant messages is slow going. It turns out neither Mark Foley nor the US House of Representatives will turn over the computers. (The FBI's unconstitutional snafu with Rep. William Jefferson reminded people of a 200-year old precedent. That means Foley can now self-censor "legislative business" from federally requested desktops. Convenient.)

• No illicit info in Foley emails. (An independent House review claims they took a look at Foley's emails through September 29th, the day he resigned. No nudie shots, allegedly.)

CONTINUED »

It's moments like these that make it all worthwhile. About 75 anti-gay protesters definitely had egg on their collective face this weekend after failing to deter Padres fans from attending "Pride Night".

Group leader James Hartline tells San Diego's Union-Tribune,

We're here to inform parents, to warn them about what's happening inside (the ballpark). Bringing together homosexuals with baseball and kids is beyond bounds.

C'mon. That has to be a joke, right?

CONTINUED »

The wide world of sports ain't the most gay-friendly arena in town. And no one knows it better than Tyler Hoffman, who worked as a minor league baseball umpire from 1996-1999. During those years, Hoffman lived life in the closet. Now that he's retired and out, though, Hoffman's spilling the beans on a few of his former comrades.

Hoffman says he knows of at least two closeted gay umpires in professional baseball. One OutSports:

His whole thing is, I've been around for a while; the league respects me; other umpires respect me; guys pretty much have it figured out by now, so there is no need for me to actually come out and say ‘I'm gay.' He doesn't feel like he actually needs to publicize it.

That's his point of view, though I think it would be really beneficial to the community and sports in general if he did come out, but that's my perspective.

Easy for Hoffman to say now that he's living in Vancouver with his boyfriend and working in finance. During his baseball days, however, Hoffman lived quite the jock life.

CONTINUED »

Chicago's Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club is either the most forgiving gay bar — or has the most keen sense of generating publicity. Rather than joining the criticism of "fag"-calling White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, the Kit Kat has instead named a drink after him: The Effen Ozzie GuillenTini. The martini "is made with assorted fresh fruits, vodka and served with a complimentary Sun-Times sports section for $8.50." You can enjoy one during the bars next drag show &mdsah; and all the way through baseball season.

Straight up: Gay bar makes Ozzie GuillenTini [Chicago Sun-Times]
Related: All Ozzie Guillen Coverage

Even though the gay community – and really, what the hell does that mean? – hasn't exactly accepted Ozzie Guillen's apology for using the word "fag" as a derogatory term, the White Sox manager still plans on attending the Gay Games in Chicago. Guillen will use his single free day during the team's six-day road trip to accept the invitation by Gay Games organizers, which means on the second day of competition he'll be alongside track and field, softball, flat football, and wrestling fans. Gay Games VII spokesman Kevin Boyer says the event is welcoming Guillen with open arms.

We're glad to hear he'll be attending because it demonstrates how the gay games brings people together — whether straight or gay — through competition. There's no hurt feelings. He's apologized . . . he won't do it again.

Your call: Does Ozzie deserve to be welcomed at the Gay Games?

Despite slur, Ozzie says he'll attend Gay Games [Chicago Sun-Times]
Related: All Ozzie Guillen Coverage

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen – who made headlines this week when he threw the word "fag" at Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti over one of his articles – was handed two separate punishments yesterday for his bad behavior. The lesser of the two: a one game suspension (which he served last night) and undisclosed fine for the "internal actions" of relief pitcher David Riske, who pegged St. Louis' Chris Duncan in Tuesday's game after both teams received warnings. And as for throwing around prejudicial slurs?

He's being fined and ordered to attend sensitivity training, ordered up by MLB commissioner Bud Selig. Guillen's reaction? He's fine with the punishment. Oh, and:

I don't regret what I say about Jay. I regret what I say about the [gay] community.

Guillen fine with MLB's punishment [Chicago Tribune]

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made a formal apology last night for using the word "fag" to insult Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. His word choice may have been inappropriate, he says, but not his message.

"I shouldn't have mentioned the name that was mentioned, but I'm not going to back off of Jay," Guillen said, using another profanity to describe Mariotti.

"The word I used, I should have used something different. A lot of people's feelings were hurt and I didn't mean it that way."

Meanwhile, Mariotti's column today is calling for Guillen's suspension. Sure, it takes him four paragraphs to get into his argument, but he's got a good case: This is the second time in less than a year Guillen has made disparaging remarks toward homosexuals; last year, he "greet[ed] a friend warmly" by saying "Hey, everybody, this guy's a homosexual! He's a child molester!'

Mariotti wants Guillen handed a two week suspension — just enough time for some decency to settle in and realize what a public embarrassment he's become for his team and the city of Chicago. Perhaps ironically, Mariotti actually supported Guillen getting the team manager spot, knowing he might be insensitive at times. But never egregiously so.

White Sox manager apologizes for 'fag' remark [AP]
Sensitivity the issue, Guillen the problem [Chicago Sun-Times]
Earlier: White Sox's Ozzie Guillen: I Can Say 'Fag' Without Being Homophobic
Earlier: Perhaps the White Sox's Ozzie Guillen Isn't So Anti-Gay, After All

Remember yesterday's item about the White Sox's Ozzie Guillen calling Chicago Sun-Times Jay Mariotti columnist a "fag" and then recoiling with the defense that he has gay friends and all that? Perhaps his best defense would've been to remind everyone of this picture. Can you call a dude a homophobe if he's lip-locking with other jocks?

Weekend Caption Contest™ Winners [Wizbang Pop]
Earlier: White Sox's Ozzie Guillen: I Can Say 'Fag' Without Being Homophobic

For every modicum of progress made in gay men and women feeling accepted in the sports world, it only takes a single blow to knock the wind out of our headway. On Tuesday, it was Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen who stole this dubious honor.

Reacting to a column by the Chicago Sun-Times' Jay Mariotti about Guillen's handling of relief pitcher Sean Tracey, the Sox's manager said, "What a piece of shit he is, fucking fag." (Mariotti was covering the NBA Finals and wasn't there to witness the comments.) Fellow Sun-Times columnist Greg Couch addressed the issue and demanded MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to suspend Guillen over the use of a "hurtful homophobic" term. He also asked Giullen to defend himself.

Guillen's excuse? In his native country of Venezuela, using the word "fag" isn't offensive, apparently: "I don't have anything against those people. In my country, you call someone something like that and it is not the same as it is in this country." Oh, and he also has gay friends, goes to WNBA games, went to a Madonna concert and plans to attend Chicago's Gay Games. Nevermind the explicit meaning Guillen meant when he used the word "fag": that columnist Mariotti "was not man enough to meet me and talk about [things before writing]." Because anyone who's got gay friends and enjoys striking a pose could never say something homophobic.

Guillen calls columnist Mariotti homosexual slur [ESPN]

•Shocking news alert! Elton John is a top.

•Gay.com is allowing readers to vote for the hottest guys on television. For the next six weeks they will have selections from six different networks. The first network featured is Fox. Not surprisingly, all but one of the actors are white.

•Who said we aren't jocks? We collected baseball cards just like the rest of them.

•Barack Obama is taking "the Hillary approach" in the Senate. Which means that already the groundwork is being laid for a national run.

•Layer Cake actor Daniel Craig, 22-year-old Henry Cavill, ER star Goran Visnjic, and Australian Sam Worthington are the last four standing in the race to become James Bond. The new, modern Bond will have no Q, no gadgets, and nothing to do with James Bond.