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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2002)
1 SPORTS ............ ▼............. omplete with sunshine and clear blue skies, the 26th annual N orth American Gay Amateur A thletic A lliances Gay Softball World Series from Aug. 18 to 24 in Portland was like hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and one to go— it just doesn’t get any better than that. “I heard from hundreds of people that it was the best World Series ever,” exclaims Tim Bias, activities director for the Rose City Softball Association. “It made me proud because the com mittee and everyone who helped put their hearts and souls into this. I really can’t describe how perfect it was. It was the highlight of my life.” According to Roy Melani, RCSA and World Series director, approximately 2,500 queer soft- ball players and 1,000 queer-friendlies participat ed in the weeklong string of events and activi ties. In addition to rounds of grueling head-to- head competition, the World Series played host to a bunch of other stuff such as the Miss Gay Softball World Series Pageant, Spirit Mountain Casino Trip, Girls Night O ut and Twisted Tal ent Show— all of which seemed to be a hit. “Outside of the games themselves, which went beautifully,” says Bias, "everything was a success. I had high expectations, and every thing far exceeded them .” In fact, nothing seemed to be able to rain on this big, gay parade. N ot even a visit from the Village Idiot. W hen the Bush administration asked Melani to move the ballplayers and talent show from the Hilton to another hotel, he says it wasn’t a big deal when he declined to do so. “They asked me, and I said ‘No.’ It didn’t seem to be a problem.” According to Bias, not only were they treat ed with the utmost respect from FBI agents loi tering around the hotel, but he thinks the pres ident’s witness of the most joyous of gay festivi ties was advantageous. Grand slam Not even Dubya could rain on the World Series parade by C ourtney P erkins Mixed Fruit wins the Women’s Competitive division. Was there ever any doubt? “I think it was a big coup for the gay com munity,” he says. “Here were a bunch of homosexuals in the same hotel as the Bush adm inistration, sleeping, eating, talking— showing th at we’re just hum an, just the same. I think it put the gay com m unity in a better light. O utside there were a bunch of protesters...fighting and causing trouble, and here we w ere...just going about our own business, just being hum an. It opened some eyes; th a t’s my personal feeling.” W hat’s more is the fact that Mayor Vera Katz, a staunch supporter of the sexu al minorities commu nity, made it a point to check in with the softballers to see how they were doing in light of the Bush protests. “The mayor’s office was glad to learn that the series was such a success,” communications director Sarah Bott says, “and appreciates the players’ patience Some World Series committee members can be so hard to get in a picture with the traffic tie- ups and extra security procedures at the hotel during the president’s visit." Despite what could have been potential dis asters, the World Series ran as smoothly as an Indy 500 race car and, according to Bias, could be headed back to the Rose City next year. “People were utterly amazed at what a great city we have,” he beams. n softball action at the World Series, the strongest showing for Portland came from Mixed Fruit, the only local Women’s Competi- D a l e ’ s F a l l P la n t S a l e ! D ignified pet NURSERY • Unique Cremation UdnS P la n ts f o r YOUR P a r a d is e • Monodia?. Jeweldy 1t'* M y Sexy Gifts - Exciting Ideas and Unique Apparatus H a rd y B an an as M u s a s ik k im e n s is , M Y u n n a n ' GINGERS HEDYCHIUM, A l p in ia . R o s c o e a C a n n a , L il iu m , & H a r d y O r c h id s U n iq u e P e r e n n ia l s a M o r e (A Division o f Cascade Funeral Directors. Inc) Second Annual Women's Indian Summer Scramble All proceeds donated O R C H IS Cremation A Memorials F o r Your Companion 8976 SW Tualatin Sherwood Road Tualatin OR 97062 Phone (503) 885-2211 www.DignifiedPetServices.coni C ourtney P erkins is a Portland free-lance writer. S e p t . 2 1 ,2 0 0 2 S ervices • Pensonadized Caskets • GdOnite Monuments • Books £ Litexatude tive team to participate in the tourney. They cleaned up over the Atlanta Blaze for the champi onship ring in their divi sion. The other most notable fin ish for Port Activities director Tim Bias: land came “It was the highlight of my life” from the Sil verado Titans, who took third in the D division. In the O pen division, the Los Angeles Stray Cats took the crown over the Los Angeles Fever at the A level; the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Alibi Demons dominated over the Seattle R Place Monarchs in the B division; the Norfolk (Va.) Cavaliers beat the Boston Fritz South- enders in the C division; and in the D division the Chicago M SA Little Dog Properties hounded the San Francisco Comets. The San Francisco Pilsner Panthers defeat ed the San Diego Powerhouse Gym in the W om ens Alternative division. For softball buffs who just can’t get enough, the RCSA has scheduled a fall season. For com plete details, visit www.portlandgaysoftball.com. In other softball news, the Lesbian Com m u nity Projects tournam ent in Bush Prairie, Wash., also went off without a hitch last m onth as 32 teams competed for the title. “T he campground was full to overflowing with lesbians," says Kristan Aspen, LCP staff organizer. “A good time was had by all, as far as we could tell. - j n C o rn e r o f Sandy Blvd. 8c NF. 6 4 th 3 1 0 6 N E 6 4 th P o rtla n d , O R 9 7 2 1 3 503 280 8080 Two WEEKENDS ONLY SEPTEMBER 7 / 8 2 1 / 2 2 11 A M -7 P M 7 5 1 1 SE H a r o l d S t .. 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