Pride Bowl 2018

2018 PRIDE BOWL SPECIAL EDITION

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2018 Pride Bowl Special Edition 6 MAYOR'S LETTER Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Mayor

8 WELCOME LETTER Jared Garduno, SDL

10 WELCOME LETTER Matt Herek,Tournament Director

11 FIELDS 12 EVENT INFO 13 FRIDAY GAME SCHEDULE 14 BRACKETS 16 THE HISTORY OF PRIDE BOWL 20 FROM GRIDIRON TO STATE LEGISLATURE: Brian Sims

22 VIKINGS HOLD 1ST LGBTQ SUMMIT & FUNDRAISER 23 PRIDE BOWL TEAMS

JUNE 2018 ISSUE COMPETE MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Connie Wardman, M.A., SDL connie@competenetwork.com PUBLISHER Eric Carlyle, SDL eric@competenetwork.com This special issue of Compete was created in partnership with CMSA Pride Bowl. If your organization produces or hosts a run, tournament, sports festival, awards ceremony or other type of event, please contact Compete today to find out how we can partner to produce a high-quality issue unique to your organization and its special events. Send us an email at publications@competenetwork.com MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

Copyright © 2018 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

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Upcoming Webinars • Power

of Numbers: Using Numbers to Tell the Story and Drive Results Available on Replay

•P ower of Relationships: Leveraging Relationships Thursday - July 12, 2018 11am PST/2pm EST

•P ower of Resources: Taking Inventory and Identifying Resources to Drive Results Tuesday - August 14, 2018 11am PST/2pm EST register@sportsdiversityleaders.com

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WELCOME

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WELCOME

PRIDE BOWL CELEBRATES the BIG

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This marks the eleventh year the City of Chicago and the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association’s (CMSA) Flag Football Leagues have helped athletes celebrate Pride the best way – on the football field! Compete is excited to partner with CMSA and to celebrate with the men and women here today.

This tournament is a special part of the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL). At the Compete 2016 awards in Denver I was able to present Matt Herek with the National Tournament Award for creating its first women's tournament division.

The City of Chicago and the world continue to make strides toward inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance. Members of the Sports Diversity Leadership Council (SDLC), your Compete team and the CMSA members are leaders in making these principles part of their everyday decisions and activities. Your participation today shows you are also a leader in this important movement and we thank you for your efforts.

Compete’s mission of “Uniting the World Through Sports,” is the perfect complement to this event and we are pleased to have put this guide together for your enjoyment. Whether your goal is to throw the winning touchdown or to catch the ball and run it into the end zone, we are thrilled you’re having fun coming out to COMPETE. If there is anything we can do to assist you or an organization you represent, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to help you!

JARED GARDUNO, SDL jared@competenetwork.com @jaredgarduno

WELCOME On behalf of Pride Bowl XI, warmest greetings to all the players, officials, fans and guests who have joined us in Chicago this week! We are glad that you are with us.

What started as a 10-team tournament soon grew to 20 teams, then 30, and now this year we proudly host a record-breaking 625 athletes making up 38 teams across four divisions of play.

To the players who are new to Pride Bowl – welcome. We hope your experience here brings you back to Chicago for years to come. To the players who are making a return to Pride Bowl, whether it is your second or eleventh appearance, we are honored that you continue to make our city your home for Pride weekend.

We are grateful to our sponsors who have opened up their venues, volunteered their staff members, provided products and aided us financially to keep the tournament accessible to everyone. We hope you are as proud to partner with us as we are to partner with you.

A hearty thank you to our referees who keep the teams safe and the competition even. In the heat of the moment it may not always be apparent to each player, but the tournament could not exist without the care you show for your craft.

This tournament would not exist without the guidance and support of several individuals. Please join me in thanking:

• Matt Simpson, Commissioner of CMSA Flag Football & Pride Bowl Field Director

• Josh Lewis, Director of Officiating

• Rodney Weir, Director of Operations

• Dusty Carpenter, Sponsorship Coordinator

• Scott Neu and Austin Grant, Marketing/Graphic Design

• Michael Erwin, CMSA President and the CMSA Board of Directors Pride Bowl is a small part of the story of LBGT equality. The larger story will be in the air all weekend. May you take your experience with us back to your homes and find yourself energized for the work that is yet to be done.

All peace and good,

Matt Herek Tournament Director

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Fields Montrose Fields W Montrose Ave & N Lakeshore Dr.

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Evening Parties (7pm-10pm) Thursday: Opening Night - Sidetrack Friday: Bracket Party - Hydrate Saturday: Awards Party - Old Crow

Tournament Pods

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Friday FridayGame GameSchedule Schedule 8am8am PodPod A A

Pods Pods B &BC& C

PodPod D D

PodPod E E

PodPod F F

PodPod G G

PodPod H H

PodPod I I

PodPod J J

9:30am 9:30am11am 11am 12:30pm 12:30pm 2pm2pm

3:30pm 3:30pm5pm5pm

A1 v A2 A1 v A2 FieldField 4 4

A1 v A3 A1 v A3 FieldField 8 8

A1 v A4 A1 v A4 FieldField 1 1

A3 v A3 A4 v A4 FieldField 5 5

A2 v A2 A4 v A4 FieldField 9 9

A2 v A2 A3 v A3 FieldField 2 2

B1 v C1 B1 v C1 FieldField 1 1

B1 v C2 B1 v C2 FieldField 4 4

B1 v C3 B1 v C3 FieldField 8 8

B2 v B2 C2 v C2 FieldField 2 2

B2 v B2 C3 v C3 FieldField 6 6

B2 v B2 C1 v C1 FieldField 4 4

B3 v B3 C3 v C3 FieldField 3 3

B3 v B3 C1 v C1 FieldField 7 7

B3 v B3 C2 v C2 FieldField 5 5

D1 v D1 D2 v D2 FieldField 6 6

D1 v D1 D3 v D3 FieldField 1 1

D1 v D1 D4 v D4 FieldField 3 3

D3 v D3 D4 v D4 FieldField 7 7

D2 v D2 D4 v D4 FieldField 2 2

D2 v D2 D3 v D3 FieldField 9 9

E1 v E2 E1 v E2 FieldField 8 8

E1 v E3 E1 v E3 FieldField 3 3

E1 v E4 E1 v E4 FieldField 6 6

E3 v E4 E3 v E4 FieldField 9 9

E2 v E4 E2 v E4 FieldField 5 5

E2 v E3 E2 v E3 FieldField 7 7

F1 v F2 F1 v F2 FieldField 3 3

F1 v F3 F1 v F3 FieldField 6 6

F1 v F4 F1 v F4 FieldField 5 5

F3 v F4 F3 v F4 FieldField 4 4

F2 v F4 F2 v F4 FieldField 7 7

F2 v F3 F2 v F3 FieldField 6 6

G1 v G1 G2 v G2 FieldField 5 5

G1 v G1 G3 v G3 FieldField 8 8

G1 v G1 G4 v G4 FieldField 4 4

G3 v G3 G4 v G4 FieldField 6 6

G2 v G2 G4 v G4 FieldField 9 9

G2 v G2 G3 v G3 FieldField 2 2

H1 v H1 H3 v H3 FieldField 2 2

H1 v H1 H2 v H2 FieldField 3 3

H1 v H1 H4 v H4 FieldField 7 7

H2 v H2 H4 v H4 FieldField 1 1

H3 v H3 H4 v H4 FieldField 4 4

H2 v H2 H3 v H3 FieldField 1 1

I1 v I3I1 v I3 FieldField 8 8

I2 v I4 I2 v I4 FieldField 2 2

I1 v I4I1 v I4 FieldField 8 8

I1 v I2I1 v I2 FieldField 1 1

I2 v I3I2 v I3 FieldField 3 3

I3 v I4 I3 v I4 FieldField 2 2

J1 v J4J1 v J4 FieldField 9 9

J2 v J3J2 v J3 FieldField 3 3

J1 v J2J1 v J2 FieldField 9 9

J1 v J3J1 v J3 FieldField 5 5

J3 v J4 J3 v J4 FieldField 7 7

J2 v J4 J2 v J4 FieldField 1 1

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Saturday Brackets

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THE HISTORY OF PRIDE BOWL

the history of

by Matt Herek

F

ollowing the 2007 edition of the Gay Super Bowl (the event would become Gay Bowl in late 2008) held in New York City, Chipp Collins and the leadership of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) Flag Football League saw an opportunity for another tournament that would bring teams together from across the United States.

Photos courtesy of Margo Jo Hawk

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THE HISTORY OF PRIDE BOWL

Knowing that Chicago’s Pride Parade was routinely drawing nearly one million spectators, it only made sense that flag football should come together with the civic celebration of the LBGTQ community – the Pride Bowl was born.

The inaugural Pride Bowl saw 12 teams converge on Chicago’s lakefront for two days of gameplay.

The first championship was claimed by the San Diego Bolts in what was at the time termed an upset over Los Angeles.

In the ten years that have followed, Pride Bowl has instilled itself as a tradition for many members of the National Gay Flag Football League. Each year the tournament brings more teams and more players to Chicago, peaking this year with 38 teams and 600 athletes.

In 2016 a women’s division was added in response to the national growth of women’s leagues. Pride Bowl was the first tournament to add a third open division in 2017.

Matt Herek, current tournament director often refers to Pride Bowl as “Our Rose Bowl – we have a great tournament full of traditions. And when it’s over, we all go to a parade.” www.CompeteNetwork.com

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THE HISTORY OF PRIDE BOWL

HISTORY OF CHAMPIONS PRIDE BOWLS A-Division

B-Division

C-Division

PB I 2008

San Diego Bolts

PB II 2009

Phoenix Hellraisers

PB III 2010

Phoenix Hellraisers

Denver Meateaters

PB IV 2011

Phoenix Hellraisers

Chicago Spin Flames

PB V 2012

Denver Summit

Cleveland Rockers

PB VI 2013

San Diego Seals

Chicago Replay

PB VII 2014

Washington Generals

Mile High Mafia

PB VIII 2015

Washington Generals

Houston Hurricanes

PB IX 2016

New York Warriors Black

DC Delta Force

PB X 2017

New York Warriors Black

Denver Summit Gold

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Womens’ Division

Denver Mile High Club Blue

Arizona Arsenal Denver Mile High Club Blue

THE HISTORY OF PRIDE BOWL

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SPORTS DIVERSITY

By PAHouseWiki (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Representative_ Brian_Sims_(D-Philadelphia).jpg)], from Wikimedia Commons

BRIAN SIMS FROM THE GRIDIRON TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE

by Connie Wardman When I think of football and the positive changes for LGBTQ athletes being made these days, I always think of Brian Sims. He’s one of my favorite people and Compete Publisher/CEO Eric Carlyle refers to him as one of his early LGBTQ role models. As Brian began his first successful run for a seat in Pennsylvania’s State Legislature in 2011, I chose him as our inaugural Editor’s Award winner for his ongoing work to break down barriers and eradicate homophobia in sports at all levels.

First gaining national attention while in college, Brian came out as gay to his college football team in 2000 and still was a regional All-American and team captain of the Bloomsburg University team. As the first openly gay football captain in the history of the NCAA, he was able to talk openly with students, coaches and school administrators on issues of homophobia in college sports long before it was the accepted thing to do.

That national attention has continued to follow Brian for good reason.

After earning his J.D. degree he became a recognized civil rights attorney in Philadelphia and, prior to becoming the first openly gay elected legislator in the state’s history, he served in a leadership capacity on a number of LGBTQ boards and faculty in addition to his then private law practice.

But beyond his political career, Brian is just a great Philly guy – a hunk who is openly in love with his partner (he includes photos of them in his campaign literature); he also loves dogs, plays the harmonica and isn’t afraid to share a video of him singing “The Little Mermaid” in his car. He’s got an engaging sense of humor and openness. When the Inquirer once asked him how his football experiences would aid him in politics, he said “If your opposition is dumb machismo, I speak the language.”

Don’t, however, make the mistake of dismissing him when it comes to issues of equality and the law! A strong supporter of passing same-sex marriage, he also issued the now-famous quote during his state’s heated 2013 abortion debate: “… Each of us put our hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution.

We did not place our hands on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.”

Brian has continued to prove what an asset he is, not only to the LGBTQ community but to the nation’s citizens at large. I wish more politicians from both sides of the aisle would follow this gay "jock's" example!

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By AIDSgov (https://www.flickr.com/photos/aidsgov/24879401184/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

SPORTS DIVERSITY

NFL Vikings Hosting First Ever LGBTQ Summit & Fundraiser for Sports Inclusion

By Connie Wardman

On June 21 the Minnesota Vikings are elevating their team commitment to honoring and supporting the inclusion of LGBTQ+ athletes. The team is hosting a day-long summit at their TCO Performance Center focused on the critical importance of LGBTQ inclusion in sports. It includes a powerful group of panelists and participants, including two well-known former Vikings – Esera Tuaolo who came out following his retirement from the NFL and ally Chris Kluwe, also retired from the NFL. Both men continue to be active advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Vikings in making this significant event a reality,” said Kluwe. “While it’s a positive step forward for both the Vikings and the NFL, what’s really critical is how we all use our platforms to improve people’s lives. We’ve pulled together true leaders who can bring legitimate change through their respective organizations and our goal is to put together an event that can be replicated by teams and leagues moving forward.”

L-Greg Louganis; R-Bill Belichick

Other speakers/participants at this time include:

• Nevin Caple, Co-founder of LGBT SportSafe.

• Greg Louganis, Olympic gold-medal winning diver and LGBTQ activist.

• Chris Mosier, First out transgender athlete to compete on a U.S. National Team of his identified gender.

• Samantha Rapoport, NFL Director of Football Development.

• Stephanie White, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Vanderbilt University.

Both Louganis and Mosier are honored to be part of this historic event, with Louganis saying, “I’m proud to support this effort and send a clear message to LGBTQ athletes that leaders across sports are working to ensure they are welcomed and valued.”

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TEAMS FOR PRIDE BOWL XI

Our thanks go out to all the teams here to play in Pride Bowl XI and we wish good luck as well as a lot of fun to everyone here!

OPEN "A" DIVISION

OPEN "B/C" DIVISION

Atlanta Phoenix Black

Arizona Arsenal

Austin Capitals Pink

Atlanta Phoenix Red

Boston Hancocks

Austin Capitals Purple

Chicago Freeze

Boston Banshees

DC Admirals

Boston Bulldogs

Denver Summit Blue

Boston Minutemen

LA Express Black

Chicago Blaze

NY United

Chicago Thunder

Philadelphia Revolution

DC Commanders

Washington Generals

DC Delta Force Denver Summit Gold

WOMEN'S DIVISION

Denver Summit Red

Austin Lady Capitals

Houston Hurricanes

Chicago Back Dat Pass Up

LA Express Blue

Chicago Double Dippers

Motor City Hitmen

Chicago Replay

New York's Finest

DC Senators

NYC Warriors Gold

Mile High Club Blue

Philadelphia Revolution

Mile High Club Red

Phoenix Blast

South Florida Cat-5

Queen City Pigs

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