Monday, May 31, 2021

Naomi Osaka Withdraws From French Open, Citing Mental Health


Reeling from the unintended uproar she created by announcing she would flagrantly break the rules by not doing required press conferences, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open. It's a shame that it's come to this, but if as she says her mental health is at stake by fulfilling her duties, I applaud her decision. 

Via Twitter:

 


I think Ben Rothenberg summed it up well here:


P.S. Twitter has become almost unviewable. (If you don't agree with someone completely, then they have "no business weighing in on" the topic. If you do agree with someone completely, have at it!) If I abruptly blocked or unfollowed you there, I did it for MY mental health.

P.S. The Wall Street Journal was on the Naomi Osaka situation two years ago. 

"[20somethings] report higher levels of anxiety. How managers can help them steer past fear and improve work performance—and how young workers can work to calm their anxiety and be more effective." 

Happy Memorial Day

 

Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day, as we salute those who have died serving our country. I have to work my "day" job today -- life as a newspaperman -- so I'm taking the day off from my blog so I can feel like I got something! Hope you have a nice holiday and I will be back to regular posting tomorrow. xo 

Note: I did do my Weekend Tennis Roundup, which you can read HERE.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Weekend Tennis Roundup

 

Novak Djokovic won his 83rd career title while Sebastian Korda and Barbora Krejcikova each won their first -- plus the French Open got under way. Highlights of it all BELOW.


Poor Grigor Dimitrov: He was up two sets, 5-1 and three match/break points on Marcos Giron today when his back went out, forcing him to retire after losing nine games in a row. Welcome to 30!

Sunday Funnies

 

🙌🙌🙌

Speedo Sunday

 

Another look BELOW.

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Gavin MacLeod, 'Mary Tyler Moore' and 'Love Boat' Star, Dies at 90

 

Another sad day in Minneapolis with the passing of WJM "Six O'Clock News" head writer Murray Slaughter. Hard to believe of the cast of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," the high-strung, overweight boss (Mr. Grant) and the old broad Happy Homemaker (Sue Ann Nivens) are the only main cast members still with us. (For perspective, Georgia Engel was born in 1948, Ed Asner was born in 1929 and Betty White in 1922!)  Some have pointed out to me that in his later years, Gavin MacLeod had become a Jesus freak, and "was a semi-regular on right wing and anti-LGBT Christian shows." But many more people -- especially gay friends including some who live in the homo mecca of greater Palm Springs, as did Gavin -- have said he was a kind and gentle man, not unlike Mary Richards's colleague, which is how I choose to remember him. RIP. 





In the early summer of 2016, I was just starting to work on a new book, about The #LoveBoat, and of course whom should I set a course to interview first but the Captain himself, Gavin MacLeod. 

Through his manager, we set a date in July where I would drive out to Palm Springs and interview him.  But the night before, I received a phone call during dinner that my father, after having had a fender bender earlier in the day, had collapsed at home and was in the hospital. 

I had to jump on the red eye to New Jersey, and let Gavin's manager know that I needed to reschedule (and of course, she couldn't have been nicer about it.)  I would ultimately spend the next six or so weeks at my father's bedside, then after his death, doing the usual chores and handling the usual affairs. 

I finally headed back to LA, and Gavin's manager rescheduled our day immediately, for August 31, 2016.  I drove to Palm Springs -- it was approaching 120 degrees that day -- and met Gavin at his beloved Coachella Valley Repertory Theater, where he was so active. 

The moment I walked through the front doors into the lobby, Gavin was there to greet me.  And I hadn't taken two steps before he said, "How's your father?" 

When I told him my father had passed away, he wrapped me in a hug, and I felt throughout the day that he never let that hug go.  He was kind and warm to me -- which he was, I would soon hear from other people, every day of his life -- and made me feel so much better. 

We spent the entire day talking about The Love Boat and other things, over lunch at the diner attached to the theater, where Gavin was apparently a regular, and where we sat until we closed down the place.  Later, in another prop room at the theater, we watched Love Boat musical clips on my phone.  Here was Gavin on screen, dressed in a silver sequined version of his Captain's uniform, putting his all into a Broadway-style number on the Lido Deck set, singing his heart out and appearing to love every minute.  And then I'd look at then 85-year-old Gavin, his eyes lit up in enjoyment of the clip, mouthing the words again right along.  It was clear that Gavin loved what he did, what he'd done, and was happy to share it with the world.  Both as an interviewer and just a person in his presence, I couldn't have asked for more than that. 

RIP to a lovely man, a TV icon, who for at least those 17 years (7 on MTM and 10 on Love Boat) and many more entered our hearts and brought us joy.

P.S. You can read a full obit by a gay blogger who also remembers Gavin MacLeod as a "warm man" HERE.

Saturday 'Stache

 

Ooh la la! Details BELOW.

Friday, May 28, 2021

Building a Strong Foundation

 

New tenant moving in. I like where this is going. 💪💪💪

Tweet Nothings

OMG! (sound on) 

And we thought the guy who released photographic proof of the first incident was the perv! 

 👀👀👀

That Keough boy was an early KIT212 obsession  

👆👆👆 

Read all about the "Martina Slam" HERE.

On the Rag, Vol. 660

A weekly look at what's making news in the gay magazines:








The Unleashed Voice
: Miss Sophia is back!



Song of the Day: 'Music Sounds Better With You' by Stardust


A highlight from the late '90s, when popular music got much worse than the wonderful '60s, '70s, '80s and early-to-mid '90s -- but turned out to actually be much better than what would come next. The Backstreet Boys and Britney were only the (harmless) beginning of the perilous decline ...

Page 1 Roundup (05/28)





























Hot Cat of the Day: "Open wide."

Morning Wood



Thursday, May 27, 2021

Tweet Nothings

Why wait? 

But then they go and seed him third? 😹 

 😦😦😦

🐶🐶🐶 

But it wasn't even double digits 

We sure could have used this BJK back in the day, but I do love that she got (t)here in the end 

There will never be another 

Mug Shot Thursday 




Maybe Aaron Rodgers likes Miles Teller's "highball glass penis" or his "Top Gun 2" mustache.

Thursday Ad Watch


I'm surprised Nick's Ice Cream is low-fat and low-sugar because it sure appears to be considerably more thicccc than other brands. 

Music to My Eyes

 

As fate would have it, we were in possession of more concert tickets -- not to mention a wedding venue! -- when the pandemic came to town than I think I have ever been in my entire life:

A Tribute to Carly Simon at Carnegie Hall
Best Coast at Brooklyn Steel
Tennis at Brooklyn Steel
The Go-Go's at the Stone Pony

Here's hoping people keep getting vaccinated and live music returns soon.

Which shows were you slated to see when Covid-19 hit?

Mask4Masc

 

I'm not picky, I can go either way: With mask ... or WITHOUT.

Song of the Day: 'Heart of the City' by Nick Lowe

 

With thanks to Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Kathy Valentine, who reminded me to play Nick Lowe's classic debut solo album! 


Although "Jesus of Cool" is a great title -- and I generally loathe when record labels force artists to change albums for different markets -- I did prefer the U.S. title: Pure Pop for Now People, which was a phrase that could be seen on the original if you looked closely at the little letters in the corners of the various photos!

Page 1 Roundup (05/27)


























Hot Cat of the Day: "But do you have kitcoin?"

Morning Wood

 

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Vax Appeal

 

With the Washington Post reporting that 165.1 million people in the U.S. have been vaccinated, we might just make it after all!


That being said ...


We don't need idiocy like this in Connecticut -- as much as I enjoy a (Mrs.) Naugatuck reference! 

Tweet Nothings

It always feels like one step forward  

... And then two steps back 

Ask your doctor if Kvitova is right for you 

R.I.F. 

But does he have a uterus?  

Putting aside the fact that the framing here is way off -- the media isn’t there to build you up(!) -- this touches on something Damian and I have been talking about for years: What is going to happen when the Most Anxious Generation begins to be in control of the world? 

"Can't direct airplane traffic today, I was triggered during breakfast." 

"Can't come for orientation on my first day of work today -- I didn't feel safe getting dressed. I'll come in when I feel more up to it." 

It's really going to be something. Everyone's feelings and emotions are valid. But sometimes life requires that we soldier on through. If the responsibilities of being a pro tennis player don't suit her mental state, there's nothing requiring her to be one. (Remember when Kristy McNichol gave up acting?)

P.S. Osaka made $55 million last year so can afford to pay the fines for skipping press. Is she offering to pay for lower ranked players who have anxiety, too? 

Related: Should mental health be a valid reason for missing school? Many say yes.

Happy birthday to Stevie Nicks. More people should loudly jangle when they walk

Wrestle Wednesday

 

Much more of Dante's inferno BELOW.