On the Rag, Vol. 798

10 sports stories that helped advance the LGBT movement, Alan Ritchson cops to testosterone replacement and more in this week's magazine roundup BELOW.

Leap of Logic

 

"But then to make it all work you add an extra day in February."

Rosanne Cash's 'Wheel' of Good Fortune

Had a wonderful time last night at Rosanne Cash's sold-out show at City Winery -- one of four dates at the venue. The tour -- dubbed "Reinventing The Wheel" -- celebrates the 30th anniversary of her life-altering 1993 album ("The Wheel"), which was the first she recorded with the man who would become her artistic and romantic partner in crime, John Leventhal, with whom she has collaborated on the best work of her career. As part of the anniversary, she and John started the label Rumble Strip Records through which they re-issued (and expanded) the album -- the masters are now hers thanks to a clause in her long-ago record contract -- and then planned to hit the road before a slow recovery from a knee replacement forced the tour to become more of a 31st anniversary! 

They kicked the evening off with seven songs from "The Wheel": "You Won't Let Me In, "If There's a God on My Side," "Tears Falling Down," "From the Ashes, "The Truth About You Play," "Seventh Avenue" and the title track. 

And from there performed a terrific mixture of old and new, including a few from her classic album "The List": "That's All I Know About Arkansas" (off her hubby's debut solo album), "Long Black Veil" (Lefty Frizzell cover), "Sea of Heartbreak" (Don Gibson cover, which she recorded with Bruce Springsteen who was nowhere to be found), "And Your Bird Can Sing" (The Beatles are John's favorite group), "Blue Moon With Heartache" (a song she's had a love-hate relationship with over the past four decades, currently in a love phase!), "The Sunken Lands Play," "A Feather's Not a Bird," "The Only Thing Worth Fighting For" (which I had no idea she'd written for "True Detective"), "I'm Movin' On" (Hank Snow cover), "Seven Year Ache" (natch) and Bob Dylan's "Farewell, Angelina" as an encore -- which all added up to another unforgettable evening with one of the industry's true gems. 

Forgive the angle: We all live in a vertical world now thanks to social media. 

Remains of the Day (02/28)

GT: Australian police find bodies of gay couple after officer who was an ex-boyfriend admits to killing them

The Randy Report: Adele calls off March concerts in Vegas

Bindle Zine: "The Second Time You Die"

HuffPost: Jeremiah Brent is the new Cheryl Ladd

Wrestle Wednesday: Because of every ounce of clothing counts when you're trying to make your weight division

Pink Times: Unveiling the sexy charms of a muscular Adonis (NSFW)

BAR: California appeal court reverses conviction in 2012 killing of SF gay stylist, but the accused (who has very good hair) will be retried

IG: Not everyone minds being misgendered

Page Six: Andy Cohen snorts cocaine with coterie of favorite "Housewives," Leah McSweeney lawsuit claims

Gr8er Days: One of my earliest obsessions -- John Bolger, who played Robert in "Parting Glances" -- turned 70

USA Today: 20 years after landmark ceremony, New Paltz, N.Y., celebrates LGBT pride, early same-sex weddings -- including my pal Jay Blotcher's to Brook Garrett

Fandom Wire: Paul Mescal set to star as lead in yet another gay romance drama as fans grow divided over straight Irish actor’s casting

AGP: Ukraine has come a long way, but that doesn't mean a new film with a gay hero isn't receiving prompt and protest

BBC: Ghana passes bill making identifying as gay illegal, with jail terms

ABC News: OK, now police will be allowed to march in Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras but just not in uniform

Hot Cat of the Day: Finally an interview worth watching

RIP:

Richard Lewis, beloved comic and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" favorite, is dead at 76

“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.” -- Larry David

I'll always love what a good sport he was on "The Howard Stern Show" decades ago when Robin Quivers referred to his sitcom as "Anything but Ratings"(!). 

PODCAST:

The Ball Boys are back with "Lana Del Ray Ja Vu" HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Robert Wagner

There weren't many hotter than ole RJ. More of his gams BELOW.

Remains of the Day (02/26)

MetroWeekly: The gay erotic film "Drifter" dives into bisexual panic (review)

The Advocate: Tennessee GOP quietly overturns marriage equality by giving officials the right to refuse

WaPo: He led an anti-gay Catholic site. Staffers say he sent them racy selfies.

ABC News: Students walk out over nonbinary student Nex Benedict's death, anti-LGBT bullying in Oklahoma

Manspread Monday: Model David Ortega puts his best foot forward

People: Good news/bad news regarding actor David Gail's untimely death: The good news is he didn't just randomly die of "sudden cardiac arrest" at 58. The bad news is he was a f**king mess, hopped up on amphetamines, cocaine, ethanol and fentanyl. 

Boy Culture: Cole Escola's "Oh, Mary!" drags Abraham Lincoln while proving cabaret is a life, old chum (review)

PinkNews: Police barred from Sydney's gay pride after murder of gay couple authorities say was committed by a gay officer -- that makes a lot of sense (LOL)

Westside Rag: Annie Leibovitz sells UWS apartment for more than $10 million to creator of Kindle

Variety: From Milo Ventimiglia playing a gay teen to Joel McHale waterboarding Noah Galvin: Actors recall their most indie projects

World of Statistics: A little surprised by the order of the world's oldest metro systems (I'm looking at you, Glasgow, which I visited on my 50th birthday trip!)

Greg in Hollywood: Elton John AIDS Foundation pledges additional $2.9 million to Ukraine for HIV/AIDS services

Various: "All of Us Strangers" takes top honors in LGBT critics Dorian Film awards -- so why was Andrew Scott snubbed during the mainstream awards season?

Page Six: "Star Wars" actor Billy Dee Williams embraces gay rumors: I’ve been called a "closet queen"

Just Jared: Nick Offerman slams "homophobic hate" against his "Last of Us" episode, which I thought Gen Z had already decided wasn't his story to tell in the first place

Hot Cat of Yesterday: Almost 100 years ago, a police officer stopped traffic in New York to ensure the safe crossing of a mother cat carrying her kitten 

Song of the Day: ‘That’s All l Know About Arkansas’ by John Leventhal (featuring Rosanne Cash)

In honor of the 92nd anniversary of the birth of Johnny Cash -- and that we're finally seeing daughter Rosanne tomorrow night at her rescheduled gig at City Winery -- I give you son-in-law of the former and husband of the latter John Leventhal's new single from "Rumble Strip," the six-time Grammy winner's debut solo album. Cute to note that Johnny, who was born in Kingsland, Ark., arrived on this planet the same year my father did (in Pottsville, Pa.), way back in 1932. xo

Empire High

Another gorgeous afternoon in New York City. Anyone else live for these crisp days?

Weekend Tennis Roundup

 

Titles for Khachanov, Thompson, Baez and Paolini. My full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

Remains of the Day (02/23)

Attitude: Australian police officer charged with murder of TV star ex and his new boyfriend

Georgia Voice: When family turns its back on you

Avenue: My pal Peter Davis grew up with Truman Capote's Swans

BuzzFeed: Darryl Stephens, currently starring in "Boy Culture: Generation X," reflects on being told to hide his sexuality to find work in Hollywood

Saturday 'Stache: There's nothing here for me

Instagram: Did you know they let GOATs on planes? I'm guessing this was Flight 46.

First Sportz: And speaking of Nadal, did he really get a whopping $750 million to pretend the Saudis aren't monsters?

NYT: A new, gay-friendly St. Patrick’s Day parade is coming to Staten Island

Matt Cain: I came of age with "Queer as Folk" -- the TV show that changed everything for gay men

Speedo Sunday: That is what I call a complete package

Yahoo Sports: Who in their right mind would complain about see-through baseball pants?

TM: Gay social network Hornet app returns to Turkey based on court ruling

Socialite Life: Which Bravo star do you think Andy Cohen wanted to bed with an audience?

NYP: Would you pay to have nipples like David Beckham's?

MetroWeekly: 9 gay men to be crucified and stoned to death in Yemen

Hot Cat of the Day: All that kneading has paid off!

READ:

 Jeff Copeland's "Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn" is going to be a riot!

WATCH:

After a successful festival run (including Salem Horror, Outfest, Fantasia and more), the LGBT horror film "T-Blockers," from acclaimed writer/director Alice Maio Mackey, has scheduled a release date on March 5th. Check out the trailer HERE.

STREAM QUEENS:

A reminder that "All of Us Strangers" -- the best film I've seen in decades -- is now on Hulu

Reach Around

Probably the only good thing about going in to the office these days is getting to see this life-size billboard of Alan Ritchson, whose jockstrapped ass I was blogging about way back in 2008!

On the Rag, Vol. 797

 Twin models Leonardo and Lorenzo Tano and more in this week's magazine roundup BELOW.

Nailed It

 

With thanks to Billy: It's been a while since I added to my collection of "unusual" nail-salon names! 

Footnote: Have you noticed that the kids say "get railed" instead of nailed, which of course is idiotic and makes no sense. 

Remains of the Day (02/21)

GT: Robin Windsor, of "Strictly Come Dancing" fame, dies at 44. He is said to have struggled with depression after being cut from the show following back surgery. His former boyfriend, Marcus Collins, reacted to the sad news HERE.

Washington Blade: White House, national groups respond to bullied nonbinary Oklahoma teenager’s (increasingly mysterious) death following a bathroom assault

Gr8erDays: RIP to Tony Ganios ("The Wanderers," "Porky's"), who starred in the meatiest ass scene of the 20th century

New Times: A look back at how "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" filmed in and around Phoenix

Wrestle Wednesday: I'd like to roll around on the mat with this one

ATP: Ivo Karlovic officially confirms his retirement ... watch his funsize-boys handshake HERE!

CNN: Archdiocese of New York condemns the funeral of a trans activist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, just as Jesus would have done

AdWeek: 40 years of Gay Times: CEO Tag Warner on expanding its audience and impact

NYT: Even in African nations where homophobia is pervasive and same-sex relationships are illegal, authors are pushing boundaries, finding an audience and winning awards

Instagram: Park it over here, big boy

NYP: Boy meets perv

TNR: Samuel Alito is mad you can’t be bigoted toward gay people anymore ... in 2024

Los Angeles Times: The Spotlight was one of L.A.’s oldest gay bars. A Hollywood nightlife boom brought it back.

Greg in Hollywood: Revisiting Christopher Atkins, who turned many Gen Xers gay

The Guardian: Australian showjumper Shane Rose avoids punishment for competing in g-string "mankini"

Hot Cat of the Day: Why can't my commute ever be this cute?

CRIME BLOTTER:

Florida prosecutors have dropped charges against a family accused of brutally attacking a gay man -- left blind as a result of his injuries -- because he’d been in a relationship with the son

What were the odds that Bret Easton Ellis would have a messy boyfriend with Republican tendencies?  lol

Margot at the Dermatologist

I told a friend I have been watching “Expats” on Amazon Prime Video …

From HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Jack (and Ben) Draper

As pornographic as this video about Jack Draper is, it's his big brother who really has me worked up. See BELOW.

Remains of the Day (02/19)

THR: Raquel Welch’s most cherished items are heading to auction

NYP: 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey seems like he'll be just fine ... revisit when he first caught my eye in his white compression shorts HERE.

AL: Billy Jack Gaither was brutally murdered for being gay in Alabama 25 years ago today

Deadline: Roger Federer documentary to be released by Prime Video

Manspread Monday: WARNING: This will be the end of you today

Page Six: Divorced father of three attempts second thirst trap ... you may recall his first went rather well

Lip Sync Battle: Ricky Martin channels Tom Cruise's undies moment in "Risky Business"

The Randy Report: Vanessa Williams to star in "Devil Wears Prada" musical 

Caption Me;: Size matters

Boy Culture: Check out a wonderful Q&A with Susan Seidelman after a rare screening of "Making Mr. Right," which came and went in 1987 despite an incredible cast including Ann Magnuson, John Malkovich and Lauire Metcalf -- who had starred in the director's 1985 masterpiece, "Desperately Seeking Susan"

Town & Country: Limp wrists and locked jaws: Inside the strange, social world of gay men and rich women

People: Lee Garlington, whom the late Rock Hudson once called his "true love," dead at 86

The Daily Beast: New play examines the dark side of growing up gay

Hyperallergic: Joey Terrill’s playful tributes to gay artists we’ve lost

USA Today: Adorable son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki found dead in UC Berkeley dorm from suspected drug overdose (Such a nightmare; I'm so glad I grew up before this fentanyl crap started)

 

Hot Cat of the Day: This cutie looks good enough to eat!

Weekend Tennis Roundup

 

Titles for Sinner, Fritz, Díaz Acosta(!) and Swiatek. Plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

Happy Presidents' Day

 

I'm working on this federal holiday, but hope you're having a good one commemorating some of our favorite slave-owning leaders. 

Policywise, I'm thinking Andrew Jackson should also be near the bottom, but I'm OK with this.