Sports
NEW CONTRIBUTOR: Michael Stakem at the Nationals
Not our best night offensively. And defensively? Well there’s not much to be done when the other team hits safely thirteen times.
Nationals vs Marlins. (Photos by Michael Stakem)
It’s been a few weeks since I caught a game at Nationals Park with friends from the G-Nats (a gay Nationals fan group) which is a few weeks too long. There is little I enjoy more than spending time with friends watching our town’s well-dressed baseball players hard at work on a hot summer evening.
So I’ve been going to the new ballpark ever since it opened and it wasn’t until the Night Out game this year that I realized just how good the view of the field is from the standing-room only section in straightaway center. For this Tuesday’s game against the Florida Marlins (a.k.a The Fish Sticks) I decided I’d camp out there for the first inning. The first inning wasn’t too bad as the Nats only gave up one run in the top of the first.
It was time to join up with my friends in the G-Nats as random fans in the bullpen probably wouldn’t have been too keen to hear a stranger’s opinion on the game and how its players look. On the way to the group seats I picked up garlic-parmesan fries with bacon aioli dipping sauce for dinner; the food is priced about double what could be charged in a restaurant but that’s ballpark food for you. Anyways, the Nats were being no-hit by the Marlins until the 5th when Laynce Nix smashed a solo HR over the fence in right field. The next inning Michael Morse would double in Ryan Zimmerman giving us our second and final run of the game. Not our best night offensively. And defensively? Well there’s not much to be done when the other team hits safely thirteen times.
Song of note: relief pitcher Ryan Mattheus enters games to Katy Perry’s “Firework”. There was a brief write up on the Nat’s official blog the other week and here’s the short version: he sang along with it at a bar, used it as his walk-on music in the minors, was called up, and has kept entering to it because he’s superstitious. He did okay Tuesday night: two outs and only gave up one hit so maybe it’s helping him out.
Interested in going to a game? This coming Monday August 1st tickets can be had for only $1 and you can get certain food items for $1 (full-priced drinks).
Some sights from the game:
The Nats pitcher tries to pick off one of the Marlins. (Photo by Michael Stakem)
To celebrate the ending of the football lockout the four presidents decided to put a football spin on their race. Teddy was caught and stripped of the ball and Tom would eventually win the race. (Photo by Michael Stakem)
Jayson Werth lines a ball directly to the Marlin's shortstop. (Photo by Michael Stakem)
Top of the 9th and the Marlins go on another run. These three runners would eventually score. (Photo by Michael Stakem)
Michael Stakem has been a Washington Nationals fan since their 2005 inaugural season.
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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LGBTQ Iranians join anti-government protests
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The power of no
