Frank Kisner, a lifelong basketball player, discovered Team Long Beach in 1990—the team run by Mark Chambers, who founded the National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA).
Kisner played for the Long Beach Rebels for eight years moving to Chicago, including traveling to tournaments and also multiple Gay Games. He won a silver medal in 1990 and a gold in 1994. And in the first two years of the Chicago Hoops Classic (now known as the Coady Roundball Classic), Kisner's Long Beach team won the championship.
In 1998, he moved to Chicago and naturally started playing in the local gay league. Since arriving in Chicago, he's run or assisted with the league numerous years—"more than I can remember," he joked. Kisner often has been responsible for creating the schedule for the basketball league. Plus, he's coached a few teams.
"[Coaching] was my greatest satisfaction and I really did enjoy the guys, even when I became known as the crazy coach," Kisner said, laughing.
Kisner played for the Roadhouse 66 Old School team during the recently-completed 2011 season, with many of his close friends on the team and some new, younger players, too.
"The young [players], we made them run the fast break while we seniors picked our spots of running," he joked. "We started out slow this year, but, by mid way in the season, we got our groove and went on to win our last five games.
"I might be one of the taller guys on the team, but I usually played small forward or shooting guard. There's never been a shot that I didn't like [to take]. What can I say, I love the game of basketball and even though I might be getting up there in age, I still feel I have a few good years left in this body. I really enjoy playing with the new kids and welcoming them to the league. It helps keeps me young. As long as I can teach them a few things every now then, like [the fact that] this old man can still shoot the 3-pointer, it's all good. The thing that is great about this league is, the friendships that you make which can last a lifetime. You can play hard against one another during the game, then, when the game is over, you leave it on the court and you head out for a burger and beer."
Kisner's dedication to the local gay basketball league was honored this spring, when he was awarded the Greg Walsh Award.
"I was very shocked that I was given the award," Kisner said. "I would like to thank the entire board for the award. I volunteer for the league because I enjoy basketball and the guys who play and run the league. I really don't know how to put it into words, but, to be recognized for the things that you enjoy doing, is a great honor. I knew Greg Walsh and how much he gave to the league, [particularly] growing the lower division to where it is now, so this is just amazing. I will honor and cherish this award in his name."
Kisner, who lives in Andersonville and has been partnered for almost 15 years to Chris Kinnear, is the assistant director consumer education for the Illinois Department of Insurance.
"It's so hard to say what it has meant to me playing in different gay sports over the last 25 years," Kisner said. "The only word I can describe it as would be: amazing. To have discovered the different leagues back in the 1980s, before the Internet, has opened my eyes to a new world. I always enjoyed playing sports in high school and playing with my fraternity in college. You wonder once you're done with school if you will have the chance to keep reliving the fun you had playing team sports. Then I discovered the different gay leagues and everything changed. I've been able to travel to different cities around the world, and made new friends everywhere; it's been amazing/awesome. It's great traveling with a bunch friends, going out and playing the games you love, and then enjoying new cities and what they have to offer. I've met some dear friends over the years [through sports], and I would never have met them if I wasn't playing in these gay leagues and on these travel teams."
Kisner has been playing basketball and softball here for the past 13 years. He also played volleyball for eight years. "My body can only take so much now, so I can only play one sport at a time during a season," he said.
Kisner serves as the umpire-in-chief for the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association softball league (open division).
—Favorite sport to watch: College football or college basketball. "I guess it's the excitement of the game and knowing that these kids are playing for their school. College sports is a different atmosphere compared to pro sports. I don't know how to express the excitement that is seen on the college campus or in the stands when there is a big game for that school."
—Favorite pro sports team: Los Angeles Lakers.
—Favorite pro athletes: Magic Johnson all time and Mark Buehrle from the Chicago White Sox (active).
