For me, the 2008 LGBT athlete of the year was an easy pick: out diver Matthew Mitcham who, in August, turned in one of the biggest upsets at the Beijing Olympics.
Mitcham won a gold medal in the 10m platform, shocking the heavily-favored Chinese. Mitcham actually trailed Zhou Luxin by about 35 points going into the final dive, but Mitcham hit an unbelievable score of 112.10 on his sixth and final dive to win by just over three points.
Mitcham's gold was even more amazing considering he quit diving two years ago battling depression and burnout.
Mitcham was supported in China by family and friends, and his partner, Lachlan.
In Chicago, thousands of LGBT athletes took the sporting route in 2008, playing for the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) and other smaller leagues, such as the Windy City Athletic Association ( WCAA ) and the Women Playing Sports Association ( WPSA ) .
Chicago's gay athletes truly run the gamut: old and young; skilled and rookies; and competitive and recreational. There are teenagers and senior citizens. Plenty live in Chicago, especially Lakeview and Andersonville, but the suburbs are represented too. So too are neighboring states, such as Wisconsin and Indiana, where players call home yet still drive to Chicago for the sports fever.
To find the Chicago LGBT athlete of the year ( one male and one female ) , I asked a wide variety of athletes for their pick on who best represents Chicago … and the winners are: Joe Green and Jessica Andrasko, who each played five sports in 2008.
Jessica Andrasko
Jessica Andrasko's sporting highlight in 2008 was winning the softball championship, although the victory came against the team on which her partner played. The two still laugh about it months later, and Andrasko really wants to repeat—although her partner said it won't happen.
"Sports is my release, my outlet. Sports helps keep me sane," said Andrasko, 36, who lives in Woodridge and is a science teacher at Romeoville High School. "After being at school all day, then grading papers, I really look forward to playing sports.
"I'm in my element when I playing sports. I absolutely love playing sports, participating, having fun."
Andrasko's 2008 campaign included softball, beach volleyball, flag football, dodgeball and indoor volleyball. This was her first season not playing for the Chicago Force after two seasons; however, she attended all of the team's home games.
Her second biggest sporting highlight in 2008 was in beach volleyball, where her team did not lose a game the entire season.
"I've been busy with sports my whole life," said Andrasko, who played volleyball at Bowling Green State University, and then professionally for a season in Norway. "Playing multiple sports [ in a year ] has never really been an issue for me. It's what my body feels good doing. If I wasn't playing sports, I feel like I would get older faster."
Andrasko has also coached volleyball at the collegiate level.
But what's the athlete's worst sport? "Soccer," she said laughing. "I'm really terrible at it."
As for 2009, Andrasko said she, "wants to spend more time playing golf, because I'm really starting to enjoy it. It's a challenge for me."
Away from sports, she enjoys playing Guitar Hero and singing karaoke.
Joe Green
Joe Green's 2008 sports highlight was playing in the annual North American Gay Ameteur Athletic Association ( NAGAAA ) Gay Softball World Series, held in late August in Seattle. His team ultimately finished in fifth place, a memory made even more special because he has family living in Seattle, "so they got to share in who I am and what I do."
Green, 43, a realtor who lives in Andersonville, also played flag football, kickball, tennis and basketball in 2008.
"Sports are part of my social network," he said. "Early on when I was playing [ LGBT sports ] , it was more about winning, about being competitive and going all out. But now it's more about the friendships that you build.
"Quite often you see or meet people who play a sport, and that gives you something to connect with, to talk about. It's really a bonding experience. Plus, sports are a physical activity, so it keeps you in somewhat decent shape."
Green, who has lived in the Chicago area since 1988, played tennis in high school. He then went to Central Michigan University.
Green's partner, Brian Kettner, also played on the same softball team.
Green has been on the CMSA board of directors in the past, including a stint as vice president. He also officiates football and softball, and has coached beginner softball players. Plus, he annually hosts a Super Bowl party for 250-300 people. "It's my way of giving back to them, for their friendship," he said.
"Sports are a very big part of my life. My fear is getting older and not being able to do as much as I enjoy doing."
Green won three bronze medals and one gold at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. He's not yet set on the 2009 Outgames in Copenhagen, but already is playing to participate in the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany.
