Pictured: Volleyball player at the NAGVA Championships. Photo by Ross Forman. Pictured: R.J. Hadley.
Calif. team nets NAGVA title
Robbie Martin, who played high school and Division I college volleyball in the Chicago area and still lives in the Windy City, recorded the game-deciding block in the championship game of the top-tiered AA Division of the 27th annual North American Gay Volleyball Association ( NAGVA ) Championships, held May 21-24 at Navy Pier.
Martin helped his Hermosa ( Calif. ) Beaches win a three-game match over the San Francisco Raptures to capture their sixth consecutive national championship; he has played on the last three championship teams.
"That was a nice moment," Martin said of his block.
Martin was an All-State player at Providence Catholic High School, and then played two years at Loyola University. He is gay and now is the director of finance for CouponCabin.com .
The NAGVA Championships drew a record 133 teams with about 1,100 players, including teams from Puerto Rico and Canada.
"It was an incredible tournament, the largest event we've ever had," said NAGVA President Rick Talley of Houston. The previous record for teams participating was about 90. "The play has been very, very good in all four divisions. There were a lot of very closes matches."
The 2010 NAGVA Championships will be held in Portland, Ore.
The results were as follows:
—AA Division:
1st Place: Hermosa Beaches
2nd Place: San Francisco Raptors
MVP: Pono Kahale, Hermosa
—A Division:
1st Place: San Antonio Cherries
2nd Place: Houston Cherry Poppers
MVP: Albert Trevino, San Antonio
—BB Division:
1st Place: Minneapolis Smack
2nd Place: Seattle Battle Cattle
MVP: Joe Throndson, Minneapolis
—B Division:
1st Place: Baltimore Disturbia
2nd Place: New York High Klass
MVP: Phuoc Le, Baltimore
Chicago softball team
excels in Minn.
By Ross Forman
Hunter's softball team captured the C Division title in the prestigious annual North Star Classic Tournament, held May 22-24 in Minneapolis.
However, it wasn't an easy road for the 13-member team of Chicagoans. They lost two of their first three games in round-robin play, but then won five in a row for the championship.
The North Star Classic drew a record 47 LGBT teams from across the country, including four other Chicago teams ( Basil Hayden, Cattle Call, Sidetrack Blues and the Spin Wildcats ) in the 18-team C Division.
"We were led by the pitching of Randy Detert and the bat of Greg McNitt," said Hunter's team manager Brian Kettner, who plays second base. "Randy was the pitcher of record in every game and Greg had a really big bat while playing first base. Shortstop Danny Tag was really solid defensively.
"This was a huge win for us, a strong all around effort from everyone. The team has played together for many years, so it was very exciting to win this tournament, especially since this tourney has history of breeding the [ Gay Softball ] World Series champion." ( This Hunter's team finished fifth in the 2008 Gay Softball World Series in Seattle. )
Hadley's pedal
shows his mettle
By Ross Forman
Robert "R.J." Hadley participated in his first long-distance, fund-raising bicycle ride in 1993—and since, he's logged about 100,000 miles on two wheels.
Hadley, 46, who lives in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, has participated in 18 rides, including five consecutive Ride For AIDS Chicago events, the annual 180-mile trek from Chicago to Lake Geneva and back. This year's adventure kicks off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Northwestern University, and Hadley is part of the five-member We Can Ride team that also features Joe Edde ( of Minnesota ) , Karl Brunner ( Chicago ) , Argenis Vegas ( Chicago ) and Chris Mellgren ( Minnesota ) .
There are 20 Ride For AIDS teams this year, an event produced by Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) to raise funds for HIV/AIDS services in the Chicago area. The Ride takes place annually the first weekend of June in recognition of the date scientists began to notice the unusual disease that would later be known as AIDS.
The Ride for AIDS Chicago is now in its sixth year. The 2009 beneficiaries are About Face Theatre, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Better Existence with HIV ( BEHIV ) , South Side Help Center, Vital Bridges and TPAN.
"It's a ride to raise funds for six worthwhile causes," said Hadley. "I got involved with these [ rides ] because they are inspiring; they were something to do. Plus, they are fun and raise funds for good causes. And, they are challenging, too.
"There's a lot of camaraderie, team-building during the ride. And I really want to help raise awareness—in small towns throughout Illinois and Wisconsin."
Hadley's cycling journey has led him to such ventures as the San Francisco-to-Los Angles ride, the Minneapolis-to-Chicago ride ( six times ) , the Fairbanks-to-Anchorage ride and a Montreal-to-Portland, Ore., ride. He also participated in cycling at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago.
He's used three bicycles during his career, and bought his first years ago at a sporting goods store for $500. He now rides at least three days per week, and went for a 25-mile ride after this interview.
Most Ride for AIDS Chicago participants take pit stops every 15 to 20 miles for nutrition or bathroom breaks. Individual riders are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000 each.
So what's on tap after the ride?
Hadley, who works at Center On Halsted, always takes off Monday and Tuesday "and I just sit home and veg," he said.
"Rob Hadley and Team We Can Ride have been involved with Ride for AIDS Chicago for many years," said Rhett Lindsay, TPAN's associate director of special events and communication. "Their dedication to this fundraising event and to the cause is one of the strongest among all of our riders. We're appreciative of their leadership in helping us recruit more riders and increase fundraising dollars at a time when AIDS service organizations need it most."
AIDS Walk/Run
registration starts
Online registration for AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2009 is now open at www.aidsrunwalk.org .
To participate alongside thousands of supporters Saturday, Oct. 3, in Grant Park, visit www.aidsrunwalk.org and click "Register Now." E-mail runwalk@aidschicago.org if there are any questions.
AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2008 raised more than $500,000. To further support these local organizations, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) will give 100 percent of all money raised by CommunityDirect teams back to the participating HIV/AIDS service organizations.
WSGA's bike ride
in Willow Springs
The West Suburban Gay Association will have a bike ride along the Illinois/Michigan Canal in Willow Springs Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. The excursion will start at the forest preserve parking lot located off Archer, below Willow Springs Road, and may include a stop at a roadside café.
For more info, see www.wsga.com .
Sky's 'Battle of
the Sexes' June 2
Members of the women's pro basketball team the Chicago Sky will take on a group of male celebrities in a basketball game scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m.
Among the men who will be playing are actors Larenz Tate, Donald Faison ( TV's Scrubs ) , Frankie Muniz ( TV's Malcolm in the Middle ) and Michael Clarke Duncan as well as singer Brian McKnight and rapper Nelly.
Tickets are $15-$225 each; see www.wnba.com/sky. For more information about the game, call 866-SKY-WNBA.
Komen for the Cure's
golf tourney June 1
The Chicagoland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is hosting its first-ever Golf for the Cure tourney at Boulder Ridge Country Club, 350 Boulder, Lake in the Hills, on Monday, June 1.
Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. registration; the start is 12 p.m. The affiliate is hosting Golf for the Cure in an effort to raise $100,000; 75 percent of those funds will stay in the Chicagoland community and 25 percent will go to the Komen headquarters for national research.
There will be an 18-hole tournament played, along with lunch, a VIP networking dinner and auctions. Tickets are $60-$250; see www.KomenChicago.org .
