Jocks 2: True Stories of America's Gay Male Athletes
Nearly five years after the publication of Jocks, Woog, a journalist, educator, and soccer coach, reexamines the lives of gay athletes willing to come out publicly to their sport. Not surprisingly, there are no professional athletes yet to take the step, but the book does include several Olympic competitors and, perhaps bravest of all, high school athletes. Not content to sit around and wait for the professionals to come out of the closet, the author describes the lives of other gay athletes, holding them up as role models and heroes young men who routinely brave the taunts of an intolerant few and others who enjoy the surprising support and encouragement from their straight teammates. The essays include an eyeopening account of the life of professional wrestler Rafael Cruz Rivera, a look at the gay athletes in rugby, and, in a sign that things really do change, a piece on Jim Buzinski, founder of Outsports. com, a web site devoted to the gay sports fan. Jocks 2 is a pleasant surprise, an affirming book that illustrates the broad diversity of experiences within the stereotypically straight world of men's athletics. Recommended for most larger collections. Jeffery Ingram, Newport P.L., ORCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.