April 26, 2007
A SOCCER FAN AND HIS MANHOOD ARE SOON PARTED (via Brian Boys):
Old Mike, new Christine (Mike Penner, April 26, 2007, LA Times)
During my 23 years with The Times' sports department, I have held a wide variety of roles and titles. Tennis writer. Angels beat reporter. Olympics writer. Essayist. Sports media critic. NFL columnist. Recent keeper of the Morning Briefing flame.Today I leave for a few weeks' vacation, and when I return, I will come back in yet another incarnation.
As Christine.
I am a transsexual sportswriter. [...]
When I told Robert, the soccer-loving lad from Wales who cuts my hair, why I wanted to start growing my hair out, he had to take a seat, blink hard a few times and ask, "Does this mean you don't like football anymore, Mike?"
No, I had to assure him, I still love soccer. I will continue to watch it. I hope to continue to coach it.
My days of playing in men's over-30 rec leagues, however, could be numbered.
When I told Eric, who has played sweeper behind my plodding stopper for more than a decade, he brightly suggested, "Well, you're still good for co-ed!" [...]
People have asked if transitioning will affect my writing. And if so, how?
A lot more coverage of soccer? Posted by Orrin Judd at April 26, 2007 7:21 PM
Oh man, you or one of your soccer hating ilk must've put him up to it.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 26, 2007 8:43 PMThat is so wrong OJ, but I have to admit it made me laugh...
Posted by: darryl at April 26, 2007 8:56 PM"Me... I... I... me..."
What a wretched piece of writing, and of journalism on the part of the Times for even publishing it.
God help us when sports pages are featuring this sort of stuff.
Soccer's a manly game. It was probably his Angels beat that turned him into this.
Posted by: Jorge Curioso at April 26, 2007 11:04 PMAnyone who watched Wayne Rooney score two goals against the diving drama queens of Italy would have to admit that there are a few soccer players who play like men.
Posted by: Steve at April 27, 2007 6:26 AMThe article states that this guy is married, whisky tango foxtrot? This is just bizarre. Mike Penner to Chistine Daniels, why not Penelope Peapod or Princess Grace?
I predict this guy's career will slowly peter out (no pun intended).
Posted by: pchuck at April 27, 2007 7:21 AMWill he bronze his (former) manhood and put it on his desk?
Posted by: ratbert at April 27, 2007 7:26 AMNo one watched.
Posted by: oj at April 27, 2007 9:41 AM