Top 10 LGBT Non-fiction Sports Related Books

I had planned today’s post about a week ago. If you noticed, I’ve focused several recent posts on books about gays and lesbians in sports. One was a biography, one was more a historical look at a period in the world of tennis and one was a general reference on all things sports. If you look at the “Sports” page under the non-fiction heading, you’ll see several biographies. I’ve read most of those. My intention is to eventually review them all.

I love sports and, since it’s my blog, I can technically write about whatever I want whenever I want meaning that if I wanted it to only cover LGBT related sports books and videos, I could do that. Even though I love gays in the game, I personally would get bored and so would most of my regular readers. So, I promise, this is the last sports related post for a bit. I’ll mix in those biographies that I’ve read, slowly, over much time.

Following are my top ten picks (in no particular order) for books that feature all things sports as they are related to you my queer brothers and sisters. Some are from reviews I’ve done the past few weeks. A couple of biographies that I haven’t reviewed yet are in the list and there are a few surprises in the list. And no, to answer the question that’s bound to be asked, I did review Johnny Weir’s biography and I enjoyed it, but it’s not in my top 10. Sorry big time Weir fans.

Enjoy!

1.  Wrestling Reality: The Life and Mind of Chris Kanyon Wrestling’s Gay Superstar by WWE star Chris Kanyon and also by Ryan Clark. – Of course, we could still argue that wresting in this fashion is really more entertainment than sport. My take? They’re athletes following a script to entertain, ergo, it’s a scripted sport.

2. Man in the Middle by former NBA star John Amaechi. This was previously recommended on the “Sports” and “Biographies” pages. It will be reviewed at a later time.

3. Alone in the Trenches by former NFL football player, Esera Tuaolo. This was previously recommended on the “Sports” and “Biographies” pages. It will be reviewed at a later time.

4. Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock by former MLB player (pitcher) Mark Tewksbury. This was previously recommended on the “Sports” and “Biographies” pages. It will be reviewed at a later time.

4. Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport a 1998 – but still relevant – classic by former athlete and coach Pat Griffin.

5. Muscle Boys: Gay Gym Culture by Erick Alvarez. Please see my October 26th, 2011 review.

6. Breaking the Surface by World and Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. This was previously recommended on the “Sports” and “Biographies” pages. It will be reviewed at a later time.

7. David Kopay Story by former NFL football star David Kopay and also by Perry Deane Young. This was previously recommended on the “Sports” and “Biographies” pages. It will be reviewed at a later time.

8. Outsports Revolution: Truth & Myth in the World of Gay Sports by Cyd Zeigler and Jim Buzinski. Please see my November 2nd, 2011 review.

9. The Lavender Locker Room: 3000 Years of Great Athletes Whose Sexual Orientation Was Different by novelist and Outsports contributor, Patricia Nell Warren.

And last, but by no means least…no particular order, remember:

10. A Terrible Splendor: Three Extraordinary Men, a World Poised for War, and the Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played by Marshall Jon Fisher.Please see my October 27th, 2011 review.