I had a critical comment last year when I did my post on Bill Tilden, claiming that I was celebrating pedophilia. I actually intended the story of Tilden to be a reminder of a life in the closet & the toll it takes on a person. I feel that if Tilden had been free to be who he truly was, he might likely have dated young men over 18 or even over 21, or possibly met someone closer to his own age, you never know who you might fall in love with.
I have no sexual interest in anyone younger than 30.. .I would consider 30 too young. My idea of a perfect mate would be a silver fox such as my husband: 62, thin, fit, 6' 150#, knows how to use power tools. If something should happen to him, God forbid, I would have to honor my commitment to Anderson Cooper. As for children, those who know me have heard my position: "I like children under 5 years old & over 25 years old. In between, I would rather not encounter them".
I am not a criminal! I am a tennis player. I feel awkward saying this, but I consider myself an artist, an artist of the game...I have to create...” If this was happening today, & Bill Tilden were Roger Federer’s greatest rival, I am sure that Bill Tilden would be a guest on Oprah. Tilden would chat about his “problems” with Oprah & Dr. Drew, & then publicly announce that he was going into sex addiction rehab.William Tatem Tilden II wasborn on this day- February 10th, in 1893.
In 1950, during an era of very closed minds, the Red scare & sexual & social conservatism, Tilden was overwhelmingly voted the greatest tennis player of the first half of the 20th century in an Associated Press poll only 6 weeks after being released from prison, for the 2nd time, on a conviction of having fondled & made unwanted advances to a teenage boy.
In the 1920s his star was as bright as Babe Ruth's & Jack Dempsey's. Tilden won every major title for which he competed for 6 years, including 6 U.S. Nationals (1920-25). His greatness was not simply in his ability to hit a tennis ball. It was as much in the way he did it, just as his long & tragic fall into poverty & humiliation was as much a self-destruction as it was about sex.
Tilden won 3 Wimbledons, the 1st American to win the tournament in 1920 & 1921. He didn't compete at Wimbledon from 1922-26; the next 3 years he lost in the semifinals before becoming the oldest man to win a Wimbledon's singles title, at 37 in 1930.
Tilden won 7 U.S titles, 5 U.S. doubles titles & 4 national indoor titles while also leading the U.S. to 7 consecutive Davis Cups from 1920-26, including 13 singles victories in Cup competition. He didn't lose a match in 1924 & won 57 consecutive games in a single stretch in 1925.
After turning pro.Tilden moved to Hollywood in the 1930s & became friends with movie stars such as Greta Garbo Charlie Chaplin, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn & Joseph Cotten.
He traveled the circuit with hand picked adolescent ball boys; his behavior gradually resulted in banishment from many country & tennis clubs, & exclusion from major tennis tournaments.
In 1946, Tilden was arrested in Beverly Hills for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Although the young man was a teenage prostitute & had consented to Tilden's sexual advances, Tilden was sentenced to a year in prison. He served for 7 months. In 1949, Tilden was arrested again for involvement with a 16 year old hitchhiker & sentenced to another year in prison, of which he served 10 months.
His reputation was tarnished by scandal & his fortune squandered on bad investments in Broadway shows. Tilden's final years were excruciatingly sad, spent alone in poverty in a lonely walk-up room in Hollywood. In 1953,Tilden died of a heart attack at age 60, in his bed. He had $282.11 in cash & traveler's checks with him; $200 was returned to a student for lessons never given. His net worth was $88.11 when he died.
"They can't ever say now that a gay man can't play in the majors, because I'm a gay man & I made it." Glenn Burke
In 1970, Byron Burke helped lead his Oakland high school basketball team to an undefeated season, a state championship, & all-tournament honors. He was a great all-around athlete who reportedly ran the 100 yard dash in 9.7 seconds & was also an outstanding baseball player.
It was his baseball skills that caught the eye of the LA Dodgers. One coach labeled Burke as "the next Willie Mays." Besides being a great baseball prospect, Burke also was gay, a gay man in professional sports, in the USA, in the 1970s.
Burke made his debut with the Dodgers in 1976. Early in his career, Burke felt he had to hide his sexuality from his teammates. When he began to reveal bits of his gaynes, it naturally drew the disapproval of baseball establishment.
Ironically, the very team that courageously challenged baseball's status quo of racism in 1947 as it stood behind Jackie Robinson, did not make the same stand when it came to Burke's gayness.
In an attempt to cover up his homosexuality, the Dodgers' management offered Burke $75,000 if he agreed to get married, to which Burke slyly responded: "You mean to a woman?"
Not only did Burke refuse to participate in any closet charade, he began an affair with homophobic Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda's estranged gay son. Coach Billy Martin would introduce other players to Burke as:"The Faggot".
Burke was traded to the Oakland A's before the 1979 season. Though back at home, things in Oakland didn't improve much for Burke. He refused to live the lie.
By the end of the 1979 season, Burke was no longer in baseball.
Many of Burke's teammates & managment were aware of his homosexuality during his playing career, & that his sexuality & the reaction that it provoked, led to the early end of his baseball career.
Burke’s honesty & courage ran ahead of society’s There's no way Burke's story, circa 1979, could end any way other than it did, a promising career ending before it truly began.
It wasn't enough for Burke to be a Major League Baseball player, if it meant compromising who he was. With the Dodgers, Burke possessed a very nontraditional attitude while playing for one of the most corporate sports franchises at the time. But, it wasn't just the Dodgers; homophobia continues to be the norm in Major League Baseball, & attitudes were consistent, & in most cases intensified, in locker room.
Burke's wanted to be a professional athlete & an openly gay man, but the conflicting emotions too much, despite Burke's enormous personality & athletic prowess.
After his premature retirement from baseball, Burke found solace & acceptance in San Francisco's Castro district. In the Castro, Burke was a celebrity acknowledged for his athletic ability & his gay identity, which for a while, seemed to be what Burke needed. he continued in sports after retiring from baseball. He competed in the 1986 Gay Games in basketball, & won medals in the 100 & 220 meter sprints in the first Gay Games in 1982. His jersey number at Berkeley High School was retired in his honor.Burke came out in a 1982 article published by Inside Sports magazine.
Burke turned to drugs to fill the void in his life when his career ended. An addiction to cocaine destroyed him both physically & financially. In 1987 his leg & foot were crushed when he was hit by a car in San Francisco. After the accident his life went into decline. He was arrested & jailed for drugs & for a time was homeless man living on the streets in the same Castro neighborhood that once celebrated him. He died of AIDS complications at age 42.
The tragic story of Burke is a tragedy faced by many gay people- unfulfilled dreams. It seems even more so for Burke; his dreams were in sight. Burke was not the first gay athlete in professional sports. He was the first who was unwilling to compromise. I wonder if Burke gave much thought to the price his courage would demand of his life. But Burke wasn't accepted. 30 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier Burke broke the gay barrier, living an out lifestyle in the major leagues. But in the 34 years since no one has followed in his footstep. Burke would have been 59 years old today.
Out: The Glenn Burke Story, is a documentary from 2010 produced by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, it tells the tragic story of Burke's legacy as the first openly gay Major League Baseball player.It is available On Demand & on NetFlix.
"They can't ever say now that a gay man can't play in the majors, because I'm a gay man & I made it," Glenn Burke
In 1970, Byron Burke helped lead his Oakland high school basketball team to an undefeated season, a state championship, & all-tournament honors. He was a great all-around athlete who reportedly ran the 100 yard dash in 9.7 seconds & was also an outstanding baseball player.
It was his baseball skills that caught the eye of the Los Angeles Dodgers. One coach labeled Burke as "the next Willie Mays." Besides being a great baseball prospect, Burke also was gay, a gay man in professional sports, in the USA, in the 1970s.
Burke made his debut with the Dodgers in 1976. Early in his career, Burke felt he had to hide his sexuality from his teammates. When he began to reveal bits of his gaynes, it naturally drew the disapproval of baseball establishment.
Ironically, the very team that courageously challenged baseball's status quo of racism in 1947 as it stood behind Jackie Robinson, did not make the same stand when it came to Burke's gayness.
In an attempt to cover up his homosexuality, the Dodgers' management offered Burke $75,000 if he agreed to get married, to which Burke slyly responded: "You mean to a woman?"
Not only did Burke refuse to participate in any closet charade, he began an affair with homophobic Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda's estranged gay son. Lasorda would introduce Burke as:The Faggot.
Burke was traded to the Oakland A's before the 1979 season. Though back at home, things in Oakland didn't improve much for Burke. He refused to live the lie.
By the end of the 1979 season, Burke was no longer in baseball.
Many of Burke's teammates & managment were aware of his homosexuality during his playing career, & that his sexuality & the reaction that it provoked, led to the early end of his baseball career.
Burke’s honesty & courage ran ahead of society’s There's no way Burke's story, circa 1979, could end any way other than it did, a promising career ending before it truly began.
It wasn't enough for Burke to be a Major League Baseball player, if it meant compromising who he was. With the Dodgers, Burke possessed a very nontraditional attitude while playing for one of the most corporate sports franchises at the time. But, it wasn't just the Dodgers; homophobia continues to be the norm in Major League Baseball, & attitudes were consistent, & in most cases intensified, in locker room.
Burke's wanted to be a professional athlete & an openly gay man, but the conflicting emotions too much, despite Burke's enormous personality & athletic prowess.
After his premature retirement from baseball, Burke found solace & acceptance in San Francisco's Castro district. In the Castro, Burke was a celebrity acknowledged for his athletic ability & his gay identity, which for a while, seemed to be what Burke needed. he continued in sports after retiring from baseball. He competed in the 1986 Gay Games in basketball, & won medals in the 100 & 220 meter sprints in the first Gay Games in 1982. His jersey number at Berkeley High School was retired in his honor.Burke came out in a 1982 article published by Inside Sports magazine.
Burke turned to drugs to fill the void in his life when his career ended. An addiction to cocaine destroyed him both physically & financially. In 1987 his leg & foot were crushed when he was hit by a car in San Francisco. After the accident his life went into decline. He was arrested & jailed for drugs & for a time was homeless man living on the streets in the same Castro neighborhood that once celebrated him. He died of AIDS complications at age 42.
The tragic story of Burke is a tragedy faced by many gay people- unfulfilled dreams. Itseems even more so for Burke; his dreams were in sight. Burke was not the first gay athlete in professional sports. He was the first who was unwilling to compromise. I wonder if Burke gave much thought to the price his courage would demand of his life. Burke would have been 58 today.
Out: The Glenn Burke Story, is a new documentary produced by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, it tells the tragic story of Burke's legacy as the first openly gay Major League Baseball player. Look for it on the Evil Comcast this month.
