PlanetOut and Gay.com's Annual 2009 Preseason Top 25 College Football Countdown

Welcome to my annual edition of the 2009 Preseason Top 25 College Football Countdown.

It's August, which means school campuses across the United States are busy preparing for the upcoming college football season.
Coaches are preparing strategies and evaluating player's skills. Football players are lifting weights, memorizing playbooks, and sweating at two-a-day practices. Cheerleaders are working on routines and stunts. Marching Bands are in rehearsals putting final touches on formations. College Football Fans are counting the days for the most anticipated time of the year.

It's time for a preview of the season ahead and the teams that appear on paper to be headed for greatness. I hope you are as excited for the upcoming season as I am. So let's kick it off, here are my predictions.  Be sure to click on each team for a more in depth analysis of that particular team.  

The Women's Football Alliance Playoffs Begin

By  Holly Cashman

The NFL season is two months away.  Even the pre-season’s frustratingly meaningless games are weeks away.  In the meantime, our only option is to amuse ourselves by planning our fantasy football teams, right? Wrong!  There is football--real, full-contact, smashmouth football--happening all over the country all summer long thanks to the Independent Women’s Football League (www.iwflsports.com) and the Women’s Football Alliance (www.wfafootball.com).

Is The PGA Ready For A Gay Golfer?

It was once joked that "golf" was an acronym for "gentleman only, ladies forbidden." This is definitely not the case anymore. Not only do millions of women play golf, but the LPGA Tour has a history of openly gay women comprising a portion of its membership.

In fact, it was rumored that a few years ago the LPGA made it a mission to change the public perception of the LPGA Tour from a venue for many lesbian women, to more of one for "straight, all-American" girls.

Top Gay Friendly College Football Schools

By John Chavez

Sometimes as gay men and women we tend to be apprehensive about going to a sporting event because we fear that we might be lambasted or bashed. But what colleges make the list for the best football atmosphere for gays and lesbians to attend?

We roamed the country for the ten best gay-friendly campuses in the country on football game days that give gays the opportunity to ‘branch out’ and enjoy the electric football scenery. Our list includes 10 universities from all over the country. This list includes five schools from the Pacific-10 conference, two schools from the Big Ten and Sun Belt, and one university from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

NBA Star Richard Jefferson: "I'm Not Gay!"

Just days before his $500,000 wedding, NBA star Richard Jefferson emailed his bride-to-be, Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols, and called the whole thing off.

"Sometimes you might write an e-mail to get your thoughts down right," said Jefferson, who then later called her and talked for 2 hours.

"There was a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. We've been through a lot -- but we just couldn't continue," Jefferson said of his sometimes rocky relationship.

Jefferson, who dated Nichols for over 5 years, went on to say "I won't say a negative word about Kesha. She is one of my best friends"

Having been rumored to be gay in the past, Jefferson's last-minute cancellation only added fuel to an already smoldering fire. He insists though that the rumors had nothing to do with the breakup.

"I'm not gay," said Jefferson. "That couldn't be any further from the truth. I have nothing to hide."

Source: New York Post

(Photo: Getty Images)

The 2009 ESPY Award Winners

The stars were out at the 2009 ESPY Awards to honor the best athletes from around the world.  No surprise here, Michael Phelps was the big winner having picked up 3 awards (Best Male Athlete, Best US Male Olympian and Best Record Breaking Performance). 

Wimbledon winners Roger Federer and Serena Williams grabbed the top tennis honors and Tiger Woods picked up the best golfer award. 

Did your favorites grab awards?  If not, who do you think should have won?

Would You Still Bend It With Beckham?

A new video showed up on YouTube last week showing behind-the-scenes footage of a new Emporio Armani skivvies ad featuring Posh and Becks ... and Posh's newer, smaller boobies. They're both nearly naked and being placed in various seductive positions, every so often showing their humanness by smiling or laughing naturally. But the thing is, for as hot as these two beautiful people are, have we had enough of them?

There's no denying David Beckham's hotness. He's one of the most famous athletes in the world with one of the sickest six packs (hell, that might even be a 40 oz.) around. But has he, with his multiple tats and ever-changing hairdo, lost his luster?

Caption This Photo: Get a Grip!

David and Goliath, Beauty and the Beast, or a metaphor about our feelings toward a certain insurance giant? You tell us what's happening!

(Photo: Getty Images)

Coming Out On The Fairway

Out On The Green, the Vancouver gay and lesbians golf league, has just announced its first Pride golf Tournament.

If you're a gay and lesbians golfer, of any skill level, how about heading to Vancouver, Canada and playing in the first pride weekend tournament?

The tournament is just for fun and doesn't require an official handicap, meaning it's open to all golfers no matter what your skill level is.

Numerous prizes will be award, such as the longest drive by a male and female, closest to the pin and so on.

For more information and to sign up you can visit their website at http://www.outonthegreen.com/

(Photo: Getty Images)

Oh Andy, Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda!

While the rest of the world has been glued to their televisions catching the endless Michael Jackson updates, Andy Roddick has something else on his mind. It is haunting him, and it is not going to go away for a long time.