Well, phew.

A while back I attended the panel "HOME RUN OR STRIKEOUT: 25 YEARS OF GAY & LESBIAN SPORTS," and OutProfessionals, the organizer, has just posted the podcast -- I thought I was going to have to try and transcribe my vague and distant recording.

Is the professional sports world an open playing field or the "last closet"? When you talk about LGBT people and sports, it's not just about athletics; there are much bigger questions about gender roles, stereotypes and pop culture. A stellar panel of lesbians and gay men who've made sports their lives speak out.

You'll hear from National Sports Hall of Famer Donna Lopiano, Bill Konigsberg, an openly gay sports writer for The Associated Press; Mark Larson was Mr. International Gay Rodeo Assn. (2002) and Mr. North Star Gay Rodeo Assn. (2001, 2000); Amy Scheer is the current Vice President, Marketing & Communications at Madison Square Garden; Cyd Ziegler, Co-Founder of outsports.com; Pat Griffin, noted lecturer on lesbian and gay issues in athletics; and Sue Wicks, former all-star basketball player for the WNBA's NY Liberty.

The panel was ridiculously amazing, and the discussion was illuminating and entertaining. I'd recommend any fan of women's basketball - gay, straight, or miscellaneous - if you're passionate about the game, take a listen.