If you cannot gulp this one down easily, do not read. The talk is about homosexuals. No, not as a support group, or a "let's accept them and their absurdities. God loves all", or a gossip feature. We are talking about the homosexuals in sports. Their supposed absence, or their suspicious presence.

The sweating, panting men in their shorts or tracks, bare chested or in a ski-gear. The attractive short skirted, long legged women in tennis, their grunts and their oomph. Everbody's ultimate sex symbol.

Well, I'm sure if i even begin talking about any Indian player (irrespective of it being true), i'll get sued before i can say 'cricket'. So, *clears throat*, let's go global.

Where are all the gay men and women in sports? You can't be serious in telling me that they are athletes, so they ain't gay. The total kind of sports in the world escapes imagination, and so the number of people playing it, from cricket to basketball, tennis, football, even skiing, go rocketing high. 

Also, according to the US census Bureau, the number of homosexual couple in 2002 who were willing to get registered were 59,705,476. This is only in America. Only the ones registered. Only the ones who are a couple.

We, in India do a good job of ignoring facts which don't suit us. We call a square a round. Gay does not exist. Vikram Seth is just kidding.

The stars doing endorsements for major brands have a macho image, the looks that will make a girl go weak in their knees. Guys equally. For a sports person to get out of the closet is no easy task. They can loose their image, their appeal, their endorsements, and eventually, their career. Will you be a fan of Dhoni if you knew he was gay, he fantasized about Sehwag and his body? He is not, but as a matter of sheer speculation. What if?

We are all quite aware of the coupling in the movie industry, also in the sports world as long as it is heterosexual in nature, Agassi and Steffi Graf. The disconcerting thought comes up when one is considering Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Peas romantically involved? The idea would be revolting for some, and hilarious for others. Realistic, for none.

Fancy this. Australian diver Matthew Mitcham won gold in Beijing and this week he’s said that his sexuality has cost him sponsorship.

The perspective of a macho guy or a feminine woman never corresponds in our mind to someone gay. But remember, Angelina Jolie is supposedly bisexual, and Sir Elton John just got married to his boyfriend. 

John Amaechi, ace NBA player, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, LA Lakers and Utah Jazz, but it was only after he stopped playing that he revealed that he is gay. He was ostracized from the team he played with for years, and won matches for, and was refused entry in a party. 

Other players who did come out were able to do so only after they retired from the game.

Here is a little food for thought about gay sports people who should look at. If you looking for girl-on-girl action, you would not want to click this:

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