Gay Ex-Giant Alleges Bowl Discrimination(Gloria Allred barf alert)

http://www.comcast.net/sports/index.jsp?cat=SPORTS&fn=/2006/02/09/323012.html&cvqh=itn&ts=2006.02.09 ^ | 2 9 06 | ELIZABETH LeSURE

[freepatriot32]

NEW YORK - Former Giants lineman Roy Simmons and celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred want an investigation into whether Simmons was denied access to the Super Bowl media center because he is gay and HIV positive.

Simmons and Allred held a news conference outside NFL headquarters Thursday before delivering a letter to the league asking it to look into why Simmons wasn't granted a media pass.

Simmons requested a credential for the center Feb. 2, three days before the Super Bowl. He also asked for two tickets for the game, which the Pittsburgh Steelers won 21-10 over the Seattle Seahawks, and a party.

He said he was told there were no more credentials available. But Allred, whose clients have included Scott Peterson's former mistress, Amber Frey, said the NFL indicated that it would give others passes after Simmons asked for one.

Simmons, who also played for the Washington Redskins, said he stood outside the media center in Detroit and watched many past and present football players go in and out.

"I was once part of the inner circle _ now I'm standing on the outside looking in," said Simmons, who also wasn't given passes to the game or the party.

In a letter addressed to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Allred listed questions she said the NFL should answer, including whether Simmons' request was denied because he no longer fit the image of an NFL player or whether the NFL "is inherently homophobic and prefers that a gay football player remain in the closet."

The NFL said in a statement that people throughout the league are inundated with last-minute requests for Super Bowl game tickets, party invitations and press credentials. An NFL spokesman said some requests are handled by the league and others go through the public relations staff at the media center.

"It is impossible for all of these requests to be met, and there were many people, apart from Mr. Simmons, who were disappointed," the statement said.

It said that "far from being hostile to Mr. Simmons, the last word back to him from our office was to contact us after the Super Bowl about the possibility of speaking to our rookies at their annual June symposium."

Simmons said he never asked for credentials in the past and wanted access to the media center this year to talk about the importance of HIV testing.

Simmons, who played for the Giants from 1979-81 and Redskins in 1983, disclosed that he is gay in 1992. He was the first former NFL player to come out as HIV positive 10 years later. He now works as a supervisor at a halfway house in Long Island.

[freepatriot32]

Former NFL Super Bowl player Roy Simmons, right, who revealed that he is both gay and HIV positive, stands with civil rights attorney Gloria Allred while she speaks to reporters during a news conference outside the NFL headquarters in New York, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006. Simmons and Allred are demanding an investigation into why Simmons was denied a credential to enter the NFL Media Center at the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

and by a stagering coincedence she has a brand new book out in stores now that shes pimping on all the talk shows.But im sure that has nothing to do with this grandstanding.Getting her name in the paper nationally at this time was just good luck on her part im sure /s

[TravisBickle]

Maybe he was denied because he has a bee-atch for a lawyer.

[bybybill]

Don`t understand, and I`m glad I don`t, but, why do these "I`m out of the closet" guys want all this attention?

[politicket]

He was denied because he was too particular about the Super Bowl seating.

He only wanted to attend if he could occupy a seat in the end-zone...

[goodnesswins]

The "antique media" denying a "gay guy" access to the press.....NAH.....maybe he just isn't a MEDIA type. SHEESH.

[Richard Kimball]

When asked for a comment, the league office said, "Who the h&ll is Roy Simmons?"

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

because he is gay and HIV positive.

Hmmmm... cause-effect scenario. And our govt. schools try to indoctrinate kids into such a deadly lifestyle choice. Do school administrators hate kids or what?!?

[Defiant]

very good one.

[jazusamo]

Gloria must have felt she was running out of publicity.

[A.A. Cunningham]

He ain't got a case, they let Mick Jagger in.

[F16Fighter]

Roy Simmons...Roy Simmons...Remember this guy?

I read books by Dave Kopay (Gay Redskin RB in the 60s), and Dave Pallone (Baseball Ump in the 70s/80s).

Will Jim Edmonds and Piazza write books too? ;-)

Redskin LB Dave Meggyesy (sp) wrote a book about playing on drugs back in the 60s and 70s.

Of course there were Jim Bouton's 'Ball Four,' and 'I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally' (both p*ssers.)

[brwnsuga]

Attention everyone, I am a female and I sleep with my male spouse!

I just wanted everyone to know! I like men!

[PzLdr]

Tight end to wide receiver?

[JoeSixPack1]

Why is it while reading Gloria Allred's name, my mind reverberates with this chalk board related squealing sound?

[JCEccles]

LOL!

[Mr. Mojo]

Roy Simmons...Remember this guy?

Nope, and he's not listed in the ProFootballReference.com database either.

Jim Edmonds

You've got to be kidding? Man, I don't even want to know.

[Ditto]

Bowl discrimination or bowel discrimination? I guess the guy does have some serious bowel problems.

[Ditto]

Attention everyone, I am a female and I sleep with my male spouse!

As long as you're only sleeping, it's ok.

Love
Dad

[trubluolyguy]

You are gay. You are dying from a self inflicted disease, because you are gay. On top of all that you hired quite possibly the second most annoying female on the planet to represent you?


Get a life.


Oh, that's right. Never mind.

[JCEccles]

Gaucho (Steely Dan)

I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain
Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome