Scott Reifert, senior vice president of communications for the White Sox, replied on behalf of the team. He said that Beckham and Reinsdorf will not be able to attend “because a White Sox home game conflicts with your Gay Softball World Series.”

Reifert added: “Gordon very quickly realized the inappropriateness of his action and very willingly apologized publicly. I spoke to Gordon about the issue several times, can assure you he learned a very important lesson from the experience and that his apology was heartfelt and sincere.”

Reifert also offered several other options, including Beckham taping a video message for the opening ceremony or having a White Sox representative, such as former player Ron Kittle, attend. In addition, Reifert offered to donate signed sports memorabilia and tickets to White Sox games.

The White Sox play 7:10 p.m. games on Aug. 29 and 30 and the invite was for Beckham and Reinsdorf to show up for the 10 a.m. softball first pitch on Aug. 30. I guess they both need their sleep more than making a public gesture of support.

Ted Cappas, president of the Chicago World Series organizing committee “proposed the White Sox match the support the Chicago Cubs have given the World Series, and to donate to Ben Cohen’s Stand Up Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for anti-gay bullying. Cohen will attend the opening ceremony at Navy Pier Aug. 28.”

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Opening Ceremony for the Gay Softball World Series is Monday night, August 29, at Navy Pier. The Chicago organizing committee—Series 2011 – Chicago, Inc.—sent an invitation to Beckham and Reinsdorf to attend play on Tuesday morning, August 30, in Schaumburg, one of three suburbs where the tournament will be held. The White Sox have a home game that night against Minnesota, starting at 7:10 p.m.

Hat tip to Ross Forman.

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Buster Posey

The Major League Baseball All-Stars have been announced so that means if you wear Yankee pinstripes then you are going to the game whether you deserve it or not. More importantly, the All-Star game marks the halfway point of the season so what better time to evaluate the league and highlight some of the good and bad of the past three months.

Two of the biggest surprises of the season are that the Cleveland Indians are still virtually in first place and the Pittsburgh Pirates don’t suck. The Indians have the Detroit Tigers breathing down their neck but Cleveland will take it considering they were in last place and almost 12 games out of first at this same time last year.

After 18 straight years of losing seasons, the Pirates find themselves four games over .500 and only one game out of first place. Pittsburgh’s pitching staff is the main reason they are still in it but I am afraid it will not be enough for them to surpass and hold a lead over the hot and cold St.Louis Cardinals, the powerful Milwaukee Brewers, or the reigning yet struggling NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.

What isn’t much of a surprise is that the Philadelphia Phillies and their vaulted pitching staff are in first place and have the best record in baseball or that the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are hogging all of the media attention. Everyone knew about the financial woes of the New York Mets, but now the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be in even worse shape than the Mets by filing for bankruptcy and having baseball operations taken over by Major League Baseball.

Some noticeable absences from the game are Adam Wainwright from the Cardinals. Wainwright never made it out of spring training having Tommy-John elbow surgery. A player that barely made it out of spring training was Manny Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays. He opted to retire on April 8th instead of facing the consequences of another failed drug test.

The Los Angeles Angels Kendrys Morales will not be back on the field until next year because of a second surgery on the ankle he broke during a home plate celebration in May of 2010. Speaking of ankles, Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants is out for the rest of the season after a collision at home plate caused him to have ankle surgery and a great debate on catchers blocking the plate has ensued.

Finally, there are two players who come to mind that might as well never started the season. Dan Uggla of the Atlanta Braves and Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox are both struggling mightily with the bat. Both players are known for their slugging and ability to change a game with one swing, but fans in Atlanta and Chicago have yet to marvel at the skills that Uggla and Dunn are paid so highly for … yet you can sense it coming. They are both too good to be playing so poorly.

All of the division races are tight at the moment which means good baseball drama.  The trade deadline is at the end of July, so we should start seeing some moves between teams soon and perhaps some of these teams in tight division races will start to distance themselves from the competition.

It may be too early to talk about the wild card but I am willing to bet it will be another nail-biter going down to the last couple of days of the season. The halfway mark is an important time for teams to bear down and sweat out the summer heat, but unfortunately this is also a time when the casual baseball fan starts to lose interest in the game. It is important to let all of your friends and loved ones know that these summer months are just as important as the first three months and that a true fan must remain diligent in support of their team. The playoffs will be here before you know it!

Low and Inside.

Kevin Hart writes the myboyfriendlikesbaseball blog.

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But I’m just disappointed for this to come on the heels of the Kobe Bryant thing, and [Joakim] Noah, and, yes, a number of years ago, the issue with Ozzie [Guillen]. There just needs to be a greater awareness of when you’re in the public eye. Something between two friends meant as a joke? Well, you’re representing not just yourself, but your team, your sport, your family.

The organization didn’t do it. He did it. He should apologize for making us less than what we stand for.

Beckham gave a classic non-apology:

Obviously I apologize and kind of want to move on. Obviously it was meant as a joke but obviously it was in the wrong place and I didn’t mean it that way. I will just try to move on.

Just because you use the word “apologize” doesn’t make it an apology. The repeated use of “obviously” is to say: “You all are way too sensitive and you need to leave me alone. It’s not my fault.”

Certainly in the long list of homophobic or anti-gay actions we’ve seen over the years, this one ranks down near the bottom of importance or impact. Very few people saw it and it seems more sophomoric than offensive. But still, why Beckham thinks calling someone “gay” is a joke reflects the root of his perspective on gay people as weak or “less than.” If he really doesn’t think he has anything to apologize for, then he shouldn’t apologize; Just let all of the insensitive people stew until he does think it’s time for an apology. Otherwise, he might do well by showing a sliver of contrition.

Getz said he wasn’t offended by the comment.

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THE HOTTEST AND TRUEST T-SHIRT ON THE SOUTHSIDE…WE ALL KNOW THE CUBS HAVE THEIR PARADE…GAY…AND THE SOX HAD THEIRS…CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE…

They have other lovely homophobic and racist shirts. Pics and more after the jump.

Because “we all know” that being gay is baaaaad and you can’t win a championship if you’re gay. Richard Roeper wrote about one exchange he heard in the bathroom at a game:

In the men’s room on Friday, after the game: Sox fan walks in, does an exaggerated prance and shouts in a lispy voice, “I’m a Cubs fan, where are the gay bars?”

He says this about 10 times, over and over, until a Cubs fan in line finally says, “Why don’t you go home and beat your wife?”

The response from Mr. Genius: “Maybe I will!”

Because calling a man gay is STILL the most offensive thing you could call them. Crazy.

Hat tip to Towleroad.

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