Waking The Red, a Toronto FC community

The issue of LGBT acceptance in sport has been a hot topic in recent years, and much effort has been made to put that issue on the forefront. And while there are a few Brandon Ayanbadejos out there, there are still far too many Chris Cullivers and Luiz Felipe Scolaris still resisting the tide. For those who suffer in silence under these Cullivers and Scolaris, or even in their own private Idahos, there are stories to tell...and that is why I've created the Teddy Perrault Diaries. Teddy is a fictional MLS player that is struggling with balancing who he is, with his love and desire for soccer -- the story may be fictional, but the facts behind them are all too common. Entries are being posted each day, with new ones each day in February. I will post updates on WTR, so come on over and check it out...and if you like it, share it with the world!

This has been a subject that we here at Waking The Red have covered on and off throughout the last year or so, and this story is particularly striking especially to myself. David Testo's coming-out is now a well-known story on both sides of the border, but very little detail of his past has really emerged -- until now. Leander Schaerlaeckens' piece highights his career, and offers an example of what we could potentially do for an openly gay TFC player. Seriously guys, it can happen...David Testo has laid out what we can do to help.

It's Tuesday night, and you don't have Sportsnet ONE. That or you're working...either way, you can't watch the clash, but you DO have a computer, and can watch live text commentary. That's where you'd be in luck -- WTR Live returns Tuesday night with live coverage via our lovely CoverItLive applet, and this time we've got a special guest commentator: Alicia Ratteree, from SB Nation's The Goat Parade and FMF State of Mind, will be my co-commentator. So join us starting at 7:45pm Eastern Time on Tuesday night -- it'll be fun on a bun, Mexican style!

Just because we're in the midst of Olympic fever, doesn't mean we've forgotten about the CONCACAF Champions League -- and for those of you who can't be bothered to/just can't sign up for CONCACAF TV, we're hosting a very special WTR Live commentary session for the CD Aguila game this evening. I will be live starting at 7:45pm ET with news and views, and then stay with us during the game for live text comms, if you can't/don't want to sign up for CONCACAF TV -- and to chat with us!

Once again, less than a day after we here at WTR applaud the MLS for doing the right thing, they go and shoot themselves in the foot, with commissioner Don Garber now calling for vulgarity to be cracked down. Too much digital ink has already been spilled on this issue; so I will let our friends over at Dynamo Theory say more in the link above.

I don't usually get emotionally involved in major MLS-wide things, but this one really hits home. As you see in this link from our sister blog Burgundy Wave, my fellow Gay4Soccer correspondent Teddy Montoya has been banned by Colorado Rapids front office for an "alleged verbal assault" incident. No reason or explanation has been given, nor is expected. While it's Kroneke Sports and Entertainment's right to ban people is not in question, it's WHO they're banning and WHY is what I take issue with. It's a well-known fact that the Rapids front office and their supporter base don't see eye to eye, but this is the latest chapter in a sad saga, especially when attendances at DIck's Sporting Goods Park is already sad enough as-is, the last thing the Rapids need is more bad PR that makes TFC's front office look like geniuses.