Tennis Tuesday

Fila and Ellesse were brands we could only dream of as tennis-obsessed kids -- and this is a reminder why! More BELOW.

Nonstop Nostalgia

 

I finished Griffin Dunne's juicy memoir over the weekend and it immediately flooded my brain with memories of New York City 1985 -- the year of his best film ("After Hours") and my first trip to the Big Apple. So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon my plane ticket from that adventure -- remember paper tickets ... and TWA? And while we never got tickets to see "Oh! Calcutta!" or "Hamelin," you can't beat roundtrip from Phoenix to NYC for $278! 

P.S. I swear I'm not a hoarder! 

Weekend Tennis Roundup

Sunshine double for Sinner and Sabalenka. Full report TK plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

 

Not-So-Latergram From SoCal

 

I waited nine months or so to post our Monte Carlo Masters 1000 photos "to the grid" on Instagram, so vowed I wouldn't do the same with Indian Wells. Although I've already shared a number of pictures from our memorable trip this month to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park and Los Angeles on my blog, you can see the fruits of my labor -- all eight posts(!) -- BELOW.

Did Blogger 'Large Tony' Really Die in 2023?

Hmm, do I smell catfish on the grill? 

Was initially stunned yesterday to discover that the well-endowed Tennessee mountain man who heated up the internet back in the day -- aptly named Large Tony -- had supposedly died in 2023, just two months shy of his 48th birthday. 

Although I know I'm just one of many people who has a long history with whoever was behind this persona that was simultaneously revealing (those photos!) and anonymous, I'm kind of reeling from this news, however belated. 

Yesterday he popped into my head, so I shot him an email, like we would do from time to time, only for it to bounce back. I then sent him this DM (on the erstwhile Twitter) -- and I pray that I'm onto something.

I wrote:

You just popped into my head so I sent you an email -- only for it to bounce back. From there I checked on here and saw a notice saying you had died in 2023. How I hope this is not true, just a way for you to retire the Large Tony persona. But whatever the case may be, thank you for your kindness over the years. You’ve been a welcome online presence since the early days of blogging, and I hope you are at peace wherever you are today.

But then I started to see the whole "Large Tony" persona through 2026 eyes:

Did no one in the state of Tennessee ever recognize him and reveal his identity -- even now? How did this busy young man manage to find time to have a "special" online relationship with virtually every person I've ever encountered? (I now see that BosGuy wrote about it contemporaneously and that even Andy Cohen was sniffing around at the time too, apparently mentioning the death on his radio show.) And who posted that succinct update about his untimely death for his “fans”? Unless "The Attorney" (as he referred to his supposed long-term partner) somehow had full access to his accounts, which seems unlikely given that I don't think my own husband could get into mine, I'm having a hard time buying it.

Suddenly the whole thing is starting to give me a JT LeRoy vibe. (The slick black-and-white photo with the birth and death dates seems off, too.) I suspect I'm onto something here ... or perhaps thinking this way is just easier than accepting that his death could be true.

UPDATE: Apparently I wasn't the only one who had this hunch. Blobby even hits on a couple things I was thinking but didn't mention and knows about some aborted blogger "meet-ups" involving Tony, which I'm sure involved "cancer" or a "car crash"! Another person said he has a story for me, which I'm still waiting to hear. 

Remains of the Day (03/27)

PinkNews: Gay Iranian refugee forced to watch executions "to know what to expect"

The Randy Report: Transgender women athletes banned from female Olympic events by new IOC policy

WBUR: As LGBTQ rights come under attack, high school art club works to create safe space

Saturday 'Stache: Bedroom thighs

Attitude: Porn star Seth Peterson’s mother demands answers after his sudden death at 28

Out: Claybourne Elder embraces his sexiness with "very gay" new album

Capital & Main: California teachers face new attacks on LGBTQ history lessons 

Speedo Sunday: Robert Conrad in a skimpy orange number and dog tags

Soap Opera Digest: "Heartbroken" Van Hansis talks Marco’s exit from "General Hospital," Lucas’s future

NYT: Marriage might not happen, but "Something Very Bad" did

Washington Blade: The outrage economy is not the LGBTQ community, writes Fabian Basabe

Out: Gay "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch ordered to pay over $3 million in unpaid taxes

Hot Cat of the Day: Harvey, if he were available in black! 

HarperCollins: New Yorkers gave Clem Burke a proper farewell this week at Bowery Palace. Now comes word that the late Blondie drummer's memoir is slated for release in May, although the link I see shows it's not available in my/his country?