A Big Apple Dodgeball MVP - Eduado

Eduardo Osorio
Big Apple Dodgeball

Anyone who has ever played in Big Apple Dodgeball (BAD) has learned to fear Colombian crusher Eduardo Osorio. His high-speed throw and deadly aim have made him one of the league’s powerhouse players—but that doesn’t mean he’s made enemies. “Before I joined the league I only had one gay friend,” the 32-year-old Long Island City resident explains. “Now a year-and-a-half later, I know over a hundred gays and have developed strong friendships with many of them.”

Osorio’s is a familiar story with the rabidly popular BAD, which has grown to almost 200 members in only a few short years. “The biggest misconception [is] that’s [BAD’s] ultra competitive, which it can be. But what people don’t know is how highly social it is as well,” Osorio is quick to note. “We play and party just as much—sometimes even more.”

New player registration opens up on their website at 10am on Wednesday, August 18, and fills up in a matter of minuets—so act quickly if you desire a spot. But don’t worry, Osorio says, BAD has other ways of harnessing your love of forgotten games. “Next winter, during the dodgeball off-season, there are plans to start a bowling league.” (BigAppleDodgeball.com)

BAD! is featured in Next Mag Sports Quickies Section

BAD! at XES in Next Mag Scene and Heard Section - 5/10

(Scott, Spencer, John, Mikey, Brian, Scott Evans, Andrew & Steve @ Dave & Buster's)

Hosted by funny gay men Frank DeCaro and Jim David, last night’s Times Square Social and bachelor auction at Dave & Buster’s brought out some of the city’s hottest available men, who threw themselves on the auction block for a variety of charitable causes and queer sports leagues (see full list below). Representing Big Apple Dodgeball was former One Life To Live heartthrob Scott Evans, who has played for the league since graduating college. “My best friend and I Googled ‘dodgeball’ and we found this league. It was a newer thing when we joined in and we’ve been a part of it ever since. Besides being the fat kid in grammar school—never getting picked [first] and always getting out—I had never played before.” said the studly soap star as he prepped for his slot as the final bachelor. “Dodgeball has been a constant in my life.”
 
This wasn’t Evans first time at the rodeo, er, auction—he’d put himself under the gavel at a similar event for the New York Gay Football League. “I went for about $800—and the date never even happened! I had a huge crush on the guy that won me but he ended up having a boyfriend so we didn’t [go out]. Bummer!”  With that traumatic experience, it took som coaxing to get him back on the block. “Steve Moreau texted me when I was good and drunk, asking me to do it. I replied, ‘Yeah, totally… I’ll get back to you.’ The next thing I knew my picture was on the website and I was in it.” Evans explained, adding “How could I turn down such a wonderful organization?” His fears seem to have been unfounded this time: the out actor went for a whopping $1,050. And we’re fairly sure the winner will be squiring away with the chunky-to-hunky baller. –Christopher Dilley
 
Times Square Social Bachelor Auction Results:

Scott Evans, (One Life to Live)
$1,050 for Big Apple Dodgeball

Joey Dudding (The Big Gay Musical)
$600 for Broadway in South Africa

Ari Gold, singer
$300 for Marriage Equality NY

Jason O’Neill
$402 for Metropolitan Community Churches

Ryan Hallett
$150 Roundabout Theatre Company

Robb Reidel
$400 for New York City Gay Hockey Association

Adam Shehab
$300 for New York City Gay Basketball Association

Aaron Ayala
$200 for Gotham Knights Rugby

Josh Berresford (Dante’s Cove)
$200 for Gayfest NYC

Wilson Villafana
$200 for Cheer New York

Michael Corrente and Vanessa Villanova, our Commissioner, were featured in NEXT MAGAZINE in an article about gays and lesbians in NYC written by league member David Jeffries. Check out the excerpt that features BAD!

… Outside of the bars, Corrente and other heterosocial pals know that, whether gay or lesbian, they can meet up on the court or on the fields on some of New York’s gay sports leagues. Among the leagues Corrente belongs to that claim an open atmosphere is Big Apple Dodgeball (BAD). BAD’s mission is to “create an all-gay dodgeball league of balanced numbers,” according to the league’s commissioner, Vanessa Villanova.
 
The goal of the league is to sponsor teams through local LGBTQI-friendly businesses in order to encourage LGBTQI (I is for “intersex”) individuals to play dodgeball in a competitive and fun atmosphere.
 
Slowly but surely, the league has been recruiting an increasing number of women, balancing out the league’s 100 gay men.
 
“The men in our league are absolutely astounding, because they all get it,” says Villanova of the close rapport between gay and lesbian teammates. “They love the girls. They go out of their way to make the girls feel welcome. That’s something that I’m so proud of, because there are not that many spaces where you can throw a bunch of lesbians into the mix and get such a warm reception.”
 
Villanova predicts that with a league like BAD, starting with 60 people and now pushing 18 different teams of 200, equal numbers of gay men and lesbians can be achieved. If that happens, Big Apple Dodgeball would be the first league in New York to achieve a balanced number of gay men and lesbians all playing together on each other’s teams. “We are constantly changing but always attracting the same type of people, and that’s what we want to maintain,” she says. Not surprisingly, both Gym Sportsbar and Cubbyhole are sponsors of BAD.

Read the whole article here.

The start of the game.

BAD! is mentioned in an article on dodgeball leagues in NYC in Weekend Notes.

Dodgeball Leagues
Chances are, the last time you played dodgeball you were in braces.

Thanks to a recent surge in popularity among young adults, there are several leagues in New York City where you can revisit middle school gym class and pelt each other with rubber balls year round all over again. Here’s a look at what’s up next for the leagues across the city.

Finding that most adult leagues in New York City cater to heterosexuals, Big Apple Dodgeball, down in the West Village, was founded to provide an accepting environment for the LGBT community. Naturally, like most leagues, it’s a great way to meet people, and the after-parties following the Monday night games are also well-attended.

The next season is tentatively scheduled for the beginning of February, with sign-up available in January. There are no tryouts, and teams are randomly selected to ensure a mix of playing abilities. Dues cost $100, and include a gym membership to all New York City Parks & Recreation locations. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Check out full story here.