Dave Pallone, Gay Former Major League Umpire to Speak at USM

The Department of Athletics at USM is bringing nationally known speaker, Dave Pallone, to the Gorham Campus on February 9th.   During the day, he will work with student athletes, coaches and trainers.  That evening, he will be speaking in an event open to the public:   Thursday, February 9, 2012 6:00p.m. Corthell Hall, Gorham Campus, University of Southern Maine Free and open to the public   Dave Pallone worked for 18 years as a professional umpire, 10 of which were with the National Baseball League. His 1990 New York Time's best-selling autobiography, Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball, which is celebrating its 20th year anniversary, has recently been republished. It offers a revealing look at baseball through the eyes of a gay man. 
Dave has given over 700 interviews for television, radio and print media And has hosted his own sports radio talk show in Boston, Massachusetts. Making history on October 11, 1995, Dave and tennis great Martina Navratilova appeared on stage together for a candid conversation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It was the first time that two prominent, openly gay people in professional sports appeared on stage. Dave was featured in the ESPN’s documentary "Homophobia in Sports", as well as ESPN's Outside the Lines. Dave has keynoted the NCAA Life Skills Conference and has brought his talk “Who’s Really on First” to hundreds of university and college campuses, and to their athletic departments.
Dave has made a significant contribution to educating and enlightening people in the reality of sexual orientation. He sheds light on this not-so-openly-discussed topic that demands immediate attention on the university and college campus.   More information on Dave Pallone can be found on his website: http://davepallone.com/