NHL stars promote tolerance of gay players

Some of hockey's biggest stars are featured in a public service announcement promoting equality within the sport, regardless of sexual orientation.

Rick Nash, Duncan Keith, Corey Perry, Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist are among NHL players who participated in the spot that debuted on NBC during Sunday's broadcast of the Rangers-Bruins game.

The idea is part of the "You Can Play" project, which was created by Patrick Burke, a scout for Philadelphia and son of Toronto GM Brian Burke, who grew up in Edina.

The Burkes' brother and son, Brendan, made headlines when he announced he was gay in November 2009 while serving as the student manager of Miami of Ohio's college hockey team. He was killed in a February 2010 car crash at 21.

More than 30 NHL players have taped spots that will air throughout the remainder of the season.

"The messages are very simple, yet meaningful," Patrick Burke said. "It's variations of the idea that all they care about is winning, all they care about is having the best teammates and it doesn't matter if the best teammate happens to be gay or straight.

The Burkes reached out to all 30 NHL teams in an effort to get support from players and received a strong response. "I am grateful to the NHL community for their support (and) acceptance," Brian Burke posted on Twitter over the weekend.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers finally set a local date - Oct. 30 at Target Center. Tickets ($61.50 and $41.50) go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. The veteran alt-rockers, due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland next month, had to postpone many of their summer plans after singer Anthony Kiedis underwent foot surgery.

Also heavily anticipated, the lineup for the fifth annual Soundset hip-hop festival -- set again outside Canterbury Park in Shakopee on May 27 -- will feature such out-of-town rap stars as Lupe Fiasco, Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Danny Brown and Aesop Rock. Locally reared performers will include Atmosphere, P.O.S., Prof, I Self Devine, Astronautalis and Villa Rosa. Tickets ($38) go on sale Saturday at 11 a.m. through Ticketweb.com.

Along with those announcements came a major letdown from Radiohead, who again failed to include Minnesota in a new set of tour dates issued Monday. The band has not performed locally since 1997.