Through the first 50 years of the Bay Area Reporter's existence, the paper's coverage of sports and sports-related topics has evolved from that of cheerleader and recording secretary to social advocate and noble muckraker. Sports reporting was less than an afterthought when the B.A.R. started publishing in April 1971. The first sports item — a story with no byline about annual awards presented by the local gay bowling league that identified most individuals only by surnames and first initials — did not appear until page 27 of the third issue, May 1, 1971. Classified ads also debuted in the issue. There were 11 of them, including one from a man who wanted "info or advice on Sex Change Operation" and another advising us that a foot fetishist likes "to go down and groove on male feet."