I was in Cairns, Australia, when I first read the news about Jason Collins coming out. He hasn't played in an NBA game since and likely will not again. This isn't because he is gay, or at least I believe it isn't because he is gay. It is more that he is old at a position that does not age well. Still, Jason Collins coming out made news. He was an active player during that season. It was the closest any major US sport has come to having an openly gay, active player.
Ten months later, Michael Sam is doubling down. He will, unless this country is far more backwards than even a bible-thumper would think, become the first active openly gay player in a major US sport. He will suit up this September. He will take the field. He will make history. And, we have eight months before that happens. Less than a week after hte 2013 NFL Season ended, we were given the biggest storyline heading into 2014. And I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
I totally agree that Michael Sam is an incredibly courageous, brave person. Sooner or later there was going to be a trailblazer, but he decided to step up to the plate and make it happen. His life will never be the same. Ever. He will always be known as the first openly gay athlete in a major US sport. That said, in the current societal landscape, this was a pretty brilliant, calculated decision.
The greatest positive for Sam is that he gets to live freely. He doesn't have to worry about getting outed. He doesn't have to worry about getting caught. He can live the way he wants to as a proud, fulfilled gay man. The other advantage is that he's basically ensured that he will be remembered long after his NFL career ends. Truthfully, there is a chance he does nothing in the pros. Before this news broke he was a tweener, likely to be a 3-5th round pick. Those guys wash up all the time. There are a handful of players picked in those rounds each year that won't make it to year 2 in the NFL. Sam could be one of those guys. But he's ensured he won't.
First, this places immense pressure on the team who drafts him to keep him. His career won't be externally judged as that of a normal 3rd-5th round pick. If he's unceremoniously cut, questions will be asked. If he's traded, questions will be asked. If he doesn't see on-field action questions will be asked. Secondly, even if he washes out, which is probably far more likely than everyone will admit, he will be famous. Yes, it helps when the guy who breaks Baseball's color barrier is as good as Jackie Robinson, but even if he wasn't a HOF-level player he would be famous. Michael Sam will be that person.
The other side of this is how the NFL will react. The immediate reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Many current NFL players tweeted their support. Most GMs/Owners/Coaches that were asked said that his sexual orientation did not matter in their evaluation of Michael Sam, and that they would welcome him. A few said that the media distraction might hurt his draftability. Almost none said they wouldn't want him on their team because he is gay. Sooner or later one Orthodox Christian in the NFL will make some sort of anti-Homosexuality statement, but it hasn't happened yet. And there lies the best part of Michael Sam's story: this is the right time.
One day earlier Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Federal Government will be extending rights to same-sex couples in Federal cases. It's more of a nominal change as it will effect very few same-sex couples but it was a landmark decision. The general populous is heavily in favor of same-sex rights. There will be outspoken anti-gay people in the NFL, but the large majority will be fine with Michael Sam. The country, despite what the news may tell you, is pretty much firmly in the pro-gay-rights camp at this point. Michael Sam will get a lot of external attention, but chances are he will be welcomed with open arms by most of his NFL teammates, and that is a good thing, for both Michael Sam and America as a whole.
About a month ago, a nasty, weird, internet rumor caught fire for a day or two that Aaron Rodgers was gay. The 'proof' was allegedly a stream of tweets by Rodgers' assistant that seemed 'more than friendly'. It was quickly shot down by Rodgers and left the Football National Conversation pretty quickly, but I'm sure a lot of the LGBT community wanted it to be true. Imagine if the first active openly gay athelete was the best player in his sport. Aaron Rodgers, a young, handsome man, is incredibly good at football. Statistically, he is having the greatest start to a career of any QB. He's the league's most marketable player who is not over 35 (Brady, Manning). He would have been the best possible first openly gay athlete.
Just imagine if that player was someone of Rodgers caliber? There would be no questions of 'Will he be accepted in the locker room?' or 'Will he cause friction in the locker room?'. If it was the best player in the league, the answer to those questions would be obvious. Instead, it is a player who hasn't yet played a down of professional sports. It is a player who easily could be out of the league in 20 months. Still, it is a giant step for gay rights in this country. Major Team Sports was really one of the last frontiers for the LGBT community to cross. Now they have. Michael Sam will be drafted. He will play. He will make a lasting impact on the sports landscape that will never really end.
27 years ago, Doug Williams became the first black QB to win a Super Bowl (and until now, the only). Russell Wilson just became the 2nd. I didn't read one column about this fact, about Wilson being a black QB. If anything, him being a short QB was more noteworthy. That is the ultimate sign of progress. Four of the five most highly-touted QBs under 25 are black (Newton, Kaepernick, RGIII, Wilson, with Luck being the exception). Today, Michael Sam is the biggest name in the country. Hopefully, 27 years from now, when a player comes out before the draft, no questions are asked. People will judge him on his height, weight, arm-length, a 40 time, and that is all. It could happen. It will happen, and it started with Michael Sam.
Ten months later, Michael Sam is doubling down. He will, unless this country is far more backwards than even a bible-thumper would think, become the first active openly gay player in a major US sport. He will suit up this September. He will take the field. He will make history. And, we have eight months before that happens. Less than a week after hte 2013 NFL Season ended, we were given the biggest storyline heading into 2014. And I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
I totally agree that Michael Sam is an incredibly courageous, brave person. Sooner or later there was going to be a trailblazer, but he decided to step up to the plate and make it happen. His life will never be the same. Ever. He will always be known as the first openly gay athlete in a major US sport. That said, in the current societal landscape, this was a pretty brilliant, calculated decision.
The greatest positive for Sam is that he gets to live freely. He doesn't have to worry about getting outed. He doesn't have to worry about getting caught. He can live the way he wants to as a proud, fulfilled gay man. The other advantage is that he's basically ensured that he will be remembered long after his NFL career ends. Truthfully, there is a chance he does nothing in the pros. Before this news broke he was a tweener, likely to be a 3-5th round pick. Those guys wash up all the time. There are a handful of players picked in those rounds each year that won't make it to year 2 in the NFL. Sam could be one of those guys. But he's ensured he won't.
First, this places immense pressure on the team who drafts him to keep him. His career won't be externally judged as that of a normal 3rd-5th round pick. If he's unceremoniously cut, questions will be asked. If he's traded, questions will be asked. If he doesn't see on-field action questions will be asked. Secondly, even if he washes out, which is probably far more likely than everyone will admit, he will be famous. Yes, it helps when the guy who breaks Baseball's color barrier is as good as Jackie Robinson, but even if he wasn't a HOF-level player he would be famous. Michael Sam will be that person.
The other side of this is how the NFL will react. The immediate reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Many current NFL players tweeted their support. Most GMs/Owners/Coaches that were asked said that his sexual orientation did not matter in their evaluation of Michael Sam, and that they would welcome him. A few said that the media distraction might hurt his draftability. Almost none said they wouldn't want him on their team because he is gay. Sooner or later one Orthodox Christian in the NFL will make some sort of anti-Homosexuality statement, but it hasn't happened yet. And there lies the best part of Michael Sam's story: this is the right time.
One day earlier Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Federal Government will be extending rights to same-sex couples in Federal cases. It's more of a nominal change as it will effect very few same-sex couples but it was a landmark decision. The general populous is heavily in favor of same-sex rights. There will be outspoken anti-gay people in the NFL, but the large majority will be fine with Michael Sam. The country, despite what the news may tell you, is pretty much firmly in the pro-gay-rights camp at this point. Michael Sam will get a lot of external attention, but chances are he will be welcomed with open arms by most of his NFL teammates, and that is a good thing, for both Michael Sam and America as a whole.
About a month ago, a nasty, weird, internet rumor caught fire for a day or two that Aaron Rodgers was gay. The 'proof' was allegedly a stream of tweets by Rodgers' assistant that seemed 'more than friendly'. It was quickly shot down by Rodgers and left the Football National Conversation pretty quickly, but I'm sure a lot of the LGBT community wanted it to be true. Imagine if the first active openly gay athelete was the best player in his sport. Aaron Rodgers, a young, handsome man, is incredibly good at football. Statistically, he is having the greatest start to a career of any QB. He's the league's most marketable player who is not over 35 (Brady, Manning). He would have been the best possible first openly gay athlete.
Just imagine if that player was someone of Rodgers caliber? There would be no questions of 'Will he be accepted in the locker room?' or 'Will he cause friction in the locker room?'. If it was the best player in the league, the answer to those questions would be obvious. Instead, it is a player who hasn't yet played a down of professional sports. It is a player who easily could be out of the league in 20 months. Still, it is a giant step for gay rights in this country. Major Team Sports was really one of the last frontiers for the LGBT community to cross. Now they have. Michael Sam will be drafted. He will play. He will make a lasting impact on the sports landscape that will never really end.
27 years ago, Doug Williams became the first black QB to win a Super Bowl (and until now, the only). Russell Wilson just became the 2nd. I didn't read one column about this fact, about Wilson being a black QB. If anything, him being a short QB was more noteworthy. That is the ultimate sign of progress. Four of the five most highly-touted QBs under 25 are black (Newton, Kaepernick, RGIII, Wilson, with Luck being the exception). Today, Michael Sam is the biggest name in the country. Hopefully, 27 years from now, when a player comes out before the draft, no questions are asked. People will judge him on his height, weight, arm-length, a 40 time, and that is all. It could happen. It will happen, and it started with Michael Sam.
