Current NBA Player Comes Out

[K1052]

Well, while I agree, but you have to give people time to adjust... especially if they are uncomfortable around them. People will, as have I in recent years, but nothing is never 100% agreed upon especially immediately.

In fact, several GMs said they'd HAVE to consider their locker rooms before offering him a contract...especially if they have young immature players.

Some people live in reality, Homer, and recognize that change doesn't happen overnight.

It took time for racism to subside, though its still here, so I expect this to take time as well.

I'll file this next to the "unit cohesion" argument against ending DADT in the military. Given the generational turnover happens more rapidly in pro sports because careers are relatively short for many players any negative attitudes will shift more rapidly.

 

[Retro Rob]

There's nothing I can do about that, but don't me to respect you or your shitty opinion.

The anger is strong here, but this is the only part of your post that matters. You can't do anything about it so just learn to deal with it.

 

[Retro Rob]

I'll file this next to the "unit cohesion" argument against ending DADT in the military. Given the generational turnover happens more rapidly in pro sports because careers are relatively short for many players any negative attitudes will shift more rapidly.

True, very true.

 

[HomerJS]

I notice the CEC won't touch this story.

 

[TerryMathews]

I notice the CEC won't touch this story.

Wrong. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2...layer_comes_out_geno_smith_pays_the_black_tax

 

[HomerJS]

Wrong. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2...layer_comes_out_geno_smith_pays_the_black_tax

Bit of a stretch since he doesn't comment on his coming out just says the media is happy. When in doubt or afraid to comment, blame the media.

In another bout of disingenuousness, claims media is happy Tebow was released. Anyone who follows football knows Tebow isn't a good quarterback. No member of the media said they were happy he was released.

 

[Carfax83]

Obviously to some of your persuasion, it is a BFD.

When was the last time you heard of someone getting harassed because they are straight?

When was the last time you heard of someone getting fired from their job for being straight?

When was the last time you heard of a parent disowning their child for being straight?

When was the last time you heard of someone being killed because they are straight?

I'll go ahead and answer the question for you - never. However, for someone who is gay, these kinds of concerns are very real.

You say you don't advertise your sexuality? Bullshit. As others have already pointed out, every time you talk about your wife or girlfriend, you advertise it. When you show any kind of PDA (holding hands, a kiss goodbye, etc), you advertise it. Every time a breeder gets married, they advertise it.

God help us if a queer does those very same things - suddenly a large part of society starts crying "I don't mind if you're gay, but you don't have to push it down my throat.", coupled with a plethora of jeers, snide remarks, and dirty looks (unless your one of the unlucky few who gets something worse). It's a wonder why anyone even bothers coming out anyway. Someone has to take the first step - someone has to embolden the closeted masses to stop hiding their identities, to stop living lies and start living life.

You say it doesn't matter to you, that you could care less about someone's orientation? That's a fucking lie - if it was true, you would never have replied to this thread to begin with.

In certain Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, normal heterosexual activity is strongly discouraged. You can't be seen with a woman you're not married or unrelated to in public without being harassed by the religious police or 'Mutaween.'

As a result of this policy, Homosexual activity is indirectly encouraged as there are no restrictions on fraternizing with the same sex.

As to the article itself, I applaud Collins for having the courage to come out of the closet. There are probably dozens of professional gay athletes, but due to the stigma of homosexuality in professional sports (and in the black community at large for black athletes like Collins), they are mostly flying under the radar; even to their own families..

On the other hand, I see all this "hoopla" as just another manifestation of the attempted normalization of homosexuality. While homosexuals shouldn't be discriminated against, let us not deceive ourselves into believing that it is a normal behavior, the mere opposite of heterosexuality..

Eventually, Science is going to find the root cause of homosexuality (which mounting evidence points to epigenetics) and then people will be able to intervene and probably prevent a fetus from developing homosexual characteristics.

 

[Atreus21]

DIANNY RANTS: Courageous Guy Talks About Something Nobody Shuts Up About

That was great.

 

[HomerJS]

That was great.

I'll answer Dianny's question

But how exactly is his being homosexual an important moment in professional sports?

Because nobody will ever bully your ass out of making a living for being straight

 

[TerryMathews]

Bit of a stretch since he doesn't comment on his coming out just says the media is happy. When in doubt or afraid to comment, blame the media.

In another bout of disingenuousness, claims media is happy Tebow was released. Anyone who follows football knows Tebow isn't a good quarterback. No member of the media said they were happy he was released.

Okay so how about http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/04/29/nba’s-jason-collins-reveals-he’s-gay

Your statement was that they won't touch it. It seems that the reality is that they aren't making as big a deal as you would like about it.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

In other news: Fags globally want to be center of attention. This shocking new study ahead on News at 10.

 

[HomerJS]

In other news: Fags globally want to be center of attention. This shocking new study ahead on News at 10.

Was your father in the stands as a kid yelling ni**er go home when Jackie Robinson took the field in the 40s?

 

[shadow9d9]

In other news: Fags globally want to be center of attention. This shocking new study ahead on News at 10.

In other news, people with your mindset are what makes events like this INTO events... If people like you didn't exist, this would be a non issue. You can't even restrain yourself from shouting your bigotry from the rooftops on an internet forum!

 

[Fern]

I am wondering how anyone thinks this will affect his basketball career?

Unless he's retiring, this can backfire and put the NBA, its teams in particular, in an peculiar position. IMO, I don't see this happening, just trying to gauge some thoughts here.

Those who follow the game a bit knows he's a marginal player at best -- 12 years, 6 teams... you do the math.

What if no teams wants him for pure basketball reasons, or a team that doesn't want to be stigmatized as "homophobic" offer him a deal anyway, though they don't want him?

Just saying, things like this can initially have unintended consequences -- just wondering how others view any possibilites.

I don't follow BB, but he seems an unremarkable player. At 34 yrs old, unless he brings something unique to the table, I would think he's going to retire. Too many new BB players graduating or leaving school early each year. IIRC, he mentioned in his remarks; he wanted to come out while still active. So, perhaps he is contemplating retirement.

But yes, I suppose if he was on the margin of being cut this announcement could have an affect one way or the other.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Something odd here. Advocates for gay rights etc consistently claim that their objective is a world where no one would care if the guy was gay. Well, now that this guy has said so the only people making a big deal out of this are pro-gay types.

I'm amused by those who think this is a big deal, some of ground breaking thing. We've long known about gay pro athletes, and this goes back decades.

And so many high profile people are 'out' that there can be no more ground broken.

Fern

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Something odd here. Advocates for gay rights etc consistently claim that their objective is a world where no one would care if the guy was gay. Well, now that this guy has said so the only people making a big deal out of this are pro-gay types.

I'm amused by those who think this is a big deal, some of ground breaking thing. We've long known about gay pro athletes, and this goes back decades.

And so many high profile people are 'out' that there can be no more ground broken.

Fern

Name one other ACTIVE male pro athlete (baseball, football, hockey, basketball) who has come out.

 

[Fern]

Name one other ACTIVE male pro athlete (baseball, football, hockey, basketball) who has come out.

Why? What's the point? So many people are out that it doesn't matter.

Fern

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Why? What's the point? So many people are out that it doesn't matter.

Fern

You're right, there's no longer a social stigma attached to being gay, none at all. Jesus...

 

[Carfax83]

Why? What's the point? So many people are out that it doesn't matter.

Fern

But that's the point. Athletics for men was perhaps the last bastion for gay exclusion. In other venues, ie politics, acting, business etcetera, gays had been coming out for years whether of their own volition or not.

You might see a string of gay male athletes coming out now though..

 

[Retro Rob]

You might see a string of gay male athletes coming out now though..

True, but will they all grab a mic to announce it?

I think this is why they get so much anti-gay backlash... because now every announcement is going to be egged on and encouraged to be made publicly... this is where the "they're throwing it in my face" comments come from, and make them all appear to be attention-whores.

 

[Fern]

But that's the point. Athletics for men was perhaps the last bastion for gay exclusion. In other venues, ie politics, acting, business etcetera, gays had been coming out for years whether of their own volition or not.

You might see a string of gay male athletes coming out now though..

I think the much more interesting thing would be to see a famous NASCAR driver coming out.

All these other people are basically employees etc. While technically the driver is too, NASCAR is funded primarily by sponsor money. Given what we believe about the NASCAR culture (I've never even been to a race and don't watch it, but many think they're hicks even though I've heard the stands are full of bankers etc.) and the importance of sponsorship $'s, and that means image and/or popularity, you have the makings for something interesting IMO.

Fern

 

[MomentsofSanity]

There was rumour that 4 NFL players were going to come out just prior to this but backed off. I'd wager that before next seasons kickoff we will have openly gay players in the NFL.

 

[Carfax83]

True, but will they all grab a mic to announce it?

I think this is why they get so much anti-gay backlash... because now every announcement is going to be egged on and encouraged to be made publicly... this is where the "they're throwing it in my face" comments come from, and make them all appear to be attention-whores.

Does it matter?

Some people are going to be supportive, and others will hate it with a passion.

Personally I am supportive.. Gays should not be made to remain in the closet, both for their own health, and the health of the people around them.

How many women have unknowingly contracted STDs by sleeping with a gay or bisexual man who passed themself off as straight?

Too many, especially in the black community.

Collins himself was formerly engaged to a woman.

If he had gone through with the engagement, he would have made not only his life miserable, but her life as well..

Gays remaining in the closet does not serve the public's interest imo..

 

[Retro Rob]

Does it matter?

Some people are going to be supportive, and others will hate it with a passion.

If they want to live normal lives, yes it does. I'm sorry -- people are idiots.

The more announcements are made, the more they keep the issue at the forefront instead of just coming out with their teams and letting it become "normal", as they want it to be.

It will never normalize until they stop acting like it isn't just a part of everyday life -- it is, and has always been for freaking centuries.

 

[Carfax83]

I think the much more interesting thing would be to see a famous NASCAR driver coming out.

All these other people are basically employees etc. While technically the driver is too, NASCAR is funded primarily by sponsor money. Given what we believe about the NASCAR culture (I've never even been to a race and don't watch it, but many think they're hicks even though I've heard the stands are full of bankers etc.) and the importance of sponsorship $'s, and that means image and/or popularity, you have the makings for something interesting IMO.

Fern

Image was always a core concern in professional sports, and this image has always been intertwined with masculinity. That's why it took such a long time before an active gay athlete came out of the closet.

As long as homosexuality was socially seen as emasculate, the two could not be reconciled.

Now things are changing, and we will start to see publically out professional gay athletes as well as gay men in other stereotypically masculine venues such as the Military become more acceptable.