"Coaches at the University of Missouri divided players into small groups at a preseason football practice last year for a team-building exercise. One by one, players were asked to talk about themselves — where they grew up, why they chose Missouri and what others might not know about them."
As Michael Sam, a defensive lineman, began to speak, he balled up a piece of paper in his hands. “I’m gay,” he said. With that, Mr. Sam set himself on a path to become the first publicly gay player in the National Football League.NYT: N.F.L. Prospect Proudly Says What Teammates Knew: He’s Gay
“I looked in their eyes, and they just started shaking their heads — like, finally, he came out,” Mr. Sam said Sunday in an interview with The New York Times, the first time he had spoken publicly about his sexual orientation.
73 comments:
The Let's Find Us a Gay Gamers triumph again!
Too bad they couldn't find some persecution to set their glands to secreting.
And our new Gay Trailblazer is proud! The NY Times is proud of him!
We're all so very proud!
The great thing about the Let's Find Us a Gay Game is that it is structured to continue into perpetuity. If 2% of the populace is gay, then we're still waiting for almost 8,000,000 more to come out of the closet and make us proud!
Althouse must be experiencing orgasm!
At the risk of inflaming opinion here on LEM, let me state the obvious once again.
There was no great persecution of the gays that left the streets of America littered with dead bodies. The great persecution was a work of fiction, spread through propaganda novels, plays, movies and newspaper stories.
There was the AIDS epidemic, which gays brought upon themselves.
Meh. No big deal.
Except for those who will insist that this is a Really Big Deal, but they are enamored with counting by color, preference, etc.
So, no big deal.
Now coming out as a conservative Christian......that's be a big deal.
Or affirming one's celibacy, wow, imagine the hate that's engender.
As long as he doesn't go to church, he should be ok.
No kidding. Us Christians can be pretty rough on those gays.
Oh, bullshit, phx.
Here we go with the fantasized persecution again.
This is the shit I really hate about Althouse.
The great gay campaign started as a way to obtain health insurance for gays who lost their partner.
As a result of the AIDS epidemic caused by their own behavior.
That campaign quickly transformed into an effort to blame religious groups and straight men for the AIDS epidemic. The tacit tactic has been to blame the tens of thousands of deaths caused by the epidemic on "oppression" by straight men.
More of the same shit from phx.
What gay men really need to fear is the consequences of their behavior.
As long as he doesn't go to church, he should be ok.
One of those gay rainbow churches are accepted by the media. He would be okay there.
Bob Hope in 1975:
“I've just flown in from California, where they've made homosexuality legal. I thought I'd get out before they make it compulsory."
Is he a tight end?
Sorry, I denounce myself.
Did any other players tell what type of sex they prefer. You just don't hear straight people discuss this openly enough. I myself hold so much in because I assume nobody wants to hear what I like to do naked, but if that's where we are today, then lets do it. Who's first?
I really get off on this thing I like to do with lutefisk.
Pretty amazing that football coaches are playing the sensitivity games bullshit with players, isn't it?
If the guy can block, run, and tackle then there'll be no issue. If ha isn't very good at blocking, running and tackling, then the whiners will say the team benched or cut him because he's gay.
Because gay trumps ability, in a few peoples' minds. In the real world, ability is everything.
Then there's the issue of holding. Not the 10 yard penalty holding, but holding holding.
I'll bet nobody wants to line up in front of him.
Most of the gay guys I encounter are larger guys, military, or police types, into body building and fitness. It's almost the opposite of the old stereotype, or maybe a reaction to it. It's Hollywood that perpetuates the stereotype. I would expect a lot of football players are gay, and yes, they are looking at your ass in the locker room if yours is worth looking at. I'm safe. My ass left town during first G.W. Bush term. Haven't seen it since.
I think we should be respectful and just use "n-word" instead of the full "neener". Some might be offended. That word has long history of oppression, and bullying.
Now a real challenge would be coming out as a conservative while living in Hollywood, or in the upper east side of Manhattan.
Gay medalist gets a "cuddle" from Putin...
I should think that being a gay defensive lineman would help in sizing up the offense.
bagoh20 said...
I really get off on this thing I like to do with lutefisk.
Lutefisk and getting off? You are a sick, sick person bagoh20!
Is he a tight end?
No, a defensive end, so he's a top.
I'll bet nobody wants to line up in front of him.
That would be awesome for a DE. Like a super power, almost.
Bagoh, steroid treatment is part of standard HIV and AIDS treatment these days. Andrew Sullivan has been singing the praises of PEDs for a long time now because of it.
And there was a recent study that found that gay teen boys were about four to six times more likely to use 'roids. It's become a bigger part of that culture, apparently.
Cool, we needed another gay-baiting thread.
The guy did it because it was an open secret, so he decided to get ahead of the media shit-storm a little bit.
His real problem, NFL-wise, is that he is better out of a three-point stance as a 4-3 DE than he is out of a two-point stance as a 3-4 OLB. This is a problem because at 6-2 260(or so) he's on the small side for a DE. Not the weight so much (that's about the weight Simeon Rice played at) but the height. He's just not going to have what it takes, most likely, to be an effective DE in the pros.
And scouts have noticed that nine of his 11.5 sacks last season came against three schools, Vanderbilt (who didn't actually suck this year), Florida (who sucked donkey balls) and Arkansas State (which is simply outclassed by a school like Mizzou). That indicates problems with both consistency and with being able to get it done against better competition. Game film might tell a different story, but that is going to be a real problem for him.
The best thing for him, career-wise, would be for this story to go away sooner rather than later. Most teams will shy away from him if they think he'll be a distraction, and a media shit-storm is a clear distraction. I think that's why he has come out now. And I also think the NFL moving back the draft this year by a few weeks probably helps his prospects, too. But we'll see.
Did any other players tell what type of sex they prefer. You just don't hear straight people discuss this openly enough.
Really? I've read almost every one of you guys writing about your wives or girlfriends or children or "whose that girl?"
But it's just us fags that need to shut up about our lives I guess.
Cool, we needed another gay-baiting thread.
We did? I thought we needed another Fissure Rapper-baiting thread. It's hard to keep up.
Incidentally, the bigger the media shit-storm around this player, the harder it will be for an openly gay player to get drafted or signed as a free agent out of college. Really, it would be better for an established player in the League to come out first. (Yes, I am assuming there is at least one.) Then the teams at least don't have to worry about the "first openly gay player drafted" media crap so much.
Is "fissure rapper" some sort of rectal injury?
Is "fissure rapper" some sort of rectal injury?
Sure sounds like it. But then he wanted to rape me, so whatever.
Who told you to shut up about your life?
It is rather implied in a lot of these conversations.
Personally, I don't care about people talking about their partner, I just don't want to hear about their sex lives. Except for Bagoh. But he's naked drunk and frisky most of the time, so the stories tend to be funny enough to read about.
Icepick, I dislike media shitstorms and Gay Poster Children almost as much as I dislike gay baiters and haters. The whole lot of 'em should be flushed down the drain.
It is rather implied in a lot of these conversations.
Not really. Unless joking is no longer allowed, in which case ALL jokes should be deemed not allowable under the rules of That's Not Funny.
No one here is or has implied that Palladian should shut up about his life. And by 'life' I mean sexual identity and activities. Palladian has shared a lot about his life with us, and people here have been generally supportive of him.
Am I wrong, Palladian?
And it's hard to claim persecution of big-time football players when you had that Tebow guy making a big show of his religiosity for the cameras.
Palladian, as best I can tell, this player isn't interested in being a Gay Poster Child. (I had a different opinion about Jason Collins last year.) He just knows its out there, and that it will eventually get loose in the broader media. At least that's how I view it now. Get back to me in a couple of weeks and I may have a different opinion on the matter.
I have a lot more of a problem with ESPN and the media making this into a huge stop the presses breaking news spectacle than the player's actions (so far at least).
If he just wanted to get ahead of the story (it appears that most of his teammates knew and quite rightly did not give a shit) before the draft, and now focus on football and the combine, then power to him.
From what I have read, the guy is a very good college player, and could end up being a borderline professional. Don't see this guy being a starter or pro bowler, but might have a productive career. This isn't a Jason Collins situation where it's some washed up benchwarmer, but a young guy with some potential.
Palladian, you don't get it.
What pisses me off is the attack on straight men implying that we have been engaged in a campaign of violence and persecution against gay men.
Icepick, "well-meaning" people will turn him into a poster boy whether he likes it or not. That's why I hate the whole stupid mess, gay advocates and gay haters alike.
Yes, Palladian, but there are entire industries built up for milking grievances. Until every last kind of person has done every single thing a person can do, there won't be an end to it. We're already starting to get flooded with stories about transgendered people now that gays and lesbians are widely accepted. We must keep the grievance industry going no matter the cost! After all, somewhere there is a transgendered hermaphrodite (had sex changed from boy-girl to girl-boy) who hasn't been elected Pope yet. We can't let that stand!
When's that asteroid gonna get here?
Now that he's the first, the pressure's really on him to be a credit to his sexual orientation.
hen you had that Tebow guy making a big show of his religiosity for the cameras.
I don't think Tebow does it "for the cameras" ... I think that's who he really is. All the time.
It's like he's gay for God. <--- this is a joke.
Now that he's the first, the pressure's really on him to be a credit to his sexual orientation.
Yeah, because straight football players are usually such a credit to their sexual orientation.
"Really? I've read almost every one of you guys writing about your wives or girlfriends or children or "whose that girl?"
Sure, and that's welcome from you as well, but even though the vast majority of us are straight, the truth is that only you and Titus tell us about the specific acts you enjoy. (Titus much more than you of course.) That's all fine too, as far as I'm concerned, but let's not pretend it's the straights doing that at anywhere near the same level. It's just not. You guys enjoy that stuff because it's a kind of smack in the face to the bigot breeders you imagine to be behind every straight who doesn't wear a ribbon. I just thought I'd point out the obvious, which you seem to be comfortably blind to.
Again, I don't mind if anyone wants to get into that stuff, but my point was that it's not just preferring the same sex that that gets people a little turned off. Sometimes it's just plain lack of modesty. And I'm probably the least modest straight guy in here.
I guess it's a special situation on a sports team, but it just seems weird to me for someone to announce there sexual preference. I guess it's necessary sometimes. So here goes: I prefer cunnilingus, but just don't tear my panties in the process.
I guess it's a special situation on a sports team, but it just seems weird to me for someone to announce there sexual preference.
The Sam story seems to suggest that while not asked about specifically, he knew that it was at least a rumor and wanted to basically get it out there.
And yes, if asked to share something about me, I would probably never respond "Well, I'm straight." but I wouldn't hesitate in speaking about my wife and children as a part of my life.
As a white straight male and a prince in the overarching and deeply penetrating patriarchy, I don't really discriminate among who I oppress and persecute. I want to hold everyone down, and keep holding them until they give me what I want, or at least give me what they don't want to. Either/or.
When's that asteroid gonna get here?
If it gets here before the Catholics elect the first transgendered hermaphroditic Pope, we'll know its ... uh, I have no idea what that phobia would be called. Transhermapapaphobia?
Now that he's the first, the pressure's really on him to be a credit to his sexual orientation.
LOL
Yeah, because straight football players are usually such a credit to their sexual orientation.
Well, this Michael Sam guy is likely to have a Cromartie Index of zero. Does that make him a credit to his orientation or not?
Patriots in the first round. Book it.
Ooooo, I wonder if this story has finally bumped the Philip Seymour Hoffman story off CNN's front page? Let's find out!
Well, PSH has apparently dropped off CNN's radar for the moment. Sam does get three stories at the top of the column on the left, so their gaydar is still working. But the Big Story of the moment is, wait for it ... wait for it ... CONTROVERSY in the scoring for Olympic women's figure skating! That's a much gayer story than the Sam thing. (Sorry, Palladian, but it is.) And their second biggest story is actually the giraffe story. Buried down the page is such irrelevant stuff as Obama deciding on whether or not to use a drone to assassinate another American citizen, whether or not the Iranian Navy is going to invade the East Coast (choose Jersey!), and ... well, that's about it.
Chris Collinsworth is out shopping right now for his new Sunday night outfit.
I hate Collinsworth, even if he is a fellow Gator. The NFL would be much improved if he would go cover some other sport in some other country.
I love it when you talk about your sexual dalliances Palladian.
My jokes about that Peruvian bus boy are getting stale.
I bet you must have banged a couple of Amish guys out there in the hinterlands by now. Stuck it right up their rumpspringa!
This is not a big deal. Aaron Rodgers has all ready paved the way for this dude.
The problem is that he is just not that good and when he is not drafted or he is cut there is going to be a lot of bullshit about it.
I mean look how pissed off the Mets fans are that Mike Pizza is being boycotted by the Hall of Fame.
It's really unfair when they took Ted Williams on the first shot.
The annoying thing about this is that automatically any team that passes on him because of the "distractions" are going to be labeled bigots.
Media distractions are real. Most coaches don't want the media sniffing around their locker room 24/7, hence why so many turn down Hard Knocks. Hence the reason Tebow doesn't have a contract, though I'm pretty sure he'd be a better back up than Kyle Orton. But the "objective" media does not want to see the obvious; they want the insinuation of wrongdoing.
I have a lot more of a problem with ESPN and the media making this into a huge stop the presses breaking news spectacle than the player's actions (so far at least).
If he just wanted to get ahead of the story (it appears that most of his teammates knew and quite rightly did not give a shit) before the draft, and now focus on football and the combine, then power to him.
I agree. Focus on your job, football in his case, and the other stuff is secondary if you are good at what you do.
Why should anyone care if he is gay or not? So instead of saying...look....this guy is a good player let's hire him!: they are all oooooh look!!! a GAY football player. Like they just found a two headed snake or something.
Someone is gay is not news. If nobody in the NFL was gay that would be news. As the story says, nobody was surprised.
@phx
For some time, sensible people have known that the allegation of "bigotry" marks the accuser as an idiot and manipulator.
Which you are.
No anal fissure jokes. I had one and it hurts like hemmies X 50!
Palladian, I think I understand your 11:52 comment better this evening than I did this morning. Point taken.
He was SEC Defensive Player of the Year so I believe he can play.
Tebow was the best college player I've ever seen. Can barely play at the NFL level.
But part of Tebow's problem was all the off-the-field stuff: He's a rock star to a certain part of the populace. And all that hub-bub is exactly what an NFL team doesn't want to deal with, UNLESS the guy is a huge presence on-the-field. They will put up with all manner of distraction, and even openly support criminal behavior (as in the case of Bill Parcels practically buying Lawrence Taylor underage girls and cocaine).
And that's the problem now with Sam - upon closer inspection he's a marginal NFL prospect (too small, can't really play the position he is physically suited for) but he is a rock star to the gay-obsessed media. Most likely, there will be a media-created shit-storm around him wherever he goes. Teams are going to be inclined to shy away from that. The "gay in the locker room" thing is more dependent on the team he would end up with. Teams with strong management (both upstairs and in the coaching staff) should be able to handle this without too much trouble. Teams that are weak in that regard (the NY Jets, for example, Tampa last season) won't be able to handle it, and it could end up being a huge problem.
But the best thing for guys like Tebow and Sam, in regards to their actual NFL football-playing careers, would be for their fans to settle down and quit making such a fuss over them.
No anal fissure jokes. I had one and it hurts like hemmies X 50!
Come on, Spinelli, you know how it is. Anal fissures are like getting kicked in the nuts: It's hysterically funny (if slightly painful) as long as it happens to someone else.
I know Icepick. But, I took a line drive in the nuts when I was pitching once. Hurt like hell. But the pain subsides. My anal fissure required surgery and it hurt for a couple months. Shitting, like birthing razor blades.
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