Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards. Good for him and godspeed! Here's the article link:

http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2013/...he-is-gay/

Good for him. I think breaking down these walls in sports is important. Many feel such a stigma to hide who they are. Good role model for kids in the same position.

What wall was broken down?

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The one in the home locker room shower when the other players realized they forgot their "soap on a rope".

(04-29-2013 11:16 AM)ODUBB35 Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The one in the home locker room shower when the other players realized they forgot their "soap on a rope".

Wow, seriously?

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. team sport, if I'm reading correctly. Pretty significant.

(04-29-2013 11:25 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. team sport, if I'm reading correctly. Pretty significant.

And the wall of communication between athletes of a certain orientation and their teammates. Many fear repercussions of coming out. Its brave. Just look at how that LSU player remarked about having a gay teammate.

He averaged 1ppg and is pretty much done in the NBA any way. This probably finishes the year or two he might could have had left off and cost him a million.

(04-29-2013 11:31 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  He's averaged 1ppg this year and pretty much done in the NBA any way. This probably finishes the year or two he might coule have had left off and cost him a million.

Truth. I think he knew he was done which is why he wanted to do it now before it was no longer relevant and he was just another 'ex player coming out'. Either way kudos.



And TTT ....

Dudes talking about other dudes sexual orientation. Just a little weird for me.

(04-29-2013 10:57 AM)Oduniceguy Wrote:  Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards. Good for him and godspeed! Here's the article link:

http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2013/...he-is-gay/

(04-29-2013 11:33 AM)JDTulane Wrote:  Truth. I think he knew he was done which is why he wanted to do it now before it was no longer relevant and he was just another 'ex player coming out'. Either way kudos.

Yeah, you are probably right. He's a strange player statistically anyway. He was about the worst statistical player in the NBA but the book on him was that he was one of the better team defenders which is why kept getting jobs. It's possible he could have signed with someone next year but he likely ended that possiblity. Doubt anyone is going to bring that drama into their locker room for a guy that does so little and is 35.

(04-29-2013 11:25 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. team sport, if I'm reading correctly. Pretty significant.

Yes, but there was no wall to be broken down unless it is a self-made wall. In other words, gay athletes are not being forced to stay quiet. It is brave to come out, but he is not going against the directive given by the NBA to stay quiet or to tell teams not to draft homosexuals.

I guess I'm saying that the Dodgers drafting Jackie Robinson was a better example of breaking down a wall. Or Americans electing Barack Obama. This doesn't seem to compare with those.

(04-29-2013 11:33 AM)JDTulane Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:31 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  He's averaged 1ppg this year and pretty much done in the NBA any way. This probably finishes the year or two he might coule have had left off and cost him a million.

Truth. I think he knew he was done which is why he wanted to do it now before it was no longer relevant and he was just another 'ex player coming out'. Either way kudos.



And TTT ....

Correct. He's not the superstar many in the LGBT community had hoped for, but he is the first and will bring about change. Now as far as getting picked up, I believe a team will pick him up as the casual NBA fan doesn't seem as "homophobic" as the NFL fan. (Homophobic was in quotations because I don't think bigots are actually scared of gays.)

(04-29-2013 11:37 AM)johndavidblue Wrote:  Dudes talking about other dudes sexual orientation. Just a little weird for me.

(04-29-2013 10:57 AM)Oduniceguy Wrote:  Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards. Good for him and godspeed! Here's the article link:

http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2013/...he-is-gay/

Dudes so insecure in their own manhood that even reading stuff on a message board weirds them out, weirds me out.

(04-29-2013 11:42 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:25 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. team sport, if I'm reading correctly. Pretty significant.

Yes, but there was no wall to be broken down unless it is a self-made wall. In other words, gay athletes are not being forced to stay quiet. It is brave to come out, but he is not going against the directive given by the NBA to stay quiet or to tell teams not to draft homosexuals.

I guess I'm saying that the Dodgers drafting Jackie Robinson was a better example of breaking down a wall. Or Americans electing Barack Obama. This doesn't seem to compare with those.

Just like Jackie Robinson, gay athletes will likely be treated very differently.

Hopefully this ceases to be a story soon, meaning no one will give a damn if a person is gay or not.

(04-29-2013 11:50 AM)JDTulane Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:42 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:25 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(04-29-2013 11:13 AM)T_Won1 Wrote:  What wall was broken down?

The first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. team sport, if I'm reading correctly. Pretty significant.

Yes, but there was no wall to be broken down unless it is a self-made wall. In other words, gay athletes are not being forced to stay quiet. It is brave to come out, but he is not going against the directive given by the NBA to stay quiet or to tell teams not to draft homosexuals.

I guess I'm saying that the Dodgers drafting Jackie Robinson was a better example of breaking down a wall. Or Americans electing Barack Obama. This doesn't seem to compare with those.

Just like Jackie Robinson, gay athletes will likely be treated very differently.

I better case for breaking down the wall will be when the first openly gay player is drafted.

Definitely do not disagree.

(04-29-2013 11:52 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Hopefully this ceases to be a story soon, meaning no one will give a damn if a person is gay or not.

Millennials favor gay marriage by more than 70%. Once that generation becomes the decision making generation, this will cease to be a major issue.

You'll still have many religious groups make a big stink out of of it, but they won't have enough influence to make a difference.

I think we're still about 20 years away from it being a largely irrelevant topic.