Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The floodgates will now be opened. One can only wonder where this will lead. Will this diminish the stature of professional athletes? Will straight children now look to gay men as role models? What happens when players on opposite sides of the ball are married to each other? We have brothers facing each other now, but husbands and "wives"?
I don't think it will have any long term negative effect on sports. It will be controversial for a while, then the controversy will fade away, only to be harbored by a few anti-gay zealots. But the rest of America will simply shrug their shoulders and go back to buying numbers for the office Super Bowl pot.
I have straight and gay role models. I also have both male and female role models.
Why would it matter if a straight child looked up to a gay athlete? They are looking up to his playing ability, not his sex life. Maybe, just maybe, it will be good for gay youngsters to have someone to look up to.
Why would it matter if players are on opposite teams? They are there to do a job.
I have straight and gay role models. I also have both male and female role models. Why would it matter if a straight child looked up to a gay athlete? They are looking up to his playing ability, not his sex life. Maybe, just maybe, it will be good for gay youngsters to have someone to look up to.
Why would it matter if players are on opposite teams? They are there to do a job.
It's been a while since you have been on a playground, huh. The three letter "f" word and the "q" word are tossed around pretty casually there. Kids reflect their parents biases without adult restraint. Being a big fan of a gay player might get somebody beat up even in 21st century America. Maybe things will change.
It will be a trickle coming out at most. Only about 3% of the general population is gay and the percentage of male pro athletes is almost certainly lower than that.
Why is it so important that they "come out"? What's wrong with privacy?
In this particular case...
Players routinely do community events, charities, and other functions representing their team. At these events they bring their significant other. He is a free agent. My guess is he wanted to prepare potential teams that he's going to live openly gay so if you don't want a guy on your team bringing his same sex partner to visit sick kids in the hospital...don't call him.
He is a 34 year old free agent, he may never get a gig again. So not sure how active he is and besides there was another gay NBA player who came out before.
I think this guy is smart. By saying he is gay he kind if forces a team to pick him up lest folks call the NBA anti-gay for not picking him up.
The floodgates will now be opened. One can only wonder where this will lead. Will this diminish the stature of professional athletes? Will straight children now look to gay men as role models? What happens when players on opposite sides of the ball are married to each other? We have brothers facing each other now, but husbands and "wives"?
It will have about as much of a negative effect as Ellen DeGeneres coming out had on sitcoms. Zilch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oleg Bach
Why is it so important that they "come out"? What's wrong with privacy?
So you don't think straight sports stars should ever mention their families or loved ones?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
