the Gay NBA.

Page 1 of 212>
April 30th, 2013 at 4:51:43 PM permalink
kewlj
Member since: Apr 6, 2013
Threads: 3
Posts: 40
I am surprised I haven't seen a thread concerning Jason Collins, NBA player coming out as gay. I thought this would be a topic of discussion on one of the sites. I am a big supporter of the gay community (you can just ask my boyfriend...lol), but I have a bit of a problem with this story, mostly the timing. Mr Collins has every right to come out. I say it's about time a few sports guys do. But, it's May. NBA playoff time. That should be the focus of NBA players and fans, of which I am neither. Mr Collins has managed to steal that spotlight at least for the time being. So my question is why didn't he come out during the season or after the season and playoffs is over, during the offseason, so as not to steal the spotlight. And the answer that I come up with is he couldn't wait any longer (until after the season) because he had to be the first. It is widely reported that several as in 3 or 4 NFL players are about to come out as gay. They are co-ordinating as a group so their will be less blow back on any one player. Again, Mr Collins had to beat them to it.

Lets look at Mr Collins situation. He is a 12 year professional, age 34. He is a free agent. His career is clearly winding down. He was not a top player to begin with, more of a journeyman defensive player. In the last 12 months he has been with 3 different teams and now is a free agent again, seeking a fourth team to be interested in him. Are their teams interested in him at his age, and declining abilities which were limited to begin with? I have no idea. I am not a professional basketball enthusiast.

But I do know this, with all the support he received from fellow NBA players, politicians, entertainers yesterday, including NBA commisioner David Stern, it would be a big black eye for the NBA, if after coming out, his career ended because no one would sign him. So in that regard, I think this helps him. I think the commissioner will encourage some team to sign him, even if no one was going to. may even be some back room deal for compensation. The NBA just can't afford the bad publicity of a guy coming out and then his career ending, even if it was about to happen anyway. So I really wonder about this timing. I think Mr Collins is playing this to his advantage in the form of one last basketball contract. (Before he writes a book of course). Any thoughts?
April 30th, 2013 at 5:34:48 PM permalink
Face
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 61
Posts: 3941
Quote: kewlj
So my question is why didn't he come out during the season or after the season and playoffs is over, during the offseason, so as not to steal the spotlight?


Almost died reading the title. Reminded me of Charlie Murphy’s skit on Chapelle Show, where “Don King” hosted the Friday Night Sissy Fights. I had hoped this was more of the same. Ah well…

But anyways, here’s a better question – Why should anyone’s sexuality be spotlight-stealing worthy? Aren’t we as a society over the /gasp /shock of homosexuality by now? I should hope that we are, and hope to live to see that time if we’re not. I can’t think of one single time (and there have been plenty) where someone informed me they were gay/lesbian and that had any effect on anything whatsoever.
Be bold and risk defeat, or be cautious and encourage it.
April 30th, 2013 at 10:58:10 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: Face
Why should anyone’s sexuality be spotlight-stealing worthy?


Because it is the press. That is what the press does. They did stories about Nathan Lane coming out. Even Nathan Lane said, I wouldn't have thought it was even necessary since it seems to obvious.

They keep lists of firsts. First head of state to be openly gay. First senator to be openly gay.

It is a little remarkable, you have to admit. There are over 5000 professional male athletes in the Big 4, and after decades of coming out, it took all this time for the first one.
May 1st, 2013 at 3:39:51 AM permalink
s2dbaker
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 13
Posts: 241
The better story would be to track a closeted male athlete through his daily grind and try to find out what prevents him from being honest with his team and fans.
May 1st, 2013 at 7:21:46 AM permalink
MakingBook
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1
Posts: 35
Here is what bothers me-

Jason Collins: "I am gay."

Media: "This man is a hero."

When Mr Collins came out my response was "So what." But being gay has become something to be proud of. And worthy of a congratulatory phone call from the President of the United States.
May 1st, 2013 at 10:20:18 AM permalink
Fleastiff
Member since: Oct 27, 2012
Threads: 62
Posts: 7831
Times Change.

I think it was a few years ago that one basket ball player got HIV "from a transfusion" or something. He never admitted to homosexual conduct because of endorsements and the like.

Even earlier one actor, a man who could have been prosecuted in the UK and bankrupted in both the UK and USA, maintained a heterosexual persona. Was he dishonest to all his admiring housewives in the audience? Yes. That is better than jail and pauperism.

For some of these athletes, its "who cares" and for others its often "who ever thought you were straight in the first place"?

I wonder if the press should bother with some of those announcements.
May 1st, 2013 at 12:52:49 PM permalink
Face
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 61
Posts: 3941
Quote: Pacomartin
It is a little remarkable, you have to admit.


Looking back, I didn't mean to come across so short. I do see what you mean and can understand; I guess it was more my attempt at social commentary.

I remember the chant "We're here, we're queer, get used to it". Almost immediately, I got used to it. That was nearly 20 years ago. I guess in my small circle, it's no longer chant worthy. It just is. I like my world better.
Be bold and risk defeat, or be cautious and encourage it.
May 3rd, 2013 at 6:36:24 AM permalink
Mosca
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 22
Posts: 730
It's not something that people are discussing around the water cooler; it hasn't come up where I work. Really, the best description of the country's reaction that I've read is "a big collective 'meh'".

Which, if you think about it, is probably the most respectful and best outcome that society could actually want.
May 3rd, 2013 at 10:41:04 AM permalink
reno
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 58
Posts: 1384
Quote: MakingBook
But being gay has become something to be proud of. And worthy of a congratulatory phone call from the President of the United States.


The stigma has disappeared. Siegfried & Roy waited until 2007 to finally confirm the worst kept secret in Las Vegas. They'd been lovers since 1959. Would any casino on the Strip have hired openly gay performers in 1959?

By the way, Glenn Burke of the Los Angeles Dodgers came out to his teammates in the 1970s.

May 3rd, 2013 at 2:51:06 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: reno
Would any casino on the Strip have hired openly gay performers in 1959?


I understand Liberace was still suing magazine in the 1970's who said he was gay.


I always thought that the British upper class was more forgiving of the gay man than America. In 1953 John Gielgud was arrested for soliciting sex in a public lavatory shortly after receiving a knighthood. He was forgiven and actually given a standing ovation for showing up to his next stage performance. He avoided America for years since he was afraid of being humiliated by the police or the press.

Gielgud was nominated for nominated for 6 Tony Awards and won 3, nominated for an Oscar in 1964 and won in 1981, nominated for 6 Emmys and won 2, nominated for 10 Grammy awards and won 1, nominated for 3 Golden Globes and won 2 . He was knighted in the 1953 coronation honours, became a Companion of Honour in 1977, and was admitted to the Order of Merit in 1996. In 1994 a London theater was named for him. He only publicly acknowledge a gay relationship in his final stage performance at the age of 84.
Page 1 of 212>