Jason Collins comes out {merged}

ESPN:

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NBA free agent center Jason Collins becomes first active player in major American team sports to announce that he is gay

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mag...1_a1&eref=sihp

This would me a lot more if it were a player who was established on a roster and did not need the publicity. Here, is looks like an attempt to use a political issue in a last ditch effort to save what looks like an ending career. I was always concerned that the "first player to come out" would be a guy in that situation. This does nothing to advance the issue and probably does more harm than good to the gay community. What they need to advance this issue (if there is someone out there like this which is by no means a guarantee) is an established player or a star to come out...someone who does not need the publicity to survive.

Chris Bosh is next pretty much....

It didn't seem like a ditch effort to save his career. It seemed like a long thought out bearing of heart, but I don't know. I'm pretty optimistic.

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Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar

ESPN:

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Totally awesome, great for him

I don't get really why a players sexual preference matters at all as long as he's not being predatory and making others uncomfortable by doing so.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

I don't get really why a players sexual preference matters at all as long as he's not being predatory and making others uncomfortable by doing so.

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I tend to agree with you. People are funny, that's all I can come up with.

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

Chris Bosh is next pretty much....

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Ugh, I was hoping I wouldn't see comments like this.

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Originally Posted by 42

I tend to agree with you. People are funny, that's all I can come up with.

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I don't think it is an issue. It's only an issue to the media. The players could care less. if a guy can play hes accepted. If he can't, he's not.

It really shouldn't be a big deal in this day in age, but the fact that it is makes it very respectable that he decided to put it out there at all. A step towards normalcy in sports.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

I don't get really why a players sexual preference matters at all as long as he's not being predatory and making others uncomfortable by doing so.

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I don't know why the general public would care at all. Now, the other players may care since they share lockerrooms and showers with the other players, but that would be their issue, not the public.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

I don't know why the general public would care at all. Now, the other players may care since they share lockerrooms and showers with the other players, but that would be their issue, not the public.

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yeah but I've never understood the sharing the locker room and shower thing as well. I don't really know what their showers look like, but I think people imagine like a prison shower in locker rooms rather than like corporate type LRs.

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploa...-Even-Care.gif

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Originally Posted by cki3915

I don't think it is an issue. It's only an issue to the media. The players could care less. if a guy can play hes accepted. If he can't, he's not.

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It seems the media are always pushing for players to come out. I don't know how many times I've gone to ESPN.com to see something like "Will we ever see a gay NFL player?" or "Is the NFL ready for a gay player"?

ETA: Look here, I just did a google search to see if I can find a past article and found this poll. I'm not sure how old the poll is but just as I stated above, I've seen articles and polls like this many times over at ESPN.

http://espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPoll...pollId=3640375

http://www.brobible.com/sports/artic...for-gay-player

NBA.com has it as "Breaking News" that Collins has come out. Breaking News.

Good for him, really shouldn't be an issue. Haven't we all grown up by now?

Honestly don't care at all. Which will soon become the way of the world. Though it's another one of those things that fascinates me. He's gay. His genetic twin isn't. Would one or both be gay if they were raised separately? Would Robin Lopez be as offensively skilled as his brother if raised separately?

Nature? Nurture?

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Originally Posted by cki3915

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mag...1_a1&eref=sihp

This would me a lot more if it were a player who was established on a roster and did not need the publicity. Here, is looks like an attempt to use a political issue in a last ditch effort to save what looks like an ending career. I was always concerned that the "first player to come out" would be a guy in that situation. This does nothing to advance the issue and probably does more harm than good to the gay community. What they need to advance this issue (if there is someone out there like this which is by no means a guarantee) is an established player or a star to come out...someone who does not need the publicity to survive.

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Very stupid comment right here.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Honestly don't care at all. Which will soon become the way of the world. Though it's another one of those things that fascinates me. He's gay. His genetic twin isn't. Would one or both be gay if they were raised separately? Would Robin Lopez be as offensively skilled as his brother if raised separately?

Nature? Nurture?

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I'd have to go with Nature on this one. Nurture would imply a choice correct? Or at least outside influence effected choice? Don't buy that either.
I don't think one chooses to be gay...
i know i didn't choose to be straight?

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Originally Posted by WhoDatPelican

I'd have to go with Nature on this one. Nurture would imply a choice correct?
I don't think one chooses to be gay...
i know i didn't choose to be straight?

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I nurture was meant as the way you are raised. At least that's what I thought when I read Eman's comment. Either way, this shouldn't be an issue, but I can see why some players may have and issue and why others wouldn't. It can be uncomfortable, and team dynamics will only get more important as this moves along. Teams and players will need to leave their personal beliefs at the door like we all do at our own work.

Awesome.

Nothing but respect for the courage that took.

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Originally Posted by Inner_GI

I nurture was meant as the way you are raised. At least that's what I thought when I read Eman's comment. Either way, this shouldn't be an issue, but I can see why some players may have and issue and why others wouldn't. It can be uncomfortable, and team dynamics will only get more important as this moves along. Teams and players will need to leave their personal beliefs at the door like we all do at our own work.

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It does but the way you are raised (at least to me) would imply some kinda choice (at some point at least), right? For example:I was raised Catholic and I'm not catholic now? Once i got old enough to think for myself i went a different route..
Another example: I wasn't really "raised" to be straight? At a certain point in time kinda just got a "funny feeling" when looking at girls. It just happened naturally. Once again makes me think Nature.

There are many straight children being raised by gay parents today.
I really believe, if you are gay, you are born gay. Been friends with many gay guys and girls through the years, pretty much all of em knew it at a very young age. Also quite a few with straight siblings and were treated the same throughout their development.

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

Good for him, really shouldn't be an issue. Haven't we all grown up by now?

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Sadly, No, a lot of poeple haven't.

Yeah, it's nature. You're born gay.

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Originally Posted by WhoDatPelican

It does but the way you are raised (at least to me) would imply some kinda choice (at some point at least), right? For example:I was raised Catholic and I'm not catholic now? Once i got old enough to think for myself i went a different route..
There are many straight children being raised by gay parents today.
I really believe, if you are gay, you are born gay. Been friends with many gay guys and girls through the years, pretty much all of em knew it at a very young age. Also quite a few with straight siblings and were treated the same throughout their development.

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Exactly...and if u aren't gay then u would never really 100% ever know how it comes about. Pure speculation on all our parts. I don't see the point of why it matters. It's 2013. Some ppl need to get with the program.

As long as ppl r respective of others privacy and don't cross the line sexually then a locker room should be fine. And the respect and privacy goes both ways.

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Originally Posted by WhoDatPelican

It does but the way you are raised (at least to me) would imply some kinda choice (at some point at least), right? For example:I was raised Catholic and I'm not catholic now? Once i got old enough to think for myself i went a different route..
Another example: I wasn't really "raised" to be straight? At a certain point in time kinda just got a "funny feeling" when looking at girls. It just happened naturally. Once again makes me think Nature.

There are many straight children being raised by gay parents today.
I really believe, if you are gay, you are born gay. Been friends with many gay guys and girls through the years, pretty much all of em knew it at a very young age. Also quite a few with straight siblings and were treated the same throughout their development.

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I agree, but I think Nuture plays apart. I actually think I've witnessed someone being pressured (at a young age junior high and high school) into being gay, but this isn't the place or time for that.

Wow good for you Jason Collins, very proud of that dude right now. Hopefully this goes a long way to make athletes and people in general more comfortable with who they are.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Honestly don't care at all. Which will soon become the way of the world. Though it's another one of those things that fascinates me. He's gay. His genetic twin isn't. Would one or both be gay if they were raised separately? Would Robin Lopez be as offensively skilled as his brother if raised separately?

Nature? Nurture?

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Both. Not sure if you are familiar with epigentics or not but, but having the same genes does not mean all those genes will be expressed or expressed in the same way. That is where the environment and variety of other factors come in and change gene expression. Also, it depends heavily on whether they are monozygotic twins or dizygotic. There have been lots of studies done on twins if you are interested in that stuff.

I think science is figuring out the line between the mental and physicial is not only blurred but they are impacted by each other.

So while saying sexualilty is a learned thing it merges with the physical to the point it may feel like it's something we are or aren't born with.

Really could care less. That being said it's probably for the best that a low profile player was the first to do it.

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Originally Posted by BeeBall Reasons

Really could care less. That being said it's probably for the best that a low profile player was the first to do it.

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I feel the opposite. ****Just an example**** If Chris Bosh were, I think it would help others who aren't as big of a star.

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Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar

I feel the opposite. ****Just an example**** If Chris Bosh were, I think it would help others who aren't as big of a star.

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'If'.....riiiigght....





That being said, good for Jason. People really shouldn't care that much.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/11...boshshower.gif

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...ency/#comments

This was the point i was making in my original post on this subject. The timing of this announcement is just interesting.

WE SHOULD SIGN HIM! Centers would be so afraid to post him up!

Lol seriously good for him, i could care less who u like sleeping with, do what makes YOU happy.

Feel bad for Chris Bosh. Gets so much hate. Pretty nice and well spoken dude.

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Originally Posted by jdmcuc

Feel bad for Chris Bosh. Gets so much hate. Pretty nice and well spoken dude.

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He came from a well-to-do family and is very educated. He was accepted into Georgia Tech for a Graphics Design and Computer Imaging major. He's a very different cat; spends as much time reading books as he does clubbing. Does what makes him happy and gives no ****s about what anyone thinks of him.

I like Bosh.

Bosh just jokes around a lot lol people who think he's gay just dosent know he a jokester. He has some pretty funny YouTube videos.

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Originally Posted by jdmcuc

Feel bad for Chris Bosh. Gets so much hate. Pretty nice and well spoken dude.

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calling a gay guy, 'gay' is f.a.r. from hate. more of an observation.

i posted the gif above because it was funny... and gay.

Good for Collins and as for Bosh when he runs down the court he reminds me of a raptor.

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Originally Posted by wuggie

Bosh just jokes around a lot lol people who think he's gay just dosent know he a jokester. He has some pretty funny YouTube videos.

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I thought his video of him "Send me to Nola All Star game" with the country accent was funny.

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Originally Posted by KennaBrah

Good for Collins and as for Bosh when he runs down the court he reminds me of a raptor.

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Like this?
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/51...009_medium.gif

Good stuff! :hihi:

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Originally Posted by Heavy

calling a gay guy, 'gay' is f.a.r. from hate. more of an observation.

i posted the gif above because it was funny... and gay.

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And calling an ignorant person ignorant is an observation as well.
He is married to a woman. Idiot.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/30/adygujar.jpg

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

And calling an ignorant person ignorant is an observation as well.
He is married to a woman. Idiot.

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Damn. Burn.

The truth of a point does not mean that it is nice, appropriate, relevant, or whatever.

There are tons of true things people want to NOTHING of. The truth is far from desirable in most cases. Far.

I'm guessing most of the examples you (the reader) are concocting are pretty innocent. Keep thinking. Dig deep.

I may toss some examples out later if you guys only come up with bad ones.

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Originally Posted by Heavy

calling a gay guy, 'gay' is f.a.r. from hate. more of an observation.

i posted the gif above because it was funny... and gay.

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Dude..

No one thinks your funny.

People its not ignorance.it may be prejudgment...but Chris Bosh tendacies is EXTREMELY feminine. I do not care about a person love, howver I think being honest and open is important. Lets stop kidding ourselves folks. And by the way I have a gay family members and friends. No disrespect.

Haha this reminds me of Mitch Hedberg's "To hell with Purple people!" rant... Good for Jason Collins but this shouldnt be a big deal. Is there still homophobia, sexism, racism going on? Definately, but people are much more accepting these days than days past. Espn is taking advantage of their liberal bias to create news. I think its sad; I hold no love for politics as you can tell. I just hate the media....