Jason Collins comes out {merged}

[RaisingTheBar]

ESPN:

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

[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.

[Silverfoxx]

Chris Bosh is next pretty much....

[Mr. West]

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.

[LoCo89]

ESPN:

Totally awesome, great for him

[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.

[42]

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.

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

[The JNR]

Chris Bosh is next pretty much....

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

[cki3915]

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

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.

[Mr. West]

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.

[PELICANSFAN]

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.

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.

[BallSoHard]

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.

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.

[FlyGirl]

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 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.

[NOLa.]

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

[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?

[kclaboy504]

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.

Very stupid comment right here.

[WhoDatPelican]

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?

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?

[Inner_GI]

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?

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.

[Davisistheman]

Awesome.

Nothing but respect for the courage that took.

[WhoDatPelican]

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.

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.

[Davisistheman]

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

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

[The JNR]

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

[kclaboy504]

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.

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.

[kclaboy504]

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.

[Inner_GI]

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.

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.