Jason Collins-Courageous..

[Mitchell]

Personally, I think that Jason Collins showed an incredible amount of courage.. with the announcement that he's gay.

Considering how open most people are about their sexuality in today;s society, and the fact that many gay news commentators, and even politicians, don't have to hide their sexual preference, I think it a bit sad that it took until the year 2013 for there to be an openly gay athlete in one of the four major American professional sports.

I was equally impressed at the reaction of other NBA players, and how supportive they were toward him, and his announcement.

I'm not personally a Celtics fan. However, as a sports fan in general, a player;'s announcement of being gay would in no way affect my support for that player.. or the team he or she played for. As long as they performed well at their sports, they would get my cheers, regardless of their sexual orientation. What they do in their personal lives, is their business, and not mine as a fan of theirs.

Thoughts on Collins and his announcement?

 

[SamuelKhan]

I can't believe that some people in the media have the audacity (like Rick Reilly) to declare him Jackie Robinson. Bullshit.

Jackie Robinson will never be duplicated as far as I'm concerned. Placing what Jason Collins did next to what a strong and intelligent man who endured all kinds of vitriol in 1947 is like comparing New Direction to The Beatles, which in itself is ridiculous.

There is one man whose life fell apart that predates Jason Collins by over 30 years. I give you Glenn Burke.

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-...penly-Gay-Player-In-Major-Professional-Sports

As soon as NBA basketball player Jason Collins came out this week in an article in Sports Illustrated, he was lauded for his bravery and heroism for being the first active out male gay athlete in major professional team sports. Except that may not be an accurate description in light of a report that indicates Los Angeles Dodgers player Glenn Burke was open about his sexuality with teammates, opposing players, the media, and his front office in 1976, which means Collins's announcement is not as groundbreaking as has been portrayed.

Collins was falsely praised as the next Jackie Robinson, even though gays have nearly none of the systemic disadvantages blacks had when Robinson first crossed what had been the all-white lines on the baseball diamond in 1947.

But that comparison seems to be even more inaccurate given journalist Allan Barra's report.

Barra wrote that the media in Burke's era all knew Burke was gay, but they just did not report on it, which means Collins may be better described as the first openly gay active player in major American professional sports the media decided to write about and celebrate.

Barra wrote:

Burke made no secret of his sexual orientation to the Dodgers front office, his teammates, or friends in either league. He also talked freely with sportswriters, though all of them ended up shaking their heads and telling him they couldn't write that in their papers. Burke was so open about his sexuality that the Dodgers tried to talk him into participating in a sham marriage. (He wrote in his autobiography that the team offered him $75,000 to go along with the ruse.)

There may have been more hostility over three decades ago toward an openly gay player, but Collins has been praised universally by fellow players, former players like Charles Barkley, and nearly all members of the mainstream sports and news media.

Further, unlike Collins, who came out toward an end of career that can be described as modest, at best, Burke came out at the beginning of his career. More may be revealed about Burke in the years ahead and after Collins's announcement, and these revelations may make Collins's announcement seem less groundbreaking. As Breitbart News wrote, Hollywood is also attempting to make a biopic about Burke, who is also credited with inventing the "high-five."

Collins is gay. Good for him, but it's no big deal anymore.

 

[Mitchell]

Jackie Robinson? No.. there is, and always will be, only one Jackie Robinson.

I agree with you that being Gay isn't a big deal anymore, considering all the openly gay news commentators, actors, and even politicians.

However, what Collins did is a first, and I think, showed a lot of guts.

As for what he did, being like what Jackie Robinson did, and the abuse Mr Robinson had to endure, in being the first African American player in major league baseball. (I recently saw 42) Nothing will ever compare to that.

 

[llllllll]

I disagree that courage had anything to do with it. I think it's about as inappropriate as one can get. Why in the hell would he thinks anyone gives a crap about what floats his boat in the bedroom? What does him being aroused by other men have to do with basketball? If he wants to make a shout out to other homosexuals, do it somewhere like this, on a forum, or dating website. Don't do it somewhere where children are exposed to his kink. Show a little decency, maybe an ounce of discretion. I guess I'll have to put a parental block on ESPN now, too? I think it was unbelievably selfish, unless he's planning on using the "discrimination" card when no teams want to sign an aging, mediocre player and the unwanted media attention he'll receive... then it may have been a strategic career move. Seriously though, this country has gotten out of hand with making private matters public.