Super

Sensitive topic for our little blog today, but an important one to discuss. Two big stories in the sports world have revolved around 2 very courageous athletes: Michael Sam and Jason Collins. One couldn't say that these gentlemen are superstars on the field of play this week. Jason Collins had zero points to go with his five fouls and two rebounds in a game against the Lakers and Michael Sam, though the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC, ran a 4.9 40 yard dash and only mustered 17 reps on the bench in the combine (not unimpressive as I can't do those things but compared to other athletes). The reason a lifetime NBA role player and a projected middle round pick in the upcoming NFL draft are making news is because they've done all of this while being openly gay.

Jason Collins came out in the NBA offseason and found himself without a team for the current NBA schedule until this week when a short-handed Brooklyn Nets team signed him to a 10 day contract. His stat line in his first game this year was certainly unremarkable but the fact that he was the first openly gay player to compete in one of America's largest sporting leagues is a big story. Michael Sam is taking a different path. He came out to the public after having a stellar year for the Missouri Tigers and ultimately winning that player of the year award. Despite criticism from his own father, Michael potentially jeopardized his draft stock so that he could come out to the world. Apparently his teammates at Mizzou had already known and were supportive of him. 

Unfortunately, I am unsure if this will continue to be the case. I'm  not so sure everyone thinks this is as "super" as others. Professional sport leagues, in some regards, are the last bastion of playground mentality left in America. Though there are certainly a fair share of people who find being gay immoral and aren't ok with it, it seems that this group is more concentrated in locker rooms. It saddens me to think that we live in a world not progressive enough to accept anyone for who they are and often let a 2000 year old book dictate what we believe (despite the fact that it say to love one another above all else).

This blog isn't meant to be political, nor is it meant to cast any dispersion against religion. This is merely a reminder that sport is a distraction. A luxury we all have and invest in. Does it really matter who plays it? It just strikes me as odd that people have no problem cheering for and paying money to specifically watch a noted philanderer, domestic abuser, or a cheater but draw the line when someone chooses a different lifestyle of their own. And worse probably perpetuate said hate to any ill-conceived offspring who don't know any better than what dad tells them.

I know I'm not the first but I applaud these two guys. It takes guts to say what they have said and be judged, because that is what is happening, not by their stat line but by their lifestyle. And I hope I'm around long enough to where a player announcing they're lifestyle choice isn't a big deal to the press because it's more common than not. That'd be super.

We'll leave it there for today. Feel free to leave your comments and don't forget to follow us on Twitter @GRHuddle and like us on Facebook as well.