I really don't care.

The social impact is far less than what the media presumes. But Dungy's story is significant because it should have happened years ago. I think Amaechi's situation could have a positive impact on how gay men are viewed. He erases some stereotypes, but his relative obscurity is going to limit the reach of the silent message he has delivered.

I have no problem with the news stories that explain the significance, but I don't need 500 different columnists telling me what this is supposed to mean for society. Intelligent people can decide that for themselves, and the idiots will carry on with their biases and prejudices regardless of the milestones that are accomplished.

 

You just summarized my feelings much better than I did.

 

A current professional athlete coming out of the closet ... now that would be some real news. Don't know when it's going to happen, but it will happen some time.

 

The problem with this statement is:

Nobody -- not even within this business -- is reading 500 different columnists.

They're NOT getting beaten over the head with this story because they're not seeking out 500 different news sources. They're reading 1-2 local papers, maybe 1-2 national papers, usually 1 TV station, maybe the radio and some news sites on the Internet. And depending on how busy their day is/was, it might not even be that.

Within this business, most of us are aware of how many different writers are writing the same story. Outside this business, most people aren't.

 

Wicked, we'd all like to think so. I'm sure you've moved beyond it. I'd certainly like to think I have as well.

But look at some of the comments made by peers, professional athletes and some in the media - at least the ones really offering input and not the ones trying to make names for themselves with contrarian views. The sad part is that, as a whole, we haven't.

The thoughts and evolutions in this country vary widely and wildly by region. In some ways, such as this discussion, I wouldn't be at all surprised if your region was light-years ahead of mine in race and tolerance as a whole.

 

In a league dominated by black athletes, you don't think it's a story that for the first time in the league's history, a black coach has won a championship?

I'm sorry. I think this is a big story. The word you may be looking for: progress.

As for the gay NBA player ...
I don't think it's as big a deal as Dungy, but it's still a story. Would be bigger if he were still in the pros, but if you think this is big, just wait until that asian outfielder (?) in the Indians farm system gets the call up. That'll be big.

 

A_F

The Asian in the Indians farm system you're talking about is actually relief pitcher Kaz Tadano, and he reached the big leagues back in 2004. Outside of the initial report about him doing those films in Japan, I don't really recall much more about it.

 

Yeah, that story faded quickly because the guy sucks....oops.

Seriously, he's not very good and that is a big part of why nobody noticed. He actually has pitched in the majors, 14 games in 2004 and one in 2005.

 

He pitched some. And he caught some.

 

Hey, Dennis Green's been fired again, from still another job.
You still on him for '98?

 

Maybe, A_F. But it's just shoved down our throats repeatedly, so many times, used as a crutch half the time since no one else can come up with a unique angle. That's the problem I have with it. Is it worthy of a sidebar before the game, when you have two black head coaches? Sure. Two weeks of press? Nope.

 

There wasn't anywhere near this kind of hype in 1992 when Cito Gaston became the first black manager to win a World Series, or in 1989 when Cito and Frank Robinson were vying to become the first to win a division pennant.

These things were noted, and deservedly so, and then they were left alone, as they should have been.