Michael Sam Says He Is Gay; May Become First Publicly Gay Player in N.F.L.

This has definitely spiced up the combine.
Better storyline than somebody deciding not to throw, which has been the usual fare.

 

The reporter could go to the God Squad present in every NFL locker room.
I wonder what Kurt Warner and Trent Dilfer think.

 

If this is true, then it was irresponsible reporting. Missouri didn't open its arms collectively. Some cared. Some didn't. The same will happen in the NFL. So what is the media's objective here - to push this guy out there as a spectacle, or cause with himself? Is the cart pulling the horse?

 

Where would the most inhospitable environment be for Sam to land?

 

I have about 14 great -- I mean, really good -- answers for that. But ...

Thwarted.

 

I think Philadelphia would be a tough sell.
Tampa-St. Pete is not extraordinarily gay-friendly.
Atlanta and Chicago have huge gay communities.
Obviously San Francisco and Miami would go in that bag, as well.

 

Cleveland.

But that's got nothing to do with his sexuality.

 

The Jets?
Bunch of dipshit fans who have no problems turning on their own players, plus the New York media horde in addition to the national one. And, if he's a marginal player, the New York horde will have no problems shifting gears from the "First gay player! Yay!" stories to "This guy sucks and is an attention whore!" stories as smoothly as a Ferrari going from fourth to fifth.
The one plus is that the franchise is used to being a circus. There's enough other stupid crap going on that Sam would just be a piece of the chaos, and not the focal point like he might be in some other places.

 

Sounds like the reporters were closing in. From Jon Wertheim:

"Word of Sam's intentions to come out spread beyond Mizzou. Last month, an SI writer approached Sam at the Senior Bowl and asked whether he would like to collaborate on a piece about his sexuality. Sam politely demurred, but he hardly appeared troubled or surprised by the inquiry. He assured the writer that it was okay that he had asked and added matter-of-factly, "It's going to be a big deal no matter who I do it with."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20140209/michael-sam-missouri-tigers/#ixzz2syjeLfP8

I guess it's a good thing that Caleb Hannan was not on this story.

 

I hope he doesn't end up in San Francisco, only because it would be so damn stereotype reinforcing.

 

How long til we hear calls for him to be invited to sit in the green room at the draft?

 

Everyone is so focused on the Draft, and I get that the Draft is a sporting event unto itself now. But to me, the big moment is when he steps on an NFL field for a regular-season game.

Jason Collins, with the NBA's smaller rosters and draconian salary guidelines, never did.