First Openly Gay Athlete (in a major sport)

[scottwildcat]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

He is much more likely. The NBA as a league has prided it self in trying to be progressive. Stern will put pressure on owners to sign him. IMO.

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

All this "hero" talk is pretty stupid if you ask me. Good for him, but a hero? Nah

[michigancat]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

He is much more likely. The NBA as a league has prided it self in trying to be progressive. Stern will put pressure on owners to sign him. IMO.

There's no way of knowing. But I do know that assuming he did this just for publicity is pretty douchey.

[scottwildcat]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

He is much more likely. The NBA as a league has prided it self in trying to be progressive. Stern will put pressure on owners to sign him. IMO.

There's no way of knowing. But I do know that assuming he did this just for publicity is pretty douchey.

I agree there is no way of knowing, I also agree with you, it is douchey for thinking publicity was a reason he did it (I think there are multiple reasons why he did it), but at the same time I put myself in said douchey category.

[mocat]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

He is much more likely. The NBA as a league has prided it self in trying to be progressive. Stern will put pressure on owners to sign him. IMO.

assuming he did this just for publicity is pretty douchey.

More cynical than douchey

[Skipper44]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

I could see the Lakers signing him, the are going to suck out loud if they don't amnesty Kobe (they won't) and could use any positive pub they can get to distract from the abomination on the floor.

[8manpick]

This guy is going to be rich as eff forever. Book deals, appearance fees, etc. for life.

[EMAWmeister]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

No, but if the decision came down to him vs another 3rd string center of equal value, I bet he gets the nod.  Signing a player who is openly gay and considered by many to be a pioneer is great publicity for a team.

[mocat]

This guy is going to be rich as eff forever. Book deals, appearance fees, etc. for life.

doubt it

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

This guy is going to be rich as eff forever. Book deals, appearance fees, etc. for life.

doubt it

like Andre Rison rich?

[Belvis Noland]

This guy is going to be rich as eff forever. Book deals, appearance fees, etc. for life.

What would his book be about?  Other than the NBA locker room descriptos, of course. 

[steve dave]

there is an incredible amount of social media butthurt over the president calling him and people saying he was brave.

[michigancat]

there is an incredible amount of social media butthurt over the president calling him and people saying he was brave.

"In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness" Robert Griffin III

this has to be what RGIII was talking about.

[steve dave]

there is an incredible amount of social media butthurt over the president calling him and people saying he was brave.

"In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness" Robert Griffin III

this has to be what RGIII was talking about.

has to be

[Rage Against the McKee]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

No, but if the decision came down to him vs another 3rd string center of equal value, I bet he gets the nod.  Signing a player who is openly gay and considered by many to be a pioneer is great publicity for a team.

I'm not sure that the positive publicity outweighs the potential media shitstorm when one of his homophobe teammates voices his opinion on twitter. If he finds a team, it will be because he is the best option for that team on the court. No NBA team is going to waste a salary and a roster spot on this guy if they have another option that is better.

[EMAWmeister]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

No, but if the decision came down to him vs another 3rd string center of equal value, I bet he gets the nod.  Signing a player who is openly gay and considered by many to be a pioneer is great publicity for a team.

I'm not sure that the positive publicity outweighs the potential media shitstorm when one of his homophobe teammates voices his opinion on twitter. If he finds a team, it will be because he is the best option for that team on the court. No NBA team is going to waste a salary and a roster spot on this guy if they have another option that is better.

[Skipper44]

there is an incredible amount of social media butthurt over the president calling him and people saying he was brave.

"In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness" Robert Griffin III

this has to be what RGIII was talking about.

has to be

I believe that particular butthurt maybe related to this http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-may-push-washington-redskins-into-washington-redtails/2013/04/30/456cb72c-b1a7-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

Can you imagine the outrage and vitriol if this ended up being a hoax?  OMG, the left would end up making the Klan look like pacifists.

 

Also, lol at the michicat and Dave with RGIII comments

[michigancat]

Can you imagine the outrage and vitriol if this ended up being a hoax?  OMG, the left would end up making the Klan look like pacifists.

 

Also, lol at the michicat and Dave with RGIII comments

lol

[Cartierfor3]

I wonder who will be the first one I've heard of.

[MakeItRain]

(because I agree with Collins likely using this for major publicity. )

you think he's not really gay?

He is probably gay, but (no pun) he will probably be on a team next year for sure now.

I don't think he's more or less likely than he would otherwise. The NBA doesn't hand out roster spots for novelty.

He is much more likely. The NBA as a league has prided it self in trying to be progressive. Stern will put pressure on owners to sign him. IMO.

assuming he did this just for publicity is pretty douchey.

More cynical than douchey

No its douchey, maybe even more than that. This was the biggest decision of his life and not only does saying he was doing this for publicity trivialize what he struggled with his entire life, but its also calling him a liar. Very douchey.

[MakeItRain]

This is a fantastic thread.

But chalk me up as someone who is asking why this is such a big deal. 

I guess I ask because for one reason or another I've been around quite a few gay people in my life.   Neighbors, co-workers, customers, friends . . . and it just doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Talk to those gay people about it if you want to understand why its a big deal. Human rights advancement can never be oversold.

[MakeItRain]

Is that it?

did you get educated on the bible?

 

Just on certain parts, like a judgmental moral buffet. Hey pw and muffin, how are the unshorn beards and the uncut hair going? Shouldn't be itchy anymore but I'm guessing all that hair stinks, literally and figuratively, in the summer

[nicname]

Collins doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would do something like this for personal gain, notoriety or anything of that kind. 

[_33]

This is a fantastic thread.

But chalk me up as someone who is asking why this is such a big deal. 

I guess I ask because for one reason or another I've been around quite a few gay people in my life.   Neighbors, co-workers, customers, friends . . . and it just doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Talk to those gay people about it if you want to understand why its a big deal. Human rights advancement can never be oversold.

How does this advance human rights?