Skip to main content

For No One To Care - Isn't That We Want For Gay Athletes Like Michael Sam?


With the recent announcement from Michael Sam of the University of Missouri, the sociological topics of whether professional sports are prepared for gay athletes is at the surface of discussion and thought. It's a valid question as our society continues to integrate and accept homosexuals in the many facets in which we operate. 

Sam, a potential future NFL'er, announced to his teammates prior to this collegiate football season that he was gay. To the respect of his teammates, it never became an issue as 1. not one of them decided to leak it, and 2. it never truly mattered to them. As always in sports, the bottom line is, can you play? And Sam, a projected 3rd, 4th, or 5th rounder, can. Performance will always remain the driving force of sports.

The big deal however comes with whether GMs are up for the conflict that may come with Sam disrupting any locker room unity and the media circus attention it will bring. Sam hasn't even played a down in the league and he is already one of the NFL's most household names because of this development. 

Other sports and leagues such as the MLB and NBA are now also confronted with this issue. 

I never once bought into the announcement by Jason Collins. Nothing against him, I just felt it really didn't do much for anyone. Him claiming his hand at being a homosexual athlete didn't really move the needle as he was at the end of his career, and the fact that he was someone who barely could keep a spot in the NBA. Not looking to be rude, but it is what it is - performance driven. In Shaw's case, it's highly relevant. His professional career is ahead of him.

In my opinion, this entire situation once again just seems more grandeur that it should be. More excess, complicated, fluff from our media who continues to overextend the "struggle" of the homosexual movement. 

Just my honest, non-pc, opinion. Just bloggin' truth. I think we are at the point as a nation where the outcry against gays is far and away much less than it used to be, and ultimately, it is now considered ill-mannered in our society if you did so. No one will actively seek out against gays being included in our society. 

Now you may say, "those people won't say it publicly, but there are still plenty who are uncomfortable with it and will keep it private". My retort would be that our society does that with every and anything that separates us as people. Racism. Religion. Politics. Income. Just to name a few. 

I still find the idea of "acceptance" in professional sports more about the leniency and lack of accountability in the culture in professional sports than it is regarding "how a gay player fits in". A culture we have condoned for years, especially in the highly pardoned NFL in various sociological aspects, cannot currently accept gays into a locker room without change. In my opinion that is the true root of conflict here. 

But honestly, seriously, with me laying all of my chips out on the table - is this really a big deal? Like, really, a big deal?

I'm glad Sam is able to truly be himself, and that's all I could ever ask for someone who is indeed leading a life that may have detractors who don't approve. However, I'm still skeptical of the purpose of coming out or announcing this publicly.

It just seems, well...counterproductive.

After all, (again, pc-wall removed), I don't care anymore. I'm just tired about hearing who is "coming out". I actually don't care who is gay, straight, or whatever your sexual orientation is. Isn't the idea to one day get to a point where it doesn't matter, to get to a point where we judge others by the content of their character? Yet, we continually as a society attempt to do just the opposite.

After all, didn't we reach our goal of what we truly want for society when Sam came out to his teammates and it didn't matter a bit in their season, in their athletic culture, or even within the brotherhood of their team? Isn't that what we truly are looking to accomplish moving forward? Isn't this the real aspect that should be celebrated in this story?

A gay man on a football team, no one cared, and no one even batted an eye to cause a discussion.

Because in the end, it didn't matter. He was just another different individual among many who battled in the trenches with his teammates. And that's what we want for our future as a society. And again, that is the bottom line in the performance-driven world of sports.

Hats off to the University of Missouri's football team who showed us what we as a society are striving towards.

Ironically, Shaw went from a football player who happened to be gay, to the gay football player.

I hate to say it, but this seems a bit backwards in my eyes, no?

Feedback always welcomed.
Labels:

Recently Read Posts

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 11/15/20

  3 Up 1. Coronavirus Vaccine? - It's here...sort of. Regardless of the semantics, the announcement of a vaccine produced by Phizer that is 90% effective - Flu Shots are 40-60% effective!! - has some serious promise. As the virus hits a second wave here in the Fall, the news coming from big Pharma is starting to make this pandemic feel like it's in the 4th quarter. Regardless, don't be stupid - wear your mask.  2. Michelle Ng - THE first female General Manager in baseball! I just love it. Let's forget that Ng has tons of experience and success throughout her career and has only been given this opportunity at 52 when farrrrrrrrrr more white males with less have been given GM opportunities as early as in their late twenties. No, no, I won't remind you of the inequalities that are at play here. I'm just happy Ng is given her opportunity, and that baseball is progressing forward - something it always struggles with.  3. Chris Nikic - You want an inspiring story? Ho
Read more

Impact No Surrender 2023 Review: "Interested in where the Product is Going"

I've fallen behind on my Impact Wrestling viewing, but honestly, that's okay. For viewership and enjoyment, yes. Not so well for posting a review for readership long after it's noteworthy or relevant. But whatevs, that's just where I am in life. Wrestling is much more fun removed from the restraints and influence of the criticism and impact (no pun intended) of the current time. That's just me. You can probably thank social media. Moving on, No Surrender 2023 continues Impact's progress into the new year. The product is still solid and consistent with a nice blend of characters and wrestlers moving in and out of the main event scene, along with a fresh batch of a resurgence of characters and occurrences. Nothing says that more than Rich Swann vs. Josh Alexander.  No Surrender was a solid event, but it does leave me extremely interested in where the product is going, or should I say planning, for 2023. I don't want to say that Alexander's title reign has
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 3/24/22

3 Up 1. Peres Jepchirchir & Evans Chebet - I'm always amazed at the accomplishment of marathon runners, especially those that win. The times are still so impressive. Congratulations to both Jepchirchir and Chebet on their victories at the Boston Marathon.  2. Red Wolf Pups - An odd "up" for this week, sure. Regardless, I very much appreciate the story of a rare species on the brink of extinction suddenly finding hope in the birth of four babies in the wild. IT just gives me hope that our world isn't teetering on the brink of the worst. 
Read more

WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 Review: "Pumped for Wrestlemania"

The WWE continued the massive machine moving towards Wrestlemania with this Elimination Chamber event. It was likely the most anticipated Elimination Chamber for this fan in recent memory, and it didn't disappoint in any way. This has been the trend for the company since Triple H has taken over creative (just my opinion, though, not a massive hot take).  Of course, like many others, I was hooked because of the payoff (or first of many to come?) of the highly acclaimed Sami Zayn/Bloodline story with the eventual clashing of Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. Also, it should probably be said, that Roman Reigns is just money (sorry, Carmella). The dude just is. He's at a level where he is a must-watch and feels enough like a rare, yet, big deal, whenever he is stepping into the ring.  I've often said the oversaturation of the wrestlers is currently a plague in pro wrestling. Roman is the perfect example of that holding some water.  Nonetheless, here are some of my quick thoughts on t
Read more