The words have finally been uttered.
The words that many US professional athletes probably thought about telling the world everyday of their professional careers, but held back, have finally been spoken.
Today, Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay active male athlete in any major United States professional sport. Yes, the same hard nose All-American basketball player from Stanford who will look to play his 13th season in the NBA next year. The same guy who has battled future Hall of Famers such as Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal and appeared in two NBA Finals throughout his journeyman career in the world’s finest basketball league.
Not even his twin brother Jarron had any idea when Jason broke the news last summer.
“He was downright astounded,” Jason Collins recalled, according to the Sports Illustrated article that will appear in the May 6 edition in which Collins officially tells the public he is gay.
So, Jason Collins is gay. Who cares?
The answer should be no one and that is why Jason Collins coming out is such a big stride for the world of sports.
One’s sexuality should not interfere with them wanting to pursue a career in sports, or for that matter, any career path they choose. Why does it matter if the star quarterback on a high school football team is gay or the kid who rides the bench on the middle basketball team, but plays just as hard as the other twelve members?
If Jason Collins had come out 10 years ago the overwhelming support that he is receiving today would not have been the same. Homosexuals seemed shunned from sports 10 years ago. Even Collins mentions in the Sports Illustrated article that he could not have come out in 2003.
“I’m glad I am coming out in 2013 rather than 2003,” stated Collins. “The climate has shifted; public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go.”
We live in a nation where it has taken until recent years for 9 states including the District of Columbia to allow legal gay marriage. In 2003, no states allowed gay marriage under state laws. Now there is nine states and Rhode Island is soon to become the 10th. Our nation is taking great strides to equality, and the world of sports is next.
Thank you, Jason Collins. That is how things should be.
When the news broke that Jason Collins was gay today, you knew there were going to be many people throwing out homosexual slurs and ignorant comments all throughout the Internet. Unfortunately, that has become part of the Internet. But what shocked myself and many others was the support from some of our nation’s biggest icons. These are a few tweets to support Jason Collins:
“Proud of . Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others ” -Lakers guard Kobe Bryant
“I’m proud to call Jason Collins a friend.” -Former U.S. President Bill Clinton
“So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! -mo” -First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama
“Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate. ” -Knicks guard Jason Kidd
So, Kobe Bryant, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Jason Kidd are among hundreds of others have no problem with Jason Collins being gay? I am most certain they will not have a problem with any other athlete, professional or not, being gay and I hope the rest of our nation will follow in their footsteps.
It is unfortunate that our nation’s sport culture has been nurtured to the point where we do not think homosexuals can fully compete with people who are straight. A culture where being called “gay” is an insult, meant to imply a flaw or weakness. But that is why Jason Collins coming out is so important.
Because Jason Collins is tough. The myth of homosexuals not being as tough is simply not true. Collins claims in his Sports Illustrated article he, “once fouled a player so hard that he (the opposing player) had to leave the arena on a stretcher.”
Jason Collins would beat every straight man in America who is not in the NBA in game of 1 on 1.
But of course holding your own in the post against Shaq or committing a hard foul does not really make you tough. Coming out as gay in a profession when no one has ever had is tough. Collins just opened the door for thousands of Americans. So many dreams are still alive because of his courage. Collins could have suited up for a team for his 13th season next year, kept his mouth shut like he did for 33 years, and went on his merry way. But Jason Collins realized how important he could be to the world of sports.
He is courageous. A leader. Everything you want in an athlete. By simply uttering, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he changed millions of lives.
So as thousands of aspiring athletes who are holding in secrets, like Collins did for the majority of his life, wrap up their day today, they can be at peace and say thanks to Jason Collins. Their dreams are more alive than ever.
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