Gay Athletes in Professional Sports: The Dawn of a New Era

We are getting extremely close to an era where gay athletes will be able to be open about their sexuality, and its going to change the sports culture and in turn, American culture for the better.

It's been long accepted that the most popular sports in America are dominated by males, and that participation in them is part of what makes someone a "man", or "masculine". The idea of sports being a way to showcase masculinity has been a deterrent on the progression of accepting homosexuality in our culture. In the wake of the Mike Rice incident, where he used homophobic slurs in moments of frustration towards his players, homophobia in pro and college sports is beginning to get more attention.

That's the sad thing. Why does it always get dismissed when people talk about using the word fag in a sport setting? It's like the use of the "n' word, and how these words are accepted in certain settings and when used by certain people. While we all look at Mike Rice and talk about how horrible it is that a coach would act so extreme, we all know its so much more common than we want to acknowledge. This is someone who has a reputation and works in a major market in New York City. Think about those coaches and players who discourage homosexuality in small towns who are coaching youth and high school sports. It is so much more than just treating players equally. Getting rid of homophobia in sports could help towards breaking stereotypes, and reducing the amount of bullying that occurs in schools.

Pro athletes have to feel so obligated to act macho that those who are gay can't even be open with their own teammates. These people are competing at the highest level of sport, what more do they need to  prove to anyone? It's absurd the amount of stereotypes that surround homosexuals, and the discredit towards a man's ability to compete in a masculine sport because they are gay.

Are people going to stop liking their favorite teams or watching their favorite sport because they know that there are gay players? Please.

Brendan Ayanbadejo, a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker said in a recent interview with the Baltimore Sun that it is possible that we may see multiple NFL players come out very soon. "We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now, and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out. Of course, there would be backlash. If they could share the backlash, it would be more positive.''

I like the idea of it being more than one player, because the media attention can then be diluted and it can be diffused more quickly. One thing I would imagine stopping a player from coming out while playing is that not only do they not want that attention for themselves, they don't want media attention to distract their teammates and coaches. Do you think if a player told their team they were going to come out publicly, that the team would encourage it? It scares me that I don't know they would. Who wants the media circus surrounding that? It's the same reason teams are going to be scared to draft Manti Te'o in a few weeks.

If and when it happens, I really hope that we can just take it in stride and applaud those with the courage to be the first through the wall, and then carry on. People have better things to spend their time worrying about, and it would be a relief to finally be able to stop the unnecessary speculation.

Monday Morning Sports Headlines: Michigan's Revival

It may just be a matter of coincidence that I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 series on Netflix, and stumbled upon the "Fab Five" documentary, or it could be destiny.

Twenty years have passed since Michigan last reached the Final Four, and they have finally made their return after embarrassing the talented Florida Gators. Nik Stauskas showed up big as a freshman, and Trey Burke reiterated why he is an NBA point guard. Michigan continues to display why they deserved better than a four seed (if anyone actually cares about seed).

I think those warmup shirts were appropriate for Trey Burke.

Yes it's more of a shocker that Wichita is in the Final Four, but I think this Michigan team has stolen the weekend. Their incomprehensible comeback against Kansas followed by an overtime win were the talk of anybody's Friday night. They also had the toughest road to the Final Four, playing a five, one, and three seed to get there.

While the days of Glenn Robinson, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and Chris Webber are in the rear view, it only seems fitting that Robinson's son and this current generation of Michigan players has held the rest of the nation captive. This team has shown the rest of the nation that a team can overcome sanctions and return to national prominence. Even though the sanctions are comparatively light to those that have been placed on other major programs, the reputation of the program and history were compromised. This is also coming in a power conference, where Michigan has to compete with Michigan State for in-state players, and Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Indiana for players in the Midwest.

I realize I may be dramatizing their "return", but really what I am trying to stress is that programs that have had a historically bad reputation or little success should look at Michigan as a symbol of "hope". In an era where the rich get even richer in college athletics, a Michigan and a VCU are prime examples of how good coaching and development can establish a program.

So, from a B1G perspective, be patient - Minnesota, Northwestern, Iowa, and especially Penn State. Your time in the cellar may not last forever, and there is always potential to break the spell of perennial mediocrity. Just look at Michigan and Indiana.

Programming Note* - I will be doing a section every Monday on whatever I deem the biggest sports story of the past week. Carry on :)