Feb 24, 2014
It was almost a year ago when Jason Collins came out the closet as the first active gay male professional athlete. He was near the end of his career and was not known as the most productive player. There was a debate if he would be signed to a team this season because of his sexuality. Collins was linked to a few teams but ultimately went unsigned at the beginning of the NBA season.
Now months after being a free agent Jason Collins has signed a ten day contract to play for the Brooklyn Nets. Collins is making history by being openly gay and a professional athlete. The story itself is huge not only for sports but for society in general. In a world where athletes are supposed to be macho men now we have an openly gay man as a professional athlete. Its pretty cool to see someone breaking a stereotype.
A few weeks ago NFL draft prospect Michael Sam came out the closet as well. He was on his way to being the first active gay professional athlete but now with Collins signing he’ll have to be okay with being the second. Collins coming out almost a year ago paved the way for Sam, now there should be more players to come out.
Sam will make a difference on whatever team drafts him, hes a very good football player. Sam being in the NFL should be huge. Now Collins on the other hand is a different case. He never was much of a player and that hasn’t changed. I got caught up in the hype and turned to see the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers play, just to get a look at Collins. All I saw was the same below average player that he always been. It just shows that it really doesn’t matter what someone’s sexual preference is all that matters is how productive they are.
In the end I’m glad to be able to witness history. Years from now when gay athletes are common we can all look back and remember Collins as the man who paved the way.
Everick Davis Jr.
Was good though, it's me Everick Davis Jr. Born and raised in Portsmouth Virginia, I'm currently a senior at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. I watch every sport (not so much golf) but I am huge on the NBA. My favorite players right now are J.R. Smith, Russell Westbrook & Nick Young. Drinking beer and watching sports is my favorite past time and I do it year round! I used to play basketball on the regular until everyone else kept growing and I still stood at 5'6. So that's when I channeled my efforts into becoming the next Stephen A Smith or anything close to that. I currently write for "The Carolinian" newspaper in Greensboro, NC and intern for http://theurbantwist.com/ Random Fact about me, I love anime, my favorite one is One Piece! Second random fact, I got beatz! check me out http://www.reverbnation.com/ielabs
