Jason Collins Becomes First Active NBA Player to Come Out
Apr 29, 2013
by Liz Raftery


Jason Collins has become the first male athlete to come out while being active in a major professional sport, writing in this week's Sports Illustrated, "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."

Collins, who played for the Washington Wizards for the 2012-13 season and is now a free agent, said it's a distinction he reluctantly embraces, but one he views as necessary.

"I'm happy to start the conversation," he writes in SI. "I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."





The 7-foot-tall center says he's already come out to his family and friends, including his twin brother Jarron, also an NBA player. But recent events, including the Boston Marathon bombings and the Supreme Court hearings about gay marriage, spurred him to go public.

"Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?" he writes.

"The strain of hiding my sexuality became almost unbearable in March ... Less then three miles from my apartment, nine jurists argued about my happiness and my future."





Still, Collins said he waited until the season was over because he "didn't want to answer questions and draw attention to myself."

Collins admits that he has "no idea" how his teammates, other NBA players and fans will react to his announcement. "I hope for the best, but plan for the worst," he writes.

"I hope fans will respect me for raising my hand. ... If I'm up against an intolerant player, I'll set a pretty hard pick on him. And then move on."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Jason-Collins-Comes-Out-First-Active-Gay-NBA-Player-1064707.aspx

Jason Collins Becomes First Active NBA Player to Come Out
Apr 29, 2013
by Liz Raftery
,,,"I hope fans will respect me for raising my hand. ... If I'm up against an intolerant player, I'll set a pretty hard pick on him. And then move on."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Jason-Collins-Comes-Out-First-Active-Gay-NBA-Player-1064707.aspx


What a jackass. Now he threatens to set a "hard pick" on players HE deems to be intolerant? Brilliant, Jason... just come out and tell David Stern that you're going after certain guys to try to hurt them now.

He should be careful what he asks for though... what if some guys decide to foul HIM pretty hard now? Well, that is, if he can ever get his 3 points and 3 rebounds a game off the bench. It might be fun to see how Stern's office handles these things, with political correctness being what it is now.

Is the gay community disappointed that the first guy to come out is such a bottom-of-the-barrel player?

Also, it might be interesting to see if this prolongs his career. He's 34 years old, and not a producer at all. But will teams be hesitant to cut such players if they're openly homosexual? That opens the door to all kinds of accusations.

I can't stand gays. I don't understand how men that are gay don't like women. Women are the most beautiful thing God created and for gay men not to like them is sick. LOL@Tweety calling Jason a bottom of the barrel player hahahahahahahahahahahaha. He does suck and i wish he would quit playing. Washington Wizards players are probably gonna not be bothered with him if he's still with the team next season. I bet when the players are taking a shower, they're gonna be looking at him to see if he's looking at their butts hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. John Amechi who's a former NBA player is the first NBA player to say he's gay.

Just wow at these posts :rolleyes: It doesn’t matter if he’s a superstar or the “bottom of the barrel” player. A black pro athlete had the guts to come out. His career may not have been spectacular but it has been steady. According to his current and former teammates he’s a good guy and a great teammate. If he is not picked up by a team it won’t because of his sexuality, it will be because of his limited skills. When the headlines are about an athlete’s personal life, a lot of the stories are about infidelity, domestic abuse, attempted rape, drugs, assault, not paying child support to their 5 baby mamas, etc. This guy’s only “fault” is that he is gay. Guess who gets my respect.

J...When the headlines are about an athlete’s personal life, a lot of the stories are about infidelity, domestic abuse, attempted rape, drugs, assault, not paying child support to their 5 baby mamas, etc. This guy’s only “fault” is that he is gay. Guess who gets my respect.


Very true, guys that just live their (personal) lives quietly don't get headlines, usually just the jerks do, as you described... running around on their wives, drugs, etc...

I still think it was a jackass thing to say about going out and setting a hard pick on someone just because he (Collins) deems that player to be "intolerant".

But I wasn't the one who made a big deal out of this. The left makes a big deal out of it. ESPN makes a headline story out of it. All I really said was that the guy sucks as a basketball player.

What I'd like to see is articles/columns written about Collins over the years that criticized his play on the court... I know there must be SOMEONE at ESPN who has criticized this guy as a basketball player, and I guarantee that Collins' play will never be criticized again (not that there's any guarantee he'll still be in the league next year, but if he is, his play on the court will most likely never be criticized again).

Jason Collins Becomes First Active NBA Player to Come Out
Apr 29, 2013
by Liz Raftery...Still, Collins said he waited until the season was over because he "didn't want to answer questions and draw attention to myself."


Who's he kidding? Doesn't want to draw attention to himself? I thought that was the reason he kept quiet all this time! What's going on here?

I can't stand gays. I don't understand how men that are gay don't like women. Women are the most beautiful thing God created and for gay men not to like them is sick. LOL@Tweety calling Jason a bottom of the barrel player hahahahahahahahahahahaha. He does suck and i wish he would quit playing. Washington Wizards players are probably gonna not be bothered with him if he's still with the team next season. I bet when the players are taking a shower, they're gonna be looking at him to see if he's looking at their butts hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. John Amechi who's a former NBA player is the first NBA player to say he's gay.

Thanks for spreading the hate, loser. :rolleyes:

Considering that you have admitted to "paying for it" from female prostitutes, who the hell are you to judge??

I'd rather pay women for sex than be gay hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

I'd rather pay women for sex than be gay hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Wow. Your mother must be so proud of you and your success. NOT!!

My parents don't know i used to deal with prostitutes and i would never tell them that LOL.

My parents don't know i used to deal with prostitutes and i would never tell them that LOL.

I'm sure that they simply assumed you had to pay for it. Lets face it, they've known you longer than anyone else.

BTW, since roughly 25% of the "female" prostitutes out there are actually transvestites, there's a significant chance that you've "played for the other team".

Think about it. A lot.

^^^^^^

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

This thread needs to be locked since it is disgusting about IsiahThomas's comments

Jacqui-Michel -
only five baby mamas? NBA players must be slowing down then. Sorry, I couldn't resist posting this.

On a more serious note, from the PTI show it was mentioned that the NBA players are more tolerant of gays than the NFL or MLB. I didn't know that.

I would think Dennis Rodman would be the first.

But really...can't we ALL get along? Jason Collins was the 1st to admit and spoke-out, Chris Broussard may have sounded a little extreme, but like Collins has a voice.

I'm just tired of how some people can have a voice and others can't...like the Religious Right are to be told shut up!

I would think Dennis Rodman would be the first.

Cross-dressing does not equal gay.

One thing this episode proves... the left loves even the one-percenters, as long as they're also homosexuals.

One of the biggest benefits to players like Jason Collins coming out, is that it helps to break the stigma that all gay guys are "girly" or "feminine," or that they aren't "real men." Because of these stereotypes, it's particularly taboo for athletes to be open. Many of these men even go as far as dating women as a cover, for fear of being questioned or ridiculed by teammates. This will help a lot of young up and coming athletes be true to themselves, no longer fear what might happen to them if they were to "come out," and let them realize that it doesn't make them any less of a man.

And there's also another gay stereotype that some people like to believe:

All gays are pedophiles

That's great! I hope the league and team respects his decision to come out.

Cross-dressing does not equal gay.

Sometime it does...but I realized that Dennis Rodman is just a shocker like Howard Stern, okay!

Rodman was a lot of things, but gay wasn't one of them.

One of the biggest benefits to players like Jason Collins coming out, is that it helps to break the stigma that all gay guys are "girly" or "feminine," or that they aren't "real men." Because of these stereotypes, it's particularly taboo for athletes to be open. Many of these men even go as far as dating women as a cover, for fear of being questioned or ridiculed by teammates. This will help a lot of young up and coming athletes be true to themselves, no longer fear what might happen to them if they were to "come out," and let them realize that it doesn't make them any less of a man.


I don't know... 7 feet tall... 255 pounds... career average of 3 points and 3 rebounds... I mean, I could say something, but I won't... yet

Btw, what happened to "a person's private life is their own business"? Now, all of a sudden, we HAVE to know EVERYONE'S sexual preferences?

Collins was apparently engaged to this woman for something like 8 years...

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/jason-collins-fiance-carolyn-moos-writing-book.html


So far, no outrage from the left about the way Collins treated this woman, stringing her along like this for 8 years when it was never gonna happen. I don't think any woman deserves to be treated like that, but hey, that's just me.

Well I no interest in watching a bunch of gay men play basketball

So that's my opinion and I can care less who disagrees

Well I no interest in watching a bunch of gay men play basketball

So that's my opinion and I can care less who disagrees


According to Charles Barkley you have already watched a bunch of gay men playing baseball.

According to Charles Barkley you have already watched a bunch of gay men playing baseball.


I know

Reggie Miller
Chris Bosh
Serge Ibaka
Russell Westbrook
Derron Williams

Collins was apparently engaged to this woman for something like 8 years...

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/jason-collins-fiance-carolyn-moos-writing-book.html


So far, no outrage from the left about the way Collins treated this woman, stringing her along like this for 8 years when it was never gonna happen. I don't think any woman deserves to be treated like that, but hey, that's just me.
Any woman who is going to be strung along for EIGHT YEARS with a so called engagement is an IDIOT.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaqui-Michel
According to Charles Barkley you have already watched a bunch of gay men playing baseball.



I know

Reggie Miller
Chris Bosh
Serge Ibaka
Russell Westbrook
Derron Williams


I'm confused. I'm assuming the original poster meant to say basketball and not baseball, right?

I'm confused. I'm assuming the original poster meant to say basketball and not baseball, right?


Yeah I think he meant to say basketball


I left one off the list


Hersey hawkins

Any woman who is going to be strung along for EIGHT YEARS with a so called engagement is an IDIOT.WRONG. There's no rule about how short or long an engagement should last. But a man who proposes to his girlfriend with no intention of marrying her and who keeps lying to her is truly a douche. It's sad how the media bends over backwards for gay rights and won't report on the innocent people they hurt.

I know

Reggie Miller
Chris Bosh
Serge Ibaka
Russell Westbrook
Derron Williams

Wait...Chris Bosh from the Heat is gay? Is that why LeBron went to Miami to play with Bosh...or was it Wade?

Anyhow...I'd like to see LeBron James come-out...unless he isn't gay.

PS-Why does it seem that everytime we see a man or woman who doesn't have the opposite sex, we assume they're gay anymore?

Wait...Chris Bosh from the Heat is gay? Is that why LeBron went to Miami to play with Bosh...or was it Wade?

Anyhow...I'd like to see LeBron James come-out...unless he isn't gay.

PS-Why does it seem that everytime we see a man or woman who doesn't have the opposite sex, we assume they're gay anymore?


Everyone I listed obviously gay but just hasn't come out

Collins was apparently engaged to this woman for something like 8 years...

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/jason-collins-fiance-carolyn-moos-writing-book.html


So far, no outrage from the left about the way Collins treated this woman, stringing her along like this for 8 years when it was never gonna happen. I don't think any woman deserves to be treated like that, but hey, that's just me.

I don't agree with what he did, but this is exactly why we have to stop portraying homosexuality as wrong and heterosexuality as right. Both should be equal. Obviously Collins had a choice in how he treated this woman, but if not for society's negative portrayal of homosexuality, Collins would never have felt that he had to live his life in denial (straight), and this would have never happened.

Btw, what happened to "a person's private life is their own business"? Now, all of a sudden, we HAVE to know EVERYONE'S sexual preferences?

See my original post. It applies to everyone in the public eye, not just professional athletes.

if not for society's negative portrayal of homosexuality, Collins would never have felt that he had to live his life in denial (straight), and this would have never happened.What society thinks does not excuse his actions ONE BIT. His "fiance" did not deserve to be treated like crap, and that is all HIM being inconsiderate of her, leading her on. Don't try to blame society for a thoughtless person's actions. By the way, the media/Hollywood is overwhelmingly pro-gay and bashes anyone who doesn't support gay rights. An example, the Miss America winner from a few years ago was asked her opinion on gay marriage (she didn't bring it up) and Perez Hilton ripped into her afterwards for giving an honest answer to a question he had no business asking. Her title was taken away for other reasons but it probably wouldn't have been investigated if she had given the politically correct answer. The gay rights crowd wants tolerance but doesn't give ANY to those who disagree with them.

What society thinks does not excuse his actions ONE BIT. His "fiance" did not deserve to be treated like crap, and that is all HIM being inconsiderate of her, leading her on. Don't try to blame society for a thoughtless person's actions. By the way, the media/Hollywood is overwhelmingly pro-gay and bashes anyone who doesn't support gay rights. An example, the Miss America winner from a few years ago was asked her opinion on gay marriage (she didn't bring it up) and Perez Hilton ripped into her afterwards for giving an honest answer to a question he had no business asking. Her title was taken away for other reasons but it probably wouldn't have been investigated if she had given the politically correct answer. The gay rights crowd wants tolerance but doesn't give ANY to those who disagree with them.

Like I said, I don't agree with what he did. As a gay man, I can't even imagine doing it. But then, I've always had supportive family and friends that would never have put pressure on me to not be true to myself. Collins clearly didn't have that. The fact remains, if homosexuality was fully accepted by our society, it wouldn't have happened. I'm not defending what he did, just telling it like it is. P.S., I don't agree with Perez either. From what I've seen of him, he is very hateful in general and certainly doesn't represent the gay community as a whole. In regard to tolerance, no, I don't tolerate people that believe I deserve less rights then the majority.

The editors at Sports Illustrated are gay. Cover and 14 pages in a single issue devoted to a marginally good player... I think they're test-marketing to see if launching a new mag titled Gay Sports would be profitable...!