Other Sports NFT: Jason Collins is teh ghey - Page 25

Planetman · 04-29-2013, 10:26 AM

NTTAWWT

Quote:

Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now

By Jason Collins with Franz Lidz

This story appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated.

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. 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.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I'm a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.

The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. "I've known you were gay for years," she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin. In her presence I ignored my censor button for the first time. She gave me support. The relief I felt was a sweet release. Imagine you're in the oven, baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know -- I baked for 33 years.

When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.

I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."

Prison Bitch · 05-01-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Yeah that's probably true, but maybe people would be interested to hear about you. Why would you want to pick on them?

Who picks on gay people? There's only so many years you can cite the Matthew Shepherd case, or refer to the movie "Philadelphia". (Which wasn't real, Patteu FYI) Were you the one digging furiously through every pro athlete's Twitter trying to find anti-gay comments on this case, only to be left with Larry Johnson's (benign) posts?

It was you, wasn't it?

patteeu · 05-01-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Who picks on gay people? There's only so many years you can cite the Matthew Shepherd case, or refer to the movie "Philadelphia". (Which wasn't real, Patteu FYI) Were you the one digging furiously through every pro athlete's Twitter trying to find anti-gay comments on this case, only to be left with Larry Johnson's (benign) posts?

It was you, wasn't it?

I don't know who picks on them. You're the one who brought it up. Were you talking about Matthew Shepard or something else? I took your post to mean that you thought picking on them was justified. Did I misunderstand?

BTW, did you ever give me a straight answer about whether or not you're connected to Westboro Baptist?

nychief · 05-01-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Who picks on gay people? There's only so many years you can cite the Matthew Shepherd case, or refer to the movie "Philadelphia". (Which wasn't real, Patteu FYI) Were you the one digging furiously through every pro athlete's Twitter trying to find anti-gay comments on this case, only to be left with Larry Johnson's (benign) posts?

It was you, wasn't it?

what they **** do you know about it? honestly? where in the **** do you live? What this isn't a pressing issue in your trailer park in the Dotte? You are stupid ****ing bigot, who is doth protest too much, methinks.

Prison Bitch · 05-01-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nychief

What this isn't a pressing issue in your trailer park in the Dotte? You are stupid ****ing bigot,.

This quote is just full of awesome.

Prison Bitch · 05-01-2013, 01:24 PM

**gblowfish** · 05-02-2013, 11:24 AM

Don't know if you guys saw this related story....

http://tinyurl.com/d3gwy3r

LeRoy Butler, former safety for the Green Bay Packers, was scheduled to give an anti-bullying presentation at a Wisconsin church this summer, but now the speech is off because he supported Jason Collins for coming out this week. Butler shared the following in a series of tweets today:

Wow, I was schedule to speak at a church in WI, and a member said that the pastor wants to cancel my event, I said ok why?*Then I was told, because I said congrats to Jason Collins on twitter, I said really? we have a contract, he said check the moral cause.*FYI the fee was $8500,then I was told if I removed the tweet, and apologize and ask god forgiveness, I can have the event, I said no.

Then later:

I found out what happened, I guess some parents went to the church and complained about my tweet for support of Jason Collins, so sad.

Butler believes the church’s decision constitutes bullying. In fact, when he tried to resolve the situation with the church’s pastor by saying, “We agree to disagree,” the anti-gay pastor countered, “No, I’m right and you’re wrong.”

**loochy** · 05-02-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Don't know if you guys saw this related story....

http://tinyurl.com/d3gwy3r

LeRoy Butler, former safety for the Green Bay Packers, was scheduled to give an anti-bullying presentation at a Wisconsin church this summer, but now the speech is off because he supported Jason Collins for coming out this week. Butler shared the following in a series of tweets today:

Wow, I was schedule to speak at a church in WI, and a member said that the pastor wants to cancel my event, I said ok why?*Then I was told, because I said congrats to Jason Collins on twitter, I said really? we have a contract, he said check the moral cause.*FYI the fee was $8500,then I was told if I removed the tweet, and apologize and ask god forgiveness, I can have the event, I said no.

Then later:

I found out what happened, I guess some parents went to the church and complained about my tweet for support of Jason Collins, so sad.

Butler believes the church’s decision constitutes bullying. In fact, when he tried to resolve the situation with the church’s pastor by saying, “We agree to disagree,” the anti-gay pastor countered, “No, I’m right and you’re wrong.”

people is messed up

HOWEVER, it IS their money, so they can spend it as they choose

**Baby Lee** · 05-02-2013, 12:13 PM

Question that's been percolating in the back of my mind for a bit.

Why isn't 'you suck' met with as much approbation 'that's gay' or 'you're a bundle of sticks?'

Seems pretty clear that its a reference to the shame of male-male fellatio, rarely is it employed against women or feminine situation.

A shitty athlete sucks. Shitty situations suck. It seems to be at base applied to roughly the same situations as 'that's gay' would be.

Is it the slight remove from direct reference to sexual preference, to more indirect reference to sexual act.

Carlota69 · 05-02-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Don't know if you guys saw this related story....

http://tinyurl.com/d3gwy3r

LeRoy Butler, former safety for the Green Bay Packers, was scheduled to give an anti-bullying presentation at a Wisconsin church this summer, but now the speech is off because he supported Jason Collins for coming out this week. Butler shared the following in a series of tweets today:

Wow, I was schedule to speak at a church in WI, and a member said that the pastor wants to cancel my event, I said ok why?*Then I was told, because I said congrats to Jason Collins on twitter, I said really? we have a contract, he said check the moral cause.*FYI the fee was $8500,then I was told if I removed the tweet, and apologize and ask god forgiveness, I can have the event, I said no.

Then later:

I found out what happened, I guess some parents went to the church and complained about my tweet for support of Jason Collins, so sad.

Butler believes the church’s decision constitutes bullying. In fact, when he tried to resolve the situation with the church’s pastor by saying, “We agree to disagree,” the anti-gay pastor countered, “No, I’m right and you’re wrong.”

Oh the irony...

**Baby Lee** · 05-02-2013, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

She's a stud though

She is as fun as fun to watch as half the NBA, not just the skill but the enthusiasm.

**loochy** · 05-02-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

She is as fun as fun to watch as half the NBA, not just the skill but the enthusiasm.

By the way, I'm a fan of how she decided to "announce" her gayness. She didn't make a big deal out of it, but she didn't hide it. She just do what she do.

**Baby Lee** · 05-02-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

By the way, I'm a fan of how she decided to "announce" her gayness. She didn't make a big deal out of it, but she didn't hide it. She just do what she do.

Yeah, though the visual of male anal sex versus the visual of a chick in a tuxedo is way closer a call in terms of 'yeesh' than it really should be.

05-01-2013, 01:24 PM	#365
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159
Posts: 87,025

05-02-2013, 11:24 AM	#366
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	Don't know if you guys saw this related story.... http://tinyurl.com/d3gwy3r LeRoy Butler, former safety for the Green Bay Packers, was scheduled to give an anti-bullying presentation at a Wisconsin church this summer, but now the speech is off because he supported Jason Collins for coming out this week. Butler shared the following in a series of tweets today: Wow, I was schedule to speak at a church in WI, and a member said that the pastor wants to cancel my event, I said ok why?Then I was told, because I said congrats to Jason Collins on twitter, I said really? we have a contract, he said check the moral cause.FYI the fee was $8500,then I was told if I removed the tweet, and apologize and ask god forgiveness, I can have the event, I said no. Then later: I found out what happened, I guess some parents went to the church and complained about my tweet for support of Jason Collins, so sad. Butler believes the church’s decision constitutes bullying. In fact, when he tried to resolve the situation with the church’s pastor by saying, “We agree to disagree,” the anti-gay pastor countered, “No, I’m right and you’re wrong.”
Posts: 40,830

05-02-2013, 12:13 PM	#368
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6838598	Question that's been percolating in the back of my mind for a bit. Why isn't 'you suck' met with as much approbation 'that's gay' or 'you're a bundle of sticks?' Seems pretty clear that its a reference to the shame of male-male fellatio, rarely is it employed against women or feminine situation. A shitty athlete sucks. Shitty situations suck. It seems to be at base applied to roughly the same situations as 'that's gay' would be. Is it the slight remove from direct reference to sexual preference, to more indirect reference to sexual act. __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
Posts: 95,642

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode