My question is... would you be ok with him or any other gay player playing for this team?
Would you stop being a Dolphins fan?
Why wouldn't I be? The reaction to this is incredibly overblown. There have been gay players in the league before. There have been gay players whose teammates knew were gay. The only thing that's different about this situation is that the fans know. Regarding this kid in particular, I doubt his being gay was a hugely guarded secret when he was unanimously selected to be a First Team All-American. His coach had no issue with it; his teammates had no issue with it. This nonsense that some are saying about not being comfortable in the locker room or in the showers is just that: nonsense. He took showers with his teammates in high school and college for years without a problem.
I bet he gets drafted by the Niners...lol!
...because San Francisco has gay people. That's very clever. You do know that there are gay people living in every state and every city in the country though, right?
I couldnt care less. I'd rather have a good gay football player on my team that some caveman like Incognito shoving golf clubs up female volunteers or complete wussbags like Martin. I don't care if the guy is straight, gay, bi, transexual, has a fetish for goats, whatever, as long as they can perform on the field.
I'd draw the line at the goat fetish since goats can't consent, but as to the rest... yeah. Ever notice how so very often the most outspoken anti-gay men turn out to be closeted gays?
Would definitely not. The last thing this team needs is more drama.
I'm not advocating drafting him only because he doesn't fit a need for us, but from a business standpoint, it might actually make a lot of sense for a team in a city with a large gay community to draft him if that team is having trouble selling tickets.
I think the real question is: if he became a dominant player, would you wear his jersey?
Why is that "the real question"?
Now if he was a dog killer like Vick? I said before I'd stop being a Dolphins fan if they signed Vick.
Agreed. I'd buy a Michael Sam jersey long before I'd ever buy a Michael Vick jersey. I'm hoping I live long enough to piss on Vick's grave. I have no tolerance nor forgiveness for people who abuse animals.
LAC is already making him Jackie Robinson....Jackie Robinson was a true American Historical figure. However, what also makes Robinson an amazing figure is he was a really good player.
Was Jackie Robinson's number retired by every team because he was a great player or because he broke through the barrier of segregation and disproved commonly-held stereotypes? Answer: It's the latter. Sam is attempting to do the same thing and, imo, it's of no lesser significance.
It doesn't matter but some would argue that drafting the first openly gay football player would be a distraction in the locker room.
Some once argued that black players would be a distraction in the locker room.
What an idiotic business move by this kid.
It is not appropriate nor necessary to disclose your sexual orientation to an employer, nor the country!
If I was an NFL organization I would stay clear from this draft prospect, not because he is gay, but because he is not even in the NFL and he is NATIONAL NEWS.
I guess that would be important if money was the primary motivating factor here. But clearly it isn't. This kid is attempting to break down an ugly stereotype and open a door for those that come after him. I applaud his courage. To characterize his decision as idiotic is akin to saying Rosa Parks was idiotic to have stayed in her seat because she knew she'd be arrested.