Michael Sam - NFL's first openly gay prospect

[Schlich]

It's not an either/or situation.

[Jocephus]

Perhaps as a person who has felt it necessary to hide in the past, he thinks there is value to others in announcing it publicly.

Perhaps he wants to show young kids who may be ashamed of who they are that they don't have to be. Perhaps he wants to be part of the slow destruction of stereotypes that cast gay men as effeminate and not potent athletes. Perhaps he just wants to be famous. Probably not, but it's possible though I don't see why anyone would rush to believe anyone would have wrong intentions for just being themselves.

- Depending on how he lived before that time, it might be disingenuous to just start "living his life" without calling attention to the fact that he's gay. It's not a trivial thing, and making sure everyone in his immediate circle is aware of it might require some sort of formal announcement to best communicate that change. Coming out isn't a thing because it's attention seeking, it's a thing because it's important in people around you understanding why "living your life" now means something very different.

- Athletes at high levels that have come out in any way are extraordinarily rare, for a multitude of reasons that aren't terribly important to this specific point. As a result, a high level athlete being gay is going to garner a lot of attention.

- Because of those two things, it simply makes practical sense to make that announcement and speak to the media hungry for that story in one step. It also allows to better control the story itself, and has the previously discussed side benefits of being an example to others.

I'm sure both Sam and Gordon wish that such an announcement were so trivial that it didn't make sense to publicize it or potentially come off as attention seeking. But until there's many more like them in high level sports, that day isn't here yet.

Or maybe he just wants his own reality TV show?

nailed him

[lukethedrifter]

Setting himself up for a career as a B list celebrity.


/is b list too kind?

[cardsfansince82]

Now that he's accomplished his original goal of cozying up to the deep pockets at BIG GAY, the sky is the limit for him.

[MrCrowesGarden]

OWN says they won't be filming at mini camp, OTAs, training camp,etc.

I hope this works out for both Sam and the Rams.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

The list of current or past active NFL players with a reality show:

TO? Maybe?
Has there ever been one?

[cardsfansince82]

The list of current or past active NFL players with a reality show:

TO? Maybe?
Has there ever been one?

TO, Chad Johnson, Eric Decker, Deion Sanders, Keyshawn Johnson, a bunch of guys on DWTS...

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Wait, is he on a show, or is a show dedicated to him? also, while active? all those guhys

[cardsfansince82]

Wait, is he on a show, or is a show dedicated to him? also, while active? all those guhys

I assume it is dedicated to him. Eric Decker's show is in it's second season, dedicated to him and his wife, and he's obviously active. TO and Ocho's shows were when they were active. Hank Baskett was active when he had that show with the chick from Playboy. I have no clue how much of those shows occurred during the actual season, or how much Sam's will either.

[lukethedrifter]

I hate all of those people for having reality shows. All of them.