Where's Wellwood Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10429030/michael-sam-missouri-tigers-says-gay Michael Sam, an All-American defensive lineman from Missouri Tigers and the Associated Press' SEC Defensive Player of the Year, said that he is gay in interviews with ESPN's "Outside the Lines" and the New York Times on Sunday. Sam stated publicly what his teammates and coaches at Mizzou have known since August: "I am an openly, proud gay man." Sam is eligible for the NFL draft in May. Assuming that he is drafted, Sam could become the first openly gay player in the history of the NFL. [+] Enlarge Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesDefensive end Michael Sam says he told his Missouri teammates in August that he was gay and they "rallied around me and supported me." "I understand how big this is," he said. "It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL." In 2014, "Gay Man to Enter Workforce" has the everyday-occurrence sound of a headline in The Onion. But when the NFL is involved, it's a first -- and potentially a landmark moment -- in the history of American sports. Sam's decision to speak out now comes after his experience two weeks ago at the Senior Bowl, where, he said, many already seemed aware of his sexual orientation. "I didn't realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell or leak something out about me," he said. "I want to own my truth. ... No one else should tell my story but me." He had already confided in a few close friends, Sam recalled, and had dated a fellow athlete who was not a football player -- so while coming out to his Mizzou teammates last year was a key moment, it came almost as an afterthought, during preseason training camp. "Coaches just wanted to know a little about ourselves, our majors, where we're from, and something that no one knows about you," Sam said. "And I used that opportunity just to tell them that I was gay. And their reaction was like, 'Michael Sam finally told us.' " Asked what that moment felt like, Sam said, "I was kind of scared, even though they already knew. Just to see their reaction was awesome. They supported me from Day One. I couldn't have better teammates. ... I'm telling you what: I wouldn't have the strength to do this today if I didn't know how much support they'd given me this past semester." He did not ask them to keep his revelation a secret. Raised in the small town of Hitchcock, Texas, Sam said he grew up uncertain about what his sexual orientation was. “ I understand how big this is. It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL.”-- Michael Sam "I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys," he said, "I didn't know if it was a phase ... I didn't want to say, 'Hey, I might be gay. I might be bi.' I just didn't know ... I wanted to find who I was and make sure I knew what was comfortable. So I didn't tell anyone growing up." It was an upbringing, he said, filled with adversity. "I endured so much in my past: seeing my older brother killed from a gunshot wound, not knowing that my oldest sister died when she was a baby and I never got the chance to meet her. My second oldest brother went missing in 1998, and me and my little sister were the last ones to see him ... my other two brothers have been in and out of jail since 8th grade, currently both in jail. "Telling the world I'm gay is nothing compared to that." Sam had dinner on Saturday with Dave Kopay, a former NFL player who said he was gay in 1975 -- three years after his playing career ended. Among other pro athletes who have said they are gay, Jason Collins, a 12-year NBA veteran, came out in a Sports Illustrated article at the end of the 2012-13 regular season, but has not played for a team since. Midfielder Robbie Rogers became first openly gay male athlete to play in a U.S. professional team sports league when he entered a MLS game in May 2013. Conner Mertens, a kicker for Willamette University, last month became the first active college football player in the U.S. to come out publicly. Sam said that he realizes his revelation may engender a variety of reactions in the football world. "There will be negativity, negative reactions," he said. "I expect that. ... Everyone can say hurtful things and hateful things; I don't let stuff like that distract me. But there are going to be positives. The positives will outweigh the negative." Sam led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, and 19 tackles for a loss. Most NFL draft projections see him as a likely mid-round pick, with some saying Sam could go as high as the third round, with a possible position switch to outside linebacker. He is rated as the 12th-best outside pass rusher in the draft by ESPN Scouts Inc. "I just want to go to the team who drafts me," he said, "because that team knows about me, knows that I'm gay, and also knows that I work hard. That's the team I want to go to." Sam said that despite some comments from current players, he doesn't anticipate difficulty gaining acceptance in an NFL locker room. "Hopefully it will be the same like my locker room," he said. "It's a workplace. if you've ever been in a Division I or pro locker room, it's a business place. You want to act professional." Sam rejects the appalling slanders that sometimes have been hurled at gay men. "I mean, people will talk about the stereotype of gays being in the locker room ... to me, I think that it's a little stereotyped that gay people are predators. It's just very offensive." Other such negative stereotypes seem too absurd for him even to consider. "If you led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for losses?" he said, laughing. "If a gay person did that, I wouldn't call that person weak." Just last week, he said, he came out to his parents, during a phone call. "I told my mom and dad last week, and they just pretty much said, 'We knew and we love you and support you,' " he said. "I'm their baby boy. I'm the first to go to college. I'm the first to graduate college. Something like this is just another milestone. "And I love my hometown. I think when this story breaks, I think they're just going to love me even more for who I am." Sam understands that his life is about to change forever; he said he is happy and proud to be speaking out at last. "I'm not afraid to tell the world who I am. I'm Michael Sam: I'm a college graduate. I'm African American, and I'm gay," he said. "I'm comfortable in my skin." Congrats. I know he's not in the NFL yet, but he's good enough to be and this is the closest so far to a non-retired athlete from the Big 4 leagues coming out as gay, and that's great. Hopefully this sets a new precedent that it's okay to be who you are. Unfortunately, I think this will affect his draft position. It shouldn't, but it'll probably push him back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jai604 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Good for him to have the confidence and also the support to do that. I too, think that it may affect his draft position, but if that's the case, the teams that pass on him because of it aren't doing themselves any favours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Smart move doing this before the draft, especially after the Martin-Incognito scandal. The last thing he needs is to be drafted into an organization where he won't be accepted in the locker room. Sounds like he's got good mental toughness, which he'll need. Hopefully he has a long and successful career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Wish it was a non issue. This is a step in that direction. Good for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Wish it was a non issue. This is a step in that direction. Good for him. Quote of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's certainly good positioning on his part, as someone else iterated, so he doesn't get drafted by a team with a culture of homophobia. It's to make his career more lucrative and less marred with controversy. I'm not sure what his position in the draft was projected to be, but I hope he doesn't slip due to his sexuality, and goes to a team that won't throw fits about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckfan_21 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'm not sure what his position in the draft was projected to be, but I hope he doesn't slip due to his sexuality, and goes to a team that won't throw fits about it. He was projected to be a mid round pick, unfortunately I think he will fall now to the 6th or so. Not so much for the fact that he is gay, but for the fact that it will bring an unwanted media circus to whichever team drafts him. But good for him, he is certainly a very brave individual and hopefully he goes to a team that allows him to be himself and reach his highest potential as a player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 He was projected to be a mid round pick, unfortunately I think he will fall now to the 6th or so. Not so much for the fact that he is gay, but for the fact that it will bring an unwanted media circus to whichever team drafts him. But good for him, he is certainly a very brave individual and hopefully he goes to a team that allows him to be himself and reach his highest potential as a player. The richest teams in the NFL seem to want media circuses. What team has ever profited from avoiding the spotlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Good for him, and amazing that this would be an issue for any significant percentage of players in pro sports now. Just skimmed the article, but apparently he told his team last year and they'd had no issues with it, perhaps partly why others already seemed to know about it. Good for him to control his own destiny and be open and proud about who he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hopefully he ends up in a dressing room similar to his college team, I like the coaches reaction of "He finally told us" as if it didn't change anything (which it didn't really). As said above, this really should be a non-story but since this is a first of sorts it goes a long way for gays in professional sports becoming less sensational. But yeah, good idea to state this before the draft. As the news is still shocking to some, it would probably make his arrival a little easier since all the information is on the table, no surprises. Hopefully it doesn't affect his draft position too much, but I guess as long as he gets to prove himself on an NFL field everything else will take care of itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodos Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Wish it was a non issue. This is a step in that direction. Good for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdc Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think he was projected to go 3-4 round prior to this announcement, good for him though for not being afraid for coming out. I doubt it will effect his draft position, he's already being undervalued a bit because of his size and lack of ability in playing standing up(as a 3-4 OLB, instead of on the line). Someone will take a chance with him based of his production. I think San Diego might take him, which would be a good fit for him as well. They certainly handled the whole Teo situation with class and didn't let that be anything; so I'd imagine they'd help out Michael Sam out as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etsen3 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Props to him, took lots of confidence to do that. Hopefully someday it will get to the point where there will be gay athletes and it will be a complete non-event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckfan_21 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Got a lot of respect for this reporter for speaking the truth. Even addresses his own shortcomings on the matter near the end, which may not paint a perfect image of him, but I think probably represents what a lot of people feel on the matter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olc5C4SXAYM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown33429 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I could not be more apathetic. Funny how it's (or everyone assumes it is) easier to be accepted in the NFL with a criminal record, than it is to accepted for being gay. All that matters should be your skills. If Russel Wilson or my favourite hockey player announced he's gay, that information would be met with the same indifference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 He is having a not so good combine and his draft stock is falling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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