but for this to be Groundbreaking it is going to take a BIG NAME or superior athlete to come out

holfresh wrote:I don't care if Jason Collins is gay or not gay..I don't watch sports to find out a player sexual preference...I don't care for the distraction of some one's sexual preference when watching a game...It's not important to me for Jason Collins to make that statement or any other player for that matter...If Cheyrl Miller was ever good enough to play in the NBA and she played for the Knicks, I don't need to know who she is sleeping with...

Also, I think its a big issue with players who aren't gay...Just like some players may not be comfortable being naked in front of a women, female reporters included, I don't think they should have to be naked in front of another player who looks at them in a sexual manner...Not saying if you are gay male u look at all male as a sexual object...I don't think male gay reporters should be let into locker rooms either...Does a player who is straight and doesn't want to be looked upon as a sexual object have rights??..

I doesn't make a difference to me but I don't want it in my face like I don't need to know if a player likes red velvet cake...I don't need to be reminded that red velvet cake is your preference...

Thats the problem...you never know if someone is gay or not. But if a gay man has the rights to go into a dressing room full of men.....Then I as a straight man, should have the rights to go into a locker room full of beautiful women!

I don't see the point in all of this. For once, I agree with Briggs. Whether Collins comes out or not....if you can ball, you can ball. Its not like Collins just helped the NBA recruit more gays. I don't see other players acknowledging that they are straight. Also, where are we heading with all of this. What is the goal? To have a Sports league that consist of mostly men to now become a diversed group of straights and gays? It's already diversed, why advertise it. Tim Duncan might be gay, but if he ever came out, it would do nothing good for him. I believe people are just trying to get more attention, especially the role players coming to the end of their career. Next you will have straight men saying they are gay, just to get some publicity.

This is only good for the media. They love this kind of stuff. Coming out while in the league only puts a target on their backs. Thats why they wait until they retire to come out. Imagine playing a basketball game with known gays on each team? I doubt anybody would want to guard them. Or it will be a disruption in the locker room. I don't see any advantages of coming out in the sports world, unless you are running out of money and need the attention. The best thing to do if you are gay, is to keep it within your own small circle. The sports world is not ready for this right now.

I'll copy directly what Martin told another poster.

I think this is one of the more serious threads we have come across, if you dont have much to add, please refrain. Thanks.

We arein the process of crossing a boundary from where this subject was taboo, something to hide and embarrassing to a period where it is accepted as normal and nothing to be ashamed for. There is still too much discrimination because of this, too much ignorance, too many stereotypes still expected and even family definition issues for this not to be something big for a community that simply wants equal rights.

This will keep repeating until we get to a point where it is so normal, it simply won't be a story. But right now, the issue is still being defined so news like this one will be historic.

Knicksfan wrote:I understand the few that are saying this is not of their business and they aren't interested in the details, because they just focus on sports. Fair enough. From that point of view, I wouldn't care either as that is a personal matter, but consider the in history where we are.

We arein the process of crossing a boundary from where this subject was taboo, something to hide and embarrassing to a period where it is accepted as normal and nothing to be ashamed for. There is still too much discrimination because of this, too much ignorance, too many stereotypes still expected and even family definition issues for this not to be something big for a community that simply wants equal rights.

This will keep repeating until we get to a point where it is so normal, it simply won't be a story. But right now, the issue is still being defined so news like this one will be historic.

That's a fair point re: none of my business. When someone takes the time to comment that they don't care about this OT/b-ball tangent post, they may actually be indifferent. But others I think is indifference disguising disgust. So it's more "I ain't trying to think about that nastiness!" than "I am a Pure Fan unmoved by this tangential discussion". Others also perhaps rightly don't see this any difference than Amaechi, save for a formal retirement.

I just don't see how the sex of the person someone had a crush on in middle school has anything to do with balling... and why people need to "keep that **** on the low" if it's not a big deal.

blkexec wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:I never understood the whole reporters and cameras in the dressing room thing, anyway. Does it come from a time when it was an assumed all-straight male environment? Or is this some sort of shared jock experience? A jock I'm certainly not. So I don't understand the close-mindedness blkexec and others attest to... not wanting to guard a player? Locker room culture seems semi-homoerotic to me anyway... maybe everyone just needs to grow up? If the sports world is not ready, I can't imagine it's going to be much longer before it is.

If Tim Duncan really is gay and has been in the closet, maybe it would be **** for his career, but maybe it would do good for his mental health? Some people feel relived because they no longer have to build their life and interactions around lies and half-truths. But I have probably described the married-but-cheating NBA player experience right there.

Straight players crying gay wolf: unlikely.

I know and play with a lot of broke ex NBA players. When you are in need, you will do anything to make money. We live in social media now. All it takes is a small lie and the whole world will listen. Ask Monti Teo.

Guarding a gay player? I pass....As soon as they try to back me down, I will just let them go.

I played against girls before and this one chick would always try to back me down. You know what happened a week later, she was in my bedroom.

Basketball, Football, etc....are contact sports. The last thing you want on your mind when you trying to win a game, is if this guy is gay or not. It disrupts the game. How come you don't see women vs men in wrestling? If men have an advantage, then allow the women to be heavier than the man. It doesn't work. Same with known gays and straights. Unknown gays is fine.

Back to the chick I had to guard....Do you think I really cared about the game? It was a distraction. A good distraction I might add. But hey, I'm only one close minded person commenting on a popular topic. Don't take my words too seriously. If I was on the other foot, then I understand how people would get offended, so please excuse my ignorance.

So you won't guard a gay player because you are easy? ;)

DrAlphaeus wrote:

blkexec wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:I never understood the whole reporters and cameras in the dressing room thing, anyway. Does it come from a time when it was an assumed all-straight male environment? Or is this some sort of shared jock experience? A jock I'm certainly not. So I don't understand the close-mindedness blkexec and others attest to... not wanting to guard a player? Locker room culture seems semi-homoerotic to me anyway... maybe everyone just needs to grow up? If the sports world is not ready, I can't imagine it's going to be much longer before it is.

If Tim Duncan really is gay and has been in the closet, maybe it would be **** for his career, but maybe it would do good for his mental health? Some people feel relived because they no longer have to build their life and interactions around lies and half-truths. But I have probably described the married-but-cheating NBA player experience right there.

Straight players crying gay wolf: unlikely.

I know and play with a lot of broke ex NBA players. When you are in need, you will do anything to make money. We live in social media now. All it takes is a small lie and the whole world will listen. Ask Monti Teo.

Guarding a gay player? I pass....As soon as they try to back me down, I will just let them go.

I played against girls before and this one chick would always try to back me down. You know what happened a week later, she was in my bedroom.

Basketball, Football, etc....are contact sports. The last thing you want on your mind when you trying to win a game, is if this guy is gay or not. It disrupts the game. How come you don't see women vs men in wrestling? If men have an advantage, then allow the women to be heavier than the man. It doesn't work. Same with known gays and straights. Unknown gays is fine.

Back to the chick I had to guard....Do you think I really cared about the game? It was a distraction. A good distraction I might add. But hey, I'm only one close minded person commenting on a popular topic. Don't take my words too seriously. If I was on the other foot, then I understand how people would get offended, so please excuse my ignorance.

So you won't guard a gay player because you are easy? ;)

Ohh no you didn't!

blkexec wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

blkexec wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:I never understood the whole reporters and cameras in the dressing room thing, anyway. Does it come from a time when it was an assumed all-straight male environment? Or is this some sort of shared jock experience? A jock I'm certainly not. So I don't understand the close-mindedness blkexec and others attest to... not wanting to guard a player? Locker room culture seems semi-homoerotic to me anyway... maybe everyone just needs to grow up? If the sports world is not ready, I can't imagine it's going to be much longer before it is.

If Tim Duncan really is gay and has been in the closet, maybe it would be **** for his career, but maybe it would do good for his mental health? Some people feel relived because they no longer have to build their life and interactions around lies and half-truths. But I have probably described the married-but-cheating NBA player experience right there.

Straight players crying gay wolf: unlikely.

I know and play with a lot of broke ex NBA players. When you are in need, you will do anything to make money. We live in social media now. All it takes is a small lie and the whole world will listen. Ask Monti Teo.

Guarding a gay player? I pass....As soon as they try to back me down, I will just let them go.

I played against girls before and this one chick would always try to back me down. You know what happened a week later, she was in my bedroom.

Basketball, Football, etc....are contact sports. The last thing you want on your mind when you trying to win a game, is if this guy is gay or not. It disrupts the game. How come you don't see women vs men in wrestling? If men have an advantage, then allow the women to be heavier than the man. It doesn't work. Same with known gays and straights. Unknown gays is fine.

Back to the chick I had to guard....Do you think I really cared about the game? It was a distraction. A good distraction I might add. But hey, I'm only one close minded person commenting on a popular topic. Don't take my words too seriously. If I was on the other foot, then I understand how people would get offended, so please excuse my ignorance.

So you won't guard a gay player because you are easy? ;)

Actually I never been faced with such an issue. When it comes down to it, I would still guard him gay or not. But my issue is why does his sexual preference matter during a basketball game. The only reason I can think of is to cause a distraction.

If its a chick with a nice body, yes I am easy.

If it's a dude thats gay, but I don't know it, I have no problems.

If it's a dude trying to make a scene that hes gay, either by what he's wearing or how he's acting, yes I have a problem with that.

But maybe I'm alone with this, so again excuse my ignorance.

You left that one over the plate blkexec, had to swing. I don't think you are alone with your feelings, and appreciate your honesty.