You're incorrectly arguing that actual effective change precedes social progress. Political movements inspire political change, not the other way around. I pointed-out that homosexual behavior is still far from being "universally accepted", which you asserted. I'm just clarifying a basic misconception (that being a homosexual in 2014 is more difficult than currently acknowledged). Being gay is literally all roses and rainbows. Tennessee Titans fans definitely wouldn't shout homophobic epithets at Michael Sam...
the media is what has and will make this easy for him. let's just look at the definition of courage -- Courage is the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. the media support has eliminated the uncertainty of the situation, and the media support has created the environment within the league that will eliminate intimidation. with no uncertainty and intimidation, what is the fear, pain and danger? contrast that with Jackie Robinson where he did not have the media or league support, faced intimidation and the real threat of danger. I just don't think it takes courage to do this when you have the media support already lined up behind you to make the announcement, and that support has eliminated the elements that would require courage to face.
not the point. the only thing that matters is what the actual environment is today that he is a part of. nobody has argued that it is "universally accepted," so that doesn't negate the claim at all.
I dont see what the big deal is? the NFL is a job, its not a club, its not a group, its a job. Its no different than any other job, whether it be working at Mcdonalds or any other private company.
Sure. But I'm arguing that it's difficult, and you're essentially arguing that Michael Sam's decision and announcement were easy for him. Clearly they weren't.
Well the over/under is set at the 125.5 draft pick? So over or under? http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/10/over-under-set-on-michael-sams-draft-position/
I don't think there is anything to support the claim that it wasn't easy for him. he seems perfectly at ease and comfortable with the decision, announcement, and everything else that has followed. there doesn't appear to be any fear or uncertainty in his demeanor or his outlook for the future. he is confident and comfortable, and this is possibly (and I think likely) because he was completely aware of the support he had behind him.
His own father (essentially) disowning him in the media has been easy for him? If it were that easy then why didn't he come out to his teammates at Mizzou before 2013? You're also confusing public composure with private self-assurance.
This and he said himself he has dealt with much worse such as his brother getting killed, his sister dying, his 2 brothers currently in prison.
Yeah if the person doing it goes right up to a camera and calls him a derogatory comment and gets caught there will be repercussions but nobody is that stupid. Besides, we don't see a lot of what goes on. How long did the Martin/Incognito thing go on for before it was made public knowledge? How much longer could it have gone on for if Martin didn't have a breakdown over it? And there were text messages back and forth, easy evidence of it. If some guys in the locker room walk up to him and call him names and tell him to stay the hell away from him how is the NFL going to prevent that? They going to have a 24 hours body guard for him? No. So, yes, he is exposed to homophobic remarks and treatment. I hope you are right but I think you are being extremely naive if you honestly believe that there will not be a single insult hurled his way by fans or team mates or opponents, a single coach or player treating him differently because of it and that he will endure literally zero hardship being the first openly gay athlete in the NFL.
the Martin/Incognito story didn't come out because it was a non-story. the evidence that has come out has shown there was no harassment, and it only became a story when Martin attempted to claim it was. the vulgarity doesn't need to be in front of a camera. all Sam has to do is report it and it will be investigated, with the media demanding the utmost punishment if true. and the NFL will oblige for the PR.
irrelevant. nobody is claiming it is emotionally easy to deal with your own father's position, we are talking the broader social and public environment he faces.
That's what's wrong with this situation: self-defense makes Sam an outcast. Damn him for wanting to be honest to himself and others. That's the price he pays: the choice between social normalcy and self-honesty. It's not as though Sam can just choose not to be gay. Everyone agrees he'd rather be just another guy in the locker room as opposed to being used by the NFL as their next pet project.
I find it pathetic that his Dad was so distraught by the news that he had to leave Denny's to go start drinking at Applebees. That POS doesn't deserve his son's love or respect. _
making a public announcement is clearly intended for the public's consumption, separate from his personal life, and inherently means the discussion about the public announcement is about the public environment he faces.
Who cares? This is SO 2003. I'm still waiting for the first necrophiliac NFL player that empowers the rest of us corpse-rutters to come out of the coffin.
