Time for pro sports to come out -- against homophobia

[Cntrygal]

The anti-gay comments made by 49ers running back Garrison Hearst were shocking. An athlete on a San Francisco team disparaging gays is about as smart as a Utah Jazz player deriding Mormons.

Yet, homophobia is so pervasive in the sports world that Hearst was seemingly oblivious at first to the fact that he might have said something offensive. Unfortunately, the sentiments he expressed are shared by many in the professional game, and these prejudices filter down to locker rooms at the most grassroots level of team sports across the nation.



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[Pride]

The day that an openly gay man is allowed on a football team, and using the same lockeroom, is the day that I stop watching and supporting the NFL.

Like Augusta, some things are sacred.

[redeye5]

Originally posted by Pride
The day that an openly gay man is allowed on a football team, and using the same lockeroom, is the day that I stop watching and supporting the NFL.

Like Augusta, some things are sacred.

[Dr Phil]

Originally posted by Pride
The day that an openly gay man is allowed on a football team, and using the same lockeroom, is the day that I stop watching and supporting the NFL.

Like Augusta, some things are sacred.

Funny, people said those same things when Jackie Robinson joined MLB

[Dr Phil]

Originally posted by Pride
The day that an openly gay man is allowed on a football team, and using the same lockeroom, is the day that I stop watching and supporting the NFL.

Like Augusta, some things are sacred.

So, if the Bills draft a 6-11, 300 lb DT who can run as fast as Travis Henry, averages 15 sacks a season for 10 years, Is willing to take paycuts for the team to retain/obtain more superstar talent, gives back to the community, stops to sign every kid's autograph......but was gay, you would give up football.


Sounds shallow to me....

[The_Philster]

Originally posted by Dr Phil
Funny, people said those same things when Jackie Robinson joined MLB

Originally posted by Dr Phil


So, if the Bills draft a 6-11, 300 lb DT who can run as fast as Travis Henry, averages 15 sacks a season for 10 years, Is willing to take paycuts for the team to retain/obtain more superstar talent, gives back to the community, stops to sign every kid's autograph......but was gay, you would give up football.


Sounds shallow to me....

Good posts

[Novacane]

There is no need for gays to come out of the closet and flaunt it. Keep it in the bedroom!

[Don Cherry]

There is a diffeence between openly gay and flaunting it.

Anyone, straight or gay, who goes around "flaunting" their sexuality shows lack of respect for others. Guys grabbing cheerleader's asses show just as much disrespect as two gay guys kissing each other in public for the shock value.

But if an athlete is gay and refuses to "hide" it to appease the homophobes, he shouldn't be ostracized, banned, or shunned. If he's there to do his job and then goes home, why should it make any difference?

I want the best athletes on the field that will win me a championship. I'd be extreamly dissapointed, no, make that pissed off if I have to wait 30 more years for the shot at winning a Superbowl or Stanley Cup just because management decided not to get that one gay guy who would put the team over the top.

If you could get the next Wayne Gretzky on the Sabres, but found out he was gay, would you pass and say no thanks? If you did you'd be an idiot.

Not all female athletes are gay, but some are. They don't flaunt it in front of their team mates. It seems that there aren't any issues in women's sports with gay players trying to recruit "straight" ones.

[Don Cherry]

Can you imagin if Mario Lemieux was gay, and if Pittsburgh decided not to draft him?

There would not be a team there anymore.

[Gunzlingr]

Originally posted by Don Cherry

Not all female athletes are gay, but some are. They don't flaunt it in front of their team mates. It seems that there aren't any issues in women's sports with gay players trying to recruit "straight" ones.

You are forgetting 1 thing. Guys LIKE lesbians!

[Sabre Ally]

O.K.........I'm glad I didn't win the division in FFL #2, because Hearst just earned himself a permanent spot on my bench.

Dr. Phil and Grapes, good posts.

[Earthquake Enyart]

I thought Wayne Gretzky was gay?

He sure looks it.

[Sabre Ally]

You mean his sexy wife is just a decoy?

[Earthquake Enyart]

Of course. Don't you get it?

[Sabre Ally]

Don't let Jaded come in here or she'll start telling he how gay Steve Yzerman looks again.