I am delighted to post the great news that Michael Sam, who came out earlier this year, is now the NFL’s first openly gay player. Sam is now a Ram.
I have been following the draft each day to watch the selections of my beloved Bears. However, I have been increasing nervous that Sam might not be drafted. It is a great day for the Rams, the NFL, and the country in my view. Sam shattered one of the most virulent barriers in professional sports. While many players and coaches are entirely supportive, the homophobia has a long and disgraceful history with individual players and some owners.
I am very happy with the choices of the Bears. I was a bit surprised by the selection of Ego Ferguson, LSU defensive tackle, but I have come to trust Trestman’s instincts. He was criticized for picking Kyle Long last year and it proved an inspired choice.
Sam was selected as the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was an All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Missouri. It took guts to come out and the Rams secured a noble place in history with this selection. Perhaps in my lifetime the sexual orientation of a player will no longer be such a controversy. In the meantime, watching a player like Sam on the field will do more to overcome stereotypes than every public campaign by every advocacy group in the country. While many people do not like football and may be underwhelmed by this news, it is the most popular sport in the country and watching a gay man play this sport could be a transformative moment for some.
As for Sam, he tweeted “Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I’m using every (ounce) of this to achieve greatness!!”
Many of us want to join Sam and say “Thank you St. Louis Rams.”
Dear George,
As a fellow Christian and a gay man, I have always believed that how each of us keeps our houses in order is between each of us and God. You know, personal relationship. How I or other gay people keep our houses in order, in reality of that personal relationship, is no one else’s business. I don’t pry into how you keep your business. I hope no one does. Please, as Christ asked, do unto others as you would have them do to you… Which also includes, marriage and football.
Elaine,
While I am happy for Mr. Sam to get his opportunity to play for an NFL team, I would not go so far as to suggest that the Rams should have a successful season! Especially if they play Da Bears this season! 🙂
Thank you Rafflaw. One can be happy for the Rams, but da Bears will rise this year from the ashes of D line injuries and reign supreme as God intended over the NFL. I am heading back to Chicago today for a speech at the Seventh Circuit Judicial Conference and plan to load up on new Bears sweaters, garden gnomes and other essentials!
I don’t think it’s a coincidence a Missouri team drafted Sam. People in Missouri know him and that always helps. It’s much easier to hate in the abstract, which is where most hate breeds.
Wayne:
I restored a comment I found above at 10:39. I checked the spam bin going back an hour and a half and this was the only one I found.
Darren
George, homosexuals just want the same things you and I want…freedom to live our own lives and the opportunity to succeed. They are not a threat to anyone.
The Rams suck. They spent a lotta money on a QB who just has not panned out.
I wish Sam and the Rams well. I hope both Sam and his new team will have a successful football season this coming fall.
I smell rotting fish.
Now! How about our guy?! Sam, Sam, what a man! Mmmm mmmm.
George, I don’t mind if you pray, but I’m not a believer and I would feel foolish praying, sorry.
Abe,
We need to pray for them then.
George, there are folks, good folks who aren’t bible believers.
Nick, you’re asserting authority over the commenters having a discussion here is grating to say the least. Please stop it, you’re creating an issue where there wasn’t any.
Abe,
Tell that to Sodom and Gemmorah.
Yes indeed, civility is important, but let’s not act as if we have authority here when we don’t, that’s all I ask.
I could not find any non-spam comments in the first half-dozen pages. Although it was emptied earlier, there are now 3,480 spams–making 175 pages–in the filter. They are coming in so fast it is hard to find anything. There is one particular rapid-fire spammer posting extremely long nonsensical spams. If we don’t know within a minute or two of a comment disappearing, it’s a needle in the haystack problem.
Been watching it in another window, and twenty-seven came in during the time it took me to type this. Now up to 3,507.
Abe, I don’t remember your name, but everyone has been changing monikers of late. You may be one of them, but I’ll operate like you’re new. Emotional topics like this often degenerate. It is all on the record. Just read some threads that exceed 500 comments. If you go back to 2013 and prior you will see some really vile comments. I merely made a simple request, you don’t like it, duly noted. Now, back to substance please.
Good has nothing to do with anything. Good people do bad things all of the time.
Our culture will survive change George, don’t be frightened.
My partner and I do nothing bad George. We are good people.