MY NEW HERO
Michael Sam
By declaring that he’s gay before this May’s draft, Sam—projected by many as a third-round pick—is making a brave statement, one that’s also a challenge to the entire NFL. He will not make an announcement about his sexuality after he’s already signed a contract, nor after he retires. Sam wants every pro football decision maker to know he’s gay before he’s even in the league. Sam, then, won’t be breaking down sports’ biggest barrier himself. He’s placed a sledgehammer at the feet of every NFL general manager. Now, who will be brave enough to swing it?
I find it incredibly sad that we live in an era where gay men and women still feel the need to announce their sexuality to the world in order to take ownership of who they really are. It’s not their fault, of course; many feel that it’s impossible to keep their sexuality under wraps while in the public eye. Some want to be honest with and about themselves so they can feel they’re living a life based on integrity. Some want society to be forced to confront its fear and prejudice. Fortunately for them, in many aspects of public life, being a homosexual comes with little, if any, stigma attached. Then there’s the very male, testosterone-drenched world of professional sports. To believe the average locker room to be years behind the rest of the country in terms of open-mindedness and social acceptance should hardly come as a shock.
The National Football League should in no way be considered to be progressive when it comes to social issues. Homophobia still runs rampant in an atmosphere where brawn, strength, and violent intent are the minimum requirements to be an NFL player. It would take some sizable cojones to come out as gay while playing in the NFL, which is why what Michael Sam did was so courageous. By coming out before the NFL Draft, Sam has forced the league and its teams to put their cards on their table.
Sam, the SEC defensive player of the yet at the University of Missouri, is projected by some experts as a third-round pick. He’s a talented and ferocious player generally considered to have a bright future in the NFL, not a marginal talent that could be cast aside while the league and its 32 teams claim to have no need or place for him.
Given the league’s history when it comes to social issues, it’s no surprise that it’s taken a talented college player with the skills to make it as a professional to force all 32 teams to play their hand. Will a general manager draft Sam and give him a chance to succeed or fail based on his talent? Or will they reveal themselves to be too prejudiced and fearful to give Michael Sam a chance?
By declaring that he’s gay before this May’s draft, Sam—projected by many as a third-round pick—is making a brave statement, one that’s also a challenge to the entire NFL. He will not make an announcement about his sexuality after he’s already signed a contract, nor after he retires. Sam wants every pro football decision maker to know he’s gay before he’s even in the league. Sam, then, won’t be breaking down sports’ biggest barrier himself. He’s placed a sledgehammer at the feet of every NFL general manager. Now, who will be brave enough to swing it?
There are 32 NFL teams, and some of them have probably started backing away from that sledgehammer. The Times’ John Branch reports that, prior to Sam’s coming out, various scouts asked his agents whether the player had a girlfriend. Though the NFL declared last year that this sort of discriminatory question is out of bounds, team personnel are either too prejudiced or too dumb to catch on.
So, what’s it going to be? Will an NFL team draft Sam for his obvious talent and potential? Or will general managers back away, not wanting to select a players whose sexuality frightens them? DOES an NFL player have to have a wife or girlfriend in order to succeed? Or can a player succeed simply on the strength of their talent and desire, regardless of their sexuality? Will the NFL lose the stereotypes and decide that talent, maturity, and willingness to work hard are the only things players deserve to be judged on? Now that Sam has placed the issue front and center, where it can no longer be ignored or kicked down the road, the NFL will have to show their hand on draft day.
What’s it going to be, y’all??
I watched a clip from an interview with Sam in which he made it clear that HE was going to be the one to tell his story. HE was going to control the narrative. It was one of the bravest things I’ve seen in quite some time, yet Sam was very matter-of-fact about his decision to come out prior to the draft. He’s decided that he just wants to be honest about who he is. By doing so, he shortcuts the inevitable rumors that would have begun when people began to wonder why they never see him with a woman.
There’s a very good chance there will be an openly gay man in an NFL locker room next season. Hopefully, it will be a non-event, and his teammates will see him for hat he contributes and not as a GAY teammate. It will be interesting to see what happens on draft day, because there’s no way the league avoids making a statement through its actions…or lack of same.
I look forward to a day when a public figure will announce they’re gay…only to be met with a collective yawn. It will be a great day when someone is evaluated for their talent or the content of their character rather than who and how they love. It will matter only that they do love.
In the meantime, I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Sam for his matter-of-fact courage and his refusal to live a lie. Now it’s the NFL’s turn to show their cards; would that they demonstrate themselves even half as courageous as Sam. Even that would be progress.
