A Gay Revolution By Aaron Roberts
Michael Sam
is on target to make National Football League history by being the first openly
gay football player in the NFL if and when he gets drafted. It all started at a preseason football
practice for the Missouri Tigers, as the team divided into small groups to get
to know each other better and build team chemistry. When it was Michael Sam’s turn, he simply said,
“I’m gay”.[1] Coming out and announcing that you are gay is
already way more difficult then it needs to be, although the world is slowly
becoming more accepting, to do it and play football in the NFL is a completely
different story. In a league filled with
testosterone and masculinity, former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe claims that
“everything will be fine”. Bledsoe goes on
to say that he has spoken with former and current players in the NFL and
concluded that “it’s going to be bigger in the media then it will be on the
field.” [2] I personally think that Michael Sam might get
some unkind words in the heat of the game, because in the NFL everyone says a
few words every once in a while, and being the only openly gay player in the
league is going to draw some provoking words from other players. I hope that he takes the words and turns them
into motivation, because it seems that Sam has great potential to be a great
player after finishing his senior season on a strong 12 win 2 loss Missouri
team that won the Cotton Bowl. Not to mention his
personal awards including being a first-team all-American along with being
named the Associated Press defensive player of the year in the Southeastern
Conference. Within his team, Michael Sam
was also voted Missouri’s most valuable player, which shows the respect and
maturity his teammates at the University of Missouri had to play along side
with one of their brothers regardless of the differences they all shared.[3] I am sure that Michael Sam will do fine in
the NFL and hopefully will excel at the sport and really make an impact that
will hopefully set a good example for any other football player that coming out
gay really is not that big of a deal.
[1] John , Branch. N.p..
Web. 29 Mar 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/sports/michael-sam-college-football-star-says-he-is-gay-ahead-of-nfl-draft.html?_r=0>.
[2] "Drew Bledsoe: Gay
NFL Players Will Be Bigger In Media Than In Locker Room." Huffington
Post 18 Mar 2014, n. pag. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/drew-bledsoe-gay-players-nfl_n_4986439.html>.
[3] John , Branch. N.p..
Web. 29 Mar 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/sports/michael-sam-college-football-star-says-he-is-gay-ahead-of-nfl-draft.html?_r=0>.
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