The amount of homophobic athletes in the major sports in the USA is very disappointing to me. It seems to be a major deal in all of the leagues too because no male athlete has openly come out of the closet during his playing career. It is most likely due to people like Tim Hardaway who exclaim how they hate gay people and how he would distance himself away from homosexuals on the team. This reminds me a lot of all of the extreme discrimination that sports had on African American athletes and I cannot believe that African American athletes to this day want to be separated from other athletes because of their sexuality. I also believe that sexuality is not a choice and it is in people’s DNA, which makes it crazier to have such a drastic amount of separation and discrimination. I have known of one male athlete that was gay that has been on one of my teams before. He was a freshman on the soccer team when I was a junior. No one on the team said anything mean to his face but there were a lot of comments made behind his back that some athletes participating in. A select few of the upperclassmen and I took it as our job to look out for this kid and to give him a chance. We made sure to include him in many of the off-field team activities. Once he was hanging around our team often enough off the field, many of the players on our team warmed up to him and ended up liking him. That is why I think it is so important for everyone to deserve a chance to be a part of the team before being ostracized immediately because of a person’s sexuality.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI hope that eventually people in their sports can feel comfortable and safe to be able to come out during their playing careers. Like Tim mentioned people like Tim Hardaway prevent people from coming out. People might be threatened to come out because of the consequences that could come with coming out with all the homophobia in professional sports. In the video we watched in class one of the athlete’s who was a football player mentioned the fact that they might get hit harder at games and name calling would occur. I don’t care how old you are, words can be hurtful.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Tim’s story about the freshman soccer player that he kind of put it on himself to look out for. I think it’s really important for homosexuals to be included and once people give them a chance to realize they are just like everyone else and should be treated like everyone else no matter their sexuality.
-Alyssa Robinson
It’s really sad for as much as our society has grown in acceptance homosexuality is still the biggest secret within our society and sports. I couldn’t believe a player like Tim Hardaway would make such blatant on air like that. Its comments and viewpoints like that which keep athletes playing on a team sport from coming out about their sexuality. I cannot imagine an athlete coming out how much scrutiny and hatred they would have to face from the general public and fans, but even worse from within the locker room. I do believe the beat writer who was on Outside the Lines is right that it will happened soon, but the one who does will have to be as strong as Jackie Robinson and what he had to face being the first African American in the majors. I would say based on the football player’s comments that contact sports such as football would be the hardest, as players on opposing teams would definitely make it a point to hit harder. Like we mentioned in class I feel it will take a strong and well liked athlete to change the perception of athletes and fans in the sports arena. It would almost take the popularity of a Tim Tebow to change the views, not saying he’s the most popular. Then again anyone popular enough also deals with the same amount of hatred just naturally because they are so liked or one of the best within their sport. Again looking at Tebow arguably one of the most loved football players and one the most hated at the same time. As I said before it will take an athlete as mentally tough as Jackie Robinson to come out while still playing.
ReplyDelete-Tony Fritsch
I also had had a teammate in high school who was openly gay. It just wasn't a big deal to us and I don't get why it has to be a big deal to society. We knew that our teammate had our back and would never make us uncomfortable. He was just another one of the guys. We still hangout with him outside of school and still have friendships with him to this day. People on team sports need to realize just because you may have a gay teammate doesn't mean he is going to be hitting on you and sneaking peeks. He is there for the same reason as you, to have fun, win ball games, and be a part of the team.
ReplyDeleteComment bY Jared King.