Professional sports are businesses, and it is time for all of the teams and the commissioners of Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League to demand appropriate respect for any gay athletes, in the “closet” but wanting to come out, as well as Michael Sam and Jason Collins, the first gay athletes to come out while still playing their sport!
Under no circumstances should any player on any team, or any manager or coach, or any front office personnel, or any team owner be permitted openly to harass, intimidate, discriminate or mistreat in any way any athlete because of his sexual orientation, whether perceived or real!
The answer should be that if one wishes to have the honor of playing, managing, or working in professional sports, he or she must overcome their public prejudices and do what workers do all the time at work, do their job and shut their mouths, and keep any prejudices or biases they have in their heads, but not expressed or acted upon.
No player, no matter how great he is, is entitled to mistreat or do any other type of harm to teammates or opponents because of their own religious or other beliefs which create tension in the locker rooms or on the field or in any public social situation!
if one cannot control his or her behavior, then he or she should face expulsion from the sport, and it should be part of every work contract, as no matter how talented, such a open bigot should understand that he or she cannot abuse his known talent to be ugly or reprehensible in his or her conduct.
Just as players and managers and front office personnel have had to overcome racial and ethnic prejudices, so should be the same for sexual orientation, meaning behave or else you are gone!
Alternative Title: I should stick my nose in everyone’s business! If I just live my life without bothering others, I’m unhappy! Only I can save the world! Can’t leave sports to people who play them!
With that kind of attitude, Mark, we should still have racial segregation if it was left up to you. Human rights should NEVER be denied, and prejudice and discrimination should NEVER be tolerated in any workplace or business establishment whatsoever, including sports enterprises!
Mark writes, “Alternative Title: I should stick my nose in everyone’s business! If I just live my life without bothering others, I’m unhappy! Only I can save the world! Can’t leave sports to people who play them!”
Translating Mark: “All you gay people—SHUT UP; PUT UP; and PAY TAXES, EVEN WHILE BEING LESS THAN EQUAL, JUST AS STR8s LIKE I DO.”
Mark—Your “advice” is not being taken.
Thanks, D, for responding to Mark. Maybe we should pass a law denying services to right wingers like Mark and Dave! See how they would react to that! LOL
Excellent reading piece: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2014/02/of-subhuman-mongrels-and-keeping-away.html
Excellent article, and so true! Thanks, Pragmatic Progressive!
Well Professor, this post has torn at my heart for a couple days because you touch on two things that are near and dear to me. Rights for the LGBT community, and the NFL. LOLOLOL.
I love the NFL. As an atheist I can honestly say that this is my religion. But your post maybe for not, as the NFL has shown nothing but acceptance, except for maybe Vikings ownership. That is the team the released punter Chris Kluwe who stated that the only reason he was released was because he came out in favor of gay marriage. However this may be just sour grapes on Kluwe’s part and the Vikings ownership and management may be more than accepting. Only time will tell with that one.
Moving on, I have spoken to two guys I know, and they have the same attitude that these football players have.
http://www.outsports.com/2013/9/4/4692986/nfl-players-gay-supportive-list-andrew-luck-rgIII-reggie-wayne-charles-woodson
The general underlying theme is this. Football, as barbaric as it seems, may be more pure than what this country is ready for. They are truly a group of 53 young men brought from different backgrounds in purpose of one common goal. To win a championship.
I watched the combine performance of Mr. Sam. Not one mention of his sexual orientation. Not one. Nothing mentioned except his size, speed, and athletic abilities. Two things strike me with Michael Sam’s situation. First, before the combine he was projected to be drafted no higher than the fifth round. Now, after his combine performance, draft experts are projecting him to go no higher than the sixth round. There are seven rounds in the NFL draft which means, Mr. Sam very well may be undrafted. If this happens, are we going to blame this on his homosexuality? Or will it be blamed on the fact that he is smaller than the stereotypical NFL Defensive End, however not faster? Only time will tell. But all articles I’ve read and all shows and interviews I’ve seen point to the fact that the NFL as a whole, is more ready to accept homosexuality, than the rest of the U.S.
Since this subject interests you Ron, and you are so knowledgeable of numerous historic events. Check out this article…..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/05/jonathan-vilma-gay-teammate-shower_n_4732415.html
The fact is that there are a handful of NFL players who have unfortunately come out against same-sex marriage or homosexuality as a whole. All but one (Matt Birk) is a black man. Maybe you could do a piece on how these athletes, who’s ancestors fought so hard for there own equal rights, can be against someone’s civil rights given their own battles.
BTW- Birk is a Harvard graduate. Needless to say, he is not your stereotypical “dumb” jock. However, he is an avowed Catholic, so I guess he just fits into the religious aspect of the marriage debate. I can’t help but wonder what his stance is now, considering the Pope is now in favor of same sex rights.
Hey Professor, I just made a comment that is awaiting moderation. Why is that?
Thanks so much, JOB, for your heartfelt response and the links, which I really appreciate, and it makes all who believe in equal rights to feel somewhat better. I do not know why it took for me to look at this for it to be accepted, but here it is, what you wrote, and thanks again!
Every now and then, my co-workers will forward me an email about a gay Jesus film. I checked it out on Snopes.com. Turns out that it is a hoax about a non-existent movie.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/gayjesus.asp
I wish they would quit assuming that I am like them, politically and religiously.
I feel for you, Rustbelt Democrat, but the idea of a gay Jesus is nothing new, since he spent his time mostly around men, and there is no way to know what his sexuality was. I also feel that it really does not matter, and too much is made out of one’s sexuality, and your co workers need to “get a life!”