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Jason Collins "comes out"

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  • #76
    Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

    Good for him. Lots of respect for his bravery.

    Comment


    • #77
      Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

      Originally posted by Kstat View Post
      Technically, he is out of the league. Now the nba looks anti-gay if he isn't signed by someone.

      I'm not saying this will be easy for him. Just saying he did what he had to do to stay in the show.
      I'm making an assumption on what you were posting earlier....but isn't it possible that instead of using this as an opportunity to force some Team/NBA to sign him ( otherwise some Team/NBA would look like they are anti-gay )......he decided to make this statement ( which I can only assume to be a meaningful one to him ) because he realizes that he's at the end of his NBA career and he therefore has nothing to lose?

      He's likely done in the NBA for other reasons OTHER THAN him "coming out", why not make this statement for a greater cause?

      If some Team does sign him, great......if no Team signs him....honestly, I would hope that it would be because that there are others that are better qualified than he is to sign to a contract....not because he came out.
      Last edited by CableKC; 04-29-2013, 06:51 PM.
      Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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      • #78
        Originally posted by CableKC View Post
        I'm making an assumption on what you were posting earlier....but isn't it possible that instead of using this as an opportunity to force some Team/NBA to sign him ( otherwise some Team/NBA would look like they are anti-gay )......he decided to make this statement ( which I can only assume to be a meaningful one to him ) because he realizes that he's at the end of his NBA career and he therefore has nothing to lose?

        He's likely done in the NBA for other reasons OTHER THAN him "coming out", why not make this statement for a greater cause?

        If some Team does sign him, great......if no Team signs him....honestly, I would hope that it would be because that there are others that are better qualified than he is to sign to a contract.
        Collins isn't the first male pro athlete to come out...he's the first active pro athlete to come out. To do that, someone has to sign him.

        He made it clear in his statement that he sees himself as the "first," and a guy to bear the burden for the guys coming after him. For him to fill that role, he has to have a job next year.
        Last edited by Kstat; 04-29-2013, 06:54 PM.

        It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

        Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
        Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
        NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004

        Comment


        • #79
          Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

          Originally posted by rock747 View Post
          I struggle with criticism of Broussard because are we now criticizing someone for their religious beliefs? He does not seem to be trying to be malicious in the least. He's not saying he hates gays or that you can't be gay or that homosexuals don't deserve rights. He's merely saying what he believes based on his religion after he was asked specifically about it.
          This line if thinking doesn't hold up. Broussard is allowed to use his religious belief as a reason for criticizing someone else, but that same religious belief insulates him from someone else's criticism?

          It's a convenient cop out for those who want to use their religious beliefs to judge others, but it doesn't work that way.

          It's like those emails I've seen that end with "If you agree, pass this along. If not, ignore and do not reply"

          It's just a way to get one's point of view out there while attempting to avoid any debate. And, as we know on this forum, nothing goes unchallenged! (thank goodness)

          Comment


          • #80
            Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

            This x 1,000,000.

            Comment


            • #81
              Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

              I thought the BS Report with Wesley Morris had some good insights into the issue.
              You Got The Tony!!!!!!

              Comment


              • #82
                Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                Originally posted by Kstat View Post
                Collins isn't the first male pro athlete to come out...he's the first active pro athlete to come out. To do that, someone has to sign him.

                He made it clear in his statement that he sees himself as the "first," and a guy to bear the burden for the guys coming after him. For him to fill that role, he has to have a job next year.
                A writer on 1070 today said 6 teams had already talked to Collins. The Wizards said Collins isn't a priority to sign right now, but would welcome him back,

                Comment


                • #83
                  Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                  Originally posted by A-Train View Post
                  This line if thinking doesn't hold up. Broussard is allowed to use his religious belief as a reason for criticizing someone else, but that same religious belief insulates him from someone else's criticism?

                  It's a convenient cop out for those who want to use their religious beliefs to judge others, but it doesn't work that way.

                  It's like those emails I've seen that end with "If you agree, pass this along. If not, ignore and do not reply"

                  It's just a way to get one's point of view out there while attempting to avoid any debate. And, as we know on this forum, nothing goes unchallenged! (thank goodness)
                  Good point.

                  However:

                  Broussard was still asked a question that essentially forced him to reveal his religious beliefs to some extent. He didn't say that Collin's couldn't consider himself a Christian and be gay, he said that's what his personal opinions were. I understand that criticism is merited for anyone in the US (and perhaps that was the wrong terminology). I believe that my reason to post was based more on the rumors (or the buzz) of espn penalizing him for his statements based on his religious beliefs.
                  Last edited by rock747; 04-30-2013, 12:13 AM.
                  "We've got to be very clear about this. We don't want our players hanging around with murderers," said Larry Bird, Pacers president.

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                  • #84
                    Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                    Originally posted by Kstat View Post
                    Collins isn't the first male pro athlete to come out...he's the first active pro athlete to come out. To do that, someone has to sign him.

                    He made it clear in his statement that he sees himself as the "first," and a guy to bear the burden for the guys coming after him. For him to fill that role, he has to have a job next year.
                    Kstat, I've been reading your posts for a long time now and I have a lot of respect for your knowledge and opinions about the game of basketball. With that in mind, your response to this story is almost as absurd as Chris Broussard's.

                    So you're saying that a decision that no active male player has ever....... ever....... made before now is only doing it because he wants to get paid? Because the environment in men's professional sports isn't antagonistic or threatening to gays at all, right? So he's certainly never been afraid for the backlash that might come after coming out? Backlash like not being signed to a deal because of the potential locker room discord? The possibility for taunts and public attacks from opposing teams fans or (not a stretch) home team fans? Suddenly being COMPLETELY defined, not by your game or skill, but by your sexual orientation? You're saying that none of those things make more sense than "Damn, look at all this talk about gays. I'm gonna get PAID!"

                    Someone called it a cynical response. I'd say that's an understatement.

                    Comment


                    • #85
                      Originally posted by 5_7_Clash View Post
                      Kstat, I've been reading your posts for a long time now and I have a lot of respect for your knowledge and opinions about the game of basketball. With that in mind, your response to this story is almost as absurd as Chris Broussard's.

                      So you're saying that a decision that no active male player has ever....... ever....... made before now is only doing it because he wants to get paid? Because the environment in men's professional sports isn't antagonistic or threatening to gays at all, right? So he's certainly never been afraid for the backlash that might come after coming out? Backlash like not being signed to a deal because of the potential locker room discord? The possibility for taunts and public attacks from opposing teams fans or (not a stretch) home team fans? Suddenly being COMPLETELY defined, not by your game or skill, but by your sexual orientation? You're saying that none of those things make more sense than "Damn, look at all this talk about gays. I'm gonna get PAID!"

                      Someone called it a cynical response. I'd say that's an understatement.
                      That all depends on how badly he wants to keep his career going. He was a fringe nba player to been with. Nobody would have batted an eyelash if he were not on a roster next season.

                      I never said this was easy for him. In fact, I already said it wasn't. I said he did what he had to do to keep his career going. That's all

                      It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

                      Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
                      Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
                      NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004

                      Comment


                      • #86
                        Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                        Not only what Clash said, but kstats line of thinking is so silly bc we are talking about a guy who has a degree from Stanford, one of the most renowned and respected universities in this country. He also has what a 13 or 14 yr nba career? He is a multi millionaire with a college degree from an ivy league school. He is also an end of the bench player, so he would come out to the public as gay so he can sit at the end of a bench for another year? What a silly conspiracy theory.

                        Comment


                        • #87
                          Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                          Originally posted by ReginaldWayne View Post
                          Not only what Clash said, but kstats line of thinking is so silly bc we are talking about a guy who has a degree from Stanford, one of the most renowned and respected universities in this country. He also has what a 13 or 14 yr nba career? He is a multi millionaire with a college degree from an ivy league school. He is also an end of the bench player, so he would come out to the public as gay so he can sit at the end of a bench for another year? What a silly conspiracy theory.
                          He's made $32.8 million in his career. Does he really need an extra $1.4 million? You're right, silly's a good word for it, IMO.

                          I think it would have been easier for a player on a multi-year contract to come out than a player whose a fringe NBA player about to become a free agent. This could potentially end Collins career prematurely. There's some markets that may shy away from signing him just because of it.

                          Comment


                          • #88
                            Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                            LOL wow this dude wants to keep his job that badly

                            talk about selling out

                            Wait. I should be more sensitive.

                            He is more preoccupied with the burden of the economic collapse than most professional [unskilled] athletes, therefore he had to do with "coming out" in order to secure what would have been an uncertain financial future. Uh...

                            The Standford education... Seems like a well-spoken man... Uh...

                            Get out of here and give me a real story when a legitimate professional (or better yet, star) athlete comes out. I honestly didn't even know he was "still active." We're going to make a story out of a non-story because we can. And must.

                            Otherwise, we're just sad bigots. Right?

                            First "active?"

                            I can't believe (and, yet, I sadly can) we are all lauding this.
                            Last edited by kidthecat; 04-29-2013, 10:58 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #89
                              Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                              Originally posted by kidthecat View Post
                              LOL wow this dude wants to keep his job that badly

                              talk about selling out

                              Wait. I should be more sensitive.

                              He is more preoccupied with the burden of the economic collapse than most professional [unskilled] athletes, therefore he had to do with "coming out" in order to secure what would have been an uncertain financial future. Uh...

                              The Standford education... Seems like a well-spoken man... Uh...

                              Get out of here and give me a real story when a legitimate professional (or better yet, star) athlete comes out. I honestly didn't even know he was "still active." We're going to make a story out of a non-story because we can. And must.

                              First "active?"

                              I can't believe (and, yet, I sadly can) we are all lauding this.
                              Is it some superstar coming out as opposed to some end of the bench player at the end of his career? Nope, but it's a start for a culture that is slowly yet surely accepting homosexuality as part of society and is something that is IMHO important. In a vacuum....he was the same basketball player that he was yesterday...a 3rd tier big man that can give you 6 fouls ( yes, there are a million other Players that can do this ).....that's all that I ( as a fan) and what teammates and Front Offices should care about. But clearly, society could care less about this and care more that there is a professional Athelete came out to the public ( see Broussard's comments ).

                              Baby steps is what we are seeing here when it comes to professional Atheletes making it publicly known that he/she is gay/lesbian.

                              BTW....IMHO....coming out like this only ( unfortunately ) makes it harder for him to find himself on a team as a free agent. My guess is that it wont be THE reason why he won't sign with a team ( the mere fact that there are other Players that does the same exact thing that he does )....but I can see it being one more reason to not sign him.
                              Last edited by CableKC; 04-29-2013, 11:23 PM.
                              Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

                              Comment


                              • #90
                                Re: Jason Collins "comes out"

                                Originally posted by CableKC View Post
                                Is it some superstar coming out as opposed to some end of the bench player at the end of his career? Nope, but it's a start for a culture that is slowly yet surely accepting homosexuality as part of society and is something that is IMHO important. In a vacuum....he was the same basketball player that he was yesterday...a 3rd tier big man that can give you 6 fouls ( yes, there are a million other Players that can do this ).....that's all that I ( as a fan) and what teammates and Front Offices should care about. But clearly, society could care less about this and care more that there is a professional Athelete came out to the public ( see Broussard's comments ).

                                Baby steps is what we are seeing here when it comes to professional Atheletes making it publicly known that he/she is gay/lesbian.

                                BTW....IMHO....coming out like this only ( unfortunately ) makes it harder for him to find himself on a team as a free agent. My guess is that it wont be THE reason why he won't sign with a team ( the mere fact that there are other Players that does the same exact thing that he does )....but I can see it being one more reason to not sign him.
                                Baby-steps with a purpose.

                                He was at best a one-week contract in April before this...

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