Michael Sam..NFL player.....Does his sexuality really matter?

   I have listened to all of the talk about Michael Sam, the former Missouri defensive end who is preparing for the NFL draft, who “officially” came out as gay just over a week ago. He is projected as a third or fourth round pick in the 2014 draft. Okay. So what is the big deal? Very simple bottom line for me. Can the kid play? Apparently, yes. Does he deserve a shot to play in the NFL? Yes.  Should who he spends his off-the-field (meaning intimate) time with matter as regards to what he will do on game day? Absolutely not!

    I do not care that Michael Sam is gay. I really have no thoughts nor do I really care about the sexual orientation of any professional athlete, whether he OR she plays for a team that I root for or any other. I am (probably) not going to meet any of them in person, much less sharing their bed. I am happily married, for one reason. You can go on from there. So why should we, the public care? And also, is it really the public’s business, whether the player is open about their sexuality or not? I would prefer that he or any gay, bisexual or transgender person live (and be) open about their sexuality than have to lie about it (unless such directly affects their privacy and personal safety).

    Michael Sam is NOT the first gay NFL player. We already know that, even if some of us don’t want to acknowledge that. Michael Sam could be the first OPENLY gay player to be drafted into the NFL. There is a big difference. There are 32 teams today with around 1,756 players on active rosters, plus practice squad (around 154-160) players, free agents, plus the group of players who will be drafted in about 2 ½ months. This is 2014. Only an uneducated or misguided fool would believe that every one of those men is 100% heterosexual.  I can all but guarantee you that some of them prefer men over women in their bed, but keep such quiet for obvious reasons. I think it is a safe bet that some of these men are actually bisexual, but keep such quiet for obvious reasons.

    Ask yourself if you are a TRUE rabid NFL (or any sport) fan: If one (or more) of your favorite team’s players came out as gay or bisexual tomorrow, would you want him cut from your team as a result? Would you withdraw your support for that team if they didn’t? What if he was a (past or present) Super Bowl champion? What if he were your team’s best player (regardless of position?) Does his position matter? Let’s be honest. If your team’s punter or placekicker came out, how many of you would really go nuts? Such would get a little more attention than a WNBA player coming out as a lesbian (which has happened) or a top tennis player or golfer. But if it were a quarterback? Wide receiver? Middle linebacker?

   What if it were hockey? MLB? NASCAR? NBA? MMA? PBA? Would one’s sexuality, or gender matter? I KNOW such doesn’t matter when driving a race car. Danica Patrick and other ladies have already proven that. Women play hockey (it is an Olympic sport!) and also do MMA and play basketball. Where does sex matter there? I ask you, where does one’s sexuality negatively impact one’s job? It only affects the other person….if they know (or thinks they know), IF AT ALL.

    The only time where one’s sexuality matters is if he or she was being inappropriate with their sexuality (in particular) with a teammate or coach or other personnel on the field, in the locker room and/or facility or elsewhere who clearly was not interested with such. But isn’t it like that in ANY workplace? Again what is the big deal?

    Lastly, every person has their own differences. Every person may like to do (or not do) things in their private life that some would have issues with. Some like to drink alcohol (A LOT). Some like to lay in the nude at home and/or while sleeping. Some people like to dress almost like prostitutes or pimps in public at all times, especially when such would be inappropriate.  Some men and women happen to be homosexual or bisexual. A person is much more than their skin color, the way they talk, the way they dress, what they do for a living and/or who he or she shares their bed with at night. A person’s character is a lot bigger than all of that. Give Michael Sam the same respect you would give him as a person if he weren’t a football player, if he wasn’t Black and especially if he happened not to be a homosexual. Deal with those differences and show others respect like you would want others to do with YOU. And leave it at that.