So recently All-American (and more importantly All-SEC) defensive lineman Michael Sam publically came out and admitted he is homosexual. Backed by his coaches and teammates, who have known for months, he shocked the sports world by being potentially the first gay man to play in the NFL when he gets drafted in the April. Responses from players and the general public have differed. Some calling him a hero and others claiming he is a terrible person. And I personally don't agree with either. Michael Sam is who he is; and that is a damn good Defensive Lineman who has all the talent measurables to be a phenomenal NFL player. And I can promise you this. If you're an offensive tackle, Michael Sam being gay is NOT going to stop him from burning you off the line and sacking your quarterback, thus making you look silly.
People in our society are always very quick to pass judgement and try and impose their ideals onto others and I am guilty of that as well. But why do we do it? Who says we are right and others are wrong? Maybe that's something we should reflect on. As for Michael Sam, the decision to go public was just that, his decision. I commend him from a business perspective in the sense that whatever GM drafts an hires him knows everything on the front end. And I hope that he gets the respect he deserves in the locker room and from the fans. Not because he's the first gay football player in the NFL, but because he's a regular human just like the rest of us.
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