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Reactions Gays in sports proves to be very divisive issuePosted: Tuesday February 25, 2003 6:20 PMSI.com recently solicited opinions on how you would react to gays in sports. Here's a sampling of what you had to say:
In all honesty, if I found out my favorite athlete was gay neither my opinion of the athlete, the team or the sport would change. Of course, having said that, in today's world, I don't blame the professional athletes who are gay and keeping it a secret. While I consider myself a very open person, I know there are a whole lot of people who would be unforgiving (which is a word I would not choose, but I fear it is appropriate) and make this athlete's remaining career miserable.
Being of a strong religious background that totally disagrees with homosexuality, I would definitely look at the player differently. BUT there would be no change on the way I look at the team or sport. Homosexuals have every right to play any sport for any team. Sports are not about what you do in your personal life, it's about what you do on the field or court. Unfortunately, the media creates a circus about anything and everything possible. That's why we are having this discussion, isn't it?
If I were to find out that Jeff Bagwell or Roy Oswalt were gay (which they are not), that would definitely change my opinion of them and the game of baseball. HOMOSEXUALITY IS WRONG and nobody should condone it. Sure, there are gay athletes and there may be some where I live, but I don't need to know. One of the main problems with sports, society, etc. is that we the John Q. Public sit back and accept TOO MUCH! When are we going to say enough is enough? Probably never. I would lose all respect for the player and would not follow the team anymore. Being a Christian, and by saying this I know you will probably stop reading about now, I should love the sinner, Hate the sin. Well, I feel that way, and would not hate the athlete per se, but lose all respect and no longer associate with that particular team. Who cares about their sexuality? Get over it. What people (gay or straight) do in their bedrooms is their business not the public's! Why do we have so much more tolerance for athletes who abuse their spouses (Jason Kidd), abuse drugs (Daryl Strawberry), promote hate and violence (Allen Iverson), sleep around (Magic Johnson and every other athlete), produce illegitimate children, rape women and abuse the fans (list too numerous) and yet just because an athlete is gay, or perceived gay, the media, the public and teammates freak out?
Let their actions speak on the field/court, not in the privacy of their home. If Mr. Koufax is gay and is doing his best to "deny" it while he is gay, then I feel sorry for him, he has the opportunity to make a difference to a young future baseball player who might happen to be gay. What he is doesn't detract anything he did in his phenomenal baseball career!
In a day and age where all people are supposedly treated and thought of equally, it is still abundantly clear that there is a tremendous faction of our society suffering from a crippling case of homophobia. Sexual preference plays absolutely no part in what kind of an athlete a person is, and to even think that someone may be ostracized because of their sexual preference is no different from ostracizing them because they are black, Korean, or Iraqi. All discrimination is equally despicable. Jackie Robinson is thought of as a hero by nearly everyone who follows professional sports. Someday someone will come out while they are an active player, and hopefully the rest of society acknowledges that man/woman as a hero and groundbreaker as well.
In the hectic state of the sports world today, there seems to be one constant. There are no gay athletes. What would surprise the American public is that although yes, the majority of athletes have a spouse and kids or lead single lives dating members of the opposite sex, there is most likely a growing percentage of closeted homosexual athletes in the world of sports. Their sexuality is in hiding because, unfortunately, the majority of American male sports fans have a wife and kids or lead single lives dating members of the opposite sex, which would create a strong reaction on both sides if say, a baseball player were to become openly gay. With all of the controversy surrounding the issue, it's no wonder athletes like Mike Piazza hold press conferences to stamp down rumors of their suspected homosexuality. They are trying to save face against a harsh and remorseless sports public. This is quite a shame, because I know that if an athlete came out, it would not make a difference to me or most (definitely not all, JOHN ROCKER) of his teammates.
If I were to find out my favorite athlete were gay, it wouldn't make one bit of difference. Well, I take that back. Being gay myself, it would make me feel even prouder that I had picked that athlete as my favorite to begin with. A person's sexual orientation truly makes no difference on the sporting field. I would like to thank Phil Taylor on his editorial today. Shame on Sandy Koufax for making such a big deal out of this accusation. If he is gay, so what? And if he isn't gay, so what? It doesn't change the fact that he was an outstanding baseball pitcher. No more, no less.
I have 3 questions. (1) Wasn't Greg Louganis an athlete? and (2)was he not a self-avowed gay? (3) What impact, if any, did it have in the world of diving? Case made.
I would react the same way I would if I found out my favorite athlete was a child molester or a racist. I believe in absolute truths and I believe that homosexuality is wrong. I don't believe that people are born gay in the same way I don't believe people are born to "naturally" want to molest children or to be born a racist and not be able to do anything about it. Thus I would not be able to support an athlete if I found out he/she were homosexual.
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