Quote:While perhaps he does have some courage, the NFLN, ESPN and other media outlets aren't the place to show it. He gets media time NOT because of his play on the field, but BECAUSE he is gay. If you want to talk about gay issues, watch the Oprah network or something similar. NFLN and ESPN are not the place for it. People that watch NFLN and ESPN tune in because they want to hear about sports, not social issues.
This guy actually had a press conference after signing with the Cowboys. When in the history of the NFL has a player signed to a practice squad ever had the need to hold a press conference? This guy is pretty much nothing when it comes to NFL news and should go away faster than Tebow.
We can sit here and speculate as to why he was signed to the Cowboy's practice squad, and if I were to give my opinion, it has nothing to do with his skill as an NFL player.
No, the place for the coverage of it is on NFL network and ESPN, where a young gay man interested in football will actually see the coverage. Your statement really gets to the crux of the issue, your idea that not only should gay people be made to feel unaccepted, but that the media should insulate you from things you feel uncomfortable with.
Quote:No, the place for the coverage of it is on NFL network and ESPN, where a young gay man interested in football will actually see the coverage. Your statement really gets to the crux of the issue, your idea that not only should gay people be made to feel unaccepted, but that the media should insulate you from things you feel uncomfortable with.
Personally, while I support gay rights, I think the media has done Michael Sam a disservice. He's not Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a great player. As a great player, he deserved plenty of media coverage. Michael Sam is a very marginal player, with the downside that he brings a media circus with him. When you're a marginal player, the last thing you need is to haul around that kind of baggage. Most coaches won't like having a guy on the practice squad who is being followed around by the media, half of whom appear to want nothing more than to find some instance of mistreatment or discrimination. It's a major distraction. Coaches and GMs will say, "Do I really need this?" For Jackie Robinson, yes, it was worth it because he was a great player. But it's just not worth it for a practice squad player like Michael Sam. I really understand why people are sick of hearing about the guy. It's massive media overkill. The players have accepted him, but the media won't let it alone. Coaches in particular have enough on their plate without having to answer 10 questions a day about a guy on the practice squad.
Quote:Personally, while I support gay rights, I think the media has done Michael Sam a disservice. He's not Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a great player. As a great player, he deserved plenty of media coverage. Michael Sam is a very marginal player, with the downside that he brings a media circus with him. When you're a marginal player, the last thing you need is to haul around that kind of baggage. Most coaches won't like having a guy on the practice squad who is being followed around by the media, half of whom appear to want nothing more than to find some instance of mistreatment or discrimination. It's a major distraction. Coaches and GMs will say, "Do I really need this?" For Jackie Robinson, yes, it was worth it because he was a great player. But it's just not worth it for a practice squad player like Michael Sam. I really understand why people are sick of hearing about the guy. It's massive media overkill. The players have accepted him, but the media won't let it alone. Coaches in particular have enough on their plate without having to answer 10 questions a day about a guy on the practice squad.
Which gets back to the courage he's displayed, a level of courage no other closeted gay player has ever had in the history of the NFL, the courage to positively and emphatically show himself for who he is and accept that it won't be a positive for his career. However, someone had to be the first, and hopefully all the closeted players who didn't have his courage will come out of the closet and help him carry that mantle instead of having to be the only openly gay player in the league.
Quote:Personally, while I support gay rights, I think the media has done Michael Sam a disservice. He's not Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a great player. As a great player, he deserved plenty of media coverage. Michael Sam is a very marginal player, with the downside that he brings a media circus with him. When you're a marginal player, the last thing you need is to haul around that kind of baggage. Most coaches won't like having a guy on the practice squad who is being followed around by the media, half of whom appear to want nothing more than to find some instance of mistreatment or discrimination. It's a major distraction. Coaches and GMs will say, "Do I really need this?" For Jackie Robinson, yes, it was worth it because he was a great player. But it's just not worth it for a practice squad player like Michael Sam. I really understand why people are sick of hearing about the guy. It's massive media overkill. The players have accepted him, but the media won't let it alone. Coaches in particular have enough on their plate without having to answer 10 questions a day about a guy on the practice squad.
Oklahoma gets knocked down, but he get's up again, you ain't ever gonna keep him down.
Quote:Oklahoma gets knocked down, but he get's up again, you ain't ever gonna keep him down.
I wasn't trying to knock Okahomie down. I was just giving my opinion.
Quote:No, the place for the coverage of it is on NFL network and ESPN, where a young gay man interested in football will actually see the coverage. Your statement really gets to the crux of the issue, your idea that not only should gay people be made to feel unaccepted, but that the media should insulate you from things you feel uncomfortable with.
By the way, I think most "young gay men interested in football" are just like you and me. They want to see football. I can't speak for them, but I know a few of them, and I believe most of them would be more interested in the games themselves than in this individual player. Sure, they're rooting for him to succeed, but beyond that, they're just rooting for their teams to win.
Quote:By the way, I think most "young gay men interested in football" are just like you and me. They want to see football. I can't speak for them, but I know a few of them, and I believe most of them would be more interested in the games themselves than in this individual player. Sure, they're rooting for him to succeed, but beyond that, they're just rooting for their teams to win.
Yes, I'm sure they are interested in football, it was part of my point. When someone that shares a trait with them is portrayed in a positive way it has a positive influence on their own self perception, and that's an important thing.
If you're not already acquainted with the data on gay youth and societal acceptance it's readily available, this would be an accessible place to start.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...d=98782569
Quote:While perhaps he does have some courage, the NFLN, ESPN and other media outlets aren't the place to show it. He gets media time NOT because of his play on the field, but BECAUSE he is gay. If you want to talk about gay issues, watch the Oprah network or something similar. NFLN and ESPN are not the place for it. People that watch NFLN and ESPN tune in because they want to hear about sports, not social issues.
LOUD. FOOTBALL. CLAP. :thumbsup:
Welp... He's a Cowboy now. On the bench. Who cares. If he blows too many plays, then he'll get released. Or maybe not. Jerry Jones may hold on to him in case he does rise to the occasion. The ' Boys lost their best pass rusher, so they need the guy to get on top of the QB in the sack dept.
The subject is so ridiculous its been put in the political forum.
Next up? Political Correct Forum.
Quote:No, the place for the coverage of it is on NFL network and ESPN, where a young gay man interested in football will actually see the coverage. Your statement really gets to the crux of the issue, your idea that not only should gay people be made to feel unaccepted, but that the media should insulate you from things you feel uncomfortable with.
Nope. I never said that gay people should be made to feel unaccepted and I never said that the media should insulate me from anything.
For the record, I am not uncomfortable around gay people at all. As of matter of fact, one of my direct work colleagues happens to be gay, and it isn't an issue at all. I also happen to have many close family members and friends that are openly gay, and once again, it's no issue.
My problem isn't with Michael Sam as much as it is with the media. ESPN is about sports, not social/lifestyle issues. NFLN is about the NFL, not social/lifestyle issues. I don't tune in to FOX News or CNN to get the latest sports news or NFL news. I don't expect to tune in to ESPN or NFLN to get the latest gossip about a mediocre at best player who is gay.
Once again, the guy gets signed to a practice squad and held a press conference? Why is that?
Quote:Nope. I never said that gay people should be made to feel unaccepted and I never said that the media should insulate me from anything.
No you didn't.
Don't worry, thats how they argue.
I feel the same way, btw as you explained in the rest of your post. The biggest issue I have is with the media and trying to cram this stuff where it don't belong. (They do it intentionally of course). I watch ESPN and NFLN because I want to see sports, not social friggin issues. Report on the social aspect of it on the proper stations/ outlets.
Quote:No you didn't.
Don't worry, thats how they argue.
Not a big deal to me, much like you I have thick skin. :thumbsup:
Mike Florio just reported that league officials contacted teams about signing Sam. Must be nice to be special.
Quote:Mike Florio just reported that league officials contacted teams about signing Sam. Must be nice to be special.
...smh....and people wonder why some of us are disgusted.
Quote:Mike Florio just reported that league officials contacted teams about signing Sam. Must be nice to be special.
Even the league is getting in on trying to use Sam to their benefit. Pretty pathetic. Let the kid sink or swim on what he brings on the field. Not what he does away from it.
Quote:Mike Florio just reported that league officials contacted teams about signing Sam. Must be nice to be special.
If true that's just wrong
Quote:Mike Florio just reported that league officials contacted teams about signing Sam. Must be nice to be special.
Yep, the PC losers are flexing their muscles every chance they get these days.
Quote:Yep, the PC losers are flexing their muscles every chance they get these days.
Think of it this way:
There are a lot of people hoping Michael Sam gets shunned, because they don't like gays. There are also a lot of people hoping Michael Sam gets shunned because that would let them scream and yell about discrimination. In the middle of all this, the NFL doesn't need the headache, so they want to make sure he's not just being shunned for being gay. In fact, they don't even want people to raise the possibility, true or not. So they contact teams in an effort to find out what the truth is. Or maybe they contact teams to try to find him a spot. This is just one small example of the NFL trying to control their image.
Congress controls whether the NFL keeps its anti-trust exemption. If Sam gets shunned by the league, not even making a practice squad, because he's gay, or if that's even the perception, that's one more reason for congresspeople to rake them over the coals next time there is a hearing on the anti-trust exemption.
I'm not saying this is the truth, but you have to admit, it is plausible. In a perfect world, Sam sinks or swims on his own. We do not live in a perfect world. People like Michael Sam are tools for fundraising and scoring political points. The NFL is just trying to avoid trouble. Don't blame them for doing this. They are just trying to avoid the kind of trouble they don't need.
Quote:Think of it this way:
There are a lot of people hoping Michael Sam gets shunned, because they don't like gays. There are also a lot of people hoping Michael Sam gets shunned because that would let them scream and yell about discrimination. In the middle of all this, the NFL doesn't need the headache, so they want to make sure he's not just being shunned for being gay. In fact, they don't even want people to raise the possibility, true or not. So they contact teams in an effort to find out what the truth is. Or maybe they contact teams to try to find him a spot. This is just one small example of the NFL trying to control their image.
Congress controls whether the NFL keeps its anti-trust exemption. If Sam gets shunned by the league, not even making a practice squad, because he's gay, or if that's even the perception, that's one more reason for congresspeople to rake them over the coals next time there is a hearing on the anti-trust exemption.
I'm not saying this is the truth, but you have to admit, it is plausible. In a perfect world, Sam sinks or swims on his own. We do not live in a perfect world. People like Michael Sam are tools for fundraising and scoring political points. The NFL is just trying to avoid trouble. Don't blame them for doing this. They are just trying to avoid the kind of trouble they don't need.
Some of us would like there to be at least one place in our lives where the social engineers aren't engaged with trying to change our thoughts, attitudes, voting habits, and deeply held personal beliefs. If a hugely corporate entity filled with milquetoast executives like the NFL can't be that place then, darn it, there aren't going to be ANY left.
Quote:Some of us would like there to be at least one place in our lives where the social engineers aren't engaged with trying to change our thoughts, attitudes, voting habits, and deeply held personal beliefs. If a hugely corporate entity filled with milquetoast executives like the NFL can't be that place then, darn it, there aren't going to be ANY left.
It's not social engineering; it's controlling the image of the NFL. The NFL could not care less about gay rights. It's their image and their political power they are trying to protect.
And by the way, if you're looking for a "...place in our lives where the social engineers aren't engaged with trying to change our thoughts, attitudes, voting habits, and deeply held personal beliefs.." dream on. Such a place has never existed in modern history. In a free market, there are always going to be people trying to control your thoughts and behavior, whether they're trying to get you to buy their toilet paper or trying to get you to vote their way.