Quote:Are you really trying to defend the fact that ESPN has become almost a tabloid network as opposed to a true sports network? 

 

What does that have to do with Michael Sam? Sounds like you should have the beef with ESPN and leave Sam out of it.


 

Michael Sam is not a "special player."  His personal life is what is special.  He's a marginal player. 

 

No, he is a special player. You might argue that his play isn't special, but there's a difference between the player and the play, and as a player, Sam is a special trailblazer, and the coverage of him is quite merited. He's an example to every LGBT youth in the nation.


 

I don't think this is a case of bigotry.  He's gotten more than a fair shake in the league, and the fans have been for the most part pretty tolerant because at the end of the day it's about football. 

 

The bigotry is on display in this very thread, of people complaining about the kind of sports coverage they're seeing. Any other kind and they have nothing to say. Manziel and his partying? That's fine. Bortles and his hot girlfriend? That's fine, too. Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend? WHOA WHY ARE THEY SHOWING THAT? MY KID MIGHT FIND OUT THAT GAY PEOPLE EXIST AND THAT IT IS IN FACT OKAY!


 

If anyone has shown bigotry, it's the network that asks his teammates if they feel uncomfortable showering with him, and ask them what his showering habits are.  Even Jeff Fisher took exception and blasted ESPN for such pointless, sensationalized reporting.  You're defending that?  You're calling people bigots because they think the media has made more of his sexual preference than was necessary? 

 

What does ESPN's choice of coverage have to do with Michael Sam? You think the producers ran it by him first and gave him editorial control? Are you trying to say being asked about showering was the circus?