Jason Collins: First Gay Male Professional Athlete

Jason Collins announced that he was gay to Sports Illustrated yesterday. Jason Collins is a professional basketball player that has been in the NBA for twelve years. He is an exceptional athlete and extremely smart, graduating from Stanford. His revealing moment shocked people across the country yesterday but for him he seemed very calm and relieved. He told Good Morning America that he has been waiting for some other athletes to come forward first, because he did not what so much spotlight on him, but that after he finally came forward he felt like a huge weight had been lifted.

He says "I'm a 34 year old NBA center, I'm black, and I'm gay". He says he fought being gay in the beginning. He told reporters "it was like telling yourself the sky is red when you know its blue". He stated he just wants to live a honest life and is glad that he can be other people's role model as well. Collins said that it isn't about being gay when you play a sport, its about the sport. Its about working hard to be the best at your sport, whether you are gay or not gay.

Another reason he did not come forward was for the loyalty of his team. In his interview with GMA he said, "I didn't want to be THAT distraction. It has always been about the team [not myself]. I think that the country is ready to support an openly gay basketball player....I never set out to be the first." Collins seemed so accepting and very at ease during his interview. He also stated that he wanted to break the "gay stereotype" that is out there against athletes and show people that anyone can be what they set out to be, it does not matter what your sexual orientation may be.

BOSTON STRONG!

As you all know, Boston Massachusetts suffered from two bombings last week during the historic Boston Marathon. Today, I wanted to talk about how Boston came together, through their weakness, to unite as one. Saturday, with the help of the Red Sox before their game against Kansas City, the fans and locals paid tribute to the victims. Even though I may sound biased because of my unconditional love for the Boston Red Sox, I feel as though the players expressed their loved more than most could, not only through their words but through their actions. David Ortiz started the game by saying something alone the lines of, "This is our F*ing city and we will let no one dictate our freedom! Stay strong, okay!?" The fans cheered and came together after his encouragement. It was truly an amazing moment. The Red Sox organization, the members of the Red Sox Nation, and the MLB ended up raising $646,500 to donate towards The One Fund organization which will help the victims and families of the tragedy. The team also wore "Boston" jerseys instead of their tradition "Red Sox" jerseys that they ended up auctioning off at the end of the game. The proceeds also went to the charity. 

What made me so happy was hearing what the Red Sox players had to say about the game on Saturday. David Ortiz commented about how he knew what they were all going through and how happy he was to see people's chests' opening up and letting it go during the game. Daniel Nava stated "Knowing everything that went into the day for the city, for us to get the win, it came in a special way, in a special fashion. It made it all that more important." Lorenzo Cain called the game's atmosphere "electric". The way the team was able to unite together, with so much on their mind, and to come out with a win really showed their love and support for their team and town. They were intrinsically and extrinsically motivated by themselves and their fans to win that game for their city. GO RED SOX!

Is Tiger Woods Really Back?

With the Masters starting later today, Tiger Woods can't help but be the topic on nearly every sports broadcasting show. ESPN correspondent, Mike Tirico, interviewed Woods about the upcoming Masters to see where he was mentally. Tirico asked Tiger, "How many more Majors do you expect to win?" He responded in "old Tiger form", "more than four." Jokingly, Tirico asked, "So, do you know more about skiing now," in regards to Tiger's current relationship with Lindsey Vaughn. Mike and Mike on ESPN radio added to all the Tiger hype by saying everyone is going to either take Tiger or the rest of the entire field to win the Masters. That has not happened in three years; he is such a prohibited favorite. Good Morning America this morning spoke about how fans are flocking to see Tiger Woods at the Masters this weekend. Tickets are skyrocking to nearly 40 times face value for a for day pass; all of this for Tiger Woods. People are believing he is back. Tiger believes he is back. Is Tiger Woods really back? Can one athlete who was the best in the game at one point return from such a huge public downfall? Everyone is riding on this weekend's master to see if he truly is psychologically back in the game.

Last night I watched the television series, 30 for 30, on ESPN about N.C. State’s head coach in the 1980’s, Jim Valvano. If you do not already know, “Jimmy V” led the Wolfpack to the 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship. What made him an even more remarkable coach is that he was able to do this while battling bone cancer. Coach V’s famous saying, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up”, has stuck with his former players throughout their entire adult life. That motto is even the phrase for the Jimmy V Cancer Foundation. One of the things I picked up from the documentary last night was how he had full faith in all of his players. He was notoriously known for having his players the foul at the end of a close game, even if they were down.  A former ‘Pack player, Lorenzo Charles, stated that after his team fouled, he then was fouled and forced to call time out. His two free throws were the determining factor on whether or not N.C. State would win the game. Charles said he remembers Coach V telling the huddle, “after Lorenzo sinks both these free throws, we are going to win this game.” The funny thing is Lorenzo Charles told ESPN that he was terrible at free throws. For a coach to have that much confidence in his players in such a close-call game really demonstrated the type of person Jim Valvano was. He loved his team. He was completely there mentally, even through his dying, and was able to connect with every player on a level that many coaches will never reach with their team. He was loved for his passion of the game. If you have not watched this documentary, you should. It will move you in so many ways!