Michael Sam, Jason Collins, Brittney Griner Paving Way For Gay Athletes, Billie Jean King Says
Sun. September 7, 2014 12:23 PM by OnTopMag.com
Chicago, IL -
Out tennis legend Billie Jean King thinks "it's great [Michael Sam is] getting a second chance" to make it in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys signed Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player to be drafted, to their 10-player practice squad four days after the St. Louis Rams cut him from their roster.
King told the AP that she hopes "this will tee him up for other opportunities."
She was asked when gay athletes will no longer be news.
"When we have more guys who are gay and it's a non-issue.," she answered. "I don't know how many gay football players in the NFL it will take."
Progress, she said, comes "one by one," noting the contributions of professional athletes who have come out, including Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and Sam.
(Related: WNBA's Brittney Griner, Glory Johnson engaged.)
"One of the biggest things that would help is if one of the quarterbacks who is straight, or all collectively say, 'This is a non-issue. Let's get on with it. As long as they do their job, we don't care.'"
"The Bradys, the Lucks, the Romos, Payton Manning, Eli Manning, if all those guys would just say – 'This is so ridiculous, as long as the guy can play, we don't care what color, what sexual orientation."
"If the media stops talking about it, it will be helpful. The reason we cover it, it's an exception.That's the way the world works, the way the news works," she added.
The Cowboys signed Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player to be drafted, to their 10-player practice squad four days after the St. Louis Rams cut him from their roster.
King told the AP that she hopes "this will tee him up for other opportunities."
She was asked when gay athletes will no longer be news.
"When we have more guys who are gay and it's a non-issue.," she answered. "I don't know how many gay football players in the NFL it will take."
Progress, she said, comes "one by one," noting the contributions of professional athletes who have come out, including Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and Sam.
(Related: WNBA's Brittney Griner, Glory Johnson engaged.)
"One of the biggest things that would help is if one of the quarterbacks who is straight, or all collectively say, 'This is a non-issue. Let's get on with it. As long as they do their job, we don't care.'"
"The Bradys, the Lucks, the Romos, Payton Manning, Eli Manning, if all those guys would just say – 'This is so ridiculous, as long as the guy can play, we don't care what color, what sexual orientation."
"If the media stops talking about it, it will be helpful. The reason we cover it, it's an exception.That's the way the world works, the way the news works," she added.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine