Missouri All-American
Michael Sam says he is gay, and the defensive end could become the first openly
gay player in the NFL.
In interviews Sunday with ESPN and The New York Times, Sam said his teammates and
coaches at Missouri have known since August.
“I am an openly, proud gay man,” he said.
Sam, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior, completed a stellar season for
Missouri, which finished 12-2 and won the Cotton Bowl. He was named a
first-team all-American. He was the defensive player of the year in the
Southeastern Conference, widely considered the top league in college football.
Teammates voted him Missouri’s most valuable player.
His decision to go public about his sexual orientation comes less
than two weeks before the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis,
an event where draft prospects show off their skills and are tested by the 32
NFL teams.
Sam, the Associated Press’ SEC Defensive Player of the Year, is
projected to be chosen in the early rounds of the draft in May, and could
become the first openly NFL player. He said he decided to come out publicly now
because he sensed that rumors were circulating.
“It’s a big deal. No one has done this before,” he said. “And it’s
kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be … I want to be a
football player in the NFL.”
Another very brave sportsperson! We must just accept people as they are! He's black and gay! GREAT! Hope more people learn from his example.
ReplyDeletepeople will learn
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