How would other players treat an openly gay player? from his team mates to the opposing team to the media and fans... Would his skill level have anything to do with how he gets treated?? any thoughts and answers are welcome...
2007-08-06 11:11:19 · 22 answers · asked by Kevin82 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Being openly gay in any professional sport is extremly difficuly. This is why most athletes wait until they are retired before coming out of the closet.
Another poster said that it should not matter what one's sexual orientaion is... the key word is "should". It's sad, but true, but it does make a difference.
When an athlete comes out of the closet, s/he does not "become" a different person. They are the same person that you knew last week, who you played with last week, who you changed around last week. S/he wasn't "checking you out" then, and they're not "checking you out" now (in the locker room).
What truly needs to happen, is when an athlete does come out of the closet, his/her teammates, and the orginazation needs to rally around them and not make such a big deal about it.
I do think that it is harder for men to come out then it is for women. When a women comes out, society is like, "well, duh, she's good in sports", as if all lesbians are good in sports, and that all female atheletes are gay.
When a man comes out, society has this perception that the only gay men are "fairies" (sorry guys), and that they should not be good in sports. They should be your wife's hair dresser and your wedding co-ordinator. He "should not" be your favorite athlete on your favorite sports team.
I think that it'll take high profiile athlete (and not a gymnist) to come out of the closet in a high profile sport while they are still playing for it to become more accepting.
How would most people respond if they found out that Derik Jeter or A-Rod is gay?
2007-08-06 11:51:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was apparently an open secret in the NBA that John Amaechi was gay - even while Ameachi was playing. It never became a big enough deal that it made the newspapers until Ameachi made an announcement. Amaechi was a marginal NBA talent - a decent backup center and a guy who apparently didn't really enjoy playing basketball and had a lot of other interests, but was almost 7' tall, and like Bison Dele, he could contribute to a team even if he wasn't totally into it. He would have been easy to get rid of if anyone really cared. I'm guessing there are baseball players in the same situation - many of their teammates know they are gay, but no one talks about it.
2007-08-06 12:35:02 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think just like Barry Bonds and the record, everyone would be split down the middle. Some would be fine and others would not. I think your sexual preference and your athletic skills should not be hand in hand. If you are good it shouldn't matter.
I think he wouldn't be accepted in the clubhouse though because of the homophobia. I wouldn't mind it at all if it were me. If I was a player I could get dressed and stuff very comfortably. Just because someone is gay doesn't mean they are even attracted to just anybody. It would be just like being at the beach to me.
But you will always have guys like Tim Hardaway who are just complete idiots.
2007-08-06 11:27:44 · answer #3 · answered by Veritas et Aequitas () 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the backlash of our society would force the openly gay player to retire.
2007-08-06 11:14:01 · answer #4 · answered by RobRt 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
well i would think that it'd be a lot better than NBA because in MLB there are a lot less black players, and black players tend to be super homophobic. Now when I said tend to be, don't label me a racist. O course not ALL BLACKS ARE THAT WAY, but many of them are. BTW i grew up in a black neighborhood, or shall i say "hood". I crack myself up, lol
2007-08-06 12:05:49 · answer #5 · answered by Sultan Cartman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sexual orientation should have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH SKILL, BRAINS or the like. It is SOOOO wrong to judge people like that. If it is wrong in the Bible, then GOD will discuss it with them -- not US. We are to love each other - period. I could care less if anyone I knew was gay or not. I am not gay but I also have an open mind and understand.
2007-08-06 11:15:02 · answer #6 · answered by butterfliesRfree 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
some people are small minded, and instead of them worrying about how good a player he is , some would just let his sexual preference overshadow his ability of being a good baseball player. they would cheer him when he scores, then ridicule him for being gay.
2007-08-06 11:19:24 · answer #7 · answered by wendy h 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He'd be the bravest player since Jackie Robinson, because he'd have to take a world of crap, abuse, and derision.
2007-08-06 11:24:15 · answer #8 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Let em hit those balls......out of the park.
Sexuality does not have anything to do with playing Baseball.
2007-08-06 11:13:52 · answer #9 · answered by KaThRyN 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hi
2007-08-06 11:13:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋