Jason Collins Comes Out

[Cam Cam]

NBA center Jason Collins on Monday announced that he's gay in a story for Sports Illustrated, becoming the first active player in a major American team sport to announce that he is gay.

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation," Collins wrote. "I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

NBA commissioner David Stern commended Collins for his announcement.

"As Adam Silver and I said to Jason, we have known the Collins family since Jason and Jarron joined the NBA in 2001 and they have been exemplary members of the NBA family. Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," Stern said in a statement.

Jason's twin brother, Jarron Collins, played for 10 seasons in the NBA, last with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2010-11.

Source: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9223657/jason-collins-first-openly-gay-active-player">http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/92236 ... ive-player</a><!-- m -->

Thoughts?

 

[Homerunsox2005]

He will be the first of many others to come out. Sports needed one person to start the trend, and Jason Collins has done it.

 

[Ozzie]

Yeah, I read a thing on ESPN a while ago that was saying that there were several NFL players who plan on coming out soon together. This will definitely make it happen sooner.