Gay Players ready to be themselves?

[Royal Ginger]

The issue of "how will gay players be received in professional sports" has been well discussed on these forums. This week in the MLS ex Leeds striker Robbie Rogers has returned to football after retiring from the English game because of his reluctance to face the media (also he was a bit crap).

This all follows Jason Collins (basketball player) becoming the first active senior american athlete coming out as gay.

Having been visiting in the USA for the last few weeks, It has been noticeable that the media has made a big deal out of not making a big deal of the sexuality of the player, but of the footballing move instead, and this seems to have been very widely accepted. It may be a flash in the pan, but it appears (over here at least) that the pace of the movement is gathering. I'm wondering if this could spread to the English leagues, and if this final curtain of stigma could start to be lifted after the tragic failure of Justin Fashanu's outing.

[creative_username_1]

RoyalGinger(beer) just come out m8, no one will judge you any different. You don't need these 'cry for help' style posts

[SPARTA]

There was meant to be 4-5 players over here who were ready to come out. I hope that is still the case.

[TBM]

There was meant to be 4-5 players over here who were ready to come out. I hope that is still the case.

Hoping to net yourself a rich man huh?!

[Albert Spangler]

Robbie Rogers

I bet he does

[Brian's left bollock]

There was meant to be 4-5 players over here who were ready to come out. I hope that is still the case.

This was a wum from starfers.

[SPARTA]

There was meant to be 4-5 players over here who were ready to come out. I hope that is still the case.

This was a wum from starfers.

I'm not referring to that. The papers were running with 4-5 players prepared to 'come out' this year.

[Brian's left bollock]

Apologies, i was not aware.

[TBM]

An England player is said to be coming out as gay shortly this week, I wonder who it could be...

[Pepe the Horseman]

Lol.

[soggy biscuit]

didn't the journalist suggest afterwards it was a female footballer he was talking about?

[Royalist]

Why should a gay player come out? I don't care where he wants to put his penis. Why does anyone else?

[No Fixed Abode]

Why should a gay player come out? I don't care where he wants to put his penis. Why does anyone else?

Look at Casey Stoney. Not really heard of until she came out. Now SKY have given her a job commentating on games in the SKY studio. Why? Just because living a lie and decided to tell the truth. It's a case of giving someone a job, not because they're the best at what they do - but to show 'diversity' in this overly PC World.

It's also done Tom Daley the World of good in terms of his media career.

[Ouroboros]

I'm sick of sportspeople pretending to be gay just to get ahead.

[TBM]

I'm sick of sportspeople pretending to be gay just to get head.

[Man Friday]

RoyalGinger(beer) just come out m8, no one will judge you any different. You don't need these 'cry for help' style posts

Yawn.

[Zaretsky]

but to show 'diversity' in this overly PC World.

No mention of Currys? Racist.

[From Despair To Where?]

Why should a gay player come out? I don't care where he wants to put his penis. Why does anyone else?

Look at Casey Stoney. Not really heard of until she came out. Now SKY have given her a job commentating on games in the SKY studio. Why? Just because living a lie and decided to tell the truth. It's a case of giving someone a job, not because they're the best at what they do - but to show 'diversity' in this overly PC World.

It's also done Tom Daley the World of good in terms of his media career.

Ok, womens' football hasn't got the biggest profile but I'd hardly call Casey Stoney unheard of. Multiple trophies at Arsenal, Over 100 Caps and England captain. I'd say that had more of an impact in her getting a job for Sky Sports than her sexuality.

And Tom Daley was hardly media shy before he came out.

[No Fixed Abode]

Why should a gay player come out? I don't care where he wants to put his penis. Why does anyone else?

Look at Casey Stoney. Not really heard of until she came out. Now SKY have given her a job commentating on games in the SKY studio. Why? Just because living a lie and decided to tell the truth. It's a case of giving someone a job, not because they're the best at what they do - but to show 'diversity' in this overly PC World.

It's also done Tom Daley the World of good in terms of his media career.

Ok, womens' football hasn't got the biggest profile but I'd hardly call Casey Stoney unheard of. Multiple trophies at Arsenal, Over 100 Caps and England captain. I'd say that had more of an impact in her getting a job for Sky Sports than her sexuality.

And Tom Daley was hardly media shy before he came out.

So why wasn't Casey Stoney on SSN before she came out?

[From Despair To Where?]

Because she's now coming towards the end of her football career and is pursuing other options that were not available to her earlier in her career.