Baffoe: Let's Mock Stupid Reactions To Michael Sam
By Tim Baffoe-
(CBS) Michael Sam is an openly gay athlete. He will likely play in the NFL in 2014. That's a big deal for football, for sports and for society at large.
Some people disagree, though. See, many people are very uncomfortable with the existence of sexualities other than their own, and then they react to news like that of Sam with brilliance to the effect of "Why is this news?" or "I'm fine with it, but why does he have to be in our faces about it?" And of course there is the blatant homophobia with slurs and crude jokes.
It was nice to see that as of this posting no NFL players or coaches had anything dumb to say (that will probably change, though) and took the news as a positive. Sports Illustrated quickly and poorly begged the tone deaf question of how Sam's draft stock will be impacted and got quotes from some league personnel that range from stupid to cowardly in their anonymity. Herm Edwards brought the out-of-touch uncle that can't even say the person's name correctly perspective.
And then there is good ol' social media. Twitter is just the best for bigots really showing their true selves. So I did the unenviable task of culling the online equivalent of that area between your college flophouse couch cushions and found some real pearls of wisdom. Let's point at the bad people, shall we?
Well, he's likely going to be the first member of a long-discriminated-against group of people to play in the NFL. One of the nice things about intelligent society is that it tends to celebrate and deem "newsworthy" stories of breaking down social barriers. So you being obviously uncomfortable with the story doesn't make it less of one.
Imperfections?
Oh, totally. We are all familiar with the gay-by-association law of nature.
This is the daytime ESPN demographic.
HAHA I EQUATE MY DISTASTE FOR A SCHOOL AND SPORTS TEAM WITH HOMOSEXUALITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE GAYS IS INFERIOR AND JOKES AND STUFF LOLZ
Take some more very heterosexual bathroom selfies, bro.
Nah, the context was pretty clear, and you're glad you found a famous person to validate your passive prejudice.
I CAME HERE FOR PREFERENTIAL TEAM COVERAGE AND TIRED CLICHES WHY ARE THEY GETTING THE GAY ALL OVER IT???
So compromise who you are and be dishonest for the sake of a job? Got it.
This person can't be that stupid, can he?
Oh, he corresponds with Skip Bayless. Asked and answered.
Maybe when you stop using your faith as a vehicle to judge others and to speak for a deity.
STOP MAKING ME CONFRONT MY OWN ISSUES WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT NEWS STORY.
But you just did, you incredibly clueless person.
Not really, no. In fact, I hadn't even thought of that until I saw this tweet because I'm not an ignorant jackass who equates homosexuality with shower issues. And go ask Sam's Mizzou teammates how much of an issue it was.
"Should of."
How dare a man doing something very courageous and greatly impacting the world of sports and beyond be treated as something great.
Just keep telling yourself that overall humanity is getting better and history will prove people like that to be fools. It's what I do. And drink.
Follow Tim's inappropriate brain droppings on Twitter @TimBaffoe, but please don't follow him in real life. E-mail him at tenfootmailbag@gmail.com. Read more of Tim's columns here.
