Missouri football player Michael Sam is gay (2 Viewers)

[SaintsInDome2006]

From Phil Taylor at Sports Illustrated:

http://www.si.com/sportsman/2014/11/03/phil-taylor-sportsman-nominee-michael-sam

My 2014 Sportsman nominee: Michael Sam

...

Is this award for sportsmanship on the field?

No, I imagine is for both for on and off the field.

Ok then he should be at least considered. Not sure I would give it to him but then to tell you the truth unfortunately good sportsmen are not featured by the media much anymore. Who are they?

 

[TobiasFunke]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

I guess it took courage but I wonder if he was just looking for his 15 minutes of fame. Had he not come out no one would know who he is.

I take him at face value and if he's been a role model for gay youth, then that's wonderful and he'll probably do well with appearances and endorsing gay-related products (lube, Bud Light, etc.).Sportsman of the year should be reserved for athletes who excel in their sport in addition to whatever cues the soft piano music on ESPN.

Mentioned this earlier in the thread but I find it kind of weird that people focus on Sam and seem to totally ignore Jason Collins, a guy who had a long NBA career and actually appeared in an NBA game after coming out. I guess maybe it's because football is different and because he'd be the first to come out before he started his pro career? Still find it weird how much he's overshadowed Collins.

 

[El Floppo]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

I guess it took courage but I wonder if he was just looking for his 15 minutes of fame. Had he not come out no one would know who he is.

I take him at face value and if he's been a role model for gay youth, then that's wonderful and he'll probably do well with appearances and endorsing gay-related products (lube, Bud Light, etc.).Sportsman of the year should be reserved for athletes who excel in their sport in addition to whatever cues the soft piano music on ESPN.

Mentioned this earlier in the thread but I find it kind of weird that people focus on Sam and seem to totally ignore Jason Collins, a guy who had a long NBA career and actually appeared in an NBA game after coming out. I guess maybe it's because football is different and because he'd be the first to come out before he started his pro career? Still find it weird how much he's overshadowed Collins.

Robbie Rogers came out as the first openly gay professional soccer player (I think in the world) and has been playing incredibly well for the LA Galaxy in MLS (after a short run in Europe). There's talk of him being called back up to the US National team.

Zero talk about that- in spite of how well he's playing.

eta: which is great and how it should be, ultimately.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

 

[timschochet]

I don't care who the previous winners were. I have been one of the biggest defenders of Sam in this board, but this is ridiculous. He has done nothing to deserve such an award.

Michael Sam was drafted. He was signed to an NFL practice squad. I regard both as milestones for openly gay man and I'm proud that we as a society have reached a point where this sort of thing can happen. In the end Sam wasn't good enough to play on Sundays, so he was cut. Eventually there will be openly gay players in the NFL and Michael Sam will have helped pave the way.

 

[Al O'Pecia]

I take him at face value and if he's been a role model for gay youth, then that's wonderful and he'll probably do well with appearances and endorsing gay-related products (lube, Bud Light, etc.).

Wow, that's so wrong. Everybody knows gays prefer Bud Light Lime.

 

[urbanhack]

I don't care who the previous winners were. I have been one of the biggest defenders of Sam in this board, but this is ridiculous. He has done nothing to deserve such an award.

Michael Sam was drafted. He was signed to an ZnDL practice squad. I regard both as milestones for an openly gay man and I'm proud that we as a society have reached a point where this sort of thing can happen. In the end Sam wasn't good enough to play on Sundays, so he was cut. Eventually there will be openly gay players in the NFL and Michael Sam will have helped pave the way.

So glad to get your perspective.

 

[timschochet]

I don't care who the previous winners were. I have been one of the biggest defenders of Sam in this board, but this is ridiculous. He has done nothing to deserve such an award.

Michael Sam was drafted. He was signed to an ZnDL practice squad. I regard both as milestones for an openly gay man and I'm proud that we as a society have reached a point where this sort of thing can happen. In the end Sam wasn't good enough to play on Sundays, so he was cut. Eventually there will be openly gay players in the NFL and Michael Sam will have helped pave the way.

So glad to get your perspective.

youre welcome

 

[squistion]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

But not a prerequisite:

Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."

 

[fantasycurse42]

Eventually there will be openly gay players in the NFL and Michael Sam will have helped pave the way.

I disagree with this... Unless said player is a superstar, he may remain mum about his sexual preference after Sam never making it.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

It's not like "Sportsman of the Year" is based on some objective criteria or even something where you can do an apples-to-apples comparison like MVP awards. It's a nonsense honor created to by a magazine to sell their magazine. They can base it on anything they want.

Well actually according to the wiki page for the award:

"the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."

 

[RUSF18]

Some are taking this nomination too seriously. All their main writers nominate different people. Hell, I remember back in 2006, Peter King nominated then-Rutgers RB Brian Leonard for Sportsman of the Year basically because he decided not to leave for the NFL in order to take a backseat to Ray Rice and block for him.

 

[TobiasFunke]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

But not a prerequisite:

Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."

Doesn't the word "performance" indicate at least some on field participation?

 

[RUSF18]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

Back to back Ray Rice mentions in a "Sportsman of the Year" context!

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

That's a good point about his college play, he was DPOY for the SEC, but technically that was last year.

I'm ok with the nomination, as you point it's a magazine trying to sell, just looking at the award itself.

 

[squistion]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

But not a prerequisite:

Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."

Doesn't the word "performance" indicate at least some on field participation?

And Arthur Ashe's performance in 1992 was what?

 

[TobiasFunke]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

Back to back Ray Rice mentions in a "Sportsman of the Year" context!

Early favorite IMO

Seriously, I have no idea who wins it this year. Kershaw? Sherman? Messi? Gregg Popovich?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

But not a prerequisite:

Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."

Doesn't the word "performance" indicate at least some on field participation?

And Arthur Ashe's performance in 1992 was what?

You're right, he received it for "Supported humanitarian causes."

He also won 5 grand slam titles in his time but "that year", no, he was well past retired then.

 

[RUSF18]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

Back to back Ray Rice mentions in a "Sportsman of the Year" context!

Early favorite IMO

Seriously, I have no idea who wins it this year. Kershaw? Sherman? Messi? Gregg Popovich?

I'd give it to SI's own Peter King. He really took Robin Williams' death hard and yet kept on.

 

[TobiasFunke]

A look at past winners indicates that on field accomplishment is extremely important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsman_of_the_Year

Some of these winners like Drew Brees I know definitely have done a lot off the field. Others I am not so sure about.

None have done absolutely nothing on the field or in competition.

Just saying.

Sam did plenty on the field, just not at the professional level.

Beyond that though, I'm not sure why we're pretending there's strict rules and criteria to be applied here. SI made up the award and they give the award. They can do whatever they want with it and there's really no grounds for complaint. They could give it to Ray Rice if they wanted.

Back to back Ray Rice mentions in a "Sportsman of the Year" context!

Early favorite IMO

Seriously, I have no idea who wins it this year. Kershaw? Sherman? Messi? Gregg Popovich?

I'd give it to SI's own Peter King. He really took Robin Williams' death hard and yet kept on.

Just realized: Mone Davis. Gotta be the odds-on favorite

 

[squistion]

I don't care who the previous winners were. I have been one of the biggest defenders of Sam in this board, but this is ridiculous. He has done nothing to deserve such an award.

Michael Sam was drafted. He was signed to an NFL practice squad. I regard both as milestones for openly gay man and I'm proud that we as a society have reached a point where this sort of thing can happen. In the end Sam wasn't good enough to play on Sundays, so he was cut. Eventually there will be openly gay players in the NFL and Michael Sam will have helped pave the way.

Irrelevant to the guy who nominated him:

Phil Taylor ‏@SI_PhilTaylor 12m

I nominated @MichaelSamNFL for Sportsman of Year, and no, I don't care that he hasn't played an NFL game yet. http://www.si.com/sportsman/2014/11/03/phil-taylor-sportsman-nominee-michael-sam …

 

[Tom Servo]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

One would assume you would actually have to play a sport.

Nope. Lots of coaches have won it.

Other non-playing winners: Arthur Ashe won it 12 years after he retired, for activism, and in 1987 they gave it to "athletes who care," listing seven athletes, six of whose names you probably wouldn't recognize.

I was a National Wrestling League "Fan of the Year" in 1999...along with about 10 others.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

One would assume you would actually have to play a sport.

Nope. Lots of coaches have won it.

Other non-playing winners: Arthur Ashe won it 12 years after he retired, for activism, and in 1987 they gave it to "athletes who care," listing seven athletes, six of whose names you probably wouldn't recognize.

I was a National Wrestling League "Fan of the Year" in 1999...along with about 10 others.

 

[Tom Servo]

Great courage on his part and all that, but sportsman of the year is nuts.

One would assume you would actually have to play a sport.

Nope. Lots of coaches have won it.

Other non-playing winners: Arthur Ashe won it 12 years after he retired, for activism, and in 1987 they gave it to "athletes who care," listing seven athletes, six of whose names you probably wouldn't recognize.

I was a National Wrestling League "Fan of the Year" in 1999...along with about 10 others.

 

[fantasycurse42]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/michael-sam-engaged-boyfriend-article-1.2071130

He's engaged... :confetti:

 

[Eminence]

Update: still gay

Lol.

 

[Fennis]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/michael-sam-engaged-boyfriend-article-1.2071130

He's engaged... :confetti:

getting married in your 20s should be illegal

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Going to be on the next Dancing With The Stars.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Going to be on the next Dancing With The Stars.

One final wringing of the towel to squeeze out the last drop of notoriety he can get from this whole situation. After this, he can proceed to the next phase of his life : gobbling down penises like Pac-Man in relative anonymity.

 

[msommer]

Going to be on the next Dancing With The Stars.

Will he then dance with a guy?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Pin it?

 

[jon_mx]

So now he will be the first openly gay NFL draft pick to be on Dancing with the Stars. His resume of firsts is getting longer and longer.

 

[cstu]

Going to be on the next Dancing With The Stars.

One final wringing of the towel to squeeze out the last drop of notoriety he can get from this whole situation. After this, he can proceed to the next phase of his life : gobbling down penises like Pac-Man in relative anonymity.

This thread is about Paris Hilton?

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

It's the kickoff for the reality show of him trying to make in back to the NFL.

 

[cstu]

Michael Sam considering CFL.

 

[lod01]

Will he be the first openly Canadian gay football player?

One thing that is for sure, the media will let us know.

 

[squistion]

Will he be the first openly Canadian gay football player?

Yes, he would be, for whatever that is worth.

 

[tommyboy]

He's not gay enough for my liking

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Too bad the NFL doesn't have a team based in London yet.

 

[tom22406]

Since he clearly sucks at football can he at least dance?

 

[Plorfu]

Roughriders or Blue Bombers?

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Roughriders or Blue Bombers?

I would think the Roughriders, he's a pretty good size fella.

 

[TLEF316]

Nothing says "I just want to play football" then spending 4 months training for a television dance competition.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Nothing says "I just want to play football" then spending 4 months training for a television dance competition.

He's the Johnny Manziel of gay dudes.

 

[VolBoy]

He still sux. (@football) sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[squistion]

He still sux. (@football) sorry if I offended anyone.

Don't quit your day job for stand up.

 

[trogg78]

I was dumb enough to think he actually wanted to play football.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Nothing says "I just want to play football" then spending 4 months training for a television dance competition.

He's all about breaking stereotypes.

 

[squistion]

I was dumb enough to think he actually wanted to play football.

If he goes to the CFL, then it would appear that he is serious about playing football, or least more serious than Tim Tebow.