First athlete to openly come out...

[CardiacKemba]

After reading a poll on ESPN (and the recent comments by a 49ers player), I got to wondering when do people think that a player will finally openly come out in the National sporting spotlight? I'm not personally that way inclined, but nor am I homophobic, and it would be ignorant to believe that there aren't gay athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and every other major sport. What reaction do you think a player would receive for coming out? How much (if at all) would it affect that player in the locker room?

[outbreak]

Too big a deal at the moment, teams wouldn't want to sign him purely to avoid any potential problems or any locker room tension. Plus they wouldn't want all that media focus on their team. It shouldn't be the big deal it is, but unfourtantly in american team sports it's going to be any issue.
In world pro sports there's been some people. An english cricketer came out but crickets a completely different world/culture to american sports.

[Darius]

Te'o

Honestly I don't think it will be that big of a deal. Younger Americans (Athletes are generally younger) have less and less issue with people being gay.

I'd see it more of a problem at the coaching level... esp in the NFL

[jimmy77x]

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Strong possibility that Te'o is gay.

[O_City_Thunder]

I knew there would be some kind of reference to Chris Bosh before I even opened this thread.

[selrahc]

i think there are not that many gays in professional sports because they are athletes and are stronger and better looking...

gays are usually the ones who cannot get any girls so they go for guys instead...

[niko]

Strong possibility that Te'o is gay.

Why? Stupid, but why gay? He thought he was talking to a girl. What about talking to a girl makes you gay?

[KrizMiz]

Blake Griffin is gay - no doubt! believe it or not!

[chips93]

i think there are not that many gays in professional sports because they are athletes and are stronger and better looking...

gays are usually the ones who cannot get any girls so they go for guys instead...

[NA2126]

Didn't Samaki Walker come out of the closet, mid 2000's, and even came on the Oprah Show? I recall there being an incident like this, just not sure if it was him.

[ralph_i_el]

i think there are not that many gays in professional sports because they are athletes and are stronger and better looking...

gays are usually the ones who cannot get any girls so they go for guys instead...

[G-train]

Didn't Samaki Walker come out of the closet, mid 2000's, and even came on the Oprah Show? I recall there being an incident like this, just not sure if it was him.

lol no

John Amaechi did though

[bmd]

[mjokc]