MisterC
My voice will be heard
Posts: 135 
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Post by MisterC on May 10, 2014 18:41:48 GMT -6
Michael Sam, the University of Missouri football player who came out publicly as gay before the pending NFL draft, was picked up by his college home state St. Louis Rams in the draft's 7th (and final) round today. He's the first player who is openly gay to be drafted by an NFL team. Here's video of Michael getting the call from the Rams, and his emotional reaction at the news. BTW, that's his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano, that he's kissing!  It's so wonderful!!
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Post by Racheal Acuff on May 10, 2014 23:00:06 GMT -6
Living in Columbia Missouri, Home of The University of Missouri this makes me so proud that he got drafted and gets a chance to live his dream and play in the NFL and he gets to stay at home and play with fellow Tigers! I have never been so proud of a community in my life! He has been so embraced by this community, I can't wait to continue watch him on his journey! M-I-Z- Z-O-U!! Beat em up, Rip em up, go get em TIGERS!!!
Much Love,
Rae**
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Post by nathansimko on May 10, 2014 23:51:27 GMT -6
I'm so very happy you created this thread M. I have been following him/this historic event for months. As a sports junkie I can't explain to a non sports enthusiast how momentous this is!! The NFL actually has an openly gay player who kissed his boyfriend on national ESPN live coverage. I've been in tears all day. I am so happy and moved by this signing.
The courage that it takes to be a trail blazer for so many closeted athletes is inconceivable. Michael Sam is a hero for our community and I hope more than anything that young people find strength and empowerment by what happened today!!
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MisterC
My voice will be heard
Posts: 135
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Post by MisterC on May 11, 2014 7:58:45 GMT -6
I'm so very happy you created this thread M. I have been following him/this historic event for months. As a sports junkie I can't explain to a non sports enthusiast how momentous this is!! The NFL actually has an openly gay player who kissed his boyfriend on national ESPN live coverage. I've been in tears all day. I am so happy and moved by this signing. The courage that it takes to be a trail blazer for so many closeted athletes is inconceivable. Michael Sam is a hero for our community and I hope more than anything that young people find strength and empowerment by what happened today!! The Huffington Post has this headline right above a pic of Michael and his boyfriend kissing: NFL, Meet 2014I love it!!
Also, Huffington reports about President Obama offering his congrats:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama sends his congratulations to Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team.
Obama calls the selection of Sam "an important step forward."
Obama says that from the playing field to the corporate boardroom, gay and lesbian Americans, quote, "prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are."
Sam was the Associated Press defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference. He was picked late Saturday in the third and final day of the NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. Sam played college football at the University of Missouri and came out as openly gay in media interviews earlier this year.
Link = www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/obama-michael-sam_n_5305029.html
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Post by n8vdude on May 11, 2014 14:51:23 GMT -6
I just became a Rams fan... who knew??!
SO HAPPY FOR THEM BOTH! This is over the top brilliant!
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MisterC
My voice will be heard
Posts: 135
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Post by MisterC on May 12, 2014 10:34:52 GMT -6
Well, you just knew this was going to happen. Apparently not everyone sees Michael Sam's historic move into the NFL as a positive thing. Looks like a Miami Dolphins player thinks it's "horrible" (one of his own words sent via Twitter). He got fined and will have to undergo sensitivity training. Just reminds me that, though we're living in a time of great progress for LGBT rights in America, not everyone progresses as quickly as we'd like. The darkness can be a hard thing to break...but break it will. Here's the HuffPo story: MIAMI (AP) — Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was fined an undisclosed amount Sunday and will undergo educational training after sending a negative tweet about Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft. Shortly after the St. Louis Rams took Sam in the seventh round Saturday, Jones tweeted "OMG" and "Horrible." The tweets were taken down a short time later. Jones apologized for his comments Sunday and described them as inappropriate. The Dolphins said Jones has been excused from all team activities until he completes training related to his comments. "We were disappointed to read Don's tweets," coach Joe Philbin said in a statement. "They were inappropriate and unacceptable, and we regret the negative impact these comments had on such an important weekend for the NFL. We met with Don today about respect, discrimination and judgment. These comments are not consistent with the values and standards of our program." The Dolphins reacted swiftly to Jones' comments in the wake of the team's bullying scandal last year, which embarrassed the NFL and prompted a nationwide debate about workplace harassment. Jones said he regretted that his tweets took away from Sam's "draft moment." "I remember last year when I was drafted in the seventh round, and all of the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team, and I wish him all the best in his NFL career," Jones said in a statement. "I am committed to represent the values of the Miami Dolphins organization, and appreciate the opportunity I have been given to do so going forward." Jones' agent, Chris Martin, could not be reached Sunday for comment. Link to HuffPo article = www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/don-jones-dolphins-player-fined_n_5307514.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular |
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MisterC
My voice will be heard
Posts: 135
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Post by MisterC on May 12, 2014 19:00:49 GMT -6
So, the man with more money than sense, Donald Trump, thinks that Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend--after learning of his being drafted by the NFL's St. Louis Rams--was "pretty out there". "Pretty out there"? Is "the Donald" that easily freaked out by two guys kissing?? Are the man's sensibilities that delicate? How can he ostensibly be a "a man of the world" who you'd think has seen it all, and call a same-sex kiss "pretty out there"? He says, too, that he's heard from people that the kiss was "inappropriate". Who are the people that travel in his circles? Monks? His grandmother? The president of Iran? Geez. "Pretty out there"? Wow! I just don't get how he sees things the way he does. Of course, I've never been the world's biggest Trump fan. I think he is his own biggest fan anyway! Anyway, here's the HuffPo story: Donald Trump was not thrilled about Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend on television. Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, becoming the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL. He celebrated the news by kissing his boyfriend, and ESPN captured his emotional reaction. Trump said he thought it was "great" that Sam was drafted and that he hopes Sam makes the team, but he sounded rather uncomfortable over Sam's reaction. "And you know, I don’t know — if everyone thinks that’s a wonderful thing, I guess that’s fine with me. But it looked pretty out there to me.” The mogul later added, "I've heard many people -- I'm not even speak for myself, but I've heard many people that thought the display after he was chosen was inappropriate. And whether or not it was, I don't know. But it was certainly out there a little bit. And I'm very happy that he got chosen, I'm all for it. I think it's great actually that he got chosen. I hope he does so well. But I thought when he -- he was really going at it... I haven't seen anything like that in a while." Actually, it's pretty common for football players to "go at it" and celebrate the news by kissing their significant other, which is then broadcast to the world. It's a scene that "plays out for dozens of draft picks," as the AP pointed out Monday. HuffPo article link = www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/donald-trump-michael-sam-kiss-out-there_n_5309229.html |
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Post by Matt Stout on May 12, 2014 23:05:46 GMT -6
All in all this is FANTASTIC news! I am so glad he was drafted, and able to still be who he is! I am also glad that ESPN has allowed the airing of him kissing his boyfriend, and not really caring about what will happen from them doing so.
~Matt
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Post by n8vdude on May 13, 2014 16:25:32 GMT -6
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Post by n8vdude on May 13, 2014 17:25:26 GMT -6
Or another...
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