Boston Herald columnist Steve Buckley: "I'm gay."

I think that in this industry, there is a very good reason to write this column.

To my knowledge, no NFL player (current or former) has admitted to being gay, nor has there been one (again to my knowledge) in MLB or the NHL and the only person to come out in the NBA did it years after he retired. I highly doubt that there has never been a gay professional football player. But because it is seen as a taboo in the NFL, no player has ever dared to come out.

Whether or not it was his intention, I think Buck's column helps to show that gays can and do take interest in professional sports. That it's okay to be gay and be in the sports industry.

 

It's not enough that every female sportswriter is presumed to be gay?

 

Not true. Many are considered to be sluts screwing every guy on the team. [/crossthread]

 

Shockey, as I mentioned earlier and gregcrews alluded to, there will be plenty of sports-loving readers who are gay, in or out of the closet. This column surely has meaning for them. (By the way, Greg, Esera Tualo came out after his time in the NFL.) Also, as greg said, the sports world has not seen folks come out all that much. It's definitely relevant to write about as a social issue.

 

Yes. For a long time.

Signed,
One of the Other Writers

 

That's what I figured. So, aside from having the web people have to delete "Ah, you're a wicked Faggaht." from every comments section of his stories, what purpose did this column serve?

 

With all due respect ...

So?

rb

 

Former players have come out besides Amaechi. NFLer Esera Tuaolo and MLBer Billy Bean are the ones off the top of my head. But you're right, it's few and far between.

 

I seriously doubt that was why he wrote the column.

 

1. It'll likely be the most talked-about column he's written in years.

2. May spark a dialog about gay men in sports.

3. A homophobic pro athlete attacks him and you've got more column fodder.

4. Fulfilled content requirement.

5. Lots more people will automatically like and support him because he's gay.

6. Lots more people will automatically hate and rail against him because he's gay.

7. 5 and 6 above generate interest and aide job security.

 

Not sure I can say that about Boston in general, but Herald readers and WEEI listeners definitely aren't very open-minded.

 

Micky Ward's sisters are headed down to the Herald to kick his ass.