Greg Ellis Worried About Michael Sam

[Risen Star]

That's called getting ahead of it before it was a surprise at the combine. When they start to interview people close to him the story would have broke. He's had a few weeks for media to take it how they will and all he stated was it's who he is and shouldn't be a big deal. I hardly see any playing victim.

I don't agree.

If you don't want to be known as a gay football player, don't hold a press conference announcing you're a gay football player.

If being gay has nothing to do with your football career, don't hold a press conference telling the football world you're gay.

 

[Wolf2k5]

I don't agree.

If you don't want to be known as a gay football player, don't hold a press conference announcing you're a gay football player.

If being gay has nothing to do with your football career, don't hold a press conference telling the football world you're gay.

He didn't come out in the press conference. He was going to be the first openly gay player regardless because he was already out and when scouts interviewed all his friends and teammates they would have found out and turned every press conference he did into a "are these stories true?" And not about his play.

He put something out into the media on his terms so he had nothing to hide knowing it most likely would hurt his stock. Yeah he's getting attention but he's SEC defensive player of the year and should get it anyways.

Arizona just passed a law allowing discrimination against gay couples by giving companies the right to refuse service based off being gay. So it's kind of a big story the media will want to spin any way they can. At least he put it out there on his terms and didn't allow speculative stories before. It's not being a victim. He never complained about the media talking about him as a gay player. He's trying to say it isn't a big deal. And it isn't. The MEDIA, as he and his family and agents know would make it a big deal if it looked like he was attempting to hide it. Also it's nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Wolf2k5]

Like I told some friends. "As long as he doesn't go to a division rival and turn out to be able to be a baller, I'm rooting for him" he seems like a good kid who cares if he's gay? Maybe it'll put a chip on his shoulder.

 

[Risen Star]

He didn't come out in the press conference. He was going to be the first openly gay player regardless because he was already out and when scouts interviewed all his friends and teammates they would have found out and turned every press conference he did into a "are these stories true?" And not about his play.

He put something out into the media on his terms so he had nothing to hide knowing it most likely would hurt his stock. Yeah he's getting attention but he's SEC defensive player of the year and should get it anyways.

Arizona just passed a law allowing discrimination against gay couples by giving companies the right to refuse service based off being gay. So it's kind of a big story the media will want to spin any way they can. At least he put it out there on his terms and didn't allow speculative stories before. It's not being a victim. He never complained about the media talking about him as a gay player. He's trying to say it isn't a big deal. And it isn't. The MEDIA, as he and his family and agents know would make it a big deal if it looked like he was attempting to hide it. Also it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Even if that was true, and I don't believe it is, the only reason his teammates at Missouri knew he was gay is because he announced it there too.

This is a guy who feels the need to make his sexual preference an issue then talk about how it is meaningless and he just wishes people didn't consider him a gay player.

He's the one making it an issue. He's the one bringing truly irrelevant things like sexual preference into the football world.

He's a victim of his own mind.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I don't get the whole undersized argument. The guy was one of the best defensive players in what is generally considered the best defensive conference year in, year out. Michael Sam is 6-2/260.

Some other undersized pass-rushers:
Dwight Freeney 6-1/268
Elvis Dumervil 5-11/260
Brandon Graham 6-2/265
Robert Mathis 6-2/248
Cameron Wake 6-3/258

and before anyone makes the these guys are/were all 3-4 OLB's argument, they were all 4-3 DE's at some point in their NFL year. 4 of them at a Pro Bowl level.

 

[Wolf2k5]

That

Even if that was true, and I don't believe it is, the only reason his teammates at Missouri knew he was gay is because he announced it there too.

This is a guy who feels the need to make his sexual preference an issue then talk about how it is meaningless and he just wishes people didn't consider him a gay player.

He's a victim of his own mind.

Yeah. because people DO make sexual preference an issue. I have a few friends who are gay men. When they come out its a risk they take to tell friends and family and takes trust to admit something you know may get some people to legitimately HATE you and no longer consider you a human. That takes a ton of courage to do. Your taking the risk of alienating yourself. If he trusts his team to get something like that off his chest then good for him. There is something freeing about not feeling like your hiding who you are anymore. Not everything in the world is football. These guys have lives and being open up front may get all these dumb stories out of the way so he can just play football

 

[KingintheNorth]

He came out because his camp felt it was about to be leaked anyway. Still, I have to respect that he did it now and on pretty much his own terms. I think one of the coolest things he accomplished by doing it now is that it gives the team drafting him the chance to weight the "consequences" before drafting him. Teams know what they are in for ahead of time.

Last, it's gotta suck not being able to be yourself and having to hide something so significant from people. It would be like Risen Star hiding his enormous man crush on DeSean Jackson. Be loud and be proud Risen.

 

[Risen Star]

That


Yeah. because people DO make sexual preference an issue.

Right. People like Michael Sam. I agree.

I have a few friends who are gay men. When they come out its a risk they take to tell friends and family and takes trust to admit something you know may get some people to legitimately HATE you and no longer consider you a human. That takes a ton of courage to do. Your taking the risk of alienating yourself. If he trusts his team to get something like that off his chest then good for him. There is something freeing about not feeling like your hiding who you are anymore. Not everything in the world is football. These guys have lives and being open up front may get all these dumb stories out of the way so he can just play football

Spare me the drama. I don't see it as hiding. Last I checked nobody polled the players to see who is gay and who isn't. If sexual preference is truly irrelevant, and it is, then there's no need to announce who you are attracted to. It's Michael Sam who has made it an issue in his life. So to then say to the media "I wish you would just consider me a football player and not a gay football player" is laughable to me.

 

[Wolf2k5]

Right. People like Michael Sam. I agree.




Spare me the drama. I don't see it as hiding. Last I checked nobody polled the players to see who is gay and who isn't. If sexual preference is truly irrelevant, and it is, then there's no need to announce who you are attracted to. It's Michael Sam who has made it an issue in his life. So to then say to the media "I wish you would just consider me a football player and not a gay football player" is laughable to me.

How much of an issue would have been made if the media had found out he was openly gay? More or less?

You don't see it as hiding because you have most likely never had any experience with anyone who's gay. Not every time someone is different they are doing for attention.

But it's cool. He should have hid the fact and not lived his life like the many other gay players who had to hide because they didn't know how they would be treated, because reading a story about a big step forward in acceptance is irritating to some people....

 

[Risen Star]

How much of an issue would have been made if the media had found out he was openly gay? More or less?

I don't know. And you don't either. I was dealing with what actually happened not some fantasy of the evil media exposing a gay man. Last I checked the media has fallen over themselves to support him.

You don't see it as hiding because you have most likely never had any experience with anyone who's gay. Not every time someone is different they are doing for attention.

But it's cool. He should have hid the fact and not lived his life like the many other gay players who had to hide because they didn't know how they would be treated, because reading a story about a big step forward in acceptance is irritating to some people....

Again, I don't see it as hiding. I don't see a single player announcing they are straight. They want to be known as a straight football player. This is nonsense. It has absolutely nothing to do with the job. I've honestly never wondered how many gays are in the league. It could be 10%, it could be 20%, it could be more. Who cares?

I've yet to tell anyone at work that I'm straight. Am I in hiding? Should I hold a press conference? Then chastise those in attendance for hearing me?

 

[Wolf2k5]

I don't know. And you don't either. I was dealing with what actually happened not some fantasy of the evil media exposing a gay man. Last I checked the media has fallen over themselves to support him.



Again, I don't see it as hiding. I don't see a single player announcing they are straight. They want to be known as a straight football player. This is nonsense. It has absolutely nothing to do with the job. I've honestly never wondered how many gays are in the league. It could be 10%, it could be 20%, it could be more. Who cares?

I've yet to tell anyone at work that I'm straight. Am I in hiding? Should I hold a press conference? Then chastise those in attendance for hearing me?

Yup I've totally left out the poor demographic of mistreated straight white guys. They sure have been persecuted and made to feel like they are less of people for being straight. My bad. Lol.

Sounds pretty close to "they have their very own water fountains so why are they so upset?" They used to say in the 50s lol

 

[Risen Star]

Yup I've totally left out the poor demographic of mistreated straight white guys. They sure have been persecuted and made to feel like they are less of people for being straight. My bad. Lol.

Sounds pretty close to "they have their very own water fountains so why are they so upset?" They used to say in the 50s lol

Wow. You get that from that, eh?

Not caring about sexual preference and treating it like it's truly irrelevant is just like segregation.

Good stuff.

 

[Wolf2k5]

Wow. You get that from that, eh?

Not caring about sexual preference and treating it like it's truly irrelevant is just like segregation.

Good stuff.

Saying keep it to yourself kinda is. Look at the laws being done in Kansas (was luckily shot down by state senate) and Arizona right now. Allowing discrimination towards gays. So yeah he should come out and be unafraid.

 

[Risen Star]

Saying keep it to yourself kinda is. Look at the laws being done in Kansas (was luckily shot down by state senate) and Arizona right now. Allowing discrimination towards gays. So yeah he should come out and be unafraid.

It kind of is if you lack any intelligence whatsoever, I agree.

Michael Sam says his sexual preference is irrelevant. I agree. So then why is it important to announce your sexual preference? You just said it was irrelevant.

I'm not interested in any laws anywhere. This isn't a human rights debate. It's about whether your sexual preference matters in the NFL. Is it relevant? Does it effect what kind of teammate or player you are? Should a player in the NFL feel he has to announce his sexual preference and, if he does, chastise anyone for listening to what he said. Which is exactly what Sam did.

 

[Fredd]

I kinda agree with RS here...it was likely already known what his preferences are, so why make it even more public unless you are looking for attention? Who cares what he does in his own time as long as it isn't illegal and it doesn't affect his time on the field

...and, Ellis sounds a little homophobic to me....

 

[Wolf2k5]

It kind of is if you lack any intelligence whatsoever, I agree.

Michael Sam says his sexual preference is irrelevant. I agree. So then why is it important to announce your sexual preference? You just said it was irrelevant.

I'm not interested in any laws anywhere. This isn't a human rights debate. It's about whether your sexual preference matters in the NFL. Is it relevant? Does it effect what kind of teammate or player you are? Should a player in the NFL feel he has to announce his sexual preference and, if he does, chastise anyone for listening to what he said. Which is exactly what Sam did.

It kind of is if you lack any intelligence whatsoever, I agree.

Michael Sam says his sexual preference is irrelevant. I agree. So then why is it important to announce your sexual preference? You just said it was irrelevant.

I'm not interested in any laws anywhere. This isn't a human rights debate. It's about whether your sexual preference matters in the NFL. Is it relevant? Does it effect what kind of teammate or player you are? Should a player in the NFL feel he has to announce his sexual preference and, if he does, chastise anyone for listening to what he said. Which is exactly what Sam did.

Your not interested in any laws because it doesn't fit your agenda. No it does not matter about him being gay to whether he can play ball. He was out. The media has already talked about how some owners would not draft him now. It's not a football issue. It's a world issue where there is a stage to talk about it.

But on behalf of Michael Sam I will apologize for putting you through the pain of having an issue you don't understand or have no reference too, yet if you want to continue being the guy who argues everything, have to form a hard nosed opinion on it whether you want to or not.

Your right I completely lack intelligence because I make the mistake of thinking you can explain simple things to simple people

 

[xwalker]

I don't get the whole undersized argument. The guy was one of the best defensive players in what is generally considered the best defensive conference year in, year out. Michael Sam is 6-2/260.

Some other undersized pass-rushers:
Dwight Freeney 6-1/268
Elvis Dumervil 5-11/260
Brandon Graham 6-2/265
Robert Mathis 6-2/248
Cameron Wake 6-3/258

and before anyone makes the these guys are/were all 3-4 OLB's argument, they were all 4-3 DE's at some point in their NFL year. 4 of them at a Pro Bowl level.

I don't think size is as big of an issue as lack of elite quickness. I think a guy like Kareem Martin can get by without elite quickness because he is 6-6, 272 with long arms; however, when you look at smaller players that have have been successful, they usually have elite quickness.

 

[TheCount]

Even if that was true, and I don't believe it is, the only reason his teammates at Missouri knew he was gay is because he announced it there too.

This is a guy who feels the need to make his sexual preference an issue then talk about how it is meaningless and he just wishes people didn't consider him a gay player.

He's the one making it an issue. He's the one bringing truly irrelevant things like sexual preference into the football world.

He's a victim of his own mind.

lol, your opinions on this subject are beyond ridiculous.

 

[TheCount]

I don't think size is as big of an issue as lack of elite quickness. I think a guy like Kareem Martin can get by without elite quickness because he is 6-6, 272 with long arms; however, when you look at smaller players that have have been successful, they usually have elite quickness.

I haven't heard much good about Martin actually, was a bit surprised but it seems like UNC has a long line of unmotivated athletes in recent years.

 

[daschoo]

Even if that was true, and I don't believe it is, the only reason his teammates at Missouri knew he was gay is because he announced it there too.

This is a guy who feels the need to make his sexual preference an issue then talk about how it is meaningless and he just wishes people didn't consider him a gay player.

He's the one making it an issue. He's the one bringing truly irrelevant things like sexual preference into the football world.

He's a victim of his own mind.

Presumably you are heterosexual? Further I'll assume your friends and colleagues are aware this?
Why then is it making it an issue and playing the victim when a gay guys friends and colleagues know that he is gay?
Maybe he addressed the issue at college as it was an open secret? Maybe when him and his team mates were out partying and his team mates were taking girls home he wanted to be able to take a guy home without it being a major issue? Maybe he was just tired of hiding who he is? Or maybe he was playing the long game and setting up getting to potentially hurt his draft stock and cost himself a lot of money by finally getting to play the victim he'd always perceived himself to be on an international stage?