Very very disrespectful to call Jason Collins the "Gay Jackie Robinson".
Totally insults what that barrier meant and stood for. Jackie Robinson had to perform and perform well amongst toxic racial tensions.
I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Stupid comparison.
ChuckBuck wrote:Very very disrespectful to call Jason Collins the "Gay Jackie Robinson".Totally insults what that barrier meant and stood for. Jackie Robinson had to perform and perform well amongst toxic racial tensions.
I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Stupid comparison.
Dude was a fringe player that only remained in the league as long as he has because of his size, not his ability. Mainly bench fodder.
He will receive far more accolades this way than he ever earned as an NBA player. Players like him tend to fade quickly from our memory. He has found a way to stay relevant and likely gain more attention than he has ever experienced. No Jon Amechi can STFU because he now has Collins to point to.
Who cares. From a money point of view it probably better to stay in the closet to get that endorsement money.
AnubisADL wrote:Who cares. From a money point of view it probably better to stay in the closet to get that endorsement money.
Stay in the closet in your prime....
Come out the closet after your prime....
blkexec wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:Very very disrespectful to call Jason Collins the "Gay Jackie Robinson".Totally insults what that barrier meant and stood for. Jackie Robinson had to perform and perform well amongst toxic racial tensions.
I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Stupid comparison.
I agree.
If Collins plays again he might, wouldn't surprise me. I do agree that the Jackie Robinson comparison is way off.
SupremeCommander wrote:I weould love for society to get to the point where this is a non issue. The only way that happens is if gay players come out. I have black friends that are pretty vocal that they had a lack of role models growing up. Maybe that kid from Rutgers doesn't throw himself off a bridge if he had role models growing upWe're all here for basketball but that's part of society... I'm for freedom and civil liberties and I think this is a big step forward in achieving that for everyone
This.
Id love for this to become a non-issue because we are at the point where ny choice is accepted as what it is, a personal choice and not a sign of being good or bad. We shouldn't be afraid of being who we really are and people shouldn't expect a certain behavior because they don't know or are afraid about our differences.
ChuckBuck wrote:I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Amechi received death threats when he was retired.
Andrew wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Amechi received death threats when he was retired.
Acknowledged, I'm thinking about now, 2013, in the social media universe. His coming out is receiving widespread praise, even from Barack Obama.
AnubisADL wrote:Who cares. From a money point of view it probably better to stay in the closet to get that endorsement money.
in HIS case, he will get more attention now than he EVER received as an NBA player.
DurzoBlint wrote:Nalod wrote:jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson. Seriously? Does that bother anyone?
Making a sacrifice for the embetterment of others who will follow.
He is the "Gay" Jackie Robinson. Jackie is a hero to the black community. Maybe Jayson is also.
We have all seen when some players get "squeezed" out on the court and what it can do to a career. No imagine because a man is gay he loses his endorsements and the trust of his team because of "ignorance". That is why no major athlete in a major league has come out. Like SupremeCommander wrote is true and while it shoudl nto be a big deal, it is!
Jackie was a hero but he also profited from being the first. He was not killed. He put himself in front of uglyness and was a Pioneer. Collins is a Pioneer as well. Jackie was no superstar player, others that came after him were.
Collins paved the way for another and at some point that player will be as good as the others and will do more.
Bottom line is we are far more comfortable in our 2013 integreated society than we were in the 1940's. People were uncomfortable with being around Black people for many ignorant reasons.
Not all Gay men want to be with all men. Just like a hetero wants to be with all women.
Not even close to Jackie Robinson. The comparison is likely disrespectful to Mr. Robinson's descendants.
both men were/are in a position to break down barriers based on deep-seated prejudices. robinson as a black man was trying to gain acceptance in a white-dominated society that feared integration. collins as a gay man is trying to do the same thing with a nation of all colors that clearly harbors the same fears and prejudices.
it's honoring jackie robinson's legacy and his family and descendant's are surely admiring jason collins's courage.
GustavBahler wrote:blkexec wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:Very very disrespectful to call Jason Collins the "Gay Jackie Robinson".Totally insults what that barrier meant and stood for. Jackie Robinson had to perform and perform well amongst toxic racial tensions.
I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Stupid comparison.
I agree.
If Collins plays again he might, wouldn't surprise me. I do agree that the Jackie Robinson comparison is way off.
So if he gets death threats, he's Jackie Robinson?
Is there any difference between Jackie Robinson's race and Jason Collins' sexual preference? Are they really the same thing? Did Jackie Robinson wake up one day and decide, hey, I've decided I'm a black man! Look at me everybody, I'm out of the closet!
Racial tensions? What is the heart of bigotry, as opposed to moral judgements? Is there any difference?
Jason Collins has made a decision on moral grounds. That's all it is. He gets his rocks off in a certain manner. Did he bother to tell us what religion he happens to prefer?
Does he get to decide what morals are to be acceptable for everyone else?
Yeah, I'm biased, but I'm honestly just asking.
dk7th wrote:DurzoBlint wrote:Nalod wrote:jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson. Seriously? Does that bother anyone?
Making a sacrifice for the embetterment of others who will follow.
He is the "Gay" Jackie Robinson. Jackie is a hero to the black community. Maybe Jayson is also.
We have all seen when some players get "squeezed" out on the court and what it can do to a career. No imagine because a man is gay he loses his endorsements and the trust of his team because of "ignorance". That is why no major athlete in a major league has come out. Like SupremeCommander wrote is true and while it shoudl nto be a big deal, it is!
Jackie was a hero but he also profited from being the first. He was not killed. He put himself in front of uglyness and was a Pioneer. Collins is a Pioneer as well. Jackie was no superstar player, others that came after him were.
Collins paved the way for another and at some point that player will be as good as the others and will do more.
Bottom line is we are far more comfortable in our 2013 integreated society than we were in the 1940's. People were uncomfortable with being around Black people for many ignorant reasons.
Not all Gay men want to be with all men. Just like a hetero wants to be with all women.
Not even close to Jackie Robinson. The comparison is likely disrespectful to Mr. Robinson's descendants.
both men were/are in a position to break down barriers based on deep-seated prejudices. robinson as a black man was trying to gain acceptance in a white-dominated society that feared integration. collins as a gay man is trying to do the same thing with a nation of all colors that clearly harbors the same fears and prejudices.
it's honoring jackie robinson's legacy and his family and descendant's are surely admiring jason collins's courage.
Nobody's trying to kill Jason Collins now...last I check there wasn't Gay only bathrooms, water fountains, restaurant sections or buses.
Bad comparison.
ChuckBuck wrote:dk7th wrote:DurzoBlint wrote:Nalod wrote:jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson. Seriously? Does that bother anyone?
Making a sacrifice for the embetterment of others who will follow.
He is the "Gay" Jackie Robinson. Jackie is a hero to the black community. Maybe Jayson is also.
We have all seen when some players get "squeezed" out on the court and what it can do to a career. No imagine because a man is gay he loses his endorsements and the trust of his team because of "ignorance". That is why no major athlete in a major league has come out. Like SupremeCommander wrote is true and while it shoudl nto be a big deal, it is!
Jackie was a hero but he also profited from being the first. He was not killed. He put himself in front of uglyness and was a Pioneer. Collins is a Pioneer as well. Jackie was no superstar player, others that came after him were.
Collins paved the way for another and at some point that player will be as good as the others and will do more.
Bottom line is we are far more comfortable in our 2013 integreated society than we were in the 1940's. People were uncomfortable with being around Black people for many ignorant reasons.
Not all Gay men want to be with all men. Just like a hetero wants to be with all women.
Not even close to Jackie Robinson. The comparison is likely disrespectful to Mr. Robinson's descendants.
both men were/are in a position to break down barriers based on deep-seated prejudices. robinson as a black man was trying to gain acceptance in a white-dominated society that feared integration. collins as a gay man is trying to do the same thing with a nation of all colors that clearly harbors the same fears and prejudices.
it's honoring jackie robinson's legacy and his family and descendant's are surely admiring jason collins's courage.
Nobody's trying to kill Jason Collins now...last I check there wasn't Gay only bathrooms, water fountains, restaurant sections or buses.
Bad comparison.
Totally agree with this....
jrodmc wrote:GustavBahler wrote:blkexec wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:Very very disrespectful to call Jason Collins the "Gay Jackie Robinson".Totally insults what that barrier meant and stood for. Jackie Robinson had to perform and perform well amongst toxic racial tensions.
I don't think Jason Collins will get any death threats anytime soon.
Stupid comparison.
I agree.
If Collins plays again he might, wouldn't surprise me. I do agree that the Jackie Robinson comparison is way off.
So if he gets death threats, he's Jackie Robinson?
Is there any difference between Jackie Robinson's race and Jason Collins' sexual preference? Are they really the same thing? Did Jackie Robinson wake up one day and decide, hey, I've decided I'm a black man! Look at me everybody, I'm out of the closet!
Racial tensions? What is the heart of bigotry, as opposed to moral judgements? Is there any difference?
Jason Collins has made a decision on moral grounds. That's all it is. He gets his rocks off in a certain manner. Did he bother to tell us what religion he happens to prefer?
Does he get to decide what morals are to be acceptable for everyone else?
Yeah, I'm biased, but I'm honestly just asking.
You're reading too much into my comment. Getting death threats for taking a somewhat unpopular stand, doesn't instantly make you Jackie Robinson. Robinson was playing in the big leagues before the civil rights movement, the voting rights act, MLK, we still had segregation. Gays have made great strides recently as far as civil rights go so I don't believe the comparison is apt.
I do believe it was a courageous thing for Collins to do, I don't believe he as any other motive than to "start a conversation" as he put it. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for him to make.
Just because there aren't many people who would try to gaybash a 7-foot Jason Collins doesn't mean there aren't people who still gaybash.
I agree that Jackie Robinson comparison is journalistic hyperbole.
Doesn't take away that Collins represents a wider community of people who live in fear as targets for beatings, murder, and discrimination.
DurzoBlint wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:DurzoBlint wrote:Also, I think you should add a 3rd option to your poll. Hows about adding a "neither, just live your life" option.
Isn't that the same as staying in the closet?
not in my opinion. Getting with woman because you think its expected and actively hiding who you are is being in the closet. I have a gay sister and I remember how unhappy she used to be. Remember her trying to adapt to being strait when she wasn't. Eventually she stopped caring about what others think and begin to live as she wanted. She has a girlfriend but, unless you knew her you wouldn't even know she was gay. Most of them don't feel the need to dress like its the attack of the clones, with the du-rags, wife beater and baggy jeans. They are actually the boisterous minority because, most of the time, you would never know.
I have marched in gay parades and have had dialogues with many....enough to alter my view of male homosexuals which, wasn't very flattering before. Most don't feel the need to dress like woman and the same go for the lesbians. They are just people who usually live their lives and value their privacy just as much as everyone else.
The act of Coming Out involves actively letting the world at large know by making announcements like many famous people seem to feel the need to do. It will even sometimes involve a Celebration of sorts
In the closet simply means hiding your sexual preferences.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ClosetedYou're describing something different - closer to lying and acting.
dk7th wrote:DurzoBlint wrote:Nalod wrote:jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson. Seriously? Does that bother anyone?
Making a sacrifice for the embetterment of others who will follow.
He is the "Gay" Jackie Robinson. Jackie is a hero to the black community. Maybe Jayson is also.
We have all seen when some players get "squeezed" out on the court and what it can do to a career. No imagine because a man is gay he loses his endorsements and the trust of his team because of "ignorance". That is why no major athlete in a major league has come out. Like SupremeCommander wrote is true and while it shoudl nto be a big deal, it is!
Jackie was a hero but he also profited from being the first. He was not killed. He put himself in front of uglyness and was a Pioneer. Collins is a Pioneer as well. Jackie was no superstar player, others that came after him were.
Collins paved the way for another and at some point that player will be as good as the others and will do more.
Bottom line is we are far more comfortable in our 2013 integreated society than we were in the 1940's. People were uncomfortable with being around Black people for many ignorant reasons.
Not all Gay men want to be with all men. Just like a hetero wants to be with all women.
Not even close to Jackie Robinson. The comparison is likely disrespectful to Mr. Robinson's descendants.
both men were/are in a position to break down barriers based on deep-seated prejudices. robinson as a black man was trying to gain acceptance in a white-dominated society that feared integration. collins as a gay man is trying to do the same thing with a nation of all colors that clearly harbors the same fears and prejudices.
it's honoring jackie robinson's legacy and his family and descendant's are surely admiring jason collins's courage.
it MIGHT be loosely comparable had he come before his career was already over. Better yet, while in his prime.
DrAlphaeus wrote:I agree that Jackie Robinson comparison is journalistic hyperbole.
Could be that some hack journalist tried to make a weird representation - and by the way I noticed there was no link or context to the Jackie Robinson comparison, and if I recall correctly the initial was definitely couched with some level of due deference - so I don't know why this is even being emphasized so much.
