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Random thoughts while wondering when a big-name pro athlete in a major team sport (football, basketball, baseball, hockey) in the prime of his career will disclose he is gay:
* For Jason Collins to come out as the first active, openly gay athlete in an American team sport is indeed a day to remember. He provides a straightforward story in this week’s Sports Illustrated (which you can access by clicking here). And, yes, he is a hero. Except perhaps to small-minded folks.
* Speaking of which, nowhere was such behavior more evident than on ESPN where NBA reporter Chris Broussard appeared on “Outside the Lines” and sayeth: “I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is. … Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.” Yeah, religion is the answer to all our problems. Sure.
Say hello to Christine in a time machine known as a Tardis (from “Doctor Who”) at the C2E2 event..
* Speaking of those with religion as a major component of their life (and/or popularity), the New York Jets cut Tim Tebow Monday, Chicago media said the Bears had no interest in him. The media cited NFL sources. Maybe I don’t understand media in the second decade of the 21st century, but don’t the media ask the Bears that question? Are the Bears that difficult to penetrate to communicate? Or are the media satisfied taking a circuitous route for an answer? And might some people regard that behavior more akin to laziness than enterprise?
* Speaking of Tebow and Collins and media, how embarassing must it have been for ESPN to have Tebow’s departure featured on its airwaves and internet page with Collins a secondary story (something that was rectified)? Something says if ESPN — and not Sports Illustrated — had the Collins story, ESPN would demoted Tebow to second string.
* Speaking of ESPN, here is its statement regarding Broussard/Collins: We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.
*Still speaking of Broussard, here is his statement: Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today’s news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA. Sure sounds like someone was called into the principal’s office for a lecture.
* Still speaking of basketball, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 110-91. The Bulls lead the series 3-2 with Game 6 Thursday in Chicago. Who would have imagined an NBA player would come out as gay this season before Derrick Rose would come out and play in a game?
* Let’s see if I have this straight: God hates gays? Then why did He/She (you know there is the possibility God is a woman — or even non-gender specific) make so many of them?
As promised, here is some more from the C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) event held April 26-28 at McCormick Place. Today we are happy to feature Christine, who put together quite the outfit. To “Doctor Who” fans, you will recognize it as the Tardis. For folks unfamiliar with “Doctor Who,” Christine does an excellent job of describing it all:
Here is the space where we go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their rather broad interpreptation of the word):
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