Clearly, a landmark moment this week. Michael Sam's announcement will be forever remembered in history, and hopefully he will open the doors for others to feel safe enough to come forward.
But, I want to ask in a different way, something that teams/GM's/coaches may not have thought of, to this point.
What happens, when couples form, on an NFL-NBA-MLB roster, and with that........breakups?
Something never really thought of in a locker room is the outside relationships. For instance, Tony Parker and Brent Barry were teammates, and some stuff went down with them and their wives. That tore at the fabric of those two as teammates.
Now imagine, the QB and WR dating each other, can the team trade that WR for a Draft pick, if it pisses off their QB?
What if that QB and WR break up, will he throw him the ball still?
What if the QB and the Middle Linebacker are dating, and the team wants to trade the MLB?
Or any other sport, if the PG and PF are a couple, and the team wants to trade the PF for a SF and a draft pick, will they be able to, and keep the PG happy? What would a team, or GM do to handle a situation like that?
Having gay athletes is not a big deal, the leagues have had them for years, only no one knows about them (for the most part). But when the day comes, that there are several, and you start seeing issues like these come to light, to me, that becomes the interesting part, how teams handle those kinds of issues.
I applaud Sam for his courage and what he's about to face in today's media. I wish him well.
But for the GM's that will have to answer some of the questions I just asked, I don't envy their tasks, at all.
What about you guys, any of you thought about this, and how it will be in 10-15 years and what teams might run into?
But, I want to ask in a different way, something that teams/GM's/coaches may not have thought of, to this point.
What happens, when couples form, on an NFL-NBA-MLB roster, and with that........breakups?
Something never really thought of in a locker room is the outside relationships. For instance, Tony Parker and Brent Barry were teammates, and some stuff went down with them and their wives. That tore at the fabric of those two as teammates.
Now imagine, the QB and WR dating each other, can the team trade that WR for a Draft pick, if it pisses off their QB?
What if that QB and WR break up, will he throw him the ball still?
What if the QB and the Middle Linebacker are dating, and the team wants to trade the MLB?
Or any other sport, if the PG and PF are a couple, and the team wants to trade the PF for a SF and a draft pick, will they be able to, and keep the PG happy? What would a team, or GM do to handle a situation like that?
Having gay athletes is not a big deal, the leagues have had them for years, only no one knows about them (for the most part). But when the day comes, that there are several, and you start seeing issues like these come to light, to me, that becomes the interesting part, how teams handle those kinds of issues.
I applaud Sam for his courage and what he's about to face in today's media. I wish him well.
But for the GM's that will have to answer some of the questions I just asked, I don't envy their tasks, at all.
What about you guys, any of you thought about this, and how it will be in 10-15 years and what teams might run into?