That is the MO of Jason Collins, a 12-year NBA player, most recently playing for my Washington Wizards, who became the first athlete from a major American team sport to come out as gay while still playing.
His announcement has received praise from the around the NBA, talk show hosts, those in entertainment and has even got a phone call from a Mr. You-Know-Who who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
We should point out that Jason Collins is not the first gay athlete, but he will be the one we will remember simply because he plays a sport that people care about.
Some are calling Jason Collins is a hero. We might rather save the term “hero” for those who show extraordinary bravery in times of fear.
If his coming out should mean anything to anyone, it should mean that no one should be afraid or ashamed of who they are. The average gay or lesbian is not a foreign entity or a creature from the black lagoon, but they can be anybody and everybody, even a 7 foot tall NBA center.
