FIPS BROKEN NEWS: First Openly Gay NBA Player Signed to the Nets

 

Brooklyn is used to being the first to do a lot of groundbreaking things and as of yesterday our basketball team was the first NBA team to sign an openly gay player to their team. According to ESPN, Jason Collins, a 35 year-old center signed a 10-day contract yesterday afternoon then quickly threw on a uniform and went out on the court to play against the Lakers.

The New York Times reported that Collins stepped out onto the court to warm applause and to a big dose of sports history. Until yesterday no NBA game had ever occurred with an openly gay player and to top that off the NFL, MLB and NHL have never had openly gay players in any of their games so this is a big step for sports in general. 

Collins said that the move happened so quickly that "Right now, I'm focused on trying to learn the plays, the game plan assignment... I don't have time to think about history right now." He wore the No. 46 jersey because it's all the Nets had but said he wants to wear the No. 98 jersey which is said to signify the year Matthew Shepherd was killed. 

According to the Times Collins played in yesterday's Nets-Lakers games for 11 minutes had two rebounds, a steal, five fouls, and scored no points.  Collins himself said he was a defensive player above all things and has a pretty consistent game. The good news is, the Nets won 108-102.

With this announcement coming on the heels of Michael Sam hoping to be the first openly gay NFL player and professional sports trying to change its image, Collins advice to other athletes was clear: "Be your true, authentic self and never be afraid or ashamed or have any fear to be your true authentic self." And although he's already being hailed as the perfect ambassador for gay athletes in professional sports, Kevin Arnovitz from ESPN.com put it best when he said above all the hype and spotlight "Now he gets to compete, which is the whole point."