So, I Guess an Athlete Being Gay is Still a Big Deal

Jason Collins (left) became the first openly gay NBA player Sunday night, and Michael Sam (right) is the NFL's first openly gay draft prospect.

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

The other night Jason Collins became the first openly gay player in NBA history.

Collins, who signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, made his first appearance since "coming out" Sunday, and was as unremarkable on the court as he has been his entire career.

In 11 minutes, he grabbed a pair of rebounds, somehow amassed five fouls, missed his only shot attempt and committed two turnovers. What was remarkable, to some people apparently, was that the ground did not open up and swallow Collins into eternal damnation.

Bob Lobel: Why Are We Still Hung Up on Sexuality in Sports?

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

I have to be missing something here. 

I thought we moved past these discussions years ago.

Apparently not.

Important Lessons from this Super Bowl Week

Stop asking me about my murder trial and PEDs, I never asked for this kind of attention. Now, everybody gather round and watch me do this elaborate dance routine for the cameras.

By Joe Parello

The media storm heading into any Super Bowl is always enjoyable, but this year we've learned some particularly relevant tidbits about participants in the big game. Here are just a few of them.

Ray Lewis never tested positive for a substance the league doesn't test for.

And damn it, if you disagree, you are just a pawn of the Devil! Seriously, he said the allegations that he used Deer Antler Spray (ew) to recover from his torn triceps earlier this year is a "trick of the devil."

The Ravens, for their part, released this statement.

"Ray has been randomly tested for banned substances and has never failed a test. We have never been notified of a failed test. He has never been notified of a failed test," Kevin Byrne, vice president of communications for the Ravens, told ESPN.

Uh, of course he hasn't tested positive for this, THE LEAGUE DOESN'T TEST FOR IT. I cannot emphasize that point enough, it's like they think we aren't going to notice that MINOR detail.