Tim Tebow, Michael Sam, Tony Dungy and the NFL's "Distraction" Issue

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

I love when people leave comments on our site.

Really, I do. It gives me such joy that people take even 20 seconds to either express their agreement with my view or, more commonly, tell me I'm an idiot. 

These comments are usually reserved for my high school power rankings and all star teams, but every now and then somebody will take issue with something I say on a national sports story. When I wrote my blog on Tony Dungy I fully expected it to be one of those kinds of posts.

The issue of gay athletes seems to get people riled up on both sides, and is certainly something that is going to be in the news for much of the foreseeable future.

Now, with these comments, I usually just respond with a couple of sentences in the comments section, but this particular remark, I believe, represents the beliefs of a very large group of the American sports fan population.

If you don't feel like going back and reading the comment in my Dungy blog, I have pasted it below.

Tony Dungy Should Just Own His Homophobia Already

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

In the least shocking incident of the NFL off-season, football moral compass and former Bucs/Colts head coach Tony Dungy publicly stated that he wouldn't have selected Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the history of the NFL Draft.

I say least shocking because, if you know anything about Tony Dungy, you know he is a devout Christian who has spoken out in favor of a Gay Marriage ban in Indiana, and taken President Barack Obama to task, albeit briefly, on Twitter for "veering from the Biblical interpretation" of marriage.

Here is Dungy's exact quote on Sam.

“I wouldn’t have taken him,’’ Dungy told the Tampa Tribune. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. It’s not going to be totally smooth . . . things will happen.’’

That's all fine and dandy. The former Super Bowl winning coach is entitled to his faith and his views. This is America, after all.

My issue is that a man who used to occupy what is essentially a hiring position (NFL head coach) outright said he wouldn't hire someone because they are a minority… And we take that as a "stance."

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.

Catching Up With Bob Lobel: A Week of Social Issues in Sports

Join legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel and host Joe Parello as they break down the Michael Sam story. Is it the players, or the league and media that are more concerned about a gay football player?

 And, with all the social issues and tensions, is anybody actually watching the games in Sochi?

The Michael Sam Story Really Happened In August

Michael Sam will likely be the first openly gay player in the NFL. But is that the real story?

By Jeremy Conlin (@jeremy_conlin)

On Sunday, Missouri defensive end Michael Sam gave interviews with ESPN's "Outside The Lines" and The New York Times in which he came out publicly as gay. Sam is a strong, but surely not a slam-dunk prospect in the upcoming April draft - probably a mid-round pick. As such, it would be pre-mature to say that he will be the first openly gay player in the NFL, but if he does become the first, it will be a huge deal.

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.