In many arenas, we have heard that sports often leads societal acceptance. Such may or may not be true. ‘Twas certainly true via Jack Roosevelt Robinson, whose accomplishments were second only to his character that prompted him to persevere until finally breaking baseball’s color line, as he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Jackie’s “42” now hangs proudly in every Major League Baseball stadium across the country.
With last week’s 2014 NFL Draft, some have suggested society is again leading the way — arguably modeling the good, bad, and ugly within our culture — as the University of Missouri’s Michael Sam was selected with the 249th pick in the draft. Sam is openly gay.
Note that pick #249 is 7 picks away from being deemed “Mr. Irrelevant.” (Note: I’m serious; the last pick in the draft has been bestowed the dubious title since 1976). In other words, Sam was close to not being drafted by any of the 32 teams in the National Football League. What followed was fascinating; there was an overflowing editorial analysis tying’s Sam’s draft status to his sexuality. For example…
From the Huffington Post’s Hank Koebler: “In today’s NFL full of pass-happy offenses and hybrid defensive fronts, football reasons alone can’t justify why an award-winning pass-rusher like Sam fell so far in the draft.”
From USA Today’s Jarrett Bell: “Yet amid all of the back-slapping for the NFL, there’s an essential question: Why did it take so long?”
From The New York Times’ William C. Rhoden: “The N.F.L. doesn’t get a parade: Sam should have been taken three rounds earlier. You cannot acknowledge the Southeastern Conference as the best college football conference, as the N.F.L. has, and then let one of its top players be drafted behind kickers and players from obscure programs in obscure conferences… the N.F.L. did the right thing by Michael Sam; I only wish it would have done the right thing a little sooner.”
Many thus immediately concluded and proclaimed Sam’s low selection was based on his sexuality. Note that Michael Sam was a consensus All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He had no known off-field, malfeasant issues.
Now there exist layers upon layers of aspects to this story, and different people will understandably, passionately embrace different facets… ESPN’s coverage… the kiss… the second kiss with cake… the cameras in the living room of a 7th round pick… the extent of the coverage… the questionable words of those who were only focused on Sam’s sexuality — both in opposition and support… and, of course, if and how sports often “leads the way.” Opinions will be divergent, and we need to learn how to respectfully wrestle with such as opposed to manipulate perceived consensus or vilify desired dissent.
What we can also address, however, the proclaimed injustice that Sam’s low selection in the draft was due to his sexual preference. Let me first submit the following names:
Jason White, Charlie Ward, Pete Dawkins… I will add Jackson Jeffcoat of Texas.
White, Ward, and Dawkins were each Heisman Trophy winners, the award given annually to the nation’s best college football player. Jeffcoat was another All-American this past college season. Each of the above went undrafted.
Some wish to proclaim that Michael Sam slid so far solely because of his sexuality; the reality is we can’t definitely conclude that; we don’t know. Still others wish to proclaim that Sam’s sexuality had zero to due with his draft status; the equally true reality is we also don’t know. We cannot know for certain if or how Michael Sam’s sexuality impacted his draft status.
Not knowing tends to make us uncomfortable; it also sometimes prompts us to proclaim our opinion as fact… when well, such isn’t reality.
Respectfully…
AR