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Bruce Arthur: Jason Collins coming out a new beginning for sports
Nobody expected Jason Collins. Everybody knew that the day was coming, that one of the four major North American sports would see an openly gay player come out before his career was over, and consciously or subconsciously, everybody had an idea of what that person might be like. A star, probably. Good-looking. Articulate. A hero.
But Jason Collins? Thirty-four years old, a journeyman centre, a guy who spent a career being invisible, or being mistaken for his twin brother Jarron? He faced off with Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA Finals, the hardest job there was; he gave Chris Bosh fits in a first-round series once, too. But he was faceless a player as you can find, setting screens, being in position, fouling when necessary. Smart guy, admired for his toughness, a favourite of his teammates. But he was an extra in the play.
Monday, with the help of Sports Illustrated‘s Franz Lidz, Collins wrote an honest, charming story about himself, and who he really was. He’s the first openly gay professional athlete in the four major sports in North America.
NBA veteran centre Jason Collins has become the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins wrote a first-person account posted Monday on Sports Illustrated’s website.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote in the magazine.
“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
For television viewers, watching Kevin Ware’s leg break live on television was a gruesome sight that prompted many to express their sentiments on social media sites. CBS even stopped showing the replay, which was not seen inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
For Louisville players and coaches, it was far worse. Ware’s teammates were overcome with emotion.
Luke Hancock patted Ware on the chest after Ware rolled himself to the sideline and right in front of the Louisville bench. Behanan and several other players sat on the floor as Ware was treated and some, including Behanan, cried. Duke guard Tyler Thornton covered his eyes when he realized what had happened.
The good news is Ware is out of surgery and resting — and his coaches even visited him in the hospital with their new trophy. (Photos: Michael Conroy, Darren Cummings/The Associated Press)
(via nationalpostsports)
Ontario woman turns to Environmental Bill of Rights in bid to silence basketball-playing neighbour
When Anne Langdon moved into a rental home on a family-friendly, tree-lined Peterborough, Ont., street four years ago, she says she didn’t mind when her young neighbour would shoot hoops in his family’s driveway not far from her bedroom window.
But as the boy grew into a tall teenager, the sound of his basketball playing — which she said would go on for 20 to 40 minutes at a time — had the irritating effect of an “echo-chamber.” She complained to her neighbours, the Elliotts, who sympathized but said their son has a right to play basketball in his own driveway. To help dampen the sound and protect her window from being broken, the Elliotts’ handyman built a moveable wooden panel to roll in front of her window when their teenager, a promising basketball player, would practice his dunks. Ms. Langdon says she felt the panel was a deliberate move to block her natural sunlight. (Fred Thornhill for National Post)
This is what 20-year old McJordan sauce looks like.
A man who used to own McDonald’s restaurants in North Dakota is about $10,000 richer after selling a 20-year-old container of McJordan barbeque sauce to a buyer in Chicago.
The sauce was used on McJordan Burgers, named for basketball icon Michael Jordan. The promotional item was sold in limited markets for a short time in the 1990s, when Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships.
Mort Bank, of Bismarck, saved the gallon jug of sauce after selling his McDonald’s restaurants in Bismarck-Mandan and Minot in 1996.
“It was in my basement and I would look at it occasionally,” he told The Bismarck Tribune. “I thought it would be worth something someday.”
What do you think of the new Brooklyn Nets logo? It was designed by minority owner Jay-Z, who says he was “inspired by the New York City Transit Authority subway signs from 1957.” Photo: NBA.com/Nets
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant goes head over heels during Game 1 of their first round NBA Western Conference basketball playoff game against the Denver Nuggets. Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
These people are fun. Fellow Canadians and Steve Nash supporters give a thumbs up to their favorite Phoenix Suns player before their NBA basketball game with the San Antonio Spurs. REUTERS/Darryl Webb
Professional sports do not house compassion very well.
Metta World Peace, nee Ron Artest, seems to have attempted to legitimately better himself in recent years, especially since the Malice at the Palace in November 2004. The world in which World Peace grew up in should not be forgotten when considering the player and his actions.It would be nice to be able to place this under consideration when World Peace’s vicious elbow to the side of James Harden’s head on Sunday is evaluated. Unfortunately, you cannot. Regardless of the reason World Peace acted with such force — whether it was a malicious shot to Harden or a celebration gone awry — he must be punished sternly.
One shining moment … but not for Kansas. Jayhawks forward Thomas Robinson (L) is consoled by Kevin Young and Tyshawn Taylor after they were defeated by the Kentucky Wildcats in the men’s NCAA Final Four championship college basketball game in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: REUTERS/Jeff Haynes
Skittles: The post-game food of champions. Does Dwight Howard have a reward system like Marshawn Lynch?
LeBron James and the Miami Heat wore black hoodies on Friday to show their support of the Trayvon Martin case. The 17-year-old was shot dead by neighbourhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Florida, who thought the unarmed teenager looked suspicious. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed. (via Twitter)
You can’t see DeMar DeRozan, he’s camouflaged: The Toronto Raptors debuted their camouflage-inspired fourth jersey as part of their annual Canadian Forces Appreciation Night on Wednesday. The Raptors lost 94-82 to the Chicago Bulls.
Photo: Mike Cassese/Reuters
So close. It looked as though Lehigh (No. 15, South) might pull off a small upset over Xavier (No. 10, South) after building a four-point lead at the half. But, much like Norfolk State, Lehigh could not create a second straight surprise, falling 70-58 to the Musketeers.
