"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport," Collins says."But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."
That what 34 year old Jason Collins told Sports Illustrated in an article which Collins also co-wrote becoming the first openly gay male athlete in the four major American sports.
Collins isn't a star by any means but he will set screens, grab rebounds, block a shots, protects the paint, plays team defense, and even play the role of enforcer at times a good role player. Collins will be a free agent this summer after spending the 2012-13 season with Boston and Washington. He appeared in 32 games for the Celtics and six for the Wizards averaging 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds.
"We are extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly," said Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld in a statement Monday. "He has been a leader on and off the court and an outstanding teammate throughout his NBA career. Those qualities will continue to serve him both as a player and as a positive role model for others of all sexual orientation."
In the article, Collins said he dated women and was even engaged at one point. He thought he had to live a certain way, but contemplated coming out during the 2011 NBA player lockout before finally making the decision at this time.
"The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect," Collins said in the SI story. "Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?"
Collins said he told a small group of family and friends including his twin brother, Jarron, last summer.
The NBA released a statement after the article was published.
"As (incoming NBA commissioner) Adam Silver and I said to Jason, we have known the Collins family since Jason and Jarron joined the NBA in 2001 and they have been exemplary members of the NBA family," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue."
Sports has that power take some of the problems that society has and make it somewhat easier to accept. Like when people when Jackie Robinson came to the major leagues at first it was hard on him but eventually the players and fans accept Robinson as a baseball player and at the time help with the discrimination.
Collins in a sense is somewhat of a Jackie Robinson of today and hopefully Collins will have a the same impact that Robinson did. Robinson took that first step and players followed now that Collins has walked through that door and out the closest but he left that door open open for more athletes to take that step too. Gay or not you have respect him stepping up and coming out now other gay athletes have someone to look up to.
Jason Collins is somewhat of a modern day Jackie Robinson.
And the day after he came out to SI, Collins reported that he slept well. When he woke, the sky hadn't fallen in. And damn if it wasn't blue.
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